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BaseballThomas FinnMichael FolanJames GriecoMatthew HaveyBrian MorganAntonio VercelliJacob Wilson

Men’s BasketballMarlon DayPat HoulihanCraig Moore

Women’s BasketballJulie BielawskiErin DickersonChiana HungEllen Jaeschke

CheerAlex HorowitzSara KobaissiBrittany PrimackKristine SchanbacherKirsten Stahlberg

Cross CountryCarly BrownKatherine ClineMarcellee Fullwood

Allison KingMegan Young

FencingMichelle Abella-ShonSamantha NemecekSuzanne Ross

Field HockeyAnne BossletAlison BullockEmily KyleJillian PutnamAlexandra Quinn

FootballMalcolm ArringtonAndrew BrewerTyler ComptonOmar ContehRamon DiazMichael DinardTodd DockeryKevin FrymireJohn GillAdam HahnTanner HighlenChirstopher JeskeMichael KafkaKeegan KennedyPrince Kwateng

Zeke MarkshausenKurt MattesKevin MitchellEric PetermanBrendan SmithTyrell SuttonDesmond TaylorRasheed WardMark WoodsumCorey Wootton

Men’s GolfAndrew DeKeuster

Women’s GolfJennifer Hong

LacrosseHilary BowenMary Kate CaseyLaura ClementeCasey DonohoeMeredith FrankCaitlin JacksonAlison JacobsMorgan LathropKristin McCandlishHannah NielsenMeghan Plunkett

LadycatsDebbie LuLauren MurrellLeila Stehlik-Barry Men’s SoccerGeoff FallonCarl PettMisha RosenthalBrian UsingerTyler Voigt

Women’s SoccerJennifer DunnAmanda HoffmanLaura JanowitschJeanette Lorme

SoftballErin DyerGina GonzalezErin HampshireAshley LafeverJessica RigasTammy Williams

Sports Medicine AidesKaran DesaiChristine DiPompeoMina FarahzadSamantha GitelisMacKenzie HerzogEllen KroinEric Leland

Men’s SwimmingAdam BeckmanJohn FranklinAlexander KiaieEric Nilsson

Women’s SwimmingJill FosterHayley FrySara White-Delehoy

Men’s TennisMarc DwyerPhilip KafkaAlex Thams

Women’s TennisNazlie GhazalKeri RobisonGeorgia Rose

VolleyballChelsy HyserKelly Keporos

WrestlingMartin GouldDominic MarellaEric MetzlerJames Smith

HonoraryCatherine Stembridge

Drew Ratner of men’s soccer was the 2009 recipient of the Wayne

Duke Postgraduate Award presented by the Indianapolis Big Ten Community Partnership. The award is an annual scholarship recognizing one male and one female Big Ten senior student-athlete pursuing a postgraduate degree for achievements in academics, athletics, extracurricular activities and leadership.

Ratner graduated from Northwestern in December with a bachelor of arts in psychology. He was accepted into a combined M.D/M.B.A. program to pursue a career in medicine. Over the years, Ratner served as a peer mentor for a fourth-grade class at Willard Elementary School and coached multiple free soccer camps for underprivileged children in Evanston. He also was a research assistant in a psychology lab for two academic terms.

Ratner was a starter on a defense that ranked sixth in the country with a 0.55 goals-against average in 2008 and a team that made its second appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals in the past three years. He was named co-captain of the Northwestern soccer team for two consecutive years. Ratner was an ESPN The Magazine Second-Team Academic All-American this past season and an Academic All-Big Ten performer for four-consecutive years.

Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award2009 N CLUB Inductees Drew Ratner

The football seniors lead the crowd in Go U North-western! at the N Club’s Senior Induction Banquet.

2008-09 Hall of Fame Inductees

Chinazo Opia Cunningham Softball (1987-90)

Chinazo Opia Cunningham helped lead Northwestern to its fourth-consecutive Big Ten championship in 1987 as the conference’s Freshman of the Year. She led the team that season with a 0.38 ERA in the circle, a number that still ranks as the second-best total in NU single-season history and the third-best mark in Big Ten history. She was a first-team All-Big Ten and a second-team NFCA All-Region pick in 1987.Cunningham went on to pick up All-Big Ten accolades in all four of her collegiate seasons, earning second-team nods in 1988, ‘89 and ‘90. In 1990, she was the Big Ten batting champion with an average of .348. In the circle, she concluded her career with a 1.19 ERA to rank fifth in NU history while also leaving Northwestern as the school’s record holder for on-base percentage with a .374 mark. In the classroom, Cunningham excelled as a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-America selection. She was named a first-team Academic All-American in 1990.Cunningham earned a medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) before completing her residency at UCSF and NYU. She now is a member of the faculty at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y. She is married to Everett Cunningham, a Northwestern alumnus and former NU baseball player. They have three children.

Steve Herdoiza Men’s Tennis (1988-91)

Steve Herdoiza was a four-year letterwinner, compiling a 118-49 career record. In 1989, Herdoiza was the Big Ten singles champion and a year later helped the Wildcats win their first Big Ten team title in 27 years. A teammate of Todd Martin on Northwestern’s 1990 Big Ten championship team, Herdoiza earned All-America honors for his play. During the 1990 season, Herdoiza ended the year ranked fourth in the Region IV singles and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships, defeating the defending national champion along the way. He ended his career a four-time All-Big Ten selection and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 1989 and 1990. As a player, Herdoiza is second and fourth (twice) on NU’s single-season wins list, amassing 34 wins in 1988-89 and 33 in 1987-88 and 1989-90. His 1988-89 mark of 34-7 (.829) ranks as the second-best single-season winning percentage in NU history. After graduating from Northwestern, Herdoiza went on to play on the professional tour for 4 1/2 years, achieving a world ranking in the 200’s in 1995. During his collegiate and professional career, Herdoiza defeated eight former NCAA champions and now devotes his time to teaching and coaching tennis. He and his wife, Nicole, have two children.

Chris Hinton, Football (1979-82)

A four-year letterwinner, Chris Hinton is one of the best offensive linemen to put on a Wildcat uniform. His best year was his senior season, when he earned first-team All-America and first-team All-Big Ten recognition. As a team co-captain that year, he also was chosen as the team’s Most Valuable Player, the Thomas Airth Spirit Award winner and the “N” Club Performance Award recipient. He played in multiple all-star games, including the East-West Shrine Game and the Blue-Gray Classic. Hinton’s stellar collegiate career at Northwestern led to his selection as the fourth overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. His No. 4 draft position is the highest spot a Northwestern football player has gone in the NFL Draft. Hinton’s NFL career spanned 13 years, playing for the Colts, Falcons and Vikings, while earning six Pro Bowl appearances with the Colts and one with the Falcons. A five-time All-Pro selection, Hinton was the first player since the Colts’ move to Indianapolis to be inducted into the franchise’s Ring of Honor. Hinton was featured recently in Sports Illustrated for his wine industry entrepreneurship. He is married to Mya Whitmore, a Northwestern alumna and former NU women’s basketball player. They have two children.

Ndidi Opia Massay Softball (1986-89)

Ndidi Opia Massay finished her celebrated career atop Northwestern softball’s list of hits and stolen bases. At the time of her graduation, she had accumulated 188 hits, 29 stolen bases and a career batting average of .299, second in Northwestern history at a time when pitchers dominated the sport and sub-1.00 ERA’s were fairly common. Massay was a four-time All-Big Ten selection and a two-time first-team honoree. She was named the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year in 1986, helping lead the Wildcats to their third-consecutive Women’s College World Series appearance. Her senior year, she led the Big Ten with a .386 batting average, 32 hits and 11 RBI. Later named to the Big Ten’s All-Decade team (1980s) and the all-time All-Big Ten team, she also paced the ‘Cats in batting average, runs scored, hits and stolen bases in ‘89. Massay went on to earn a law degree at Notre Dame, and currently is the director of ESPN RISE, ESPN’s high school initiative. She is a national figure in sports and entertainment law and marketing, having served on boards and panels for such things as gender equity in the NCAA and the Sports Task Force of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). She resides in New York with her husband, Marc, and their two sons.

