1995 Northwestern Wildcats football team

The 1995 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the 1995 NCAA Division I-A college football season. The 1995 season was a highly memorable one for the Northwestern program, as the Wildcats went 10–2 overall and 8–0 in the Big Ten Conference, earning their first winning season since 1971, their first conference championship since 1936, and their first 10-win season since 1903.[2] They also broke several long-standing losing streaks to regular opponents, including a 22-game losing streak to Iowa, a 19-game losing streak against Michigan, and a 14-game losing streak to Notre Dame.

1995 Northwestern Wildcats football
Big Ten champion
Rose Bowl, L 32–41 vs. USC
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 7
APNo. 8
Record10–2 (8–0 Big Ten)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorRon Vanderlinden (4th season)
Captains
  • William Bennett[1]
  • Rob Johnson
  • Sam Valenzisi
Home stadiumDyche Stadium (Capacity: 49,256)
1995 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 8 Northwestern $ 8 –0 –010 –2 –0
No. 6 Ohio State 7 –1 –011 –2 –0
No. 13 Penn State 5 –3 –09 –3 –0
No. 17 Michigan 5 –3 –09 –4 –0
Michigan State 4 –3 –16 –5 –1
No. 25 Iowa 4 –4 –08 –4 –0
Illinois 3 –4 –15 –5 –1
Wisconsin 3 –4 –14 –5 –2
Purdue 2 –5 –14 –6 –1
Minnesota 1 –7 –03 –8 –0
Indiana 0 –8 –02 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

"Expect Victory" was the motto even as Northwestern began the season as 28-point underdogs against Notre Dame, who they upset 17-15, propelling into the AP poll at #25. An upset loss to the Miami Redhawks in the second game of the season caused the Wildcats to drop out of the rankings. However, subsequent wins over ranked Michigan (19-13), Wisconsin (35-0), and Penn State (21-10) pushed the Wildcats into the top-10 while making them national media darlings.

Nine consecutive wins (including eight against Big Ten opponents) brought Northwestern their highest ranking since 1962 (#3), a conference title, and their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1949. In the Rose Bowl, the Wildcats' Cinderella season came to a conclusion with a 41–32 loss to the USC Trojans, and they finished the season at #8.

Northwestern was coached by Gary Barnett, who won multiple coach of the year awards for leading the dramatic turnaround of the program. Star players included the trio of quarterback Steve Schnur, running back Darnell Autry, and linebacker Pat Fitzgerald, who was named Big Ten and national defensive player of the year.

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 21:30 pmat No. 9 Notre Dame*
NBCW 17–1559,075
September 1611:00 amMiami (OH)*No. 25
ESPN2L 28–3026,352
September 2311:30 amAir Force*
  • Dyche Stadium
  • Evanston, Illinois
ESPNW 30–626,037
September 301:00 pmIndiana
  • Dyche Stadium
  • Evanston, Illinois
W 31–729,223
October 711:30 amat No. 7 MichiganNo. 25
ESPNW 19–13104,642
October 141:00 pmat MinnesotaNo. 14
W 27–1750,504
October 2111:30 amNo. 24 WisconsindaggerNo. 11
  • Dyche Stadium
  • Evanston, Illinois
ESPN2W 35–049,256
October 2811:00 amat IllinoisNo. 8
SCCW 17–1465,425
November 42:30 pmNo. 12 Penn StateNo. 6
  • Dyche Stadium
  • Evanston, Illinois
ABCW 21–1049,256
November 1111:00 amIowaNo. 5
CreativeW 31–2049,256
November 182:30 pmat PurdueNo. 5
ABCW 23–847,172
January 13:30 pmvs. No. 17 USC*No. 3
ABCL 32–41100,102

