Pat Fitzgerald Purdue week press conference

By Ethan Cohen

Coach Fitzgerald spoke to the media Monday, Nov. 17.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Go24BNfxF8&w=560&h=315]

  • Offensive player of the week: Kyle Prater
  • Siemian was “a couple drops away from having one of those games that goes down in Wildcat history”
  • Defensive player of the week: Ibraheim Cambell
  • Specialist of the week: Jack Mitchell (duh)
  • Purdue has been dynamic offensively since making the QB change
  • Probably the best special teams unit they’ve seen this year, critiques return units against Notre Dame
  • Talked a lot about being a playoff situation, the team has its back against the wall
  • Thought 4 of the 5 offensive linemen played very well
  • On defense we shouldn’t have given up as much as we did
  • “our holder outplayed their holder” that’s what the game came down to
  • Miles Shuler is out this week, Greg Kuhar needs surgery for a lower body injury, and he’s out for the year
  • “the hardest thing to do is to respond to success” despite the win, there were a lot of mistakes that the team is going to look at internally
  • Being able to hug his father after the win was “really special”
  • Prater’s catch in the two minute was a “big time play” for a great football player
  • Offensive line success is due to them taking their play personally and have stopped thinking as much
  • Siemian being mobile allowed him to feel more confident, also allowed the team to do different things schematically
  • Fitz talked to Gary Barnett on the way back and facetimed his sons in the locker room after the game
  • Also heard from a lot of other Big Ten coaches
  • Fitz hopes they can keep playing that game going forward but it might be difficult given the schedules

Jimmy Hall: the turnovers were really key. After the PI call was thinking that the game couldn’t end like that.

Matt Alviti: Part of the reason I chose Northwestern was to go to Notre Dame and beat them. Fitz said that after the ND win in 95 they lost to Miami (OH) at home the next week.

Nick VanHoose: with our backs against the wall it increases pressure to “keep the family together”

 

NORTHWESTERN @ NOTRE DAME POST-GAME REPORT: WILDCATS STUN SOUTH BEND

The Fighting Irish had not played a home game in more than a month before today; the Wildcats had not won across the same stretch. Needless to say, Northwestern and Notre Dame fans alike did not expect such a scene in South Bend.

Both teams scored rapidly; the early highlight being Everett Golson’s 61-yard touch down run 44 seconds into the game. For Northwestern fans, the moment of excitement might have been Matt Alviti’s two-yard touchdown rush.

The Wildcats did have some more bright spots on offense. Siemian established the pass game early on with a pair of receptions to the Dickerson brothers. With the pressure off of the run early in the game, Justin Jackson broke free for a 44-yard rush downfield. Treyvon Green outdid the freshman phenom with his own big run, notching 45 yards on one carry. The two Northwestern backs combined for 221 yards rushing.

There were nearly as many blunders as highlights in this contest.  Notre Dame’s special teams bobbled its first two kick off returns and even suffered a blocked PAT, which Nick VanHoose returned for two points.  The two teams combined for 10 turn overs, including three interceptions.

Northwestern’s offense had the worst of it, with two picks. The Irish also sacked Siemian twice for a loss of 17 yards .  Siemian’s passes were REPEATEDLY tipped, picked, and dropped. In fact, Tony Jones had three different passes—two with great separation and one in the end zone—that all should have been touchdowns in the first half.

Siemian found a few receivers along the way, including Cameron Dickerson for a 60-yard pass. The play stands as the longest by the Wildcats all year, replacing Dickerson’s 54-yard catch against Cal in August. This Wildcat reception also marks the largest single-play-gain by a Notre Dame opponent this season.  Kyle Prater also had a big game with 81 yards on 10 catches, one for a touch down.

Notre Dame’s William Fuller made some great plays, including a 42-yard reception; he grabbed 3 touch down passes along the way.

The run game seemed just as impressive. The two squads combined for 302 yards and 4 rushing touch downs in the first half alone.  The Wildcats ran for 52 more yards than the Irish, seemingly making the difference in the game.

Late in the game, Northwestern continued to contend with the Irish, although Notre Dame extended its lead to as many as 11 points.  The Wildcats battled back in the fourth quarter, going on a 14-6 run to force an overtime.

A strong defensive stand and wide field goal from Notre Dame set the stage for a Jack Mitchell miracle.

Mitchell had already drilled three of four kicks throughout the game, two of them from more than 40 yards out.

