2011 Northwestern Wildcats football team

The 2011 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Pat Fitzgerald, in his sixth season at Northwestern, was the team's head coach. The Wildcats home games were played at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. They are members of the Legends Division of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 6–7, 3–4 in Big Ten play to finish in fifth place in the Legends Division. They were invited to the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas where they were defeated by Texas A&M 22–33.

2011 Northwestern Wildcats football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionLegends Division
2011 record6–7 (3–5 Big Ten)
Head coachPat Fitzgerald (6th as HC) (10th overall season)
Offensive coordinatorMick McCall (4th season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorMike Hankwitz (4th season)
Base defenseMultiple 4–3
Captains
Home stadiumRyan Field (Capacity: 47,130)
2011 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Legends Division
No. 11 Michigan State x  7 –1     11 –3  
No. 12 Michigan %  6 –2     11 –2  
No. 24 Nebraska  5 –3     9 –4  
Iowa  4 –4     7 –6  
Northwestern  3 –5     6 –7  
Minnesota  2 –6     3 –9  
Leaders Division
No. 10 Wisconsin xy$  6 –2     11 –3  
Penn State x  6 –2     9 –4  
Purdue  4 –4     7 –6  
Ohio State  3 –5     6 –7  
Illinois  2 –6     7 –6  
Indiana  0 –8     1 –11  
Championship: Wisconsin 42, Michigan State 39
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • % – BCS at-large representative
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

In 2010 the Wildcats had a 7–6 record, ending the season with a 45–38 loss to Texas Tech in the 2011 TicketCity Bowl.

Preseason

Conference divisions

Starting in 2011, the Big Ten Conference created two divisions, "Legends" and "Leaders", following the University of Nebraska's membership into the conference. Northwestern was placed in the "Legends" division, with the University of Iowa, the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, the University of Minnesota and the University of Nebraska joining them.[2]

Schedule

The schedule is as follows:[3]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 311:00 AMat Boston College*
ESPNUW 24–1737,561[4]
September 102:30 PMEastern Illinois*
BTNW 42–2128,042[5]
September 172:30 PMat Army*
CBSSNL 14–2135,784[6]
October 111:00 AMat No. 22 Illinois
ESPN2L 35–3853,243[7]
October 86:00 PMNo. 11 Michigan
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, Illinois
BTNL 24–4247,330[8]
October 156:00 PMat Iowa
BTNL 31–4170,585[9]
October 226:00 PMNo. 22 Penn State
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, Illinois
BTNL 24–3440,004[10]
October 2911:00 AMat Indiana
BTNW 59–3839,239[11]
November 52:30 PMat No. 9 Nebraska
BTNW 28–2585,115[12]
November 1211:00 AMRice*
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, Illinois
BTNW 28–626,886[13]
November 1911:00 AMMinnesota
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, Illinois
BTNW 28–1326,215[14]
November 2611:00 AMNo. 10 Michigan State
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, Illinois
BTNL 17–3132,172[15]
December 3111:00 AMTexas A&M*
ESPNL 22–3368,395[16]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Regular season

Boston College
See also: 2011 Boston College Eagles football team
1 234Total
• Northwestern 3 777 24
Boston College 3 707 17

[17]

Overall Record Last Meeting Result[18]
2–1 1993 NU, 22–21

Eastern Illinois
See also: 2011 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team
1 234Total
Eastern Illinois 0 777 21
• Northwestern 14 1477 42
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[19]
0–0 First Meeting

Army
See also: 2011 Army Black Knights football team
1 234Total
Northwestern 0 707 14
• Army 7 077 21
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[20]
3–1 1988 Army, 23–7

Illinois
See also: 2011 Illinois Fighting Illini football team and Illinois–Northwestern football rivalry
1 234Total
Northwestern 0 14147 35
• Illinois 7 3721 38
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[21]
46–53–5 2010 Ill, 48–27

Michigan
See also: 2011 Michigan Wolverines football team
1 234Total
• Michigan 7 71414 42
Northwestern 14 1000 24
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[22]
15–52–2 2008 NU, 21–14

Iowa
See also: 2011 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
1 234Total
Northwestern 0 71014 31
• Iowa 10 7024 41
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[23]
23–46–3 2010 NU, 21–17

Penn State
See also: 2011 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
1 234Total
• Penn State 14 1370 34
Northwestern 14 1000 24
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[24]
3–11 2010 PSU, 35–21

Indiana
See also: 2011 Indiana Hoosiers football team
1 234Total
• Northwestern 17 21147 59
Indiana 7 14107 38
  • Date: October 29
  • Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
  • Game start: 11:00 AM CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:14
  • Game attendance: 39,239
  • Referee: John O'Neill
  • TV announcers (BTN): Tom Hart (Play-by-play), Derek Rackley (Color) & Lisa Byington (Sideline)
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[25]
44–34–1 2010 NU, 20–17

