They got tired of it and sent us up the hill to run. The 1995 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the 1995 NCAA Division I-A college football season.The 1995 season was a highly memorable one for the Northwestern program, as the Wildcats went 10-2 overall and 8-0 in the Big Ten Conference, earning their first winning season since 1971, their first conference championship since 1936, and their first 10 . Are you willing to get in that wheelbarrow? 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary Flashback #25: January 2, 1996 - Northwestern plays in the Rose Bowl He did not call. It was really hard, wasn't it? The Wildcats, who were then ranked in the AP poll for the first time since 1971, fell out of the spotlight when they lost to Miami University in their next game. And I remember at least two or three of the games, people jumping and swamping the field after a win. Stewart Mandel: Even though I wasn't covering football, I tried to do a story on Keith Jackson covering the game. Pat Fitzgerald: It was the best group of men that anybody could wish to be a part of in college. None of them were guys that had phenomenal overall ability. Word quickly spread in the press box, and there were a couple Northwestern grads up there, and we got all excited. The USC Trojans defeated the Northwestern Wildcats, 4132, on the strength of two touchdown passes from USC quarterback Brad Otton to wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson. Free shipping for many products! I thought that was kind of a low blow at the time and I still do. And the guy he was accusing said, "Yeah, I have been." "We went down to the women's quad, and they put us up on the balcony and had a great time. (Read our "'49 Rose Bowl Trivia" to see what Voigts has in common with current Wildcat coach Pat Fitzgerald [SESP97].). The 'Cats had practiced but rarely used a trick play in which the snap went through Burson directly to one of the halfbacks, with the other halfback in motion and the fullback decoying as if he'd receive a pitch from Burson. And he fired into me, and we're pushing against each other, and I'm blocking him, and Darnell makes a cut and gets tackled. Rob Johnson (Senior center): By the time you've been through it a few times, you know what to expect, it became enjoyable. I'll never forget the first play of the game, I'm on the opposite side of the field as Tim Dwight, and he comes running across the field. These are the best of the rest. The 82nd Rose Bowl USC and Northwestern photocopied roster, 1996-01-01, Box: 1, Folder: 5. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. The Rose Bowl Stadium or "America's Stadium" is a National Historic Landmark that was built in 1922. "There was total silence from this gigantic crowd," says Forman. Stewart Mandel: I have friends who worked at the student radio station, and they helped out on College GameDay, and [GameDay host] Chris Fowler went out drinking with them that night. $8.99. ", "I was right in the middle of the pile," Nemeth says. And they were responsible, for the most part. The man who transformed the Northwestern University Wildcats into a championship-winning team--the top story in college football in 1995--and who was named Coach of the Year discusses his leadership philosophies, his coaching techniques, and his winning year. 9 Notre Dame 17-15 in South Bend, putting the school in the AP poll for the first time since 1971. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis and Brandon Ingram will play outsized roles in how their respective teams close the season. I didn't think about it at all. Bowl Game: Lost Citrus Bowl 48-28 versus Tennessee. Autry ended up finishing fourth in the voting. Rob Johnson: The Minnesota Vikings have like a Nordic horn that they blow, and [offensive lineman] Graham Gnos and I ran through the bowels of the Metrodome, and we went and foundit in a room in the basement of the Metrodome. ", "All the papers out there and everybody thought that Cal would win," Aschenbrenner said recently by phone. Year: 1996. And then to go full circle, the people were great when we went, they got me back on the Jungle Cruise. Played January 1, 1996. Marred by decades of futility, things began to change in the Wildcats first game of that Rose Bowl season. "He didn't want us to spend any time reading the newspapers because of all the negativity toward little old Northwestern," says tackle Bill Forman (WCAS50). Twenty years ago, in 1995 . We knew if we were going to beat Iowa, we had to keep him bottled up. Check out our northwestern rose bowl shirt selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. See more videos from Northwestern News. The time is precious.". Nemeth was among the key blockers. Rob Johnson: One of the galvanizing moments happened in the press conference after the game. "I was surprised at how it opened up.". The USC Trojans defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 41-32 on the strength of two touchdown passes from USC QB Brad Otton to WR Keyshawn Johnson. And I have a big ring, and those guys don't. "University of Chicago students came and criticized us for being athletes rather than students," Perricone says. Jason Wendland: I've gotta admit, I'm a pretty cynical guy, and I was surprised with myself, especially looking back on it, how much I bought into the whole Musseau/Barnett storytelling. Attendance: 100,102 (capacity). Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Good luck today!" It was the 50th game in the series featuring the Big Ten Conference and the Pacific-10 Conference. A few of the parables Barnett and Steve Musseau would tell were included in the oral history. Record: 9-3 (16th of 111) (Schedule & Results), Bowl Game: Lost Citrus Bowl 48-28 versus Tennessee. The audiocassettes have been digitized and can be accessed at dc.library.northwestern.edu.\n\nThis collection is stored off-site and requires two business days advance notice for retrieval. The stadium is known for hosting the annual Rose Bowl Game, but it has also earned its world-class reputation by hosting five NFL Super Bowls, 1984 Olympic soccer matches, the 1994 Men's World Cup, the 1999 Women's World Cup, four BCS . But that I think would be the most special year of my coaching career. The Northwestern Wild. Facing Wake Forest on September 7, 1996, the Wildcats walked away with a 27-28 defeat, documented in tapes 4A-4D. So I pretty much walked up to Barnett's doorstep and said, "Hey, can I play for you?" There are many talented players on this year's roster, though these players will be essential to the success to Penn State's 2023 season. It never was. It was all so wonderful.". He had never done that. I got in touch with ABC, and I left a message for him, and left my dorm phone number, and everybody was like, "Oh my gosh, what if Keith Jackson calls and leaves a voicemail." (See "Benchmarks," winter 2006.). Pee Wee, who died in 2003, and Fatso are the only pair of twins to compete in a Rose Bowl, according to the Intercollegiate Football Researchers Association. Of special interest are the tapes recording WNUR's live coverage of Northwestern football . There are professional athletes that are in the Hall of Fame, that have made millions, that don't get the same kind of love that our team gets. Michigan went 9-0 (6-0) to win the conference crown . "Burson was always funny," says guard Bob Nowicki (EB52). The Northwestern senior put together a showing for the record books. +40 (724) 307.599 Lu - Vi: 9:00 - 18:00; northwestern rose bowl 1996 roster Horrio de atendimento: Segunda - Sexta das 17h s 21h. However, Notre Dame set the record for largest drop in the rankings AP Poll in the Top-25 era when the next AP poll was released, dropping 16 spots to #25 (this record was beaten by Michigan after losing to Appalachian State during the first week of the 2007 season). "We know Murakowski fumbled the ball before he got to the goal line, and the photo clearly shows that," Cal's Frank Brunk, a fullback and defensive back said in an interview this June with CalSportsDigest.com. Barnett's team would take the field hours later, punctuating a season no one saw . I do. A lot of New Yorkers had no idea who I was. Video: March to the '49 Rose Bowl Four members of Northwestern's 1949 Rose Bowlwinning team share the story of the Wildcats' history-making win over California. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage Northwestern University 1996 Rose Bowl Football Sweatshirt Men's Large at the best online prices at eBay! Members of Northwestern's 1949 Rose Bowl-winning team returned to Ryan Field for a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Wildcats' first trip to Pasadena, Calif. While with the Wildcats as a graduate assistant coach (1994-96), Limegrover helped the team to a pair of bowl appearances (Citrus and Rose) and two Big Ten Championships. australia post head office contact; 15565 meridian rd lucerne valley, ca 92356 That was the coolest. So when the story ran, you can see the "N" on the field behind Keith Jackson. And you go to New York, and they fly your parents out there. We always practiced trick plays, and never really ever called em. Memories of Northwestern's 1995 Rose Bowl season: Best of therest. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Starters are marked with an asterisk (*). For the coach who left Northwestern for Cal, this was the first of three straight Rose Bowls, all tight losses for his Bears. ", As Forman recalls, "I was a left tackle lining up outside the right end. go to da moon copy and paste. Oh my gosh, they're on the cover of Sports Illustrated." The Rose Bowl, the "granddaddy of them all," was first played on Jan. 1, 1902, at Tournament Park. And I remember for the first time, during the fourth quarter, not being able to hear Fitzy make calls. In the end, it wasn't. Reliving Northwestern football's greatest season ever, through the words of those who lived it the first time 20 years ago. He saved me. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. He decided instead to stay at Northwestern. . So to them, that game was for Marcel Price. We suck." My parents had come down the following week, we had about five, six days left before the game, and I had just been interviewed by Channel 7 News, and I saw my parents so I went over to talk to them, and my mom says, Hey, your dad has a surprise for you.' "Tunnicliff was missing a finger from a combat injury [as a tank driver in Germany]. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Or write about sports? At another end of the lobby, Sawle says to Keddie, "Do you ever look at the pictures of all of that and pinch yourself? J.A. The 'Cats rebounded with a 48-0 thumping of Syracuse, followed by triumphs of 21-7 over Ohio State and 16-7 at Wisconsin. Earlier in the day, Voigts had taken the team through the customary walk-through in the imposing and empty Rose Bowl. Chris Martin: They had Tim Dwight. And then I got to South Bend two weeks before signing day, and [Notre Dame coach Lou] Holtz was out of town for the Bob Hope golf tournament. It was part of the experience and a great way to wind down.". With a beaming smile and a fragile scrapbook, Day brought several members of his family to this October's 60th anniversary gathering. ", Early in the 1948 season Northwestern confounded the prognosticators and gained national respect. The remainder of the collection documents NUs bowl time coverage, including three special sports programs recorded by WNUR that preview Northwesterns upcoming Citrus Bowl game against Tennessee. Inside Indianapolis: Behind the NFL Combine preparation of Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern Wildcats Basketball Recruiting, Northwestern Wildcats Football Recruiting, Northwestern Basketball Season Preview 2015-16, Belief Without Evidence: An oral history of Northwestern's 1995 Rose Bowlseason, Entering March, the urgency is growing for Northwestern. Adande: I was covering the US Open when they beat Notre Dame. But the rest of it was, "Well that's good enough for us, that's all we need to hear. The potent Bears, whose roster had but five non-Californians, had reason to feel supremely secure as they took the field against the Wildcats, who represented 10 states none on the West Coast, with 18 players from Illinois and 10 from Indiana. "I didn't realize Tunnicliff had broken free and scored," says Keddie, "I thought maybe it'd been mishandled. A long Trojan drive resulted in a field goal, and USC scored again with . Purple roots: Former Wildcats at NFL Combine reflect on how Northwestern shaped them. Luckily he slid down to the ground and caught it. When the 'Cats arrived and conducted their first practice before the watchful West Coast media, the Los Angeles Times reported initial impressions: "Onlookers were amazed by the speed, pep and streamlined appearance of the Wildcats, who had engaged in only five exam-hampered drills since the closing of their regular season.". Not everybody had bought into the idea that a winning football program could have wide-ranging benefits for the university. They were very familiar with Tommy Frazier, really familiar with Eddie George. Gambling problem? If he had not done that, he would've been on that team with us. It was an out-and-up down the sideline, and I had it covered, but he made a hell of a play on the ball. Gary Barnett (Head coach): The Monday after the Iowa game [the penultimate game of the 1994 season], one of the coaches came to me. The setting and the circumstances were perfect for minds to drift back six decades to when the stadium was still called Dyche, the Spartans weren't yet in the same league and the Wildcats carried the Big Nine's hopes to Pasadena. I'm out of the play, and he tries to cut block me. Many of the 'Cats had been in combat and were older, wiser and tougher than the typical student-athlete. Instead of the band welcoming back the team, players greeted the 144-member band after its unscheduled snow-driven holiday out West. Later that month on October 26, 1996, they defeated Illinois in a 27-24, documented in tapes 6A-6C. When someone wrote about us or publicly responded to our team and described our team as relentless, then we knew we had arrived. To have coach Paterno come to talk to you, and pat your cheek like your grandfather, that stuff doesn't happen to everybody. It was the final lesson that we had to learn as a team. He fumbled too late for it to be called.". For a half second, we thought, "Oh, you were going to leave?" Tunnicliff's touchdown gave the 'Cats a 20-14 lead with under three minutes left. The giddiness climaxed in the cancellation of classes that ensuing Thanksgiving week. Draft Entry: 2023 . Casey Dailey (Sophomore defensive end): [In 1994, offensive lineman] Matt O'Dwyer tried to punch me through coach Barnett. We had some good players, but none of them were NFL players. University Archives has more than 2,000 reels of film of Northwestern football games from between 1929 and 1989, including the 1949 Rose Bowl, in its collection. ", William Bennett: Coming out of the tunnel, the fans would yell, "Give us a good game Northwestern! The next year, 1996, the IHSA included the event and Simmons dominated. And I was like, "Since when do we have to wait in line to get to our seats at a Northwestern football game?" Trailing 14-13, the 'Cats' chances came down to a desperate drive from their own 12-yard line late in the fourth quarter. Don Holmes (Sophomore linebacker): My birthday was December 11, and before I left town, I talked my parents into allowing me to get a Northwestern tattoo, with the mascot in the middle of the N. And I put a rose in its mouth, for the Rose Bowl. There was a group of Matt O'Dwyer, Todd Bascek, Billy Koziel, and some guys that really bought in. The last guy who could've caught him didn't see me. stand for?" Perricone later served in the U.S. Army and became a Colorado district court judge. Art was hit hard, and the ball flew out. Southwest Minnesota State University Athletics. There are many talented players on this year's roster, though these players will be essential to the success to Penn State's 2023 season. "Because of the angle, it is possible part of his body may have been but the Cals will yelp about this one for a long time to come.". [My friend] Adam Fox convinced us it was a thing in L.A. to camp out the night before the Parade to get your spot on the parade route. I think Wisconsin was one of them. We found a way to screw up 130 plays. Illinois Football All-Time Rosters - 1975-1999 1890s: 1890 | 1891 | 