[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hat a difference a year makes. The 2014 Northwestern Wildcats took a brutal 47-33 spanking at the hands of Illinois Fighting Illini.
But the 2015 Wildcats (#16 CFP, #17 AP Poll) and head coach Pat Fitzgerald wanted to avenge that defeat, this time in front of a sparse crowd at Soldier Field in Chicago.
“This game last year, I walked into the locker room, and not to take any credit away from our opponent, I was very self critical,” Fitzgerald stated. “I Really felt like I failed the team. We had 30-plus guys out in this game a year ago and I was not going to let that be an excuse for our failure and our performance, so it wasn’t the guys fault that were out there, it was my fault as the leader of the program that I didn’t do enough to get the next group of guys ready.”
Wildcat running back Justin Jackson tallied 172 yards on the ground and added a TD as the Wildcats (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten) won its fifth consecutive game and it’s tenth victory of the season. The team rushed for over 200 yards yet again.
Freshman quarterback Clayton Thorson completed 12 of 25 passes for 146 yards with a TD and an interception. Thornson’s TD pass was a sweet juggling catch by receiver Dan Vitale who then dove into the end zone.
Fitzgerald took aim at the College Football Playoff Committee during his post game press conference in regards to Stanford being ranked higher than Northwestern despite the Wildcats win over the Cardinal in the opening game of the year.
“I don’t get it. Pop on the tape and watch the film,” Fitzgerald said. “Our kids dominated that game and I don’t think they give them credit. We didn’t win by 50 today, so we’ll continue to get disrespected from that standpoint. We played a ver competitive schedule. We had two bumps in the road. I think our overall performance speaks for itself so I look forward watching the College Football Playoff Committee get it right over the next two weeks. I know they will.”
Northwestern ended the season with a 10-2 record and a second place finish in the Big Ten West division, 2 games behind undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes. Next on the agenda for the Wildcats will be a date in a Bowl Game.