With an opportunity to seize victory, Mitchell came out for the kick and Brian Kelly promptly iced him, taking  a time out.

“I knew I had to rush and just get a swing in,” explained Mitchell,  adding “I felt comfortable after that.”

Coach Pat Fitzgerald called it “probably our most consistent kicking performance of the year,” saying that it “was obviously the difference going down the stretch.”

It goes without saying, Mitchell knocked through the dagger from 41 yards to give Northwestern the win 43-40.

Northwestern came into today’s contest as a true underdog.  Few expected the Wildcats to put up a strong fight with the Irish, but they held their own.

This is surely a tough loss for Notre Dame to swallow, considering the game was literally in their hands as time wound down, until a fumble.  As Coach Brian Kelly explained,  there were multiple mistakes that cost his team the game.

“We’re not making small errors, we’re making critical errors and on defense giving them 15 yards to hold on to drives and then, heck, one key third down we had ten guys on the field,” he said. “We had ten guys. We have a guy that’s a veteran that didn’t know he was supposed to be on the field. That’s unacceptable.”

These surprises and lucky breaks just seem to be the theme of Pat Fitzgerald’s squad: there is no rhyme or reason to the Northwestern Wildcats.

And with the “W” at Notre Dame, as Fitz reminded everyone, Northwestern could have a 13th game pop onto the schedule.

“We’ve advanced to another week to keep this team alive for post-season play.”

Northwestern @ Notre Dame: Half Time Report

On a chilly day in South Bend, things heated up quickly between the Northwestern Wildcats and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Both teams reached the end zone before 4 minutes had been played; the early highlight being Everett Golson’s 61 yard run 44 seconds into the game. For Northwestern fans, the moment of excitement might have been Matt Alviti’s two-yard touchdown run.

Northwestern applied good defensive pressure on that first Irish drive. But a big third down stop was not in the cards for the men in purple.

The Wildcats wasted no time getting their own offense up and running. Siemian established the pass game early on with a pair of receptions to the Dickerson brothers. With the pressure off of the run, Justin Jackson broke free for a 44-yard rush downfield. Treyvon Green outdid the freshman phenom with his own big run, notching 45 yards. The two Northwestern backs have combined for 132 yards in the first half alone.

30 minutes in and we are definitely not looking at a perfect game. Notre Dame’s special teams bobbled its first two kick off returns and even suffered a blocked PAT, which Nick VanHoose returned for two points.

Northwestern’s offense has had even worse luck. Siemian’s passes have been tipped, picked, and dropped. Tony Jones had three different passes—two with great separation and one in the end zone—that all should have been touchdowns.

Fitz didn’t feel the need to pull him from the field after the first two drops. Maybe that’s because Siemian’s other options weren’t much better: Austin Carr dropped one as well for a turn over on downs.

Siemian has found a few receivers along the way, including a 60-yard pass to Cameron Dickerson. The play stands as the longest by the Wildcats all year, replacing Dickerson’s 54-yard catch against Cal in August. That Wildcat reception also marks the largest single-play-gain by a Notre Dame opponent this season.

Yet the bright spot for both teams has definitely been the rush. The two squads combined for 302 yards and 4 rushing touch downs in the first half.

This game has certainly been anything but ordinary as the two teams are virtually identical, statistically speaking.

Brace yourself for a thrilling second half because the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, ranked 15th in the AP Poll, have only 7 more yards of offense than the Northwestern Wildcats and lead by a mere four points.

27-23 ND over NU with 30 minutes to play…

This is ANYONE’S game.

Game Recap- Northwestern vs. Houston Baptist

After an impressive 102-52  exhibition route of McKendree last week, Northwestern looked poised to start fast against Houston-Baptist Friday night. That was not the case, as the Wildcats overcame a tough first half to win 65 to 58 behind Alex Olah’s second career double-double.

The Huskies came out firing to begin the game, taking an early 10-2 lead they wouldn’t lose until late in the first half. Northwestern would make some noise — thanks to their new and exciting freshman class. Bryant McIntosh led all first-half scorers with 9 points and 4 assists, continuing his good play from the week before.

JerShon Cobb and Tre Demps struggled to find the net in the first half, both going 0 for 4. Joined by fellow freshman Vic Law, McIntosh helped keep the Wildcats in the game.

“The two freshman were fantastic,” Coach Collins said. “I thought B-mac really carried us for awhile. He’s a baller.”

