Jack Griffin won the 118-pound NCAA championship in 1990, making him the University’s first individual wrestling champion in 17 years. He was All-American in both football and basketball and was a .300 hitter in baseball. • Northwestern Wildcats Cheerleader Gallery The running back was an All-American as a senior and was twice named to the All–Big Ten team, setting Northwestern records for career touchdowns and points. He owns the single-season school record with 12.0 sacks in 1997 and the all-time sacks mark with 28.0. Prior to David Roth’s arrival in 2004, Northwestern men’s soccer had never made the NCAA tournament. 13. (See “The Burton Legacy,” spring 2006.) Kochmansky also earned three All-American honors as a women’s lacrosse player. Before Matt Grevers rewrote the Northwestern swimming record book, Dave Pemberton was the school’s last national champion. Vote for Shannon Smith. Vote for Amy Balcerzak. College football has been played for more than 150 years and with a sport that’s lasted a century-and-a … Thierry Henry 97 – FIFA 05 Matt Grevers is now known for his collection of Olympic gold medals, but he picked up his share of hardware while at Northwestern as well. The talented wide receiver made the long trip north to Evanston from Aiken, South Carolina. He led the Wildcats to the historic 10-1 season that culminated with the 1996 Rose Bowl. The start was made by the IFFHS in their continental "player and keeper of the century" elections. Vote for Jack Griffin. He also set a world indoor dirt track record with his time of 6 seconds flat in the 60-yard dash. During two years of swimming competition Richard “Dick” Howell, one of the greatest freestyle distance swimmers in the Northwestern history, captured three NCAA titles. Gretchen Scheuermann (SESP95) Kevin Bentley, Houston Texanslinebacker 2. The England native was a four-time All-American (including three first-team selections) and three-time Big Ten Player of the Year. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound prospect was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, before moving back to the states and attending Northwestern. Before he became the world’s No. Northwestern Wildcats School History. He then won the Big Ten singles championship as a sophomore in 1990, when he also won Big Ten Player of the Year and first-team All-America honors. A three-time All-Big Ten selection, his 64 tackles for loss are also an IU record. Northwestern Football All-Time Roster Mascot Wildcats Team Varsity 2020 Colors Navy, White, Columbia Coach Bryan Pierre Address 7000 Adelphi Rd, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Overall 0-0 Region 0-0 State (MD) Rank 146 Vote for Ron Burton. Richard Howell (WCAS26) Gretchen Scheuermann cemented her place in Northwestern athletic history in 1994 when she became the second player in school history to win the Broderick Award, given to the top collegiate field hockey player. (See “Father Knows Best,” summer 2012.) Grier became the first women’s tennis player in conference history to win three Big Ten Player of the Year honors. Welcome to Homegrown Legends, a series of mythical all-star rosters composed of the best players in pro football history from each current NFL market. • Ranking the Big Ten Running Backs for 2013 Basketball, football and track. She was also named Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year that same year. The left-handed­–hitting shortstop entered Northwestern with a bang, winning the 2006 Big Ten Freshman of the Year award, and rewrote the school’s record book by the time she graduated. The Wilmington (Ill.) High finished his Northwestern career as the sixth all-time rusher in Big Ten history, leading the school in rushing yards, all-purpose yards (5,261), rushing touchdowns (38) and 200-yard games (4). The 6-foot-2 Morris earned consensus first-team All-America honors as a forward during his senior year on the basketball team. Balcerzak also won six Big Ten championships and owns or shares three individual or relay records for Northwestern. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition in 2003 before earning consensus All-Big Ten honors as a junior and senior. But Roth helped change the program’s fortunes, leading the Wildcats to tournament berths in three of his four seasons, including a trip to the quarterfinals in 2006. Northwestern hasn't historically been a football powerhouse. On the court, the point guard led men’s basketball to the 1932–33 conference championship. He was named an All-American in 1931 and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979. Drafted: 200 players. She was a finalist for national player of the year honors three times. He won the 184-pound title in 2007 and 2009, was a four-time All-American, a three-time Big Ten champion