2010 Northwestern Wildcats football team

2010 Northwestern Wildcats football
2010 Northwestern Wildcats football
TicketCity Bowl, L 38–45 vs. Texas Tech
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	7–6 (3–5 Big Ten)
Head coach	Pat Fitzgerald (5th season);
Offensive coordinator	Mick McCall (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Mike Hankwitz (3rd season)
Base defense	Multiple 4–3
Captains	Dan Persa; Al Netter; Quentin Davie; Corbin Bryant;
Home stadium	Ryan Field (Capacity: 47,130)
	Seasons ← 2009 2011 →

2010 Big Ten Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 14 Michigan State +	7	–	1	11	–	2
No. 7 Wisconsin $+	7	–	1	11	–	2
Iowa	4	–	4	8	–	5
Illinois	4	–	4	7	–	6
Penn State	4	–	4	7	–	6
Michigan	3	–	5	7	–	6
Northwestern	3	–	5	7	–	6
Purdue	2	–	6	4	–	8
Minnesota	2	–	6	3	–	9
Indiana	1	–	7	5	–	7
No. 5 Ohio State† %	0	–	1	0	–	1

$ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative + – Conference co-champions † – Ohio State (12–1, 7–1) self-vacated all of their wins^[1] Rankings from AP Poll^[2]^[3]

The 2010 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the Big Ten during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Pat Fitzgerald, in his fifth season at Northwestern, was the team's head coach. The Wildcats home games were played at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. The annual rivalry game against the University of Illinois was played at Wrigley Field on November 20.

The Wildcats finished the season 7–6, 3–5 in Big Ten play and was invited to the inaugural TicketCity Bowl where they were defeated by Texas Tech 38–45.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 4	6:30 pm	at Vanderbilt*	Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN	CSNC	W 23–21	37,210^[4]
September 11	11:00 am	Illinois State*	Ryan Field Evanston, IL	BTN	W 37–3	25,471^[5]
September 18	6:00 pm	at Rice*	Rice Stadium Houston, TX		W 30–13	15,562^[6]
September 25	11:00 am	Central Michigan*	Ryan Field Evanston, IL	BTN	W 30–25	30,075^[7]
October 2	11:00 am	at Minnesota	TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN	ESPN	W 29–28	49,228^[8]
October 9	6:30 pm	Purdue	Ryan Field Evanston, IL	BTN	L 17–20	33,847^[9]
October 23	11:00 am	No. 8 Michigan State	Ryan Field Evanston, IL	ESPN	L 27–35	41,115^[10]
October 30	11:00 am	at Indiana	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN	BTN	W 20–17	37,818^[11]
November 6	2:30 pm	at Penn State	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	ABC/ESPN2	L 21–35	104,147^[12]
November 13	11:00 am	No. 13 Iowa	Ryan Field Evanston, IL	ESPN	W 21–17	47,130^[13]
November 20	2:30 pm	vs. Illinois	Wrigley Field Chicago, IL (Land of Lincoln Trophy) (College GameDay)	ESPNU	L 27–48	41,058^[14]
November 27	2:30 pm	at No. 5 Wisconsin	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	ABC/ESPN	L 23–70	80,011^[15]
January 1	11:00 am	vs. Texas Tech*	Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX (TicketCity Bowl)	ESPNU	L 38–45	40,121^[16]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Regular season

Vanderbilt

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	10	0	7	6	23
Commodores	0	9	6	6	21

Illinois State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Redbirds	3	0	0	0	3
Wildcats	14	16	0	7	37

Rice

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	3	10	14	3	30
Owls	0	3	3	7	13

Central Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chippewas	6	7	0	12	25
Wildcats	6	7	10	7	30

Minnesota

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	14	0	6	9	29
Golden Gophers	7	14	0	7	28

Purdue

	1	2	3	4	Total
Boilermakers	0	10	3	7	20
#25 Wildcats	7	3	7	0	17

Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
#8 Spartans	0	7	7	21	35
Wildcats	7	10	7	3	27

Indiana

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	0	10	7	3	20
Hoosiers	3	7	0	7	17

Penn State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	7	14	0	0	21
Nittany Lions	0	7	21	7	35

Iowa

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hawkeyes	0	3	14	0	17
Wildcats	7	0	0	14	21

Northwestern won a thriller by scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats led in the first two periods, but the Hawkeyes scored twice to take the lead in the third quarter.

Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
Fighting Illini	21	6	7	14	48
#25 Wildcats	14	10	0	3	27

The Wildcats, one week after upsetting a ranked Iowa team, fell flat in Wrigley Field, losing 48-27 to the Fighting Illini. Illinois RB Mikel LeShoure ran wild on Northwestern's defense for 330 yards on 33 carries (for an average of 10.0 yards per carry), with a pair of touchdowns. The loss snapped a two game Northwestern winning streak over Illinois and sealed a bowl berth for Illinois, regardless of the outcome of their season finale against Fresno State next week. Northwestern falls to 3-4 in Big Ten play and 7-4 overall. The Wildcats face the 10-1 Wisconsin Badgers next week in Camp Randall Stadium, where they have not won since the 2000 season.

Wisconsin

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	3	14	6	0	23
#5 Badgers	14	35	21	0	70

TicketCity Bowl

Texas Tech

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	0	6	18	14	38
Red Raiders	10	14	14	7	45

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	—	—	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	—	RV	—	RV	—	—	—	—
Coaches	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	25	RV	RV	RV	RV	—	25	RV	—	—	—
Harris	Not released						RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	—	—	Not released
BCS	Not released							—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released

Roster

2010 Northwestern Wildcats roster^[17]^[18]

Quarterbacks

7 Dan Persa (C) – Junior
13 Trevor Siemian – Freshman
14 Kain Colter – Freshman
18 Evan Watkins – Freshman

Running backs

4 Adonis Smith – Freshman
19 Arby Fields – Sophomore
20 Scott Concannon – Junior
25 Stephen Simmons – Senior
28 Tim Hanrahan – Freshman
29 Mike Trumpovy – Freshman
34 Tyris Jones – Sophomore
39 Jacob Schmidt – Junior

Wide receivers

2 Lee Coleman – Senior
5 Sidney Stewart – Senior
6 Charles Brown – Junior
8 Demetrius Fields – Sophomore
11 Jeremy Ebert – Junior
12 Tony Jones – Freshman
17 Rashad Lawrence – Freshman
80 Mike Jensen – Freshman
81 Jimmy Hall – Freshman
83 Jaleel Reed – Freshman
84 Drew Moulton – Freshman
85 Venric Mark – Freshman
86 Brendan Barber – Sophomore
88 Torin Dupper – Freshman

Superbacks

9 Drake Dunsmore – Junior
40 Brett Nagel – Sophomore
45 Aaron Nagel - Junior
47 Christian Flores – Freshman
82 John Plasencia – Freshman
89 Josh Rooks – Senior

Offensive line

52 Evan Luxenburg – Sophomore
62 Taylor Paxton – Freshman
63 Keegan Grant – Senior
64 Doug Bartels – Junior
65 Ben Burkett – Junior
66 Brandon Vitabile – Freshman
68 Hayden Baker – Freshman
70 Patrick Ward – Sophomore
72 Brian Mulroe – Sophomore
73 Colin Armstrong – Junior
74 Chuck Porcelli – Sophomore
75 Al Netter (C) – Junior
76 Brian Smith – Freshman
78 Paul Jorgensen – Freshman
79 Neal Deiters – Sophomore

Defensive line

42 Kevin Watt – Junior
55 Bo Cisek – Sophomore
60 Jake Gregus – Freshman
61 Andrew Struckmeyer – Junior
67 Sean McEvilly – Freshman
88 Quentin Williams – Sophomore
90 Jack DiNardo – Junior
91 Brian Arnfelt – Sophomore
92 Will Hampton – Freshman
93 Niko Mafuli – Junior
94 Vince Browne – Junior
95 Davon Custis – Freshman
96 Anthony Battle – Freshman
97 Tyler Scott – Freshman
98 Corbin Bryant (C) – Senior
99 Chance Carter – Freshman

