Yardbarker: Northwestern Wildcats

Happy Trails No More for Hawkeyes

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:17:00 -0500

by Mark HastyFiled under: Iowa, NorthwesternWe finally figured out what sort of misfortune Iowa's Cardiac Kids couldn't survive. They couldn't survive losing Ricky Stanzi. No. 8 Iowa fell to unranked Northwestern today, 17-10 The junior quarterback left just before halftime after Northwestern's Corey Wootton tackled him in the end zone. Stanzi sprained his right ankle and fumbled the ball. As Northwestern's Marshall Thomas recovered the fumble for a touchdown, Stanzi remai...

Unbeaten run over for No. 8 Hawkeyes

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:02:01 -0500

No. 8 Iowa finally ran out of luck. After a 9-0 start that featured four wins by three points of less, the Hawkeyes were stunned by Northwestern on Saturday, 17-10.

Iowa Will Have to Go Through Second Half Comeback Routine Sans Starting QB

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:47:23 -0500

Hawkeyes QB Ricky Stanzi went down on a hit in the endzone, causing him to cough up the ball to give Northwestern the first of its two first half touchdowns. It was one of four turnovers by Iowa, which puts them in a halftime hole for the eighth time in their nine games this season. Worse still, Stanzi won't be returning in this game, putting the hopes of remaining undefeated on the shoulders of redshirt freshman QB James Vandenberg. Northwestern had a fantastic chance to take a decisiv...

Iowa's Stanzi taken to locker room with injury

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:35:52 -0500

Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi was taken to the locker room after being hit in the end zone in the second quarter of the No. 8 Hawkeyes' game against Northwestern. Stanzi was drilled by Corey Wootton, and his fumble was recovered by Marshall Thomas for a touchdown that brought Northwestern within 10-7. Stanzi was limping as he was helped off the field. He was replaced by redshirt freshman James Vandenberg, whose first pass was intercepted.

Iowa’s Stanzi Hurt Against Northwestern

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:24:15 -0500

Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi left the Hawkeyes’ game against Northwestern early in the second quarter with an apparent foot injury. Stanzi was hurt when Wildcats’ defender Corey Wootton sacked him in the end zone. He fumbled and Nwest Marshall Thomas recovered the ball in the end zone for a Northwestern touchdown to cut Iowa’s lead to [...]

Your Saturday in Detail: Hear Ducks roar again at Stanford

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:35:29 -0500

Ten hyper-specific predictions. • Despite rumors of his reinstatement this week, suspended Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount doesn't show at all at Stanford -- not that the Ducks need him as they pile up more than 250 yards rushing on more than six yards per carry for the third consecutive week despite also allowing 100 yards to Stanford's Toby Gerhart and finishing in a six-minute hole in overall time of possession. Freshman running back LaMichael James, sitting on 918 rush...

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:10:00 -0500

Get Gamm - Week TenFor the first time since the opening week, I am picking solo. That means I finally beat all comers! We have a very important weekend on tap with one "elimination" game and several other critical match-ups for those hoping to get to, or improve bowl position.Haste makes waste, so without further ado...Illinois at Minnesota - The Fighting Illini finally showed some fight last weekend with an unexpected pasting of the Wolverines. Minnesota woke up from offensive hibe...

Football. Three Wildcats Named <i>ESPN The Magazine</i> Academic All-District V

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:23:50 -0500

Northwestern's Doug Bartels (pictured), Stefan Demos and Zeke Markshausen all have been named ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V first-team selections, announced today (Nov. 5) by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Film session: Corey Wootton blows up PSU run

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0500

Penn State took about a quarter and a half to realize that Northwestern wasn't going to stop stacking the box against Evan Royster and the running game. But until the Nittany Lions coaching staff opened its eyes, we were blessed with a Penn State ground game that looked about as modern as Bear Bryant smoking cigarettes on the sidelines. Today, I thought it would be interesting to dissect one of the most frustrating plays from this past weekend, when Royster was sent right into the teeth o...

Review: Penn State 34, Northwestern 13

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:00:00 -0500

Penn State woke up after halftime at Northwestern, just in time to pull off the closest blowout wins you'll ever see. The game really swung in the Nittany Lions' after Wildcat QB Mike Kafka went down. But Penn State didn't play a poor game. Northwestern just played better, for a half. In today's game review, we'll break down Penn State's unit by unit performance. Offense• Offensive Line: In the game preview, I said Northwestern DE Corey Wootton would play his best gam...