and won the 2009 Hodge Trophy as the nation’s best wrestler. Miami-Dade's best football players of all time. Vote for Matt Grevers. Morris played between 1944-46. Griffin finished his career with 156 victories, putting him atop Northwestern’s all-time wins list. The 5-foot-11, 218-pound workhorse finished fifth in the Heisman voting that season and eventually went undrafted in the 2002 NFL Draft. Marty Riessen (SESP64, GSESP67) 43. She led the team to two top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships. Stone … During his senior season, he averaged 21.3 points per game and was named first-team All–Big Ten. Her 228 career goals still ranks third on the Northwestern women’s lacrosse all-time list, and she owns the mark for points in a game (13). Vote for Tammy Williams. (See “All-Star Seniors: John Shurna,” summer 2012.) They did not lose a set in the championship. Michel Platini. Vote for Dave Pemberton. Michel Platini was France's first true global superstar. From Euclid, Ohio, Adamle was an All-American and the Big Ten MVP in 1970 for the Wildcats. Drafted in the seventh round by the Milwaukee Brewers, the two-time All-Star enjoyed a 15-year career in the big leagues with the Brewers, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. Miami Northwestern (Miami, FL) NFL Player Stats. He was the first-ever recipient of the Chicago Tribune’s Big Ten Player of the Year honor, in 1946. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. He started 40 games and was the first Wildcats offensive lineman in 22 years to earn All-American honors. His stellar career in Evanston was capped by first-team All-American honors in 1982. He was a member of the 1924 U.S. Olympic team. The defensive end from Covina, Calif., is arguably the most successful pass-rusher in Northwestern school history. Williams holds the Northwestern records for career batting average (.419), hits (310) and home runs (57). Eschmeyer, the most recent Northwestern basketball player selected in the NBA Draft, played four seasons in the league with the New Jersey Nets, Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks. He left the school as the all-time leading rusher (since broken) with 3,793 yards and the all-time leading scorer with 222 points. The duo ended the season with a 24-match winning streak during a 36-2 campaign. Vote for Patricia Walsh. Vote for Diane Donnelly. When he graduated, Massery held the Northwestern record for career wins. Vote for Mark Massery. Vote for Pug Rentner. (See “Baskets and Bylines: Joe Ruklick,” summer 2010.) Have at it! Vote for Pat Fitzgerald. The only three-time first-team All–Big Ten selection in Northwestern history, Evan Eschmeyer is the school’s all-time leader in field goal percentage (59.5) and rebounds (995), and he ranks third in points (1,805). Anucha Browne had smashed almost every Northwestern women’s basketball record by the end of her career, when she owned a staggering 24 school records, many of which still stand. Setting a school scoring record that lasted 35 years, Billy McKinney was Northwestern basketball’s Most Valuable Player three times in his career. (See “Mr. From Heisman winners to Hall of Famers, the Big Ten has a rich and storied history that has been written by some of the greatest football players of all time… The game has changed so dramatically that it … WR Tony Martin (1994-1997) Autry was an All-American and two-time All-Big Ten selection before getting drafted by the Bears in the fourth round of the 1997 NFL Draft. We’re depending on all of you in order to determine who truly was the best Northwestern football team of all-time. In five seasons with the Chargers, James totaled 6,619 all-purpose yards. She also claimed the 1987 NCAA doubles championship with Katrina Adams (C89). Vote for Gretchen Scheuermann. She was a three-time first-team All–Big Ten selection and became the first soccer player inducted into the Northwestern Athletic Hall of Fame. Erica Westrich became the first women’s soccer player in Northwestern history to be named Big Ten Player of the Year, an honor she earned as a junior 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. Now, without much ado, let us dive into the list and take a look at the ten best football players of all time. Northwestern rose to the top on the strength of its 97% GSR for football players. His .898 winning percentage is by far the highest in Northwestern history. Evan Eschmeyer (SESP98, KSM08, L08) Edgar “Eggs” Mankse played football and basketball and excelled at both. (See "Purple Reign," fall 2007.) Pat Fitzgerald was the most decorated football player in Northwestern history prior to becoming the team’s head coach in 2006. A four-year starter from Arlington Heights (Ill.) St. Viator, Basanez set every major passing and total