Roster
1995 Northwestern Wildcats football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
RB 32 Adrian Autry So
RB 24 Darnell Autry So
WR 5 D'Wayne Bates Fr
WR 86 Dave Beazley Jr
FB   Levelle Brown Fr
G 61 Justin Chabot Jr
TE 83 Darren Drexler Jr
TE 85 Brian Harpring Sr
FB 46 Matt Hartl Jr
QB 8 Tim Hughes Jr
OT 74 Paul Janus Jr
C 57 Rob Johnson Sr
OT 78 Brian Kardos
WR 22 Brian Musso So
G 75 Ryan Padgett
G 77 Chad Pugh
QB 10 Steve Schnur Jr
WR 25 Jeff Swenson So
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
FS 20 William Bennett Sr
SS 33 Eric Collier Jr
DE 36 Casey Dailey Jr
LB 51 Pat Fitzgerald Injured Jr
LB 55 Barry Gardner Fr
LB 53 Don Holmes Jr
CB 3 Hudhaifa Ismaeli So
LB 44 Keith Lozowski Jr
LB 59 BT Franklin Sr
CB 16 Chris Martin Sr
CB 15 Rodney Ray Sr
DL 89 Larry Curry Sr
DL 94 Joe Reiff Jr
DL 95 Matt Rice
DL 96 Ray Robey
LB   Tim Scharf Jr
LB 47 Geoff Shein
LB 50 Danny Sutter
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
P 14 Paul Burton Jr
K 13 Brian Gowins So
K 27 Sam Valenzisi Injured (C) Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Rankings
Further information: 1995 NCAA Division I-A football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
— = Not ranked.
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
AP———25——25141186554338
Coaches——————171186554337

[3]

Game summaries

Notre Dame
See also: 1995 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and Northwestern–Notre Dame football rivalry
Northwestern Wildcats at #9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Period 1 2 34Total
Northwestern 7 3 7017
Notre Dame 0 9 0615

at Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, Indiana

Game information
Scoring summary
Q16:15NWDave Beazley 6-yard pass from Steve Schnur (Valenzisi kick)NW 7–0
Q2NDKevin Kopka 35-yard field goalNW 7–3
Q2NWSam Valenzisi 37-yard field goalNW 10–3
Q22:35NDRobert Farmer 5-yard run (kick failed)NW 10–9
Q3NWD'Wayne Bates 26-yard pass from Steve Schnur (Valenzisi kick)NW 17–9
Q46:15NDRandy Kinder 2-yard run (conversion failed)NW 17–15

[4] [5] [6] [7]

Miami (OH)
See also: 1995 Miami Redskins football team

The Wildcats surrendered a 21-point 4th quarter lead in their first game as a nationally ranked team since 1971. Miami of Ohio's Chad Seitz booted a 20-yard field goal as time expired to give the Redskins the victory. The opposing team was led by future Northwestern head coach Randy Walker and his offensive coordinator was Sean Payton. This would be the lone regular season blemish on the Wildcats' schedule.[8][9]

Miami (OH) Redskins at #25 Northwestern Wildcats
Period 1 2 34Total
Miami (OH) 0 7 02330
Northwestern 14 7 7028

at Dyche Stadium, Evanston, Illinois

  • Date: September 16, 1995
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 26,352
  • Box Score
Game information
Scoring summary
Q110:50NWD'Wayne Bates 27-yard pass from Steve Schnur (Valenzisi kick)NW 7–0
Q13:40NWDarnell Autry 13-yard pass from Steve Schnur (Valenzisi kick)NW 14–0
Q24:06NWD'Wayne Bates 36-yard pass from Steve Schnur (Valenzisi kick)NW 21–0
Q21:55M-OHDee Osborne 5-yard blocked punt return (Seitz kick)NW 21–7
Q314:09NWRodney Ray 20-yard interception return (Valenzisi kick)NW 28–7
Q411:14M-OHJay Hall 5-yard pass from Sam Ricketts (Seitz kick)NW 28–14
Q48:36M-OHJeremy Adkins 9-yard pass from Sam Ricketts (Seitz kick)NW 28–21
Q42:22M-OHTy King 2-yard run (conversion failed)NW 28–27
Q40:00M-OHChad Seitz 20-yard field goalMIAMI 30–28

Air Force
See also: 1995 Air Force Falcons football team
Air Force Falcons at Northwestern Wildcats
Period 1 2 34Total
Air Force 0 6 006
Northwestern 10 6 01430

at Dyche Stadium, Evanston, Illinois

  • Date: September 23, 1995
  • Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 26,037
  • [10]
Game information
Scoring summary
Q17:21NWSam Valenzisi 46-yard field goalNW 3–0
Q14:19NWDarnell Autry 1-yard run (Valenzisi kick)NW 10–0
Q213:09AFRandy Roberts 26-yard field goalNW 10–3
Q29:36NWSam Valenzisi 26-yard field goalNW 13–3
Q27:16NWSam Valenzisi 35-yard field goalNW 16–3
Q20:31AFRandy Roberts 39-yard field goalNW 16–6
Q414:57NWDarnell Autry 6-yard run (Valenzisi kick)NW 23–6
Q48:37NWAdrian Autry 5-yard run (Valenzisi kick)NW 30–6