The momentum changed with under five minutes to play in the first half as McIntosh seemed to get in rhythm. The Huskies countered with solid play of their own, giving them a three-point lead at halftime.

Alex Olah was the story in the second half with his more physical play. Coach Collins noticed something was off in the first half— and let him know during the break.

“[HBU] was bothering Alex early,” he said. “We had to take halftime to settle him down and get on him. At that position, we should have the advantage every night we play.”

Olah gave the Wildcats that advantage early in the second half. After collecting just 3 points in the opening half, he finished with 21. Last year, Olah was able to take over games when the ‘Cats were struggling. He did the same tonight, rising up to give the fans at Welsh-Ryan something to cheer about. His 10 rebounds were desperately needed as well after losing that margin to the Huskies 21 to 15 in the first half.

Olah said he knew he had to be more physical when he came out for the second half.

“I knew I was soft in the first half… so I just went out there and didn’t stop,” Olah said.

Despite Northwestern’s improved second half play, the Huskies wouldn’t go away. Senior Ricmonds Vilde led the Huskies in scoring, with 13 points and 10 rebounds. His double-double was a major reason the Huskies kept the Wildcats close until the last few minutes.

Northwestern is back in action Monday as they head East to take on Brown at 6pm. The ‘Cats begin the season playing six games in a twelve day stretch.

-Jacob Murphey

Houston-Baptist vs. Northwestern: First Half Notes

First Half Notes:

Northwestern begins it’s 2014-2015 campaign a bit rusty, ending the first half against Houston Baptist trailing 31 to 28.

Sharp shooting by the Huskies put the Wildcats in a quick 10-2 hole. The Huskies seemed at ease getting the ball into the basket: Ricmonds Vilde leading all men in orange with 8 points. The Huskies getting the majority of their points in the paint as well.

Northwestern, however, is having significant trouble maintaining possession on their end of the court— offensive fouls or quick misses commonplace in the first 20 minutes. Not surprisingly, the freshman have kept the ‘Cats in the game. Bryant McIntosh leading the Wildcats with 9 points in the first, with Vic Law also chipping in with 7 points of his own. Absent from the scoring list: JerShon Cobb and Tre Demps, both going 0 for 4.

A late surge in the half gave them the lead, but the ‘Cats were unable to capitalize on several opportunities. They’ll need to have an impressive second half in order to live up to pre-game expectations.

-Jacob Murphey

MBB Preview: Northwestern vs Houston Baptist

The Northwestern men’s basketball team begins its 2014-2015 regular season at home against Houston Baptist 7 p.m. tonight.

The Wildcats are looking to win their seventh-straight season opener and second under coach Chris Collins. Northwestern (14-19, 6-12 B1G last season) will be facing the Huskies for the first time ever.

Fans will finally get to see the regular season debut of one of the best freshman classes in school history, led by forward Vic Law. The St. Rita product is NU’s highest recruit and is a probable starter for tonight’s game. In Friday’s exhibition against McKendree, he scored 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting and grabbed 4 boards in a team-high 26 minutes played.

Guard Bryant McIntosh is the other probable freshman starting alongside Law. Much of the attention is on Law but McIntosh has impressed many since stepping onto campus. He went a perfect 6-for-6 from the field, scoring 15 points and adding 11 assists against McKendree.

The team is also returning six players from last year’s team, including likely starters JerShon Cobb, Sanjay Lumpkin and Alex Olah.

Cobb, last year’s second-leading scorer, will have to carry a bigger load on offense without guard Drew Crawford, who graduated from the program last season.

Houston Baptist enjoyed many years of being a perennial NAIA powerhouse until switching to Division I before the 2007-2008 season. Since then, the Huskies are 65-149. Ron Cottrell is entering his 25th season as the program’s head coach.

The Huskies return their leading scorer in guard Tyler Russell, who averaged 8.3 points per game last season.

Be sure to follow @nnnsports for tweets during the game and other online content.

Northwestern falls to Michigan after failed two-point conversion

by: Noah Fromson

Evanston, Ill.— In a game lacking offensive execution, the Michigan Wolverines beat Northwestern by a final score of 10-9 after the Wildcats failed to complete a game-winning two point conversion with three seconds left in the game.