offense record in school history during his time in Evanston. He was selected as a first-team All-American and first-team All–Big Ten. Soccer. Erica Westrich [Scullion] (WCAS00) Vote for Mark Loretta. Grevers and Lochte were Olympic teammates in 2008 and 2012. Northwestern Drafted Players/Alumni. His 239 career hits rank third on Northwestern’s all-time list. Shannon Smith vaulted over some hall of fame–caliber competition to become Northwestern’s all-time leading goal scorer (254). He was the fourth wrestler in school history to win an individual national title. A two-time All-American and All–Big Ten player, Diane Donnelly Stone holds the Northwestern record for consecutive singles matches won (16 in 1985). Vote for Walter Colbath. He also caught 86 passes that year for 1,027 yards. You’re already Northwestern’s best football player ever. Vote for Clark Graebner. He started 46 games, including the final 40 in a row. After Riessen graduated, Graebner went on to win the Big Ten singles championship in 1965. All photos courtesy of Northwestern University Athletic Communications. Football and wrestling. Her 235 career runs scored is 86 more than the next closest Wildcat. Max Morris. The Northwestern Wildcats football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Northwestern Wildcats football program in various categories, including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, and kicking.Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. College Football; Baseball; Basketball; College Basketball; All Players. Was 64th on The Sporting News' list of 100 Greatest Football Players in 1999. The Brazilian may have only been the best player in the world for a relatively short time, but he was still untouchable during that period. Burton was a first-round draft choice in both the American Football League and National Football League drafts (he went on to play for the AFL’s Boston Patriots) and was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990. Named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981, Moon Baker was a triple-threat halfback known for his running, passing and kicking. Players: 190 pro players. The relentless linebacker was a seventh-round pick by the Rams in the 2006 NFL Draft. 49,256) … Amy Balcerzak was the most prolific breaststroker in Northwestern women’s swimming history. The most dominant wrestler in Northwestern history, Jake Herbert was the University’s first two-time NCAA champion in nearly 80 years. After going through his junior season undefeated and capturing the Big Ten championship, Hines won the title again as a senior before winning the pre-NCAA National Collegiate Championship, the first wrestling national title in Northwestern history. When he left school, the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder owned 32 school records and is second all-time in Big Ten history (behind Drew Brees mostly) in completions (913), attempts (1,584), yards (10,580) and total offense (11,576). Autry followed that up with another outstanding season in 1996, when he was named a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation’s top running back. Field hockey. Along with partner Alexis Prousis in 2006, Cristelle Grier was part of the second team in Northwestern history to win the NCAA doubles national championship. That same year, the American Softball Association named her Sportswoman of the Year. The three-time All-American is Northwestern’s all-time leader in points (398) and the NCAA’s all-time leader in assists (224). He still holds the Northwestern records for points per game (19.9) and ranks second in rebounds per game (13.2). Several fans weighed in on our 50 greatest Wildcats. Autry, who was drafted by the Chicago Bears after his junior season, left Northwestern as the school’s all-time leading rusher (3,793 yards). Your Account; Logout; Login; Create Account; via Sports Logos.net. The two-time first team All-American led the Wildcats to the team’s first Rose Bowl in nearly 50 years. Basketball and football. Northwestern volleyball’s only three-time All-American, Patricia Walsh also made the Big Ten All-Decade Team for the 1980s. At the University of Michigan, he was a three-time all-American football player, and a two-time all-American basketball player who led the Big Ten in scoring. He later coached wrestling at Northwestern. All Players Table; Player Pos Teams From To; Deandre Baker: CB: NYG,KAN: 2019: 2020: Teddy Bridgewater Pele won multiple titles with Santos, with whom he played out the best years of his career, before joining the New York Cosmos for a brief spell. Seasons: 127 (1892 to 2020) Record (W-L-T): 545-670-40 Adjusted Record (W-L-T): 546-669-40 Conferences: Big Ten, Western, Ind Conf. A World Cup winner in 1958, 1962, and 1970, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, to give him his full name, is generally regarded as the greatest soccer player of all time. 