Notebook
- An announced throng of 27,775 fans braved unseasonable cold and incessant rain to witness the season opener. Kickoff temperature was 67 degrees with the wind out of the northeast at 16 mph.
- After the game, the KU players traipsed en masse to the east stands to thank the hardy fans who had stayed until the end. “That’s the kind of spirit we want and we need,” KU coach Mark Mangino said.
- Sophomore linebacker Nick Reid had to leave after being clipped late in the first quarter. He was replaced by Brandon Perkins, but returned for the next defensive series.
- Freshman running back John Randle was helped off the field after being hit by NU linebacker Louis Ayeni late in the first quarter. Randle fumbled on the play, blunting a march at the NU 21. Randle returned early in the second quarter.
- Northwestern place-kicker Slade Larscheid was wide right on a 20-yard field-goal attempt at the 11:24 mark of the second quarter. KU’s Johnny Beck also missed a 20-yarder early in the second half when his boot glanced off the left upright.
- NU’s Torri Stuckey intercepted a Bill Whittemore pass with 9:19 remaining before halftime to halt a KU drive at the Wildcat 25.
- Wide receiver Charles Gordon committed KU’s third turnover of the first half when he fumbled after catching a 24-yard pass from Whittemore with about seven minutes before the break.
- NU cornerback Marvin Ward picked off a Brian Luke pass — KU’s fourth turnover of the half — at the 3:23 mark of the second quarter. Luke had replaced Whittemore, who limped off with 4:25 on the clock. Whittemore returned to start the second half.
- Kansas appeared to score a touchdown when Whittemore connected with Mark Simmons in the back of the end zone early in the third quarter, but the officials ruled Simmons had both feet on the white line. A scoreboard replay substantiated the call. Moments later, Beck clanked the 20-yard field goal attempt.
- Red-shirt freshman free safety Jonathan Lamb made a key defensive stop late in the third quarter when he tackled running back Jason Wright for a loss after the Wildcats went for it on a fourth-and-two call inside the Kansas 20. Three plays later, KU scored on Whittemore’s 74-yard pass to Simmons.
- Only 91 seconds separated KU’s first two TDs — the long TD pass to Simmons and defensive end David McMillan’s 31-yard interception return.
- KU hadn’t returned an interception for a TD since Carl Ivey against Missouri during the 2001 season.
- Strong safety Tony Stubbs led the Jayhawks with 15 tackles. Linebackers Gabe Toomey and Banks Floodman added 12 and 11.
- Toomey was one of 14 KU players who made his NCAA Div. I-A debut Saturday. The others were OG Bob Whitaker, TE Lyonel Anderson, WR Gordon, DE Monroe Weekley, DE Chuck Jones, CB Shelton Simmons, FS Jonathan Lamb, RB Randle, WR Moderick Johnson, RB Jerome Kemp, DT Phil Tuihalamaka, DB Kenneth Thompson and DB Rodney Fowler.
- All seven officials, including referee Jim Lapetina, were assigned by the Big Ten Conference.
Hear Mark: Post-game remarks
WIBW video: KU stopped by Northwestern
Box score