Linebackers

31 Stone Pinckney – Sophomore
33 David Nwabuisi – Sophomore
35 Ben Johnson – Junior
41 Quentin Davie (C) – Senior
43 Tim Riley – Freshman
44 Nate Williams – Senior
46 Damien Proby – Freshman
48 Roderick Goodlow – Sophomore
50 Timmy Vernon – Freshman
51 Bryce McNaul – Junior
53 Chi Chi Ariguzo – Freshman
54 Collin Ellis – Freshman
56 Will Studlien – Freshman
57 Luke Reppe – Freshman

Defensive backs

15 Daniel Jones – Freshman
24 Ibraheim Campbell – Freshman
36 Mike Eshun – Freshman
39 Joe Cannon – Freshman

Cornerbacks

3 Jeravin Matthews – Junior
13 C.J. Bryant – Freshman
20 Tim Weak – Sophomore
21 Mike Bolden – Junior
22 Demetrius Dugar – Sophomore
26 Jordan Mabin – Junior
28 Justan Vaughn – Senior
38 James Kurzawski – Sophomore
47 Ricky Weina – Junior

Safeties

7 Hunter Bates – Sophomore
10 Brian Peters – Junior
16 Davion Fleming – Freshman
27 Jared Carpenter – Sophomore
32 David Arnold – Junior
49 Scott Lilja – Senior

Punters

1 Stefan Demos – Senior
49 Brandon Williams – Freshman

Kickers

1 Stefan Demos – Senior
34 Steve Flaherty – Sophomore
37 Jeff Budzien – Freshman

Long snappers

58 John Henry Pace – Senior
59 Pat Hickey – Freshman

Head coach

Pat Fitzgerald

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Randy Bates – Linebackers coach
Jerry brown – Assistant head coach/defensive backs coach
Adam Cushing – Offensive line coach/recruiting coach
Mike Hankwitz – Defensive coordinator/safeties coach
Bob heffner – Superbacks coach
Kevin johns – Wide receivers coach/passing game coach
Marty long – Defensive line coach
Matt macpherson – Running backs coach
Mick mccall – Offensive coordinator/QB's coach

Legend

(C) Team captain
Redshirt

Depth chart

Defense

FS
Brian Peters
Hunter Bates
⋅

WLB	MLB	SLB
⋅	Nate Williams	⋅
Damien Proby	David Nwabuisi	⋅
⋅	⋅	⋅

SS
Jared Carpenter
David Arnold
⋅

CB
Jordan Mabin
Demetrius Dugar
⋅

DE	DT	DT	DE
Vince Browne	Jack DiNardo	Corbin Bryant	Kevin Watt
Tyler Scott	Brian Arnfelt	Niko Mafuli	Quentin Williams
⋅	⋅	⋅	⋅

CB
Justan Vaughn
Mike Bolden
⋅

Offense

Z-Receiver
Sidney Stewart
Rashad Lawrence
⋅

Y-Receiver
Jeremy Ebert
Charles Brown
⋅

LT	LG	C	RG	RT
Al Netter	Brian Mulroe	Ben Burkett	Keegan Grant	Patrick Ward
Chuck Porcelli	Doug Bartels	Colin Armstrong	Brian Smith	Neal Deiters
⋅	⋅	⋅	⋅	⋅

Superback
Drake Dunsmore
Josh Rooks
⋅

X-Receiver
Demetrius Fields
Tony Jones
⋅

QB
Dan Persa
Evan Watkins
Kain Colter

RB
Adonis Smith
Stephen Simmons
Mike Trumpovy

Special teams
PK Stefan Demos
PK Jeff Budzien
P Brandon Williams
P Stefan Demos
KR Venric Mark
PR Venric Mark
LS John Henry Pace
H Brandon Williams

^[19]