Erica Westrich Scullion Women’s Soccer (1996-99)

Erica Westrich Scullion is the only player in Northwestern soccer history to garner Big Ten Player of the Year (1998) and Big Ten Freshman of the Year (1996) honors. She also picked up Soccer Buzz third-team All-America honors in 1998, a year in which the Wildcats posted the best record in school history (16-5-1 overall and 6-3 in the Big Ten), en route to a third-round NCAA Tournament appearance. The midfielder was a four-time All-Big Ten selection, earning first-team honors in 1996, ‘97 and ‘98. Scullion also was a two-time NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region honoree (1996 and ‘98). She concluded her career with 14 goals and 11 assists (seventh all-time). Scullion, who married her husband, Brian, on Jan. 24, 2009, is the first soccer player to be inducted into NU’s Athletic Hall of Fame. She has worked in the corporate environment as a tax consultant and pharmaceutical sales representative, as well as with DePaul University’s women’s soccer program as an assistant coach (2007-08).

Honorary InducteeCharles “Rick” Taylor, NU

Director of Athletics (1994-2003)

Serving Northwestern and the department of athletics for nearly a decade as its director, Rick Taylor provided impressive leadership and sharp vision while overseeing an unprecedented overhaul of athletic facilities. In short, his guidance is one of the main reasons for the unprecedented athletic and academic success the Wildcats are currently enjoying. The long list of new facilities that were spearheaded by Taylor began with the renovation of Ryan Field. As part of the Campaign for Athletic Excellence, a full-scale multipurpose indoor practice facility, Trienens Hall, was constructed. In addition, the Leonard B. Thomas Lakeside Complex (home for field hockey and soccer), the Combe Indoor Tennis Center and the Gleacher Golf Center were constructed, and a new practice facility for basketball and volleyball was added to Welsh-Ryan Arena. He also led the planning for the new Anderson Hall, which was completed in 2005. Taylor and his wife, Janet, reside in Brevard, N.C.

DevelopmentCrea

teThanks to all our friends that have supported Northwestern Athletics over the past year. Your commitment has helped provide the resources necessary for our student-athletes to achieve at the highest level, athletically and academically. We in the athletic development office are fortunate to see the results of your support on a daily basis and we hope that you are justifiably proud of what your financial support makes possible. Our student-athletes represent the VERY BEST in intercollegiate athletics not only in the competitive arena (Big Ten titles and national championships) but the classroom as well (graduation rates and Academic All Americans). It is a privilege to work with the coaches and student-athletes that represent Northwestern as well as our many friends that support our mission.

We have accomplished a great deal and we are excited about the opportunities ahead for Northwestern Athletics. There is still much we want to (and can) accomplish with the help of

people like you. Please know that your continued support of our program, especially during these uncertain economic times, is GREATLY appreciated. We understand that there are many ways that people can invest their resources and we will never take for granted those that choose to support Northwestern Athletics. We look forward to working with you as we strive to take our program to new levels of achievement.

We wish to extend a special thanks to President Bienen for his leadership and commitment to Northwestern Athletics during his tenure. As an alum and former student-athlete here, I want to thank him for the trust and investment he has placed in our program. The student-athlete experience has been transformed in every positive way imaginable because of his tireless efforts and commitment to excellence. President Bienen leaves our entire University a far better institution than when he arrived. We know that we will reach even greater heights under President Schapiro’s leadership and we look forward to that challenge.

Thanks again for your support of our student-athletes and GO CATS!

Shon MorrisSenior Associate A.D.—Development Men’s basketball, Class of 1988

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Craig MooreMen’s Basketball

“I think [the donors] make a huge impact in our lives as student-athletes. Without them, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to be at Northwestern, to

compete at the highest level athletically and to earn a degree from one of the top academic institutions in the nation. Their support in coming to games and providing these endowed scholarships really helps us grow on and off the court. Their generosity also enables us to work with some of the best coaches in the country in order to perform better on the court.”

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“Northwestern is one of very few schools that offer a really top-tier academic opportunity and the chance to compete at a national level in intercollegiate athletics. In fact, in a major 2008 Forbes Magazine study ranking colleges, among the top 20 schools there was only one that also competes in a major athletic conference—Northwestern! This means a tremendous opportunity for the right student, one who thinks more about the next 40 years

than just the next four. Basketball gave me the chance to attend NU, but the real benefit for me was the entire Northwestern experience—the classes, the faculty and the great relationships I developed within the amazingly strong and diverse student body. I feel very good that I am able to give something back now when I can watch today’s student-athletes suceed on and off the court.”

Don Brown grew up on a small farm in central Illinois. At Northwestern he majored in economics, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in 1965 and then an MBA from Stanford, where he met his wife, Alice. Together they have four children and are awaiting their sixth grandchild later this year. After a number of years in the investment business for San Francisco-based Montgomery Securities, he founded Spring Point Partners, a market-neutral investment partnership. He retired from Spring Point in 2003. Alice and Don have lived in Palo Alto, Calif., for almost 40 years, but spend a great deal of time at their home in Carmel, Calif. Don’s best days are those spent with his grandchildren, but he also enjoys travel, hiking and golf (he’s a big Luke Donald fan).

G I V I N GDonald Brown,‘65

“Since graduating from Northwestern in 2000, it has always been a goal of mine to give back to a place that has given me so much. As a former student-athlete, I had access to the necessary tools required to succeed both in the classroom and on the soccer field. Top-notch facilities, unbelievable academic support and most importantly, outstanding

coaching, helped me have a rewarding collegiate soccer career. Recently, inspired by the dynamic leadership of Coach Fitzgerald, my husband and I wanted to do our part in continuing to build Northwestern’s tradition of athletic excellence.”

Erica Westrich Scullion is the only player in Northwestern soccer history to garner Big Ten Player of the Year (1998) and Big Ten Freshman of the Year (1996) honors. She also picked up Soccer Buzz third-team All-America honors in 1998, a year in which the Wildcats posted the best record in school history (16-5-1 overall and 6-3 in the Big Ten), en route to a quarterfinal NCAA Tournament appearance. The midfielder was a four-time All-Big Ten selection and a two-time NSCAA Great Lakes Region honoree. Scullion is the first soccer player to be inducted into NU’s Athletic Hall of Fame. She has worked in the corporate environment as a tax consultant and a pharmaceutical sales representative, as well as with DePaul University’s women’s soccer program as an assistant coach. She currently coaches soccer for Jones College Prep High School in Chicago. She resides in Lincoln Park with her husband, Brian.

PA S S I O NErica Westrich Scullion, ‘00

“I’ve been a long-time fan of Northwestern football, as some of my earliest memories were Saturdays at Dyche Stadium with my parents (Jack and Claire Hoag, Class of 1950 and 1949) watching the Wildcats. I think that sport plays such a vital role in the development of kids and young adults. While I didn’t play on any varsity teams at NU (a step too slow or half a foot too short!), I competed

on every intramural team I could find, spent most afternoons at Patten Gym playing basketball and worked in the intramural department for several years. In the process I made lifelong friends and created many, many wonderful memories. I also believe that big-time athletics gives Northwestern a level of prestige that adds to the academic reputation. It adds greatly to the undergraduate experience as it gives students an outlet and an added identity outside the classroom that creates a strong bond as an alumnus. In honor of my father, my wife and I have dedicated an endowed scholarship in his name.”

