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Bowls: Other Special
Games Page
Created
10/11/00;
Updated
6/25/06
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Northwestern
has, of
course, played in
many special games. However, two games (besides the bowl matches)
have been officially recognized as "special games" by the NCAA.
The NCAA sets aside separate records for special preseason "classic"
games, as well as for some postseason games that were not technically
bowl games. Here are the two such games that featured
Northwestern.
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The 1997 Pigskin Classic
Played August 23, 1997.
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL. Attendance: 36,804.
Northwestern's 1997 record: 0-0.
Coach: Gary
Barnett.
Captains: Gardner, Strickwerda, Hughes.
Opponent: Oklahoma.
NU/
Oklahoma
series record (prior to game): NU led, 2-1.
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| Team |
1Q |
2Q |
3Q |
4Q |
Final |
| Northwestern |
0 |
6 |
0 |
18 |
24 |
| Oklahoma |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Scoring: Second Qtr:
NU - FG Gowins 27;
NU - FG Gowins 22. Fourth Qtr: NU - Leary 1 yd run (Autry run);
NU
- FG Gowins 40; NU - Brown 16 yd run (Gowins kick).
The 1997 Pigskin Classic was not exactly a classic match up. Even
with the drop in veteran talent from the previous season, Northwestern
still was on a level clearly above a struggling Sooner team. NU
overpowered Oklahoma 24-0. The Sooners drove deep into NU
territory five times, only to come away with nothing. Gowins
kicked three field goals, including a 40-yarder.
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1931 Charity Postseason Game
Played November 28,
1931.
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL.
Northwestern's 1931 record, prior to game: 7-0-1
overall,
5-0 conference. Big Ten Champion.
Coach: Dick Hanley.
Captain: Dal Marvil.
Opponent: Purdue.
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| Team |
Final |
| Northwestern |
0 |
| Purdue |
7 |
There was a series of
postseason games
specially scheduled at the conclusion of the regular season during the
Great Depression to raise money for relief of the unemployed in
response
to the President’s Committee on Mobilization of Relief Resources and
other
charitable causes. About 100 of these games were played from
1930-1934;
of these, 21 were between major college teams, including one between NU
and Purdue in 1931.
Even though the game was not scheduled as
part
of the regular season, it counted in the stats as a regular season
game. The Wildcats and Boilermakers slugged all afternoon at Soldier
Field, but neither side could come close to scoring. As the
fourth quarter drew to a close, it looked like Northwestern would claim
its second scoreless tie during an otherwise perfect season and would
take the Big Ten title (and perhaps the national title)
uncontested. However, an errant pass by Wildcat QB George Potter
was intercepted, and Purdue returned the ball to the Northwestern
15-yard line. Two plays later the Boilermakers scored the only
touchdown of the game and pulled the upset.
The loss in the charity game was Northwestern’s first conference defeat
since 1929, and it forced NU to share the 1931 Big Ten championship
with Purdue and Michigan. Still, the campus celebrated the team’s
first ever back-to-back titles with bonfires and dances.
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