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2012 Northwestern Wildcats football
Gator Bowl champion
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionLegends Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 16
APNo. 17
2012 record10–3 (5–3 Big Ten)
Head coachPat Fitzgerald (7th as HC) (11th overall season)
Offensive coordinatorMick McCall (5th season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorMike Hankwitz (5th season)
Base defenseMultiple 4–3
CaptainBrian Arnfelt
CaptainKain Colter
CaptainBrian Mulroe
CaptainDavid Nwabuisi
Home stadiumRyan Field (Capacity: 47,130)
Seasons
← 2011
2013 →
2012 Big Ten football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
Legends
#25 Nebraska xy   7 1         10 4  
#24 Michigan   6 2         8 5  
#17 Northwestern   5 3         10 3  
Michigan State   3 5         7 6  
Minnesota   2 6         6 7  
Iowa   2 6         4 8  
Leaders
#3 Ohio State* x   8 0         12 0  
Penn State*   6 2         8 4  
Wisconsin y   4 4         8 6  
Purdue   3 5         6 7  
Indiana   2 6         4 8  
Illinois   0 8         2 10  
Championship: Wisconsin 70, Nebraska 31
† – BCS representative as champion
x – Division champion/co-champions
y – Championship game participant
  • Ohio State and Penn State ineligible for conference championship game and post-season bowl games due to NCAA sanctions
    As of January 8, 2013 • Rankings from AP Poll

The 2012 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University during the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Pat Fitzgerald, in his seventh season at Northwestern, was the team's head coach. The Wildcats home games were played at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. They were members of the Legends Division of the Big Ten Conference. The Wildcats won their first bowl game since the 1949 Rose Bowl against California by defeating Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl 34–20.[1] They finished the season 10–3 (5–3 Big Ten).

Previous season[]

In 2011 the Wildcats had a 6–7 record, ending the season with a 33–22 loss to Texas A&M in the 2011 Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas.

Preseason[]

Recruiting[]

Northwestern signed 21 recruits to letters-of-intent on National Signing Day on February 1, 2012.[2]

Transfers[]

Wide receiver Kyle Prater transferred to Northwestern from USC on January 28, 2012, after being injured during most of the 2011 season and redshirting in 2010.[3] The Wildcats requested a waiver to allow Prater to play immediately in 2012, as he transferred to a school close to home in order to care for a family member.[4] Sophomore running back Adonis Smith, who was thought to be a candidate for the starting running back job in 2012 after rushing for 266 yards in 2011, announced his intent to transfer from Northwestern on February 22.[5] He decided to transfer to UNLV.[6] Defensive back Quinn Evans transferred to Northwestern after graduating from Stanford in June 2012. After missing the entire 2011 season because of injury, he chose to attend Northwestern as a graduate student with a year of college football eligibility remaining.[7]

Schedule[]

The schedule is as follows:[8]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 111:00 AMat Syracuse*ESPN2W 42–4137,830[9]
September 87:00 PMVanderbilt*BTNW 23–1331,644[10]
September 152:30 PMBoston College*
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
BTNW 22–1332,597[11]
September 222:30 PMSouth Dakota*
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
BTNW 38–728,641[12]
September 2911:00 AMIndiana
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
BTNW 44–2933,129[13]
October 611:00 AMat Penn StateNo. 24ESPNL 28–3995,796[14]
October 1311:00 AMat MinnesotaESPN2W 21–1349,651[15]
October 202:30 PMNebraska
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
ABC/ESPN2L 28–2947,330[16]
October 2711:00 AMIowadagger
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
ESPN2W 28–1744,121[17]
November 1011:00 AMat MichiganNo. 24ESPNL 31–38 OT112,510[18]
November 1711:00 AMat Michigan StateESPN2W 23–2075,101[19]
November 2411:00 AMIllinois
BTNW 50–1432,415[20]
January 111:00 AMvs. Mississippi StateNo. 21ESPN2W 34–2048,612[21]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Rankings[]

