1977 Northwestern Wildcats football team

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1977

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 10

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Kinnick Stadium

| site_cityst = Iowa City, IA

| score = 0–24

| attend = 53,725

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-iowa-father-son/171210417/|work=Wisconsin State Journal|title=Iowa father-son duo is killer for Wildcats|date=September 11, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 17

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Arizona State

| site_stadium = Sun Devil Stadium

| site_cityst = Tempe, AZ

| score = 3–35

| attend = 57,149

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-arizona-state-toys-with/157419792/|work=Chicago Tribune|title=Arizona State toys with outmatched NU|date=September 18, 1977|accessdate=October 19, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 24

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| opponent = North Carolina

| site_stadium = Dyche Stadium

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| score = 7–41

| attend = 19,597

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-north-carolina-rip/139644540/|work=The Rock Island Argus|title=North Carolina rips Northwestern, 41–7|date=September 25, 1977|accessdate=January 26, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 1

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Wisconsin

| site_stadium = Camp Randall Stadium

| site_cityst = Madison, WI

| score = 7–19

| attend = 68,709

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-wildcats-tamed-by-badg/171210540/|work=The Post-Crescent|title=Wildcats tamed by Badgers' defense|date=October 2, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 8

| w/l = l

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = Dyche Stadium

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| score = 3–28

| attend = 16,378

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-hoosiers-hand-wi/171210652/|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|title=Hoosiers hand Wildcats fifth season loss, 28–3|date=October 9, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 15

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Minnesota

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN

| score = 7–13

| attend = 39,021

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-forum-gophers-win-137-on-field-goal/171210801/|work=The Forum|title=Gophers win 13–7 on field goals|date=October 16, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 22

| w/l = l

| opponent = Ohio State

| opprank = 4

| site_stadium = Dyche Stadium

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| score = 15–35

| attend = 29,563

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-big-plays-pace-buckeyes-p/171210905/|work=The Pantagraph|title=Big plays pace Buckeyes past Northwestern, 35–15|date=October 23, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 29

| w/l = l

| opponent = Purdue

| site_stadium = Dyche Stadium

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| score = 16–28

| attend = 17,525

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-mail-herrmann-sub-par-but-it/171211082/|work=The Times-Mail|title=Herrmann sub-par, but it's enough|date=October 30, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 5

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Michigan

| opprank = 6

| site_stadium = Michigan Stadium

| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 20–63

| attend = 103,211

| source = {{cite news|title=U-M Finally Has Laugher! Skins Tame Cats, 63–20|author=Curt Sylvester|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=November 6, 1977|page=1D, 8D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4426677/um_finally_has_laugher/}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 12

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Michigan State

| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 3–44

| attend = 61,238

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-northwestern-stays-in-ru/171211487/|work=Chicago Tribune|title=Northwestern stays in rut|date=November 13, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 19

| w/l = w

| opponent = Illinois

| site_stadium = Dyche Stadium

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 21–7

| attend = 17,255

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-wildcats-beat-il/171211609/|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|title=Wildcats beat Illini for first victory|date=November 20, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}

{{American football roster/Header

| year = 1977

| team = Northwestern Wildcats

| teamcolors = f

| offensive_players =

{{American football roster/Player|num=68|class=Sr|first=Tony|last=Ardizzone|dab=Tony Ardizzone (American football)|pos=OT|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Mark|last=Bailey|pos=WR}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Steve|last=Breitbell|pos=QB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Dan|last=Cleary|pos=TE}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Bill|last=Dierberger|pos=QB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Mike|last=Fielder|pos=OL}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Harold|last=Gilmore|pos=FB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Dana|last=Hemphill|pos=QB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Dan|last=Henderson|pos=OL}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Don|last=Herzog|pos=OT}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Donald|last=Johnson|pos=RB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Frank|last=Malec|pos=OG}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Dave|last=Mishler|pos=RB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Sam|last=Poulos|pos=TE|pos2=K}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=55|class=So|first=Phil|last=Reitz|pos=OT}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Matt|last=Reitzug|pos=RB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Sam|last=Rushing|pos=RB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Todd|last=Sheets|pos=WR}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Greg|last=Soderberg|pos=C}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Scott|last=Stranski|pos=QB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Rudi|last=Tanck|pos=OG}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Mike|last=Taylor|pos=WR}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Mike|last=Wagner|pos=WR}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Bill|last=Weir|pos=QB}}

| defensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Kevin|last=Berg|pos=DE}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Steve|last=Bobowski|pos=CB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Scott|last=Duncan|pos=LB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Pat|last=Geegan|pos=S}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Curt|last=Grelle|pos=DL}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Malcolm|last=Hunter|pos=S}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Mike|last=Kendzicky|pos=DL}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=6|class=Jr|first=Guy|last=Knafelc|pos=DB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Paul|last=Maly|pos=LB|note=C}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Jim|last=Miller|pos=MG}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Blane|last=Ogilive|pos=LB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Dean|last=Payne|pos=DE}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Stephen|last=Scardina|pos=CB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Greg|last=Stanley|pos=LB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Marty|last=Szostak|pos=DL}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Lodi|last=Vercelli|pos=DL}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=74|class=So|first=Norm|last=Wells|pos=DT|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Mike|last=Weitzman|pos=DT}}

| special_teams_players=

}}

{{American football roster/Footer

| head_coach = *John Pont

| asst_coach =

|roster_url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/northwestern/1977-roster.html

| accessdate= 2015-12-20

}}

{{See also|1977 Ohio State Buckeyes football team}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Northwestern Wildcats|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=#4 Ohio State Buckeyes at Northwestern Wildcats

|date=October 22

|time=1:30 p.m. EDT

|road=Ohio St

|R1= 14|R2=7 |R3=7 |R4=7

|home=Northwestern

|H1=3 |H2=6 |H3=0 |H4=6

|stadium=Dyche Stadium, Evanston, Illinois

|attendance=29,563

|weather=Light rain, {{Convert|53|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/1977-07-Northwestern.pdf Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

• NW – Sam Poulos 44-yard field goal, 9:33. Northwestern 3–0. Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 5:00.
• OSU – Joel Payton 4-yard run (Vlade Janakievski kick), 4:58. Ohio St 7–3. Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 0:54.
• OSU – Jeff Logan 5-yard run (Vlade Janakievski kick), 1:15. Ohio St 14–3. Drive: 8 plays, 45 yards, 2:17.

Second quarter

• NW – Mike Taylor 33-yard pass from Dana Hemphill (pass failed), 10:10. Ohio St 14–9. Drive: 2 plays, 34 yards, 0:57
• OSU – Joel Payton 1-yard run (Vlade Janakievski kick), 1:57. Ohio St 21–9. Drive: 4 plays, 21 yards, 1:34.

Third quarter

• OSU – Rod Gerald 24-yard run (Vlade Janakievski kick), 10:41. Ohio St 28–9. Drive: 8 plays, 71 yards, 2:18.

Fourth quarter

• OSU – Paul Campbell 1-yard run (Vlade Janakievski kick), 7:40. Ohio St 35–9. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:01.
• NW – Harold Gilmore 14-yard run (run failed), 4:40. Ohio St 35–15. Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards, 2:54.

|stats=

;Top passers

• OSU – Rod Gerald – 7/14, 148 yards, 2 INT
• NW – Dana Hemphill – 6/10, 51 yards, TD

;Top rushers

• OSU – Ron Springs – 14 rushes, 130 yards
• NW – Harold Gilmore – 23 rushes, 121 yards, TD

;Top receivers

• OSU – James Harrell – 2 receptions, 62 yards
• NW – Mike Taylor – 3 receptions, 41 yards, TD

}}

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{{Northwestern Wildcats football navbox}}

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Category:Northwestern Wildcats football seasons

Northwestern Wildcats football

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{{collegefootball-1977-season-stub}}