Northwestern doesn’t have a definite No. 1 and No. 2 quarterback, coach Gary Barnett said Saturday after Steve Schnur, in relief of Tim Hughes, played most of the 41-41 tie against Stanford.
“Schnur won’t necessarily be our quarterback,” said Barnett. “We’ll continue to play both. Tim needs experience. He was struggling early, and Steve gave us a lift.”
Hughes was 0 for 3 with an interception, Schnur 11 of 24 for 177 yards and 2 TDs.
Take it out: Both NU quarterbacks were victimized by quick-out passes. The same play that produced an interception by Notre Dame last week resulted in two of the three interceptions by Stanford’s LeRoy Pruitt.
“Pruitt was in the right place,” said NU receiver Mike Senters. “The quarterback has to throw it to the correct side of the receiver.”
“Coach Barnett is very smart; he may take that play out of our book,” said tailback Dennis Lundy.
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Rush act: Lundy gained 133 yards in 30 carries for a career total of 2,144, moving him past Mike Adamle’s 2,015 to third in NU rushing records. Current Bear Bob Christian and Greg Boykin rank 1-2 with 2,643 and 2,465, respectively.
Lundy rushed for a career-high three TDs, most by an NU runner since Ricky Edwards’ four in a 31-6 rout of Northern Illinois in 1982. Still, Lundy said: “I’m not too pleased with my play. I’m hard on myself.”
No openings: Saturday’s tie extended Stanford’s string to eight years without a victory in opening games. Bill Walsh is 0-4-1 in Stanford openers, but he’s still unbeaten against Big 10 teams at 4-0-1.
Double-header: NU placekicker Sam Valenzisi twice kicked career-long field goals, first 43 yards, then 47. The 5-7, 156-pounder also made a tackle on a kickoff. “Our special-teams coach, Tim Kish, trains us to be like killer Marines,” cracked Valenzisi, “but I don’t particularly like to make tackles.”