2015 Northwestern Wildcats Football
Betting Odds For NorthWestern To Win National Title In 2015/16 Season: +120000
A roller coaster year for head coach Pat Fitzgerald and the Northwestern Wildcats saw them drop their first two contests, win three in a row (including a home upset of Wisconsin), drop four straight, win two and then lose the season finale to finish 5-7 on the year. The thrill of the Wisconsin win may have been topped on November 15, when the Wildcats stunned the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on their home field, winning 43-40 in overtime. In that game, Northwestern had trailed 40-29 with under five minutes left. Behind center, Trevor Sieman threw for over 2,200 yards, but finished with more interceptions than touchdown passes before a knee injury in the finale. The trio of Kyle Prater, Dan Vitale and Tony Jones served as his main targets, combining for 126 receptions and over 1,200 yards. However, they only reached the end zone five times. The ground game was keyed by Justin Jackson's 1,187 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Wildcat defense had periodic moments of outstanding efforts, but remains a work in progress. One week prior to the Wisconsin shocker, Northwestern went into Happy Valley and dominated Penn State in a 29-6 win that saw the Nittany Lions manage just two field goal on their home turf. However, with a bowl bid on the line in the season finale, Northwestern gave up 47 points to end the year on a down note. The leaders of the linebacker were linebackers Chi Chi Ariguzo and Anthony Walker. Up front, Dean Lowry was the leader of a variety of lineman that cycled in and out due to their specialties against the run or pass. At safety, Ibraheim Campbell struggled with injuries, but still was the leader of the defensive backfield.
The Northwestern Wildcats – University of Illinois Football Rivalry
The Land of Lincoln Trophy is presented to the winner of the Illinois Northwestern Division I men's college football team played each year. The prize was created in 2009, even though the teams first played in 1892. Going into the 2014 - 15 season Illinois leads all time 54 - 48 - 5. The name of the award for the game's winner was previously the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk from 1945 through 2008. From 1995 through the 2013 football season, Northwestern had a stranglehold on the Land of Lincoln Trophy. The Wildcats beat rival Illinois 12 out of those 19 seasons, and 8 times from 2003 through 2013.
Northwestern Wildcats Football Traditions
Northwestern Stripes
Way back in 1928 Northwestern University created a unique striping pattern on the sleeves of their jerseys. This is looked upon as one of the first modern-day football uniforms, and the design was quickly copycatted across the nation. The striping pattern was so well known as a characteristic of the school that the design format was named "Northwestern stripes."
The Purple Clock
Beginning with the 1995 season, the face of the clock on the Rebecca Crown Tower of the Northwestern campus turns from white to purple with every Wildcats football victory. Since 1997 the Northwestern tower clock is switched to purple after the last game of the year.
Willie the Wildcat
In 1923 Northwestern suffered a poor season. The live caged bear cub named Furpaw was the team's mascot at the time, and he was singularly blamed for the lack of success. The nickname Wildcats was then adopted officially by the school. That is because Chicago Sun-Times sportswriter Wallace Abbey described the school's defensive unit as a "wall of purple wildcats." In 1933 Willie the Wildcat's image was created by a local ad agency, and the current mascot was born.
Keys at Kickoff
Betting on Northwestern Wildcats football means jiggling your keys at kickoff. Northwestern is known as one of the most intelligent Division I colleges. The act of jiggling your keys before kickoff symbolizes that regardless the outcome of the game, the Wildcats' opponents will sometime in the future be parking the cars of the Northwestern students.
Resources for Northwestern Wildcats Football Fans
Northwestern Wildcats Official Website
NCAAF Official Website