Jay Hoag is a Founder and Founding General Partner at Technology Crossover Ventures, a private equity and venture capital firm. Hoag received his bachelor of arts in economics and political science from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan. He is currently on the Board of Directors of eHarmony, Netflix, R.J. O’Brien, TechTarget and Zillow. Hoag is on the Investment Advisory Committee at the University of Michigan, the Board of Trustees of Northwestern University and the Board of Trustees at the Menlo School. He and his wife, Michaela, have three children, Samantha, Sean and Tim.

G R AT I T U D EJay Hoag, ‘80

DevelopmentLaura AugustyniakPat and Shawn BaldwinJim and Tannie BragielDon Brotz and Melissa DellaringaDon and Alice BrownFred and Shirley BrownRory ClarkRandy and Carlys CobleElizabeth DeanRandy DeanRich and Jane DeanRob DeanRoss DeanEvan and Kristina EschmeyerMr. and Mrs. Frank EhmannJoe and Margaret FlanaganBill and Linda GantzMr. and Mrs. James GarardBill Gibbs (in honor of Capt. Bill and Lynn Gibbs)Mr. and Mrs. Hal GrantMr. and Mrs. Bob Hildebrand

Ms. Dana LeonardMark McCareins FamilyMr. and Mrs. John ModeriShon and Jenny MorrisJohn and Julie PetersonMilan PetrovicMr. and Mrs. Thomas PhilipsNeil and Carol RoweJohn Ruan IIIPaul and Debbie SchultzCarl and Diane SpaldingTim and Susan SullivanRick and Lea SundFred TanneBjarne UllsvikDon and JoAnne WesterhansenDon and Kate WilsonHoward and Marilyn Witt

The Howard and Marilyn Witt Locker Room

Brown Family Basketball Center Donors

Brown Family Basketball Center cost $5 million and includes coaches offices, locker rooms, team meeting rooms and official locker rooms.

New Field Turf installation in Trienens Hall (indoor practice facility) cost $400,000 and is utilized by nearly all 19 Wildcat programs.

Completed Capital Projects

Alison BullockField Hockey

“The [Doc and Helen] Glass Family and I have kept in contact over my time here. We’ve gone out to lunch a couple of times. These

endowed scholarships build community and helped me build a relationship with this remarkable woman and her family. I wouldn’t have any connection with anyone in Evanston otherwise, and that makes it especially meaningful to me. The scholarship is given to an African-American student-athlete every year. I received it last year and it was a very proud thing for me to be awarded because of what it stands for and what it represents. Helping Northwestern build diversity helped me get where I am and helped me be here today so that’s something I really appreciate.”

Tammy Williams Softball

“Receiving an endowed scholarship is a huge honor. It’s just amazing what these families and people do in providing the

scholarships. They really change the experience for all the student-athletes and ultimately impact Northwestern as a whole. Going to the luncheon, meeting the donors and seeing how excited they are to learn about us and our program really makes us feel a part of a community. We are truly honored to be there with them.”

Endowed ScholarshipsAlex Agase and Tom Noble Honorary ScholarshipAlex Agase Wildcat’s ScholarshipHarold and Virginia Anderson ScholarshipHarry D. Brookby Baseball ScholarshipHenry S. Bienen Basketball ScholarshipHenry S. Bienen Tennis ScholarshipPatricia and Albert Buehler ScholarshipDr. James R. Buntain Endowed Basketball ScholarshipWillard J. and Evelyn G. Buntain Family Football ScholarshipJohn and Rita Canning Student-Athlete ScholarshipsRonald J. and Elizabeth D. Chinnock ScholarshipVandy Christie Memorial ScholarshipCombe Family Tennis ScholarshipsJune S. Cordier Memorial ScholarshipDean Family ScholarshipRichard H. and Jane S. Dean ScholarshipRoss and Elizabeth Dean Football ScholarshipBruce and Betty DeSwarte ScholarshipEggemeyer Family Endowed ScholarshipsRaymond F. Farley Endowed ScholarshipWaldo Fisher Memorial ScholarshipsScott Freidheim Soccer ScholarshipBon and Holly French Swimming ScholarshipEdwin C. Gage Memorial ScholarshipCharles “Doc” and Helen Glass ScholarshipJohn H. Glenn Memorial ScholarshipStanley E. and Louise G. Hathaway ScholarshipJennie Stoker Helwig ScholarshipJohn L. Hennerich Baseball ScholarshipJay and Michaela Hoag Basketball ScholarshipThomas J. Hoehn Tennis ScholarshipThomas J. and Dorothy Somers Hoehn Athletic ScholarshipsThomas J. and Dorothy Somers Hoehn Memorial ScholarshipDr. Robert W. Johnson Memorial ScholarshipRonald E. Kiper Memorial ScholarshipKoldyke Family ScholarshipLaird Koldyke Baseball ScholarshipMildred and Sidney LaPidus ScholarshipRobert F. and Gordon E. Lietzow Athletic ScholarshipSophia and Konstandino Loukas Endowed ScholarshipShirley Louise Malloy Memorial ScholarshipGene G. and Merrill H. Mundy Athletic ScholarshipN Club ScholarshipNelson R. Nedde Memorial ScholarshipRobert and Dorothy Osborn Endowed ScholarshipCarleton H. and Bradford H. Pendleton Memorial ScholarshipJames J. Progar Athletic ScholarshipRay Regalis Basketball ScholarshipJames and Mary Jo Rausch Family Scholarship

Robert K. Rauth ScholarshipPatrick and Shirley Ryan Family ScholarshipsSteve and Audrey Sawle ScholarshipPaul and Margaret Schutt ScholarshipWalter K. Smart ScholarshipStearns Family ScholarshipMarie Mikkelsen Stoker Swimming ScholarshipBruce Thompson Wrestling ScholarshipTorch of Center Court ScholarshipJoseph H. Trienens Swimming ScholarshipBob and Charlotte Voigts Recognition ScholarshipRandy Walker Memorial Football ScholarshipSidney Warshauer and Joseph Stein Athletic ScholarshipPhilip J. Weber ScholarshipMr. and Mrs. Roger LeMoyne White Basketball ScholarshipsMildred White Endowed Football ScholarshipTrent Whitney Endowed ScholarshipAlfred S. Wiltberger Memorial Scholarship

Endowed Scholarship Luncheon

Wildcat Words

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Sales and MarketingIncreasing attendance, enhancing game atmosphere, engaging alums, building relationships

in the community and providing more opportunities for fans to interact with our amazing student-athletes are the big points of emphasis for all Wildcat home games for all 19 varsity teams each year. All of those areas experienced tremendous growth in the 2008-09 season.

For the sixth time in seven years, the Wildcat sales and marketing department earned an award at the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) Convention. The awards, which are administered by the National Association for Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), were started in 2003 and currently feature 13 different categories. This year, the marketing staff received the bronze award in the New Revenue Generating Category, which is the first time they have placed in this category. The staff has been honored in five different categories since 2003 including gold awards in the Sponsorship Activation and Football Season Ticket Campaign categories.

The marketing staff provided support at over 155 games (over 90 percent of all home events), as well as over 30 special events throughout the year. These events included Football Meet the Team Night, Basketball Open Gym, Student Road Trip to Ann Arbor, Wildcat Kids’ Club parties, Lacrosse National Championship Celebration, Watch Parties, ’Cats Caravan, Wildcat Welcome Week, Pep Rallies, Sports Clinics with the Teams, Purple Fridays at the Rock and the Enshrinement Festival Road Trip to South Bend.

