Northwestern football to hold senior day ceremonies against Purdue, start new tradition

Northwestern football will honor 25 graduating seniors when the Wildcats take on Purdue (11 a.m., Big Ten Network) Saturday at Ryan Field.

Here is the list of graduating seniors:

DE Dean Lowry
WR Christian Jones
SB Dan Vitale
DE Deonte Gibson
S Traveon Henry
CB Nick VanHoose
OL Geoff Mogus
OG Matt Frazier
LB Drew Smith
WR Miles Shuler
DL Max Chapman
WR Cameron Dickerson
QB Zack Oliver
WR Mike McHugh
OL Adam DePietro
H Christian Salem
OL Kenton Playko
S Terrance Brown
RB Stephen Buckley
WR Pierre Youngblood-Ary
WR Garrett Kidd
SB Mark Szott
K Arthur Omilian
WR Luke Dauch
DB Troy Sheppard

Cornerback Dwight White, who retired two seasons ago after finding out he only had one kidney, will also be honored.

A new tradition?

This year, for the first time, Northwestern also hopes to get the entire senior class, not just the football players, involved in senior day. The plan is to have any seniors in attendance take a class picture with head coach Pat Fitzgerald on the field after the game.

The athletic department is hoping to entice students with a free t-shirt and free concessions, along with already-free admission. Then, as the official message from Fitzgerald reads, "after we defeat Purdue and our team serenades the student section with the Fight Song, all members of the Senior Class will be invited to take a group senior photo with me on the field."

Seniors can sign up for t-shirt, concessions voucher and on-field picture here.