Indiana
See also: 1995 Indiana Hoosiers football team
Indiana Hoosiers at Northwestern Wildcats
Period 1 2 34Total
Indiana 0 7 007
Northwestern 3 7 111031

at Dyche Stadium, Evanston, Illinois

  • Date: September 30, 1995
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 29,223
  • [11]
Game information
Scoring summary
Q10:01NWSam Valenzisi 40-yard field goalNW 3–0
Q29:26INDChris Dittoe 2-yard run (Manolopoulos kick)Indiana 7–3
Q25:27NWDarnell Autry 42-yard run (Valenzisi kick)NW 10–7
Q37:04NWSam Valenzisi 34-yard field goalNW 13–7
Q34:24NWDarnell Autry 6-yard run (Beazley pass from Schnur)NW 21–7
Q49:06NWCasey Dailey 43-yard fumble return (Valenzisi kick)NW 28–7
Q46:30NWSam Valenzisi 32-yard field goalNW 31–7

Michigan
See also: 1995 Michigan Wolverines football team
#25 Northwestern Wildcats at #7 Michigan Wolverines
Period 1 2 34Total
Northwestern 0 6 31019
Michigan 3 3 7013

at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • Date: October 7, 1995
  • Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 104,642
  • TV: ESPN
  • Box Score
Game information
Scoring summary
Q19:33MichRemy Hamilton 41-yard field goalMich 3–0
Q212:43MichRemy Hamilton 21-yard field goalMich 6–0
Q24:15NWSam Valenzisi 29-yard field goalMich 6–3
Q20:01NWSam Valenzisi 28-yard field goalTied 6–6
Q38:02MichBrian Griese 3-yard run (Hamilton kick)Mich 13–6
Q33:48NWSam Valenzisi 32-yard field goalMich 13–9
Q412:42NWMatt Hartl 2-yard pass from Steve Schnur (Valenzisi kick)NW 16–13
Q48:42NWSam Valenzisi 22-yard field goalNW 19–13

Minnesota
See also: 1995 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

After falling behind 14–3 early in the second quarter, the Wildcats scored the next 24 points to take control of the game. Darnell Autry ran for 169 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 73-yard burst early in the fourth quarter.[12]

#14 Northwestern Wildcats at Minnesota Golden Gophers
Period 1 2 34Total
Northwestern 3 11 7627
Minnesota 7 7 0317

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: October 14, 1995
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 50,504
  • Box Score
Game information
Scoring summary
Q13:49NWSam Valenzisi 29-yard field goalNW 3–0
Q10:30MinnPaul Kratochvil 4-yard pass from Cory Sauter (Chalberg kick)Minn 7–3
Q213:08MinnChris Darkins 6-yard run (Chalberg kick)Minn 14–3
Q29:47NWSam Valenzisi 29-yard field goalMinn 14–6
Q25:42NWDarnell Autry 18-yard run (D'Wayne Bates pass from Steve Schnur)Tied 14–14
Q33:57NWDarnell Autry 11-yard run (Valenzisi kick)NW 21–14
Q412:21NWDarnell Autry 73-yard run (Valenzisi kick)NW 27–14
Q48:51MinnMike Chalberg 47-yard field goalNW 27–17

Wisconsin
See also: 1995 Wisconsin Badgers football team

The Wildcats forced 7 Badger turnovers (Wisconsin had 6 total in their first five games) in a triumphant homecoming matchup. The game marked the first sellout at Northwestern since 1984.[13] [14]