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Volleyball Overnight CampAlso, new this year, the Wildcats held a Campout with the ’Cats after a Saturday night volleyball match in November. Over 1,300 fans packed the stands of Welsh-Ryan Arena to cheer on the ’Cats as they battled the 15th-ranked Golden Gophers. The 1,305 fans in attendance surpassed the previous volleyball attendance record of 1,002 set in 2006.

During the campout, guests hung out with the Wildcat volleyball players and coaches as they sang the fight song, played games, participated in contests, shared autographs, made crafts and watched movies. They even received Wildcat makeovers complete with purple nail polish and eye shadow. Once the lights went out in the early hours of Sunday morning, the overnight guests, ranging from second-grade through eighth-grade, were able to pull their sleeping bags up close to their favorite student-athletes. In the morning guests were treated to a soothing Wildcat wake-up and breakfast before heading home to tell their friends about their special night with the ’Cats.

Infiniti Networking NightsFor the sixth time in seven years, the NU Marketing Department was honored by NACMA (National Association of Collegiate Market-ing Administrators). This year, they took third place in the New Revenue Generating Idea category for the Infiniti Networking Nights at men’s basketball games. This program provided fans a chance to meet leaders, colleagues and friends in the sports, medicine and legal industries as well as to learn about job openings or career develop-ment opportunities. These events were held before Wednesday night Wildcat Basketball games, which provided a casual environment for the participants to get together after the formal event.

Meet the Team NightFootball fans also had a special night at the annual Meet the Team Night event at Ryan Field before the season. Wildcat faithful came out in large numbers to show their support for the team. Coach Fitz got things started at the podium by giving a preview of the season. After that, players and fans hit the field for more than an hour for a variety of activities, including kicking field goals, having footraces with the linebacker corps, bean bags with the defensive backs and bingo with the cornerbacks. All fans had the chance to take pictures with and get autographs from their favorite Wildcats.

Wildcat FlashbacksIn 2008, the Wildcats also gave fans chances to meet their favorite former football players at every home football game on Walker Terrace. These Wildcat greats took pictures and signed autographs at the start of halftime and often continued through the fourth quarter to make sure every fan had a chance to meet the ’Cats. These fan favorites included 1995 and 1996 Big Ten Champions Darnell Autry, Steve Schnur, D’Wayne Bates, Brian Musso, Rob Johnson and Sam Valenzisi, as well as 2000 Big Ten champions Zak Kustok and Napoleon Harris, who is currently playing with the Minnesota Vikings. For the homecoming game, the ’Cats also welcomed back NCAA national champion swimmer and 2008 Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist, Matt Grevers.

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In addition to meeting the former players during the games throughout the season, youth football

participants were able to get pointers from Tim McGarigle, Slade Larscheid, Joel Howells and Adam Kadela at an exclusive Football Skills Clinic in Wildcat Alley as part of Youth Football Day at the last home football game of the season.

While the ’Cats create opportunities to meet these former players, fans can also run into them anywhere on gamedays as they come out to Ryan Field to cheer on the team. Here is a father’s and son’s story from New Jersey about their travels from New Jersey to Evanston for the Wildcats’ victory over Illinois. This is the story of Gregory and Coleston Smith, in their own words.

“It had been a great football season, not only for the ’Cats, but for Coleston, my eight-year-old son. In his first year in pads as a third grader in Ridgewood, N.J., he got to play as a starter on both sides of the field— at center on offense and as defensive end on defense. In his last couple of games, he really turned it up a notch and everyone seemed to notice —coaches, parents, and opponents. He had several tackles for loss (just like New Jersey’s own Corey Wootton) and even got a chance to run the ball at halfback. After his games on Saturday morning, it seemed like the Wildcats were on national TV almost every week. Brendan Smith’s interception return at Minnesota put Coleston over the top as a purple-veined NU Cat fan. He started to know several of the players’ names and their positions by heart. As a reward for his hard work and a successful season, I decided to take him to Evanston to watch the ’Cats play Illinois ...

9 a.m.After breakfast in downtown Evanston, Coleston and I walked up Sherman Avenue and were the first customers in the store to buy some Wildcat garb. It was a cold day, so we bought a purple Wildcat pullover and also a souvenir Wildcat football. With ball in hand Coleston started to pretend that he was an NU football player. He quizzed me as to who he was emulating. He started with a high step. “Mike Kafka,” I said. “Right!” This time he zigzagged. “Tyrell Sutton?” “Right again!” Then he pretended to catch the ball and run in the opposite direction. “Brendan Smith?” “Right again.” We continued up

Sherman Avenue where I showed Coleston my dorm for my first two years at NU, Willard Hall. We continued east past his grandmother’s old sorority house (both my parents attended NU in the early 1960s) and then walked past the Rock to Deering Library, where we took refuge to warm up and look at an exhibit with photos of the early days of NU’s historic campus.

11:30 a.m.After passing by my father’s old fraternity and my old fraternity next door on Lincoln Avenue, we took the free buses and headed for Ryan Field. We hung out at Walker Way with the hopes of getting a glimpse of some of the players as they headed to the locker room before the game. We played catch with our new football to keep warm. After about 10 minutes a well-built guy in his 30s asked for a pass. Coleston passed the ball to him and I did a double-take. “That’s Darnell Autry!” I thought to myself. We exchanged a few more passes and then I told Coleston that Darnell Autry led the ’Cats to the Rose Bowl. When I asked Darnell what advice he had for Coleston if he wanted to become a running back for the ’Cats, he signed our new football and said with a smile, “Work hard.” Moments later Coleston got a big hug from Willie the Wildcat and caught a free “Walk With Us” purple tee shirt that was thrown out by the cheerleaders as the team arrived at the stadium. We saved the t-shirt for Coleston’s brother. As we waited for the team, I struck up a nice conversation with Brad Phillips’ mother about how he became a Wildcat football player. Then the ’Cats made their way out of the bus toward the locker room. We noticed Brendan Smith immediately and he looked completely relaxed. Coach Fitz, C.J. Bachér, Mike Kafka and Corey Wootton looked intense—really focused.

1 p.m.Coleston and I visited Wildcat Alley, which had several free youth-oriented activities. Coleston tried everything— the bean bag toss, the quarterback throw, lacrosse passing and more. But the highlight of his experience there was meeting former NU football players Tim McGarigle, Adam Kadela, Slade Larscheid and Joel Howells. They were really nice and provided great advice. “Move your feet a little closer together so that you can really pop out of your stance,” Kadela said. “Remember to wrap, hold

and keep driving your feet while you are tackling,” McGarigle advised. They were impressed with Coleston’s passing and catching skills.

2:30 p.m.Game time. It was cold, but the cheer of the crowd kept us warm. We ate popcorn from a container that was a souvenir NU mini-megaphone. I used the mega phone to chant, “GO-U!” “NU!” The crowd responded. The ’Cats scored the first couple of touchdowns which allowed me to teach Coleston the NU fight song.

5 p.m.When the game ended, we went on to the field with many other fans. I high-fived several of the players and then saw Mike Kafka—I told Mike that Coleston was one of his biggest fans—and Mike stooped down to give a Coleston a handshake and thanked him for attending the game. Andrew Brewer did the same and Coleston gave me a high-five. “Awesome!”

6 p.m.Before we left for O’Hare we stopped at Let’s Tailgate on Central Street to buy a Tyrell Sutton jersey. The place was packed. The postgame radio show was on and we could hear Coach Fitz praising his players.”

Sales and Marketing

Erin DyerSoftball

“I interned with marketing in the fall. It was a lot of fun to work with people that I had known were behind the scenes, but that I hadn’t really had much contact with before as an athlete.