Grading The Penn State Defense Against Northwestern

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:30:23 -0500

More photos » by Nam Y. Huh - AP 1 day ago: Penn State's Eric Latimore, right, looks down at sacked Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009. Penn State won 34-13. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Browse more photos » It was a rocky start, but the defense clamped down and did the job holding the Northwestern Wild...

It Was A Slow Turning Engine: Penn State 34, Northwestern 13

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:04:21 -0500

More photos » by Nam Y. Huh - AP about 20 hours ago: Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka, right, fumbles the ball during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Penn State's Jack Crawford in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Browse more photos » It was an easy start for Northwestern against a BBDS defense that came out in its softest form. Poor tackl...

Penn State defeats Kafka-less Cats

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:00:00 -0500

Northwestern pulled a few tricks on Penn State early, but the Nittany Lions enjoyed all the treats at the end of a 34-13 Halloween victory in Evanston.Wildcat quarterback Mike Kafka was on fire, hitting 14 of 18 for 128 yards, while rushing for 42 yards and a go-ahead touchdown, in less than two quarters of work against a Penn State defense that hadn't given up much of anything the last four weeks. Then Kafka went down with a leg injury, taking Northwestern's offensive firepower, and ...

Penn State on the road again

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0500

Penn State fans remember this play like it was yesterday. See the video below for the source footage of one of the most important plays this decade in the Penn State football program.Kevin joins the 700 Level to offer an appetizer for tonight's Phillies game. On the menu is Penn State football if you so desire. For more of Kevin's Penn State coverage check out Examiner and Nittany White Out.After picking up a much needed win for the program last week in Ann Arbor, Penn State takes t...

Preview: No. 12 Penn State at Northwestern

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0500

Kickoff/TV: Sat., Oct. 31, 4:30 p.m. ET/ESPN (Carter Blackburn and Chris Spielman)Weather Forecast: Cool, breezy.Series Record: Penn State leads, 9-3. Host: Northwestern WildcatsRecord: 5-3 (2-2, Big Ten)Last Game: Beat Indiana, 29-28Injuries: CB Sherrick McManis (leg) - possible; RB Stephen Simmons (ankle) - doubtful; S Brendan Smith (thumb) - possible; OL Mike Boyle (back) - out; LB Bryce McNaul (knee) - out; DT Jack DiNardo (shoulder) - out Key Players: (offense) QB Mike Kafka, WR Zeke Ma...

Wildcat breakdown with Lake the Posts

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0500

For the best Northwestern Wildcats coverage, where else would we go, but Lake The Posts? LTP was kind enough to run the gauntlet of Penn State blogger interviews this week, stopping by our place for a few. This late in the season, every game is a big game. Here's what LTP had to say about this week's Halloween hubbub with the Nittany Lions.ZN: Northwestern is one win away from bowl eligibility. Is this about where you saw this team at this point in the season?LTP: Not even close. The...

Upset Bait: Kafka can bring down Michigan State, but he can't enjoy it

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:13:10 -0500

The Doc Saturday crew peruses the weekly lines and pulls out a few shockers. Matt Hinton: Northwestern (+13.5) over Michigan State. With MSU back at .500 after two straight conference wins, it's only appropriate that Wildcat quarterback Mike Kafka comes into East Lansing wielding the existential dagger that will puncture the Spartans' bourgeois optimism. Although Michigan State hasn't emphasized its usual themes of alienation and persecution as consistently under Mark Dantonio as...

The Third Moses of Northwestern Football

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 22:48:41 -0500

Gary Barnett left as soon as he got a "better" job. Randy Walker was taken by a tragic heart attack. Northwestern Football has had a tough run since their 1995-6 Rose Bowl season, but with former standout LB Pat Fitzgerald at the helm, things appear to be on the upswing.

2007 Football Recruiting Roundup: Northwestern Wildcats (Big 10)

Mon, 07 May 2007 15:52:50 -0500

Despite their history, the Northwestern Wildcats can produce some good numbers for fantasy college football team owners. Unfortunately for 2007, their recruiting efforts don't look so great, which won't help you in the short term ...