#24 Wisconsin Badgers at #11 Northwestern Wildcats
Period 1 2 34Total
Wisconsin 0 0 000
Northwestern 10 3 61635

at Dyche Stadium, Evanston, Illinois

  • Date: October 21, 1995
  • Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 49,256
  • TV: ESPN2
  • Box Score
Game information
Scoring summary
Q17:22NWSteve Schnur 1-yard run (Valenzisi kick)NW 7–0
Q22:39NWSam Valenzisi 32-yard field goalNW 10–0
Q20:56NWSam Valenzisi 26-yard field goalNW 13–0
Q313:21NWDarnell Autry 32-yard pass from Steve Schnur (conversion failed)NW 19–0
Q413:34NWDarnell Autry 3-yard run (Valenzisi kick)NW 26–0
Q411:03NWBrian Gowins 40-yard field goalNW 29–0
Q47:29NWLevelle Brown 38-yard run (PAT failed)NW 35–0

Illinois
See also: 1995 Illinois Fighting Illini football team and Illinois–Northwestern football rivalry
#8 Northwestern Wildcats at Illinois Fighting Illini
Period 1 2 34Total
Northwestern 0 10 0717
Illinois 7 7 0014

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

  • Date: October 28, 1995
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 65,425
  • TV: SCC
  • [15]
Game information
Scoring summary
Q19:41ILLWeaver 1-yard run (Scheuplein kick)Ill 7–0
Q210:32ILLRobert Holcombe 7-yard run (Scheuplein kick)Ill 14–0
Q28:12NWBrian Gowins 49-yard field goalIll 14–3
Q24:33NWD'Wayne Bates 43-yard pass from Steve Schnur (Gowins kick)Ill 14–10
Q46:14NWDarnell Autry 1-yard run (Gowins kick)NW 17–14

Penn State
See also: 1995 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
#12 Penn State Nittany Lions at #6 Northwestern Wildcats
Period 1 2 34Total
Penn State 0 7 3010
Northwestern 7 7 0721

at Dyche Stadium, Evanston, Illinois

Game information
Scoring summary
Q18:47NWDarnell Autry 2-yard run (Gowins kick)NW 7–0
Q28:07NWDarnell Autry 11-yard run (Gowins kick)NW 14–0
Q20:48PSUOlsommer 5-yard pass from Richardson (Conway kick)NW 14–7
Q38:32PSUConway 24-yard field goalNW 14–10
Q411:03NWDarnell Autry 1-yard run (Gowins kick)NW 21–10

[16][17]

Iowa
See also: 1995 Iowa Hawkeyes football team and College GameDay (football)
Iowa Hawkeyes at #5 Northwestern Wildcats
Period 1 2 34Total
Iowa 0 20 0020
Northwestern 3 14 7731

at Dyche Stadium, Evanston, Illinois

  • Date: November 11, 1995
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
  • Game weather: 26 °F (−3 °C), Overcast, Wind N 30 mph (48 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 49,256
  • Referee: David Witvoet
  • TV announcers (Creative Sports): Wayne Larrivee, Randy Wright, and Jim Barber
  • Box Score
Game information
Scoring summary
16:24NWBrian Gowins 50-yard field goalNW 3–0
213:03IOWASedrick Shaw 1-yard run (Bromert kick)IOWA 7–3
28:25IOWATom Knight 28-yard interception return (Bromert kick)IOWA 14–3
26:44NWDarren Drexler 21-yard pass from Steve Schnur (Gowins kick)IOWA 14–10
25:05NWBrian Musso 60-yard punt return (Gowins kick)NW 17–14
21:31IOWAScott Slutzker 39-yard pass from Matt Sherman (kick failed)IOWA 20–17
311:08NWDarnell Autry 3-yard run (Gowins kick)NW 24–20
42:56NWHudhaifa Ismaeli 31-yard fumble return (Gowins kick)NW 31–20

[18]

Purdue
See also: 1995 Purdue Boilermakers football team

Northwestern got two big scoring plays in the first half – a 76-yard interception return for a touchdown by Chris Martin and a 72-yard touchdown reception by D'Wayne Bates – to take control. Darnell Autry carried the ball 32 times for a career-high 226 yards.[19][20]

#5 Northwestern Wildcats at Purdue Boilermakers
Period 1 2 34Total
Northwestern 7 7 9023
Purdue 0 0 088

at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

  • Date: November 18, 1995
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 47,172
  • TV: ABC
  • Box Score
Game information
Scoring summary
Q17:47NWChris Martin 76-yard interception return (Gowins kick)NW 7–0
Q23:10NWD'Wayne Bates 72-yard pass from Steve Schnur (Gowins kick)NW 14–0
Q313:53NWSafetyNW 16–0
Q313:38NWSteve Schnur 1-yard run (Gowins kick)NW 23–0
Q410:30PURWatson 3-yard run (Alstott reception)NW 23–8