It was interesting to be on the other side for once and really understand the process. They work so hard and do so many things that, as a student-athlete, I had never known about. Everyone in the department played a part in my education about marketing. I got a lot of good experiences that I will take with me and be able to use in future endeavors.”

Wildcat Words

Sales and Marketing

The Wildcats brought in temporary bleachers on Walker Terrace as part of the Veterans Day activities for the sold-out game against Ohio State in November. Members of the military were given free tickets to this game and were honored on the field throughout the game, including Sgt. Jamie Buckley singing the national anthem. Members of the Wildcat football team also made a trip the Veteran’s Hospital in Chicago to visit with veterans the day before the game.

Wildcat Alley is the pregame fan fest area that features the Wildcat Marching Band, interactive games, great food, Goose Island Beer Garden, Willie the Wildcat, face painting, cheerleaders, contests and more! Different Wildcat teams are featured every week at Wildcat Alley so fans can play games with their favorite student-athletes all season long. Admission is free for Wildcat Alley, which opens two hours before every home football game.

The Wildcats’ Kids’ Club was established in 1998 for all Wildcat fans in the eighth grade and under and continues to grow every year. Kids’ Club members receive the official t-shirt, newsletters, birthday cards from Willie the Wildcat, memorabilia, free admission into select Wildcat games and more.

In 2008-09, the Wildcats increased attendance in 12-out-of-13 sports

Sharing Gamedays with the CommunityIn addition to putting on events for fans, the Wildcats also support events that are put on by members of the community. Last year, the ’Cats donated over 600 football tickets and 120 basketball tickets to community fundraisers and auctions. Plus, former Wildcats and current NFL players, Barry Cofield and Luis Castillo also have made an annual commitment back to the community by donating football and basketball tickets to deserving youth in the area. Cofield and Castillo donated numer-ous hours of their time in the community as student-athletes and continue to build this bond after graduation.

Admission-charging sports

Percent Attendance Growth from 2007-08 to 2008-09

Non-admission-charging sports

Corporate SponsorshipOfficial Apparel— adidasOfficial Bank—Bank of AmericaOfficial Hospital—Northwestern Memorial HealthcareOfficial Isotonic Beverage—GatoradeOfficial Soft Drink—PepsiOfficial Wireless—U.S. Cellular

Auto DealersInfiniti

Restaurant PartnersBravo!BluestoneChipotleEJ’s PlaceHackney’sHecky’sLe PeepLou Malnati’sPita Pete’sPrairie MoonRollin’ To GoTommy Nevin’s

Hotel PartnersBest Western University PlazaDoubletree Hotel and Conference Center Chicago North-ShoreEmbassy Suites Hotel Chicago- North Shore/DeerfieldHilton Chicago/NorthbrookHilton Garden Inn Hotel OrringtonRenaissance Hotel Chicago North ShoreSheraton NorthbrookWyndham Glenview Suites

Business PartnersAllstateAmerican AirlinesANC Sports EnterprisesAthleticoBlueCross BlueShieldBig Ten NetworkCFW Creative Sports, Inc.Chicago Classic CoachCBS InteractiveDick’s Sporting GoodsDornaESPNZoneFieldTurfGE GeicoGoose IslandImpact NetworkingIntersportLiberty MutualNGN/CatbackersNissanNorthshore University Health SystemsNorthshore Van LinesO’Reilly Auto PartsPioneer PressProdigy Sports LLCRo*TelSign OneSmithfield Global Products- Krakus HamSports IllustratedVersus SportsVienna BeefWGNYellowbook

Northwestern Sports Properties In April 2009, Northwestern’s Director of Athletics and Recreation, Jim Phillips, announced that Wildcat Sports Marketing, Northwestern’s multi-media rights partner since 2001, had changed its name to Northwestern Sports Properties.

“To be certain, I am extremely pleased to announce the re-launch of Northwestern SportsProperties,” Phillips said. “Northwestern has been successful in creating lasting partnerships with our very important corporate sponsors. This new structure will further enhance Northwestern’s aswell as our corporate partner’s visibility throughout the Big Ten Conference and among sports fansnationwide.” Northwestern Sports Properties will be the sole source for Northwestern Athletics’ corporate partnerships including in-game football and basketball radio on WGN 720 AM, on-premise

development and corporate development. Northwestern Sports Properties will continue to forge relationships with national and regional brands. This opportunity will grow Northwestern’s brand by creating fully integrated marketing plans for their Wildcat corporate partners.

WGN Partnership WGN Radio (720 AM) and Northwestern University announced in January 2009 that they have extended their sports broadcast agreement for an additional four years. Wildcat fans will be able to hear Northwestern football and men’s basketball on The Voice of Chicago through the 2012-13 season. Continuing behind the microphone as the Wildcats’ play-by-play announcer will

be WGN Radio Sports Director, Dave Eanet. Eanet, a Northwestern alumnus and 2005 Northwestern University Athletic Hall of Fame honorary inductee, has handled play-by-play duties for Northwestern for 19 years. Tom Langmyer, WGN Radio Vice President and General Manager said of

the partnership, “In his first year as athletic director for Northwestern, Jim Phillips has brought tremendous energy and enthusiasm. Pat Fitzgerald led the football team to a winning season in 2008 and Bill Carmody’s men’s basketball team had a great season as well. We are proud to continue the tradition and partnership between WGN Radio and Northwestern University.” “We are extremely pleased that Northwestern Athletics will continue its long partnership with WGN 720 AM,” said Phillips. “WGN is one of the nation’s premier radio stations and is the No. 1 station in Chicagoland. We are truly excited that the Voice of Chicago and Dave Eanet will remain the voice of the Wildcats for the next four years. Special thanks to Tom Langmyer and his tremendous staff for all their hard work in finalizing this agreement.”

2009 Northwestern Athletics Corporate Sponsors

WGN Coverage Map

“In his first year as athletic director for Northwestern, Jim Phillips has brought tremendous energy and

enthusiasm. Pat Fitzgerald led the football team to a winning season in 2008 and Bill Carmody’s men’s

basketball team is off to a great start this season as well. We are

proud to continue the tradition and partnership between WGN Radio

and Northwestern University.”—Tom Langmyer

WGN Radio Vice President and General Manager

Fitness and RecreationWhy Fitness and Recreation?Many of our students arrive on campus knowing the value of a healthy lifestyle. In our facilities we offer fitness and recreation programs and services to help students adjust to the rigors of academic life, maintain the energy needed to pursue excellence, and develop physical, social and intellectual skills necessary for engaging life to the fullest.

Fitness and recreation serves as a key community building asset for the University. Whether meeting new people in a club or intramural sport activity, testing the limits of physical endurance through competitive or friendly competitions or just having fun, these programs provide a place to explore new interests, develop personal fitness, and feel a positive connection to the broader Northwestern community.

“...the best way for me to relieve stress in my life. It’s amazing what working out

can do for my mind.”

—Sarah Moser, Student

“...I find more and more that I feel better with

exercise. I’ve also worked with a personal trainer and found that getting varied exercise routines keeps it

interesting.”

—John Rudnicki, Faculty

Something for Everyone! Fitness and Recreation offers a wide variety of activities, programs, and services to help our users maintain optimal fitness and well-being.

AquaticsAqua classes, swimming, scuba diving lessons, open-swim, lifeguard training, masters swim, lap swim and more combine to make the pool a hub of activity.

Club SportsFun for the competitive spirit that ensures both teamwork and personal development. Over 30 different clubs provide a wide array of opportunity to participate in extramural competition against other clubs, schools, colleges, and universities. Student development opportunities include club leadership, administration, program planning, fiscal, and business management.