The first quarter started slowly as both struggling squads’ drives stalled near midfield. Michigan’s rush defense, second in the Big Ten in opponent yards per carry coming into the game, stuffed Justin Jackson on 4th and 2 with just under seven minutes left in the first quarter to halt Northwestern after two big third down conversions.

The game was scoreless after one quarter, but a careless interception from Trevor Siemian with 1:30 to go in the first quarter gave Michigan an opportunity in NU territory. But the Wolverines got greedy on 4th and 1 at the NU 16, and Chi Chi Ariguzo stopped Michigan running back De’Veon Smith short to end the drive two minutes into the second quarter.

Matthew Harris picked off Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner with 90 seconds remaining in the half, but Siemian gave it right back on a tipped-pass interception by defensive lineman Matthew Godin at the NU 35 yard-line. Michigan attempted a 41-yard field goal with 15 ticks to go, but Nick VanHoose leaped in to block Matt Wile’s kick, and the half ended in a scoreless tie.

Michigan’s offensive woes continued as Northwestern recovered a fumble on a shotgun snap to Gardner that ricocheted off a receiver in motion at the MICH 27. But Jack Mitchell’s missed 36-yard field goal extinguished the Cats’ momentum.

Both teams’ opening drives in the third quarter were duds, but with just over seven minutes left in the quarter, Tony Jones muffed a punt return that Michigan recovered at the NU 21. After an 18 yard pass from Gardner to Funchess, Michigan struck first as De’Veon Smith took it to the house from three yards out to give Michigan at 7-0 lead with 6:49 left in the quarter.

“I forgot to lock my elbows and it was a very costly mistake,” Tony Jones said. “Those plays can change the outcome of the game…[and] I have got to be better. I take full responsibility for the play.”

Northwestern gave it right back on a quick three-and-out, but Michigan couldn’t capitalize. With around five minutes left in the quarter, Gardner fired a bullet that was nabbed by Ibraheim Campbell and returned for 79 yards to the MICH 11. In the game’s fashion, a sack and intentional grounding call dropped NU back to the MICH 43, and they punted for the seventh time. Michigan led by seven at the end of the third quarter.

Michigan’s Delonte Hollowell made an athletic catch to down another punt at the NU 1 yard-line at the beginning of the final quarter. But Siemian began the drive 4/4 for 47 yards and led the Cats 95 yards, but NU could only come up with a field goal to make the score 7-3 with 7:26 left in the game.

After a 16-yard pass from Gardner to to tight end Jake Butt and a few big runs by Smith at the five-minute mark of the fourth quarter, Michigan hit a 37 yard field goal to make the lead 10-3 with 3:10 remaining in the game.

NU started its final drive at its own 26 yard-line, and Siemian drove the offense to the MICH 28. Michigan’s Raymon Taylor committed a pass interference penalty that gave NU first and goal with 45 seconds remaining, and Siemian hit Tony Jones for a touchdown with three seconds left on the clock.

In a risky two-point conversion attempt, Siemian tripped over his own feet, and Northwestern’s hopes of a last second victory ended in sadness.

When asked about his decision to go for two at the end of the game, head coach Pat Fitzgerald said he made the decision with six minutes remaining in the game.

“As poorly as we played last week, I thought the guys prepared well, but at the end we just ended up three yards short,” Fitzgerald said.

Halftime Reaction

NU started the game in no huddle offense fueled by a 19 yard strike from Siemian to Prater. However, an illegal formation penalty negated a Justin Jackson huge gain, and the Cats were forced to punt.

Matt Alviti entered the game for a few snaps rushing two times for five yards. NU could not get the rushing game going at all: Justin Jackson had nine carries for only 12 yards.

Siemian targeted Prater on four of his first five passes as he started the game 4-6 for 49 yards. His first five completions went for an average of 13 yards, atypical for an offense that rarely passes beyond the first down marker, but the progress was squandered by a telegraphed interception with just over a minute left in the first quarter.

Michigan had good field position after Jake Ryan picked off Siemian, but Chi Chi Ariguzo  stood-up De’Veon Smith at the NU 16 on 4th down and one.

Siemian ended the half 13-20 for 119 yards and 2 INTs. A higher completion rate than his 56.2 percent coming into the game, but when third down came, he under threw his targets and NU couldn’t finish a drive.

Both Gardner and Siemian were picked off late in the second quarter, and neither team could capitalize. Michigan’s 41-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Nick VanHoose. The teams ended the half scoreless.

-Noah Fromson, NNN Sports