EVANSTON—NIU’s high national rankings will most likely slip a few—or more—notches after the Huskies’ confrontation with Northwestern, but there is always the chance to roll up the numbers against non-Big Ten opponents in upcoming weeks.

The Huskies entered the game ranked No. 2 in rushing offense and No. 3 in total offense, averaging 373.5 and 506.5 yards per game, respectively. The Huskies ran for 212 yards and had 342 overall to see their averages drop to 319.7 rushing and 451.7 total per game. The scoring dropped from 34.5, ranked No. 12, to 28.3 a game.

NIU also entered the game as the No. 8 rushing defense—the country averaging only 53 yards a game—but gave up 73 yards on the ground on the first series on the way to 292 for the game.

Northwestern even failed to improve its ranking in one area. The Wildcats came in as the Big Ten’s top passing team and ended with only 90 yards through the air. This was based mainly on the strategy of establishing the run, but also on many dropped passes and tight coverage by the Huskies’ inexperienced secondary, which caused NU quarterback Mike Greenfield to look for the pass underneath.

“I’d say the (NIU) secondary, as young as it is, played headier than we expected,” Peay said.

Despite the lower numbers, at least two members of the NIU program were not so impressed with Northwestern.

“I thought Western Michigan was more physical,” senior co-captain Ted Karamanos said.

Offensive coordinator Pat Ruel went even further and said the Huskies gave the Wildcats too much credit for who they were.

“We played like they were Big Ten,” Ruel said. “We have to stop making teams out to be bigger and better than they are. We have to believe we’re good and that everyone else is just another football team.”

Phil and Bob Bucaro did their family name proud Saturday on opposite sides of the field.

Phil, a walk-on in his second season with the Huskies, collected four solo tackles and an assist for a total of five, including an 11-yard sack that helped set up the first NIU touchdown.

Bob, an outside linebacker for the Wildcats, also made four unassisted stops but had two assists.

Interim Athletic Director Jim Mellard, who chaired the internal review committee that cited problems with promoting, said there has to be more interest in order to get trips to away games organized for students.

Northwestern cheerleaders, band members and fans might be academically brilliant but they are not necessarily football smart as they chanted “Block that kick” when NIU was lining up for a two-point conversion late in the game.

Several media forecasted better things for Northwestern this year after 1986 upsets over Michigan State and Illinois. One radio reporter asked NU coach Francis Peay if he thought those expectations had his players believing they were better than they really were and if he blamed the media for setting such high hopes.

“I believe in the power of the press and freedom of the press, so I’m not going to say kill all the writers,” he said while wiping his brow in the interview trailer under the Dyche Stadium stands.