Fitness ServicesMix it up with group exercise classes like yoga, pilates, spinning, cardio-strength, kickboxing, and more. One-on-one personal training, small group training, and other fitness assessment services help keep participants motivated to achieve their personal goals. When it’s time to relax and unwind from the rigors of academic life our massage services are key.

IntramuralsParticipants are provided organized competitive opportunities in a variety of team and dual sports with competition structured along various levels of skill. Fun, enjoyment, and teamwork are the focus of this program.

Wildcat Words

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Learning Beyond the Classroom

As the third largest student employer on campus, the Fitness and Recreation Division is committed to the personal and professional development of students. Our student employees come from a wide range of academic disciplines such as communication, engineering, journal-ism, music, education, and various others. We are proud of the development opportunities afforded to our staff. From leading and motivating peers, communicating and negotiating with users, to working effectively alongside upper management, student employees gain valuable insight, experience and knowledge to compliment their classroom experience.

By the Numbers463,101 Fitness and Recreation annual facility visits•923 Undergraduates in 34 Club Sports•9,307 Intramural Participations in 18 sport •competitions612 Intramural teams•8,034 Group Exercise Participations•Student employment provided $500,000 in •financial aid

Serving Students, Faculty, Staff and Alumni

Open RecreationWe strive to maintain a balance between scheduled and open spaces. Drop-in use of facilities is strongly encouraged. Racquet sports such as tennis, racquetball, and squash can be played year-round on our indoor courts. Basketball courts accommodate volleyball and badminton, as well as some group exercise classes. Pool lanes are typically set aside for both lap and recreational swim along with all other aquatic activities.

SailingOffering sailing, windsurfing, and catamaran lessons in both group and private sessions. Use of our beautiful lakeshore is a unique experience for all to enjoy.

Wildcat CampA Chicagoland tradition for over 70 years, our summer sports camp continues its success as one of the best quality multi-sports camps around. Since 1939, over 10,000 youngsters have experienced our camp.

NU Field Day—Over 160 student-athletes, coaches and staff came together for an afternoon of fun and games on June 5. Each participating team coordinated a sports-related station for the over 200 children from the McGaw YMCA, Family Focus and members of the Kids’ Club. Cancer Awareness and Research—While a great number of our teams participated in the event, the men’s basketball team was once again one of the top fundraising teams for the Northwestern University Relay for Life event benefitting the American Cancer Society. The women’s soccer team also raised funds and awareness through their participation in the Kicks for Cancer tournament. The women’s basketball and volleyball teams each designated games to benefit breast cancer awareness and research, while the swimming and diving teams swam for the Ted Mullins Fund for Sarcoma Research.

Girls Get Lacrosse—The five-time national championship lacrosse team partnered with the Rusty Red Foundation to provide instruction, equipment and positive role models to 25 Girls in the Game participants. Seven instructional sessions were held on campus for the girls and culminated in a scrim-mage at the halftime of an NU lacrosse game.

Tennis Outreach—The men’s and women’s tennis teams provided instructional lessons and equipment for middle school children participating in after school programs via the

Youth Organization Umbrella (Y.O.U.) located in Evanston. The children came to campus and played on the same indoor courts as our varsity teams. Not only did the children learn to play tennis, but they learned life skills as well.

Elementary School Programs—Departmental tutoring and mentoring efforts continued at Willard Elementary and Or-rington Elementary in Evanston. A new partnership developed this year at St. Joan of Arc Elementary School with a number of students visiting classrooms during the winter quarter as-sisting with the wellness program in the school. Besides the efforts described above, athletes could be found reading in classrooms, sharing health and wellness tips, assisting with field day activities, TV Tune Out Week and Jump Rope for Heart events in 2008-09.

Winter Break Mission—Members of the lacrosse and women’s soccer teams traveled to Central America over winter break to volunteer for the Fabretto Children’s Foundation of Nicaragua. The student-athletes volunteered for 10 days teach-ing the children about the sport of lacrosse and various life skills. They also collected soap, shampoo and other toiletries and supplies to distribute to families in the villages they visited around Nicaragua.

’Çats in the CommunityCrea

te

Hilary BowenLacrosse

“My teammates and I did clinics with inner-city girls through Girls in the Game, a non-profit in the city. They would come up here [to Evanston] and we would use

our knowledge of lacrosse and what we’ve learned through lacrosse to teach them. We did that for the past five months or so and after that, they got to play in a game in the halftime for our game vs. Penn. That was probably the highlight of my community service here, having the opportunity to give back everything that I’ve learned through lacrosse.

With the connection that I have made through doing inner-city lacrosse clinics, I am actually going to work for the foundation next year. Without that, I never would have ended up working there. Just from having the experience of doing the clinics and the fact that Northwestern encourages to do things like that, you really find out what you enjoy. It goes without saying that everyone in NU Athletics enjoys giving back to the community.”

Wildcat WordsDuring the 2008-09 school year, 98.7 percent of Northwestern student-athletes volunteered in at least one community service project and a total of 5,346 hours of community service were logged by

the 465 student-athletes. All 19 varsity sports and the spirit squads were actively engaged in their community, enhancing their

academic and social experience. A total of 66 organizations for the Evanston and greater Chicago area were served by our

community outreach efforts. Over 200 events or reoccurring community outreach programs were coordinated by the depart-

ment in 2008-09. Here are some highlights from the past year:

’Cats in the CommunityHealth-Related Organizations (12)American Cancer SocietyAutism SpeaksCarol Gallob Breast Cancer FoundationChildren’s Memorial HospitalFriends of JaclynKay Yow/WBCA Cancer FundKicks Against Breast CancerMather Lifeways PavilionNU Relay for LifeSpecial SpectatorsSusan G. Komen for the CureTim Mullin Fund for Sarcoma Research

Faith-Based Organizations (5)Chicagoland Christian Sports ConferenceGood News Partners—Soup KitchenMisericordia Heart of MercySheil Catholic CenterVineyard Harvest Food Pantry

Local Schools (20)Averroes AcademyBaker Demonstration SchoolBronzeville Lighthouse AcademyDett Elementary SchoolDewey SchoolEdison Elementary SchoolHubbard Woods SchoolLakeview SchoolLincolnwood Elementary SchoolManierre ElementaryMaryville AcademyOak Terrace School Oakton Elementary SchoolOrrington Elementary SchoolOur Lady of Perpetual Help SchoolPark SchoolSanborn ElementarySt. Athanasius SchoolSt. Joan of Arc SchoolWillard Elementary School

Youth Organizations (13)AYSOBoy Scouts of AmericaBuddy BallGirl Scouts of AmericaGirls in the GameGlenbrook Youth BaseballFabretto Children’s Foundation of NicaraguaFamily FocusMcGaw YMCANorthbrook Jr. Spartans FootballRice CenterSt. Eugene D.A.R.E.Youth Organization Umbrella

Community Organizations (16)AVID Campus KitchensCity of Evanston Special RecreationConnections for the HomelessDelta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Golf Fore AfricaNew Trier Special OlympicsNorth Park Village Nature CenterNorthwestern Community Development Corp—Project Pumpkin Northwestern Special OlympicsNorthwestern University Dance MarathonRicky Byrdsong Foundation Race Against Hate Salvation Army—Angel TreeWomen’s Club of EvanstonWorld Sport Chicago826 Chicago

Organizations Impacted during the 2008-09 Year

Northwestern’s official athletics web site, NUsports.com, which underwent it latest re-design in July of 2008, was again the primary source for gathering informa-tion on Wildcat athletics. In 2008-09, Northwestern posted a record 1,625 stories on its web site, which included a record 265 stories for football (compared to the

previous record of 168, set in 2007-08). Northwestern also provided a record number of All-Access video features on its web site.