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final 
AP NR RV RV RV RV 24 RV RV NR RV RV RV RV 22 21 17 
Coaches' NR RV RV RV RV 22 RV RV RV RV 21 RV RV 20 17 16 
Harris Not released RV RV RV RV 24 RV RV 21 20 Not released 
BCS Not released NR NR NR 24 NR NR 22 20 Not released


Game summaries[]

Syracuse[]

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Northwestern 7 14 14 7 42
Syracuse 6 7 14 14 41
  • Date: September 1
  • Location: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
  • Game start: 11:00 a.m.
  • Elapsed time: 4:00
  • Game attendance: 37,830
  • Game weather: 80°F at kickoff, reaching 95°F inside the dome by the 2nd half
  • Referee: John O'Neill
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[23]
4–5 2009 SYR 37–34

The game got off to a slow start with some notable miscues on Northwestern's special teams play. All of which was quickly forgotten when Venric Mark scored an 82-yard touchdown on a punt return, the first return touchdown of his career. Northwestern continued to dominate offensively on the work of Mark and Kain Colter, taking a 35–13 lead in the middle of the 3rd quarter. The Orange then scored 4 straight touchdowns to lead 41–35 by attacking the young Northwestern secondary with deep passes to the outside. With under 3 minutes left and needing a score to win, Northwestern changed quarterbacks. Trevor Siemian came on to lead a 75-yard drive that scored the go-ahead touchdown. Northwestern survived to win and remain 7–0 in season openers under Pat Fitzgerald.

Vanderbilt[]

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Vanderbilt 7 3 0 3 13
Northwestern 3 0 3 17 23
  • Date: September 8
  • Location: Ryan Field, Evanston, IL
  • Game start: 7:03 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:15
  • Game attendance: 31,644
  • Game weather: 71°F, mostly cloudy, 9mph-NW wind
  • Referee: Matt Laeffler
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[25]
1–1–1 2010 NU 23–21

Boston College[]

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Boston College 3 7 0 3 13
Northwestern 6 6 3 7 22
  • Date: September 15
  • Location: Ryan Field, Evanston, IL
  • Game start: 2:43 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:19
  • Game attendance: 32,597
  • Game weather: 75°F, sunny, 8mph-NE wind
  • Referee: Gary Patterson
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[27]
3–1 2011 NU 24–17

South Dakota[]

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
South Dakota 0 0 7 0 7
Northwestern 14 14 7 3 38
  • Date: September 22
  • Location: Ryan Field, Evanston, IL
  • Game start: 2:42 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 2:58
  • Game attendance: 28,641
  • Game weather: 55°F, mostly sunny, 15mph-WNW wind
  • Referee: Todd Geerlings
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[29]
4–0 1927 NU 47–2

Indiana[]

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Indiana 0 0 21 8 29
Northwestern 7 13 17 7 44
  • Date: September 29
  • Location: Ryan Field, Evanston, IL
  • Game start: 11:01 a.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:18
  • Game attendance: 33,129
  • Game weather: 66°F, partly cloudy, 6mph-WNW wind
  • Referee: Mike Cannon
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[31]
45–34–1 2011 NU 59–38

Penn State[]

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#24 Northwestern 0 14 14 0 28
Penn State 3 7 7 22 39
Overall Record Last Meeting Result[32]
3–12 2011 PSU 34–24

Roster[]

2012 Northwestern Wildcats roster[33][34]

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

  • 3 Tyris Jones – Senior
  • 5 Venric MarkJunior
  • 20 Malin Jones – Freshman
  • 21 Jordan Perkins – Freshman
  • 22 Treyvon Green – Sophomore
  • 25 Jordan Perkins – Redshirt Freshman
  • 27 Mike Panico – Freshman
  • 28 Tim Hanrahan – Sophomore
  • 29 Stephen Buckley – Freshman
  • 32 Mike Trumpy – Junior
  • 34 Michael Odom – Freshman

Wide Receivers

  • 6 Tony Jones – Sophomore
  • 8 Demetrius Fields – Senior
  • 8 Jack Mitchell – Freshman
  • 11 Pierre Youngblood-Ary – Redshirt Freshman
  • 12 Cermak Bland – Redshirt Freshman
  • 14 Christian Jones – Sophomore
  • 17 Rashad Lawrence – Junior
  • 19 Cameron Dickerson – Redshirt Freshman
  • 21 Kyle PraterSophomore
  • 80 Mike Jensen – Junior
  • 82 Andrew Scanlan – Freshman
  • 83 Mike McHugh – Freshman
  • 84 Drew Moulton – Junior
  • 89 Austin CarrFreshman

