but the backups on the offense have moved around a bit Up on the Offensive LIne, Austin Matthews [So 6-5 285] is now listed as the starting center, with Joel Belding [6-3 300] as his backup. Adam Crum [6-1 280] is now listed as the backup right guard and Alex Rucks [6-4 300] is the backup left guard. Freshman Kurt Mattes [6-6 280] is listed as the backup tackle on both sides. On Defense, if Nick Roach's back injury keeps him out of the game Saturday, Eddie Simpson is listed as the backup. NU was fortunate in the Iowa game in that its the first game where they lost the turnover ratio and still won. Basanez has been intercepted more in the last two weeks than in the first 7 games. The Cats are 18th nationally turnover margin. The release also notes that NU's defense, while allowing almost 500 yards a game, has faced the NCAA's #3 [ASU], #5 [MSU], #14 [NIU], #24 [Penn State], #27 [Purdue], #33 [Iowa], #47 [Michigan] and #49 [Wisconsin] and come away with only 3 losses. Makes you wonder if they're really as bad as some folks think.
Brett Basanez needs just 6 TD passes to become the career leader in that category. Its the only big record left for Basanez, he already holds the Career Total Offense, Passing Yardage, and Pass Completion record, and Wins by a Starting QB. This year he's also closing in on the single season records in total offense, and passing TDs. Both records are held by Zak Kustok. He needs a little over 100 yards for the total offense, and 5 TD passes to take those records. While he's been rewriting the NU record book, he's got a ways to go to catch the Big 10 Leaders in all those categories. Every time Tyrell Sutton gains a yard rushing, he sets a new Freshman rushing record. He's 7 TDs away from tieing Damien Anderson's 23 TDs from 2000. Tim McGarigle is also rewriting the defensive record book - his 511 tackle total, set last Saturday, leads the Wildcats.
Outside Linebacker Nick Roach is listed as questionable due to a back injury, reserve lineman Ben Rothrauff is doubtful due to a concussion.. Listed as out are reserve tackle Vince Clarke, RB Omar Conteh, and DE Corey Wootton, among others.
So its off the "the Shoe" at Ohio State. Its the one venue in the Big 10 where the Wildcats under Randy Walker have never won. NU did beat OSU in Ohio back in the 1971 under Alex Agase, and Ara Parseghian did it 1963.
Coach Roy74 on AIM