Nebraska
See also: 2011 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
1 234Total
• Northwestern 7 0714 28
Nebraska 0 3715 25
  • Date: November 5
  • Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Game start: 2:30 PM CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:15
  • Game attendance: 85,115
  • Referee: Dave Witvoet
  • TV announcers (BTN): Eric Collins (Play-by-play), Chris Martin (Color) & Dionne Miller (Sideline)

[26]

Overall Record Last Meeting Result[27]
2–3 2000 UNL, 66–17

Rice
1 234Total
Rice 0 006 6
• Northwestern 7 1407 28
See also: 2011 Rice Owls football team
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[28]
3–4 2010 NU, 30–13

Minnesota
See also: 2011 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
1 234Total
Minnesota 7 303 13
• Northwestern 21 007 28
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[29]
31–50–5 2010 NU, 29–28

Michigan State
See also: 2011 Michigan State Spartans football team
1 234Total
• Michigan State 3 1477 31
Northwestern 0 377 17
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[30]
16–35 2010 MSU, 35–27

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas

Texas A&M
See also: 2011 Texas A&M Aggies football team and 2011 Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas
1 234Total
• Texas A&M 3 17103 33
Northwestern 0 7015 22
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[19]
0–0 First Meeting

Rankings
See also: 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final 
AP RV RV RV NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 
Coaches RV RV RV RV RV NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 
Harris Not released NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR Not released 
BCS Not released NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR Not released

Roster
2011 Northwestern Wildcats roster[31][32]

Quarterbacks

  • 2 Kain Colter – Sophomore
  • 7 Dan Persa (C) – Senior
  • 10 Zack Oliver – Freshman
  • 13 Trevor Siemian – Freshman
  • 15 P.J. Carollo – Freshman
  • 18 Evan Watkins – Sophomore

Running Backs

  • 4 Adonis Smith – Sophomore
  • 21 Jordan Perkins – Freshman
  • 22 Treyvon Green – Freshman
  • 28 Tim Hanrahan – Freshman
  • 29 Mike Trumpy – Sophomore
  • 34 Tyris Jones – Junior
  • 39 Jacob Schmidt – Senior

Wide Receivers

  • 5 Venric Mark – Sophomore
  • 6 Charles Brown – Senior
  • 8 Demetrius Fields – Junior
  • 11 Jeremy Ebert – Senior
  • 12 Tony Jones – Sophomore
  • 14 Christian Jones – Freshman
  • 17 Rashad Lawrence – Sophomore
  • 23 E.J. Webb – Freshman
  • 27 Cermak Bland – Freshman
  • 80 Mike Jensen – Sophomore
  • 81 Cameron Dickerson – Freshman
  • 84 Drew Moulton – Sophomore
  • 86 Brendan Barber – Junior
  • 88 Torin Dupper – Freshman
  • 89 Pierre Youngblood-Ary – Freshman

Superbacks

  • 9 Drake Dunsmore – Senior
  • 40 Brett Nagel – Junior
  • 82 John Plasencia – Sophomore
  • 83 Jack Konopka – Freshman
  • 85 Mark Szott – Freshman
  

Offensive Line

  • 53 Geoff Mogus – Freshman
  • 57 Matt Frazier – Freshman
  • 61 Alex Pietrzak – Freshman
  • 62 Taylor Paxton – Sophomore
  • 64 Doug Bartels – Senior
  • 65 Ben Burkett – Senior
  • 66 Brandon Vitabile – Freshman
  • 68 Hayden Baker – Freshman
  • 70 Patrick Ward – Junior
  • 71 Shane Mertz – Freshman
  • 72 Brian Mulroe – Junior
  • 73 Colin Armstrong – Senior
  • 74 Chuck Porcelli – Junior
  • 75 Al Netter (C) – Senior
  • 76 Brian Smith – Sophomore
  • 78 Paul Jorgensen – Freshman
  • 79 Neal Deiters – Junior

Defensive Line

  • 42 Kevin Watt – Senior
  • 55 Bo Cisek – Junior
  • 58 Max Chapman – Freshman
  • 60 Jake Gregus – Sophomore
  • 67 Sean McEvilly – Freshman
  • 79 C.J. Robbins – Freshman
  • 88 Quentin Williams – Junior
  • 90 Jack DiNardo – Senior
  • 91 Brian Arnfelt – Junior
  • 92 Will Hampton – Sophomore
  • 93 Niko Mafuli – Senior
  • 94 Vince Browne – Senior
  • 95 Davon Custis – Sophomore
  • 96 Anthony Battle – Sophomore
  • 97 Tyler Scott – Sophomore
  • 98 Deonte Gibson – Freshman
  • 99 Chance Carter – Freshman
  