Superbacks

  • 40 Dan VitaleFreshman
  • 41 Doug Diedrick – Redshirt Freshman
  • 43 Tim Riley – Junior
  • 81 Evan Watkins – Junior
  • 85 Mark Szott – Redshirt Freshman
  • 86 Jack Schwaba – Freshman
  • 87 Brian Smith – Junior
 

Offensive Line

  • 53 Geoff Mogus – Redshirt Freshman
  • 57 Matt Frazier – Redshirt Freshman
  • 61 Alex Pietrzak – Redshirt Freshman
  • 62 Taylor Paxton – Junior
  • 63 Ian Park – Freshman
  • 65 Hayden Baker – Sophomore
  • 66 Brandon Vitabile – Sophomore
  • 70 Patrick Ward – Senior
  • 71 Shane Mertz – Redshirt Freshman
  • 72 Brian Mulroe (C)Senior
  • 73 Adam DePietro – Freshman
  • 74 Chuck Porcelli – Senior
  • 75 Jack Konopka – Sophomore
  • 76 Eric Olson – Freshman
  • 77 Kenton Playko – Freshman
  • 79 Neal Deiters – Senior
  • 81 Paul Jorgensen – Sophomore

Defensive Line

  • 1 Bo Cisek – Senior
  • 67 Sean McEvilly – Sophomore
  • 68 Connor Mahoney – Freshman
  • 88 Quentin Williams – Senior
  • 89 Max Chapman – Redshirt Freshman
  • 90 C. J. Robbins – Redshirt Freshman
  • 91 Brian Arnfelt (C)Senior
  • 92 Will Hampton – Junior
  • 93 Greg Kuhar – Freshman
  • 94 Dean LowryFreshman
  • 95 Davon Custis – Junior
  • 96 Anthony Battle – Junior
  • 97 Tyler Scott – Junior
  • 98 Deonte Gibson – Redshirt Freshman
  • 99 Chance Carter – Sophomore
 

Linebackers

  • 18 Ifeadi OdenigboFreshman
  • 33 David Nwabuisi (C)Senior
  • 35 Eric WilsonFreshman
  • 44 Chi Chi Ariguzo – Sophomore
  • 45 Collin Ellis – Sophomore
  • 46 Damien Proby – Junior
  • 48 Roderick Goodlow – Senior
  • 50 Timmy Vernon – Junior
  • 51 Jaylen Prater – Freshman
  • 54 Eric Hauser – Freshman
  • 55 Drew Smith – Redshirt Freshman
  • 56 Will Studlien – Junior

Defensive Backs

  • 3 Sean Oliver – Freshman
  • 4 Jarrell Williams – Redshirt Freshman
  • 9 Jimmy Hall – Sophomore
  • 15 Daniel Jones – Sophomore
  • 16 Davion Fleming – Junior
  • 23 Nick VanHoose – Redshirt Freshman
  • 24 Ibraheim CampbellSophomore
  • 36 Mike Eshun – Sophomore
  • 39 Joe Cannon – Sophomore
  • 47 Troy Sheppard – Freshman

Cornerbacks

  • 2 Dwight White – Freshman
  • 13 C.J. Bryant – Sophomore
  • 22 Demetrius Dugar – Senior
  • 31 Quinn Evans – Senior

Safeties

  • 7 Hunter Bates – Senior
  • 10 Traveon Henry – Freshman
  • 26 Terrance Brown – Freshman
  • 27 Jared Carpenter – Senior
  • 42 Joseph Jones – Freshman
 

Punters

  • 31 Chris Gradone – Redshirt Freshman
  • 39 Zak Kucera – Freshman
  • 49 Brandon Williams – Junior

Punters/Kickers

  • 33 Matt Micucci – Freshman

Kickers

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

Long Snappers

  • 52 Chris Fitzpatrick – Freshman
  • 59 Pat Hickey – Junior
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