Wildcat WordsJake Herbert

Wrestling

“I have learned how to act appropriately during interviews, what to say, what not to say, and how to make everything seem like a positive even when the media

wants to take a negative angle.

They’ve done a fantastic job with every-thing I’ve accomplished at Northwestern. I have people come up to me all the time on campus after hearing about how well I’ve done. That’s obviously getting out because of the athletic communications department. They’re really good at publicizing the accomplishments of our student-athletes.”

Media ExposureAs a key player in the Chicago media market—the country’s

third-largest— Northwestern’s athletics program continued to receive tremendous publicity in 2008-09. For a second consecutive year, television exposure for Wildcat Athletics was unprecedented as Northwestern expe-rienced year two of its contract with the Big Ten Network, a national cable network dedicated solely to covering all 11 Big Ten Conference institutions. In addition, Northwestern made numerous other appearances on ESPN and ABC, two of the league’s other major television partners. Northwestern had 80 sporting events televised by the Big Ten Network, ABC, ESPN or CBS College Sports this past year. Twelve of the Wildcats’ football games were televised—each of them in high definition and in front of a national audience. In addition to the

80 athletic contests that were televised, a number of other events were streamed live on the internet, either by the Big Ten Network (big-tennetwork.com) or NUsports.com.

NUsports.com

WGN Radio, a 50-000-watt clear-channel station that is heard in 38 states and in Canada, carried Northwestern’s football and men’s basketball games once again. In January of 2009, Northwestern and WGN Radio announced a new four-year contract that will enable fans to listen to Wildcat Athletics on the AM superstation through the 2012-13 season.

Media Exposure

Available to approximately 70 million households nationwide, the Big Ten Network is the first nationally distributed network dedi-cated to covering one of the premier collegiate confer-ences in the country. With approximately 350 live events, and nearly all of them in high definition, the network is the ultimate destination for Big Ten fans and alumni across the country, allowing them to see their favorite teams, regardless of where they live.

The network operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, showcasing a wide array of classic-to-current sports and televising more Olympic sporting events and women’s sports than has ever been aired on any other network. Original pro-gramming highlights activities and accomplishments of some of the nation’s finest universities. Each year, the network offers approxi-mately 35-40 football games, 105 regular season men’s basket-ball games; 55 women’s basketball games; dozens of Big Ten Champi-onship events; nightly studio shows; coaches’ shows; and classic games.

The network currently has agreements with more than 250 affiliates, including AT&T U-Verse, Charter, Comcast, Cox (Cleveland), DirecTV, DISH Net-work, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS. For updated information on the Big Ten Network, go to www.BigTenNetwork.com.

•TheBigTen’smediaagreementswithCBSSports, ABC/ESPN, the Big Ten Network and CBS College Sports Network provide the conference with its greatest television exposure ever.

•In2006,theBigTencreatedthefirstnational conference-owned television net-work devoted to the athletic and academic programs of a single conference. The Big Ten Network launched on Aug. 30, 2007, and became the first new network in cable or satellite television history to reach 30 million homes in its first 30 days. The Big Ten Network is now available to more than 70 million homes nationally through agree-ments with more than 250 cable/satellite affiliates and appears in 23 of the top 25 national media markets.

•Sincethecurrentmediaagreementsbeganin 2007-08, every home football and men’s basketball game has been produced while women’s basketball has received more cover-age than any other conference. •TheBigTen’snewmediaagreementshaveresulted in the broadcast of more than 500 events nationally and regionally on an annual basis, compared to 300 events in the final year of the previous agreements.

Pat Fitzgerald Hall of Fame Induction

Fitzgerald was a reluctant participant in Pee Wee Football, but he quickly learned about putting on his pads, the team concept and the camaraderie born on the field. Those lessons would eventually lead him to star for Northwestern University as a linebacker-tackle machine in the mid 1990s. “I remember coming home after school and putting our uniforms on and I said I didn’t want to go,” Fitzgerald said. “That was the first lesson I learned in football from my mother and my father—you are never going to quit. You persevere and don’t quit. “When I didn’t think I could do anything except maybe play in high school, my linebackers coach said, ‘You have an opportunity and we are going to take advantage of it.’ I would come in at 6 a.m., 7 a.m. in the morning and work out before school. I never dreamed I was going to have an opportunity to play college football. And then that opportunity happened for me at Northwestern.” Coming out of Carl Sandburg High School (Ill.), Fitzgerald remembers struggling to become a starter at Northwestern, then a fledgling Big Ten team under Coach Gary Barnett. “I talked to Coach Barnett after they gave me the call and let him know I was going to be bestowed this honor,” Fitzgerald remembered. “I said, `Coach I remember back to spring practice of sophomore year, I just wanted to find a way to get out on the field and start.’ And he chuckled and said, `Yeah, you barely

made it.’ And I thought that was pretty ironic going from a team that hadn’t had a winning season since 1971 to going 15-1 (over two seasons in league play) and winning back-to-back Big Ten championships. I sit here today because of the team not because of me. And I mean that with all sincerity.” Northwestern led the nation in scoring defense (12.7 ppg) in 1995, won the Big Ten title and lost to Southern California, 41-32, in the Rose Bowl without Fitzgerald, who suffered a broken leg late in the season. “He was the heart and soul, nuts and bolts of that Rose Bowl defense,” said former Bowling Green head coach Gregg Brandon, a former Northwestern assistant. “He didn’t get to play in the Rose Bowl because of his injury. And I remember going into the training room after the game he got hurt in, and I told him, `We’ll be OK. We will be alright without you.’ He looked up to me and said, `Coach, I’ll be there. Of course, he meant in spirit. And he really was.” Fitzgerald returned for his senior season as the Wildcats tied Ohio State for another Big Ten title, copping back-to-back national defensive player of the year honors as Northwestern’s Cinderella run continued. “He was a heady player with great instincts and fundamentally was one of the best linebackers I have ever coached,” said Penn State linebacker coach Ron Vanderlinden, who coached Fitzgerald at NU. “Pat played with tremendous passion and a relentless resolve. He also was a natural leader.”

2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASSTroy Aikman—UCLA, QB (1987-88)Billy Cannon—LSU, HB (1957-59)Coach John Cooper—Tulsa (1977-84), Arizona State (1985-87), Ohio State (1988-2000)Jim Dombrowski—Virginia, OT (1982-85)Pat Fitzgerald—Northwestern, LB (1993-96)Coach Lou Holtz—William & Mary (1969-71), North Carolina State (1972-75), Arkansas (1977-83), Minnesota (1984-85), Notre Dame (1986-96), South Carolina (1999-2004)Wilber Marshall—Florida, LB (1980-83)Rueben Mayes—Washington State, RB (1982-85)Randall McDaniel—Arizona State, OG (1984-87)Don McPherson—Syracuse, QB (1984-87)Jay Novacek—Wyoming, TE (1982-84)Dave Parks—Texas Tech, SE (1961-63)Ron Simmons—Florida State, NG (1977-80)Thurman Thomas—Oklahoma State, RB (1984-87)Arnold Tucker—Army, QB (1944-46)

Northwestern head coach and former two-time All-America linebacker Pat Fitzgerald officially was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on Dec. 9, along with 14 other members of the National Football

Foundation’s Class of 2008. The following is Fitzgerald’s profile taken from the Dinner Program at the annual Awards Dinner ar the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.

Pat Fitzgerald is inducted into College Football's Hall of Fame in New York on December 9, 2008. Archie Griffin presents Fitzgerald with his plaque.