Rose Bowl
See also: 1995 USC Trojans football team and 1996 Rose Bowl
#3 Northwestern Wildcats vs. #17 USC Trojans
Period 1 2 34Total
Northwestern 7 3 16632
USC 7 17 71041

at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

Game information
Scoring summary
Q110:02USCLavale Woods 1-yard run (Abrams kick)USC 7–0
Q16:05NWDarnell Autry 3-yard run (Gowins kick)Tied 7–7
Q213:05USCTerry Barnum 21-yard pass from Brad Otton (Abrams kick)USC 14–7
Q23:29USCAdam Abrams 30-yard field goalUSC 17–7
Q22:56USCDaylon McCutcheon 53-yard fumble return (Abrams kick)USC 24–7
Q20:02NWBrian Gowins 29-yard field goalUSC 24–10
Q311:01NWBrian Gowins 28-yard field goalUSC 24–13
Q38:17NWDarnell Autry 3-yard run (conversion failed)USC 24–19
Q26:08USCKeyshawn Johnson 56-yard pass from Brad Otton (Abrams kick)USC 31–19
Q32:58NWSteve Schnur 1-yard run (Gowins kick)USC 31–26
Q413:01NWDarnell Autry 2-yard run (conversion failed)NW 32–31
Q49:09USCAdam Abrams 46-yard field goalUSC 34–32
Q42:55USCDelon Washington 2-yard run (Abrams kick)USC 41–32

[21] [22] [23][24]

Awards and honors

1995 team players in the NFL

References
  1. "Year-by-Year Results" (PDF). 2007. p. 149. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  2. "Northwestern Wildcats College Football History, Stats, Records". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  3. "Northwestern 1995 AP Football Rankings". collegepollarchive.com. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  4. "NORTHWESTERN DETERMINED TO BUCK THE ODDS". Chicago Tribune. August 23, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  5. "Northwestern vs. Notre Dame". USA Today. September 2, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  6. "NOTRE DAME STUNNED BY NORTHWESTERN". The Washington Post. September 3, 1995. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  7. "Witnesses recall Northwestern's 1995 upset of Notre Dame". Chicago Tribune. November 13, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  8. "Miami (ohio) vs. Northwestern". USA Today. September 16, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  9. "Back to Reality: Miami of Ohio 30, Northwestern 28". Chicago Tribune. September 17, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  10. "Air Force vs. Northwestern". USA Today. September 23, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  11. "Indiana vs. Northwestern". USA Today. September 30, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  12. "Northwestern vs. Minnesota". USA Today. October 14, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  13. "Northwestern 35, Wisconsin 0". United Press International. October 21, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  14. "NEWS FOR NO. 8 NU ISN'T ALL THAT ROSY". Chicago Tribune. October 23, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  15. "Northwestern vs. Illinois". USA Today. October 28, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  16. "Penn St. vs. Northwestern". USA Today. November 4, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  17. Layden, Tim (November 13, 1995). "THE CATS' MEOW BY BEATING PENN STATE, NORTHWESTERN PROVED IT'S MORE THAN A GOOD STORY--IT'S A GOOD TEAM". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  18. "Iowa vs. Northwestern". USA Today. November 11, 1995. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  19. "Northwestern vs. Purdue". USA Today. November 18, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  20. "Memory of Single Loss Helped Wildcats Dig In". Chicago Tribune. November 19, 1995. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  21. "FOR INJURED, A BITTERSWEET TIME". Chicago Tribune. December 24, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  22. Telander, Rick (December 25, 1995). "PURPLE HAZE IN AN IMPROBABLY SENSATIONAL SEASON, NORTHWESTERN EMERGED FROM A FOG OF FUTILITY TO EARN A TRIP TO SUNNY PASADENA". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  23. "USC Rewrites Northwestern's Storybook Ending". The New York Times. January 2, 1996. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  24. "ROSE BOWL: USC 41, Northwestern 32 : Cinderella Beaten to Ball". Los Angeles Times. January 2, 1996. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
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