References[]

  1. Greenstein, Teddy (January 1, 2013). "Northwestern Wins Gator Bowl to End Drought". Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-0102-gator-bowl-northwestern--20130102,0,6183293.story. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  2. Taylor, John (February 1, 2012). "Northwestern announces 2012 recruiting class". NBC Sports. http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/01/northwestern-announces-2012-recruiting-class/. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  3. "WR Prater transfers from So. Cal to Northwestern". Sports Illustrated. January 28, 2012. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/01/28/prater.transfers.to.usc.ap/index.html. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  4. Greenstein, Teddy (June 27, 2012). "Prater, NU Expect to Hear From NCAA in July". Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-prater-northwestern-expect-to-hear-from-ncaa-in-july-20120627,0,4607439.story. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  5. Powers, Scott (February 22, 2012). "Adonis Smith Leaving Northwestern". ESPN. http://espn.go.com/chicago/ncf/story/_/id/7604016/adonis-smith-transferring-northwestern-wildcats. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  6. Taylor, John (March 8, 2012). "Ex-Northwestern RB Headed to UNLV". NBC Sports. http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/08/ex-northwestern-rb-headed-to-unlv/. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
  7. "Northwestern Announces Addition of Transfer Quinn Evans". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. June 11, 2012. http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/061112aab.html. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  8. "2012 Northwestern Football Schedule". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/nw-m-footbl-sched.html. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Syracuse Orange Box Score". ESPN. September 1, 2012. http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=322450183. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score". ESPN. September 8, 2012. http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=322520077. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  11. 11.0 11.1 "Boston College Eagles vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score". ESPN. September 15, 2012. http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=322590077. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  12. 12.0 12.1 "South Dakota Coyotes vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score". ESPN. September 22, 2012. http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=322660077. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  13. 13.0 13.1 "Indiana Hoosiers vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score". ESPN. September 29, 2012. http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=322730077. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  14. "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Box Score". ESPN. October 6, 2012. http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=322800213. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  15. "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Box Score". ESPN. October 13, 2012. http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=32287013. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  16. "Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score". ESPN. October 20, 2012. http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=322940077. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  17. "Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score". ESPN. October 27, 2012. http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=323010077. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  18. "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Michigan Wolverines Box Score". ESPN. November 10, 2012. http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=323150130. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  19. "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Michigan State Spartans Box Score". ESPN. November 17, 2012. http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=323220127. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  20. "Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score". ESPN. November 24, 2012. http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=323290077. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  21. "Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score". ESPN. January 1, 2013. http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=330010077. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  22. "Northwestern 42, Syracuse 41". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. September 1, 2012. http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/090112.html. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  23. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Syracuse (NY)". College Football Data Warehouse. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigten/northwestern/opponents_records.php?teamid=3150. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  24. "Northwestern 23, Vanderbilt 13". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. September 8, 2012. http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/090812.html. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  25. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Vanderbilt (TN)". College Football Data Warehouse. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigten/northwestern/opponents_records.php?teamid=3363. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  26. "Northwestern 22, Boston College 13". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. September 15, 2012. http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/091512.html. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  27. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Boston College (MA)". College Football Data Warehouse. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigten/northwestern/opponents_records.php?teamid=374. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  28. "Northwestern 38, South Dakota 7". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. September 22, 2012. http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/092212.html. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
  29. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs South Dakota". College Football Data Warehouse. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigten/northwestern/opponents_records.php?teamid=3010. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  30. "Indiana vs Northwestern". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. September 29, 2012. http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/092912.html. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  31. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Indiana". College Football Data Warehouse. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigten/northwestern/opponents_records.php?teamid=1516. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  32. DeLassus, David. "Northwestern vs Penn State". College Football Data Warehouse. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigten/northwestern/opponents_records.php?teamid=2514. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  33. "2012 Northwestern Wildcats football roster". http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/nw-m-footbl-mtt.html.
  34. "2012 Northwestern Wildcats captains announcement". http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082412aac.html.

External links[]

Commons-logo Media related to 2012 Northwestern Wildcats football team at Wikimedia Commons

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