Linebackers

  • 31 Stone Pinckney – Junior
  • 33 David Nwabuisi – Junior
  • 35 Ben Johnson – Senior
  • 41 Doug Diedrick – Freshman
  • 43 Tim Riley – Sophomore
  • 44 Chi Chi Ariguzo – Freshman
  • 45 Collin Ellis – Freshman
  • 46 Damien Proby – Sophomore
  • 48 Roderick Goodlow – Junior
  • 50 Timmy Vernon – Sophomore
  • 51 Bryce McNaul – Senior
  • 54 Drew Smith – Freshman
  • 56 Will Studlien – Sophomore

Defensive backs

  • 15 Daniel Jones – Freshman
  • 16 Davion Fleming – Sophomore
  • 18 Matt Carpenter – Freshman
  • 19 Jimmy Hall – Freshman
  • 20 Austin Kassner – Freshman
  • 23 Nick VanHoose – Freshman
  • 24 Ibraheim Campbell – Freshman
  • 25 Jarrell Williams – Freshman
  • 36 Mike Eshun – Freshman
  • 39 Joe Cannon – Freshman

Cornerbacks

  • 3 Jeravin Matthews – Senior
  • 13 C.J. Bryant – Freshman
  • 20 Tim Weak – Junior
  • 21 Mike Bolden – Senior
  • 22 Demetrius Dugar – Junior
  • 26 Jordan Mabin (C) – Senior
  • 47 Ricky Weina – Senior

Safeties

  • 7 Hunter Bates – Junior
  • 10 Brian Peters (C) – Senior
  • 27 Jared Carpenter – Junior
  • 32 David Arnold – Senior
  

Punters

  • 31 Chris Gradone – Freshman
  • 49 Brandon Williams – Sophomore

Kickers

  • 34 Steve Flaherty – Junior
  • 37 Jeff Budzien – Sophomore
  • 38 Arthur Omilian – Freshman

Long Snappers

  • 59 Pat Hickey – Sophomore
Head coach
Coordinators/Assistant coaches
  • Randy Bates – Linebackers Coach
  • Jerry Brown – Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs Coach
  • Adam Cushing – Offensive Line Coach
  • Mike Hankwitz – Defensive Coordinator
  • Bob Heffner – Superbacks Coach
  • Marty Long – Defensive Line Coach
  • Matt MacPherson – Running Backs Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
  • Mick McCall – Offensive Coordinator/QB's Coach
  • Dennis Springer – Wide Receivers Coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Redshirt

References
  1. "Year-by-Year Results" (PDF). 2018. p. 94. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-03-16. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  2. "Big Ten divisions: Legends, Leaders". ESPN.com. December 13, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  3. "Northwestern Football Schedule". Archived from the original on 2010-06-20. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  4. "Northwestern Wildcats at Boston College Eagles Box Score". ESPN. September 3, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  5. "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Eastern Illinois Panthers Box Score". ESPN. September 10, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  6. "Northwestern Wildcats at Army Black Knights Box Score". ESPN. September 17, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  7. "Northwestern Wildcats at Illinois Fighting Illini Box Score". ESPN. October 1, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  8. "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Michigan Wolverines Box Score". ESPN. October 8, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  9. "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Box Score". ESPN. October 15, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  10. "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Box Score". ESPN. October 22, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  11. "Northwestern Wildcats at Indiana Hoosiers Box Score". ESPN. October 29, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  12. "Northwestern 28, No. 9 Nebraska 25". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. November 5, 2011. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  13. "Northwestern 28, Rice 6". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. November 12, 2011. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  14. "Minnesota vs Northwestern". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. November 19, 2011. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  15. "No. 11 Michigan State 31, Northwestern 17". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. November 26, 2011. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2011.
  16. "Texas A&M 33, Northwestern 22". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. December 31, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  17. "Northwestern's Kain Colter Steps Up in Win Over Boston College". ESPN. September 3, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  18. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Boston College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  19. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern Records by Team". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  20. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Army (NY)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  21. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Illinois". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  22. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Michigan". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on May 14, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  23. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Iowa". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  24. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Penn State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  25. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Indiana". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  26. "Backup QB Kain Colter, Northwestern Surprise Nebraska". ESPN. November 5, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  27. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Nebraska". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  28. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Rice (TX)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on July 12, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  29. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Minnesota". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  30. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Michigan State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  31. "2010 Northwestern Football Roster". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on September 3, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  32. "Northwestern Announces Quartet of 2011 Team Captains". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. August 27, 2011. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
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