'Best video of all time.' Northwestern Football Northwestern Football's All-Time Offense Joe Slowik Correspondent I November 9, 2009 Comments. 1 golfer in 2011, Luke Donald won the 1999 NCAA individual championship and was named College Golfer of the Year. He was taken fourth overall by the Denver Broncos in the 1983 NFL Draft, playing 13 seasons and making six Pro Bowls. Ronaldo 98 – FIFA 04. He also won the Big Ten championship in the same event in 1957. He played three seasons in the NBA. His excellent college career led to Hinton becoming the highest drafted player in school history. He was inducted into the Pro Football … She also led Northwestern to three College World Series appearances. Wrestling. Vote for Jennifer Averill. Vote for Luke Donald. A three-time All-American and two-time Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year, Ishikawa pitched 90 consecutive scoreless innings in 1985. Shurna also holds the school’s career blocked shots record (136) and played for the first two 20-win teams in Northwestern history. She started every game during her four years as a Wildcat, and Northwestern lost just three times during her career. He returned to the University to complete his degree in 2006. But before he dominated the professional ranks, Otto Graham was a three-sport star at Northwestern. Vote for Erica Westrich. The three-time World Cup runners up are synonymous with a style of football … • Northwestern Wildcats 2013 Team Preview He earned All-Big Ten honors of some fashion three times during his four-year career. Vote for Anucha Browne. The midfielder, an All-American and three-time All–Big Ten selection (first-team twice), holds the Northwestern career assist record (32). The Times of India, 12 November 2008 – "Paolo Maldini: Maradona best ever, Ronaldo close second" Paolo Maldini fan page, 21 July 2008 – "Gary Lineker: Diego has been the best player without a doubt, better than Pele" SoccerBlog, 25 March 2006 – "Glenn Hoddle: Diego Maradona is the greatest player of all time". Vote for Darnell Autry. In a long line of accomplished women’s lacrosse players, Hannah Nielsen is the only two-time Tewaaraton Trophy winner (awarded annually to the most outstanding college lacrosse player) and four-time national champion. Field hockey and lacrosse. Vote for Ralph Lupton. Finished his career with 46 touchdown receptions, which is tied for second all-time in Iowa high school football history. Vote for Hannah Nielsen. College Football… “Automatic Otto” became famous for his professional football accomplishments with the Cleveland Browns. Vote for Jim Golliday. The Best x Players of the Century/All-Time. He turned professional later that year. Adamle was one of Northwestern’s career leaders in numerous rushing, touchdown and scoring categories when his career ended. Vote for John Shurna. Darnell Autry was a 1995 Heisman Trophy finalist during Northwestern’s first Rose Bowl run in nearly 50 years. It was one of three NCAA Tournament appearances in her career. Vote for Jake Herbert. Basketball. The Wildcats represent Northwestern University in … A three-time all-state pick in 1993-95. He earned second-team All-American honors in 1999. She also claimed the 1987 NCAA doubles championship with Katrina Adams (C89). After missing all of 1997 with a broken leg, Bates came back to break his own records with 83 catches and 1,245 yards as a senior. Basketball. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. Northwestern’s last two-sport male All-American, Max Morris excelled on both the gridiron and the basketball court. Vote for Todd Martin. Subscribe to our Free Newsletter. College football's top 11 players of all time (2:25) Roger Staubach, Herschel Walker and Jim Brown are among the greatest 11 players in college football history. He started 40 games for the Wildcats, including the last 34 consecutively. He became an All-American wide receiver after walking on to the football team as a freshman. Her 46-1 mark in Big Ten singles play is still the best singles record in conference history. This Month in Sports Reference Was a member of the NFL's all-time 75th anniversary team in … Edgar "Eggs" Manske (SESP34) Vote for Billy McKinney. The country’s top football team finished a … Corbin Byrant, Pittsburgh SteelersDefensive Tackle 3. Amy Balcerzak [Field] (WCAS00) She won three national championships and was a two-time NCAA Championship Most Valuable Player. As a senior, Cooper hit 23 home runs to break the Big Ten single-season record. Graham, who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1943, was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956. Football, basketball and