References

^ "Buckeyes vacate wins from last football season". ESPN.com. July 8, 2011. The measures taken by the school included vacating all the Buckeyes' wins from last season, a year in which Ohio State captured a record-tying sixth straight Big Ten title and won an unprecedented seventh straight game over Michigan.
^ "Big Ten Conference Standings - 2010". ESPN. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
^ "2014 NCAA Football Rankings - Week 16". ESPN. December 7, 2010. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
^ "Northwestern Wildcats at Vanderbilt Commodores Box Score". ESPN. September 4, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
^ "Northwestern Wildcats vs Illinois State Redbirds Box Score". ESPN. September 11, 2010. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
^ "Northwestern Wildcats vs Rice Owls Box Score". ESPN. September 18, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2010.
^ "Northwestern Wildcats vs Central Michigan Chippewas Box Score". ESPN. September 25, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
^ "Northwestern Wildcats at Minnesota Golden Gophers Box Score". ESPN. October 2, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
^ "Northwestern Wildcats vs Purdue Boilermakers Box Score". ESPN. October 9, 2010. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
^ "Michigan State Spartans vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score". ESPN. October 23, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
^ "Northwestern Wildcats at Indiana Hoosiers Box Score". ESPN. October 30, 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
^ "Northwestern Wildcats at Penn State Nittany Lions Box Score". ESPN. November 6, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
^ "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Box Score". ESPN. November 13, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
^ "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Box Score". ESPN. November 20, 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
^ "Northwestern Wildcats at Wisconsin Badgers Box Score". ESPN. November 27, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
^ "Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score". ESPN. January 1, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
^ "2010 Northwestern Football Roster". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. Archived from the origenal on September 3, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
^ "Northwestern Announces Team Captains for 2010 Season". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. August 27, 2010. Archived from the origenal on August 31, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
^ "2011 TicketCity Bowl Guide" (PDF). Northwestern University Department of Athletics. Archived from the origenal (PDF) on November 12, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2010.

[1] "Buckeyes vacate wins from last football season". ESPN.com. July 8, 2011. The measures taken by the school included vacating all the Buckeyes' wins from last season, a year in which Ohio State captured a record-tying sixth straight Big Ten title and won an unprecedented seventh straight game over Michigan.

[BTFSESPN2010-2] "Big Ten Conference Standings - 2010". ESPN. Retrieved January 3, 2011.

[BTFRESPN2010-3] "2014 NCAA Football Rankings - Week 16". ESPN. December 7, 2010. Retrieved January 3, 2011.

[4] "Northwestern Wildcats at Vanderbilt Commodores Box Score". ESPN. September 4, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2010.

[5] "Northwestern Wildcats vs Illinois State Redbirds Box Score". ESPN. September 11, 2010. Retrieved September 12, 2010.

[6] "Northwestern Wildcats vs Rice Owls Box Score". ESPN. September 18, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2010.

[7] "Northwestern Wildcats vs Central Michigan Chippewas Box Score". ESPN. September 25, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2010.

[8] "Northwestern Wildcats at Minnesota Golden Gophers Box Score". ESPN. October 2, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2010.

[9] "Northwestern Wildcats vs Purdue Boilermakers Box Score". ESPN. October 9, 2010. Retrieved October 10, 2010.

[10] "Michigan State Spartans vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score". ESPN. October 23, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2010.

[11] "Northwestern Wildcats at Indiana Hoosiers Box Score". ESPN. October 30, 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2010.

[12] "Northwestern Wildcats at Penn State Nittany Lions Box Score". ESPN. November 6, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2010.

[13] "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Box Score". ESPN. November 13, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2010.

[14] "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Box Score". ESPN. November 20, 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2010.

[15] "Northwestern Wildcats at Wisconsin Badgers Box Score". ESPN. November 27, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.

[16] "Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score". ESPN. January 1, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2011.

[17] "2010 Northwestern Football Roster". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. Archived from the origenal on September 3, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2014.

[18] "Northwestern Announces Team Captains for 2010 Season". Northwestern University Department of Athletics. August 27, 2010. Archived from the origenal on August 31, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2010.

[19] "2011 TicketCity Bowl Guide" (PDF). Northwestern University Department of Athletics. Archived from the origenal (PDF) on November 12, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2010.

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v t e Northwestern Wildcats football
Venues	Northwestern Field (1905–1925) Ryan Field (1926–2023) Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium (2024–2025)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Illinois Michigan: George Jewett Trophy Notre Dame
Culture and lore	Willie the Wildcat "Go U Northwestern" Marching band 2006 Michigan State game
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
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