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Senior Reflections

My story as a student athlete is a little dif-ferent than most. You can pretty much

say that I have truly gotten the FULL North-western experience. In my four years here I have gone from a regular, everyday student, to a walk on member of the golf team and never playing a tournament my first year, to a solid, contributing member of a team that recently came back from the NCAA Championships. I have learned a lot over the course of my col-legiate career, but the most important thing I learned was that being a student athlete here at NU is the best thing ever! You see, I gave up the one thing I loved to do to come here. Don’t get me wrong, being a student here wasn’t bad. I played golf twice with my roommate, I went back and forth to class, played a little IM basketball and frequented the free ice cream machine in the Hinman cafeteria. It was fun, but not play-ing a sport in school just didn’t feel right…something was missing. Then one night in the summer prior to my sophomore year, Pat Goss called me. The conversation was short, it was midnight after all, he congratulated me on walking onto the team and told me how excited he was, and oh yeah, that I needed to be down to school in 6 hours to take my physical. And now, looking back on it three years later, what I got that night was more than just a chance to live a dream and play collegiate golf. What I got was a new family; a new father in Pat Goss, a new mother in Steve Bailey (sorry, Steve), seven new brothers in my teammates; and a rather large, rather talented extended family…all 468 of em. ...And while I admit that becoming a student athlete here was best thing that ever happened to me, what I also came to realize was that being a student athlete was all about making necessary sacrifices. It’s funny, only in

the dictionary does success come before work. Many of us here tonight have paid a price in one way or another in order to accomplish our goals. We didn’t always live the normal college life; our hard work and dedication prevented us from doing some of the things normal college kids did. Sometimes I wondered if all the hard work was worth it, but one day I found a quote that laid my question to rest. Muhammed Ali said, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” Though our practices might have been long and not always enjoyable, thanks to our coaches and hard work, we truly have lived like champions. Just take a quick look around you and see what all our hard work has done. This room is filled with Big Ten champions, national champions, first-team All-Americans, second-team All-Americans, future professional athletes and soon-to-be college graduates from a top-15 university. ...While I am going to miss all the friends I have made here…not to mention all that free equipment…I think the thing I am going to miss most is the connection that student-athletes share. Athletes are a different breed of people. We are all competitive, but we some-how all understand each other. We understand the sacrifices and the hours of preparation that it takes to be successful. We understand what it feels like to win…and what it feels like to come up a little bit short. ...Northwestern has truly become my home. And just like I will have to leave my parents home soon (but hopefully not payroll; love you mom and dad!), I’ll soon be leaving my home here at Northwestern. But tomorrow (graduation) is an exciting day for all of us. It marks the end of one chapter in our lives and the beginning of a new one. For the past four years we have been surrounded by greatness; great friends, great athletics, great education and a great amount of success ... I wish nothing but success for you and may the dreams of your past be the reality of your future. Thanks and GO CATS!

I’d like to share with you some of my memories as a student-athlete and how

Northwestern has had the greatest impact on my life thus far. I’ll begin where it all started for me. As some of you may remember, our academic advising building, Anderson Hall, was nothing but a hole in the ground when I first arrived on campus. Most of my meetings took place in the make-shift coaches’ offices that were trailers in the parking lot, right next to the weight room. ...Since we arrived on campus four years ago, our class has had the opportunity to see much change. New facilities such as Anderson, Sharon “J” Drysdale Field, our Lakeside Fields, a new turf room and weight room have all seen upgrades. These changes are a direct result of the hard work and success of many of us in this room. Not to mention a bit of money as well. Not only have our facilities changed, the expec-tations for Northwestern student-athletes have increased with our success. Across the board, our teams are competing at a much higher level, appearing on national television and making people see Northwestern for more than just an academic institution. I experienced this change as a freshman when my team made it to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City for the first time in twenty some years. When we made it to the tournament, I don’t think a single person in Oklahoma knew what Northwestern was, let alone where we were from. That didn’t matter. I think all of our families, extended family, and the entire athletic department made the trip to OKC to spread the color purple everywhere they could. At some point, our fans embraced the phrase “Start Wearing Purple” and painted it on an enormous sheet which they held up the entire time we were there. The phrase caught on because as we kept winning games, local Wal-Mart’s started running out of purple T-shirts

to sell to new Wildcat fans! Local fans were no longer cheering for softball power houses like UCLA or Arizona; they were wearing purple and continuing to add to the growing purple section in the stands. For me the highlight of that first World Se-ries came in our very first game against Alabama. Our team had fought a good game, but had gone down 5-4. The bottom of the seventh was our last chance to win the game, and I soon real-ized that I would be the third hitter up that in-ning. As the other team recorded the second out, I stepped in the batters box nervous as can be. In that moment, I remember thinking to myself how cool it would be to hit a home run to tie it up. Since I had only had 3 or 4 home runs on the season, I quickly put that thought behind me and stepped into the batters box, thinking one thing, “put the ball in play.” Well, it didn’t start out so well, I went down in the count with 2 strikes immediately. One looking, and one swinging like there was no tomorrow. As I worked the count to 2 and 2, with two outs, every Alabama fan was on their feet. As she delivered the next pitch, I swung and watched as I saw the best home run I’ve ever hit, clear the fence in dead center, sending the purple section into absolute pandemonium. I tied the game up and had the best party at home plate I could have ever imagined. I will NEVER forget my teammates and the emotions we felt. In that moment, I was never more proud to be apart of the purple team, my team, the Northwestern Wildcats. ...I’m sure that everyone in this room has had similar, great moments that we will never forget. I know that I have not only enjoyed having these moments personally, but I have en-joyed being there as a fan, cheering you all on as well. Because of you, our athletic programs have grown, excelled and pushed the limit like never before. We are now better known on a national level, spreading purple across the country. Congratulations to all my fellow athletes for their accomplishments, and I wish you all the best of luck, and remember to never stop wear-ing purple! GO CATS!

ANDY DeKEUSTER men’s golf senior ERIN DYER softball senior

The following thoughts were taken from the senior reflection speeches given at the 2009 N Club Induction/Senior Banquet in June.

In four years of varsity competition

at Northwestern, Jake Herbert achieved every level of success imagin-able in college wrestling, and in most cases did so more than once. He concluded his college career in 2009 as the most decorated wrestler in Northwestern history,

winning his second NCAA championship at 184 pounds while completing the second undefeated season of his career by finishing 34-0 overall (18-0 dual record, 8-0 Big Ten). Herbert, who won the last 66 matches of his career, was awarded the 2009 Dan Hodge Trophy, which is presented annually to the nation’s most dominant collegiate wrestler. Herbert won NCAA titles in 2007 and 2009, book-ending his Olympic redshirt season in 2008.

A native of Wexford, Pa., Herbert is the second four-time All-American in Northwestern wres-tling history having never placed lower than third in the country at his weight class. He is also a three-time Big Ten and Midlands champion and, with a four-year record of 135-4. Herbert leaves Northwestern with the fifth-best career winning percentage (.971) among all Division I college wrestlers since the 1974-75 season.

In the classroom, Herbert was twice named to the NWCA All-Academic team as well as the Academic All-Big Ten squad.

In recent months, it has become clear that his achievements on the mats at Northwestern are only the beginning. Herbert conquered his weight class at the U.S. Nationals meet in April and then came away victorious at the United States World Team Trials, earning him a spot on the national team that will compete at the World Championships in Denmark this September.

The Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year Award is given to the top male athlete across all sports in the Big Ten Conference. Herbert is NU’s second Jesse Owens honoree—follow-ing golfer Luke Donald in 1999--since the award’s inception in 1982.

Jake Herbert: Big Ten Jesse Owens Award Winner

Wildcat athlet i c s