baseball. She was also a four-time All-American in singles and three-time All-American in doubles. Never heard of Max Morris? (See “Billy McKinney: Points Leader,” spring 2012, and "On the Ball," summer 2003.) With the 20th century coming to an end, all kind of experts are publishing their selection of best football players of all time or of this century (which, after all, is essentially the same). Vote for Bryan Hines. The Northwestern Wildcats football team represents Northwestern University as a NCAA Division I college football team and member of the Big Ten Conference based near Chicago in Evanston, Illinois.Founded in 1876, the Northwestern Football mascot is the Wildcat, a term coined by a Chicago Tribune reporter in 1924, after reporting on a football game where the players … Arthur Kraft (SESP60, GSESP61) He took over as the head coach in 2006 and has been arguably the most successful coach in program history as well. Antoinette Lucas (WCAS92) Ron Burton was a huge part of Northwestern football’s turnaround under Ara Parseghian. Proof once and for all that the OG Ronaldo trumps the new pretender Cristiano. Joe Ruklick was a 6-foot-9 All-American center who led the Wildcats in both scoring and rebounding for three consecutive years. Vote for Arthur Kraft. (See “Tennis: A Great Match for Katrina Adams,” winter 2004, and Updates, fall 2012.) They finished the season 36-2 and compiled a 72-5 record over a two-year period. Herbert suffered just four losses during his Northwestern career (135-4) and went undefeated during his final two seasons. She remains among the Wildcats' all-time leaders in scoring. (See "Matt Grevers: Golden Boy," winter 2012.) In breaking Billy McKinney’s 35-year-old school scoring record, John Shurna became the first Wildcat to break the 2,000-point plateau (2,038). He led the conference in scoring twice (15.8 points per game in 1945 and 16.5 points per game in 1946). Watch Northwestern football players react to Chick-fil-A as the post-game meal [video] Posted at 11:48 pm on November 16, 2014 by Greg P. A three-time all-American in college, Marriuci led Northern Michigan University to the 1975 Division 2 National Championship. Kristen Kjellman helped build the foundation for Northwestern’s women’s lacrosse dynasty. The Big Ten home run queen, Garland Cooper became the all-time Big Ten home run leader (55) at the end of her illustrious career. Mark Massery (SESP74, GSESP75) Every Sports Reference Social Media Account. She was also a top singles player, compiling an overall record of 181-38. She was the Big Ten’s first-ever three-time Player of the Year and also was named to three All-America teams (twice as a first-team selection). The 157-pound wrestler was a two-time All-American and a national champion in 1960. He won both the Chuck Bednarik and Bronko Nagurski Awards as the nation’s best defensive player and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for both the 1995 and 1996 seasons. She was named to the NCAA all-tournament team in 1983, when she led the Wildcats to the national semifinals. • Ranking All 125 College Football Coaches for 2013 Vote for Moon Baker. Top AV: Chris Hinton (85) Colleges Index; Northwestern NFL/AFL Players; All Drafted Players; Players' Pro Stats; More Northwestern Pages. An All-American and two-time All–Big Ten tackle on back-to-back conference championship football teams, Jack Riley was even more successful as a wrestler. We highlighted 50 of our favorite Northwestern athletes, and, with help from our readers, we picked our "Top Cats" — our all-time top 10 plus two fan favorites. Though Northwestern suffered a point-shaving scandal back in 1994, it’s not as if the school cherry-picks the best high school football players and … Tennis and basketball. Lisa Ishikawa threw 14 career no-hitters, compiled a 0.47 earned run average, tallied 1,200 strikeouts and recorded 54 shutouts, all of which are still Northwestern records. Kate Oleykowski [Bernatowicz] (McC87) Otto Graham (SESP44) In 1924 he won the 400- and 1500-meter freestyle events and added the 220-yard championship to his résumé in 1925. She led the Wildcats to two consecutive Women’s College World Series semifinal appearances and a Big Ten championship. He ranks sixth all-time in the Big Ten in sacks and seventh in … The massive 6-foot-7, 335-pound blocker from Milford (Ohio) High was one of the most gifted players to ever suit up for Northwestern. He also played for three intercollegiate championship water polo teams and wrestled while at Northwestern. (See “Jump Shot: Evan Eschmeyer,” winter 2008.) He won two NCAA titles in the heavyweight division in 1931 and 1932. Honestly, he was so f*cking good. He backed that up with a huge sophomore season, in which he set NU receiving records for yards (1,196) and touchdowns (12). He played seven seasons in the NBA. The following year Hinton was selected as the fourth overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft, widely considered one of the most talented draft classes in league history. Vote for Antoinette Lucas. Field hockey and lacrosse. Vote for Max Morris. Mark Massery won the 126-pound national championship in 1973 to cap an already stellar career. As a senior, Chris Hinton blossomed into perhaps the best collegiate offensive lineman in the country. Vote for Lisa Ishikawa. Vote for Richard Howell. At 6-foot-2, Walter Colbath was one of the biggest divers of his era and one of the greatest divers in the sport’s history. James posted his best season in 1985, setting the NFL record for all-purpose yards in a single season with 2,535 — a mark that stood until 2000 and still ranks fourth in league history. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder lead the team in receiving as a freshman and helped propel the Wildcats to the Rose Bowl in 1995 — where he piled up 145 yards against USC. Many know the former running back for his work on "American Gladiators," ESPN, the XFL and WWE. His 210 catches, 3,370 yards and 26 touchdowns are all school records. Kate Oleykowski was a three-time All-American as a women’s lacrosse player and earned three All–Big Ten honors in field hockey. Riessen, son of legendary Northwestern tennis coach Clarence "Clare" Riessen (SESP39), was also a starting guard on the basketball team. She averaged an NCAA-best 30.5 points per game as a senior and set an NCAA record by scoring 30 or more points in six straight games. The defensive end from Covina, Calif., is arguably the most successful pass-rusher in Northwestern school history. Howell won four Big Ten titles and at one time held 10 Big Ten freestyle records. Field hockey and lacrosse. (See “Winning with Passion,” fall 2006.) (See "Unbeatable: Jake Herbert," summer 2009.) Golliday, the greatest sprinter in Northwestern history, broke all of the Wildcats’ indoor and outdoor records. She earned four All-America distinctions for breaststroke in both the 100 and 200, capturing 20 All-America honors throughout her career (in NCAA swimming, athletes and relay teams who make the championship final are considered first-team All-Americans). “Tennis: A Great Match for Katrina Adams,”, "Former Northwestern Star Tees It Up on Tour,". 10. Vote for Jack Riley. 91. She earned that distinction in lacrosse in 1988 and 1989 and twice in field hockey, in 1989 and 1990. Max Morris (McC46) A four-time NCAA champion, 19-time Big Ten champion and 27-time All-American (athletes and relay teams who make the NCAA championship final are considered first-team All-Americans), Grevers became the first Wildcat in nearly 50 years to win a national championship when he captured the 100 backstroke over the University of Florida’s Ryan Lochte in 2005. Mick McCabe's journalism career at the Free Press turned 50 on Wednesday. • College Football's Top 50 Running Backs of the BCS Era. Starring for coach Tex Winter from 1974 to 1977, McKinney poured in 1,900 points. Ranking the 30 best college football programs of all-time. Vote for Kristen Kjellman. Wildcat,” Baker spearheaded Northwestern’s emergence as a Big Ten contender in 1924, when the school earned the nickname “Wildcats.” He was named to the All-America team in 1926 as he led Northwestern to the Big Ten championship. He truly broke out during his senior year in 1993, when he became the Wildcats’ only first-team All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year. Championships: 8 Bowl Record: 16 Bowls, 6-10, .375 W-L% (Major Bowls) Ranked in AP Poll: 7 Times (Preseason), 13 Times (Final), 189 Weeks (Total) Stadium: Ryan Field (cap. They did not lose a set in the championship. He was a consensus All-American during both Big Ten championship seasons. There are two names linked indelibly to the historic 1995 run at the Rose Bowl and Autry is one of them. His excellent coaching record aside, Fitzgerald is the most decorated player in school history. Check out their comments on Northwestern's best, including a few we missed. Marriuci was an all-Upper Peninsula football and basketball player. He reached the NCAA singles title match three straight years. He won three NCAA diving championships, a Big Ten title and earned a bronze medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Vote for Evan Eschmeyer. The Northwestern Wildcats football team represents Northwestern University as a NCAA Division I college football team and member of the Big Ten Conference based near Chicago in Evanston, Illinois.Founded in 1876, the Northwestern Football mascot is the Wildcat, a term coined by a Chicago Tribune reporter in 1924, after reporting on a football game where the players …