1892 | 1893 | 1894 | 1895 | 1896 | 1897 | 1898 | 1899 1990s: 1900 | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 Here are 10 interesting facts about the 1948 Wildcats, who are still the only team in school history to win the Rose Bowl, on Jan. 1, 1949. It worked, believe me. Keith Jackson, Bob Griese ABC The 1996 Rose Bowl was the 82nd Rose Bowl Game. June 5. College Football at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. So I'd go around the country. We can't tell you what it is." Roster includes most starters and key reserves. People ask them, "So you played for Northwestern, were you a part of that good team back in 95?" The play remains one of the most controversial in Rose Bowl history. stand for?" The Asher Golden Collection contains 29 audiocassettes and a small amount of paper documents relating to his coverage of Northwestern football during the 1995-1996 and 1996-1997 seasons, including their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1949 and their first Big 10 title in 60 years. and just below it was "Roses! The next play, Aschenbrenner, a halfback, completed Northwestern's only pass of the game in four attempts, an 18-yard reception by end Don Stonesifer (EB51). Some last minute things. And we didn't actually sleep that much, we were up till like 4 in the morning. Here you are with a steering wheel, you also have a shift, and you have to move these three pedals at the same time. See our list of forfeits and vacated games for more details. 1. But the station made the decision to go ahead and carry the game. "Waldorf came into the locker room after the game to congratulate us and he said, 'I knew that today I could not lose,'" says Sawle. "He had possession when he crossed. There were plenty of great memories that didn't make it into our oral history. What made it so special was that we led the nation in scoring defense, but did not have a player drafted that year. ", To this day, the Bears rue Northwestern's "phantom" score and the judgment of the legendary Berwanger. In October almost half of the 45-player roster from the 1949 Rose Bowl team, Northwestern's first bowl team and only bowl winner, returned to Evanston for a 60-year reunion and a halftime tribute. And I remember the ref coming up and saying, "Let him go, Ron." And so I was taken aback, as you can imagine. That Notre Dame finished at number 6 and went to the Orange Bowl. But I thought it was really cool. Dave Eanet: Right before the game, we got word that the prime minister of Israel had been assassinated. I think I asked [former Northwestern tennis player] Todd Martin about it, to get his reaction. So I go over to him, and I'm like, What's the surprise mom's talking about?' In fact, if Notre Dame is used as a compass, Northwestern should have its way in this Rose Bowl. It's easy to say you believe, it's easy to say you're ready, but when it gets right down to it, do you really believe? I saw the unifying effect that an exciting football season can have on a campus. We weren't good enough to relax, we had to come out and give our best effort the entire game in order for us to have the season we wanted to have. Northwestern had burst from the constraints of a dead-and-buried program and shocked . "We thought we had it made when Jackie Jensen left the game, hurt his leg," says Day. They won against Air Force and Indiana to get back to #25 in the polls. Facing off against the USC Trojans in Pasadena, the Wildcats trailed 31-26 heading into the fourth quarter. Northwestern defeats Michigan, 17-16, in college football; photo (M) . Northwestern's Rose Bowl win. Dave Eanet: They had a rally at Welsh-Ryan Arena, and I was the emcee for that. I have friends who worked at the student radio station, and they helped out on College GameDay, and Chris Fowler went out drinking with them that night. Voigts, a former officer in the U.S. Navy, had a squad anchored by veterans, not just of the gridiron but of World War II. Northwestern University Archives. The Score will continue to release a new Flashback each weekday until they reach 100. It turned into the only lopsided blemish on the Wildcats' season, a 28-0 defeat. No one could believe we scored first. As mentioned in the oral history, Gary Barnett was in serious discussions with UCLA about their coaching vacancy. Nationality: United States. $11.99 (25% off) More colors. But in the last few years they came around to admit we did beat them. Odds & lines subject to change. Rob Johnson: I'm more proud of being associated with the guys today because of who they are in their work lives, in their communities, in their families, than being proud of anything we did on the field. I haven't seen 'em in 10 years, but we still have all these great memories, funny jokes. On October 5, 1996, Northwestern faced Michigan, winning 17-16 (tapes 5A-5C). ", "Art's feet were not in the end zone," stated the Jan. 2 L.A. Times about its Page One photo of the play in question. Did I think I was going to win? Favorite memory, for me, is the cannonball contest with the offensive linemen. I had never been in New York before, and that was eye-opening. NinjaBowTique. It's what remains the game's most vivid memory, says Aschenbrenner. was obliterated in October at South Bend, 38-10, whereas the Wildcats shocked the Irish, 17 . Above the masthead on the Daily Northwestern's front page was "No School! Read more about our data coverage. "We went to a play one night and arrived late," says end Burton Keddie (EB51), "so they started the play over.". Newspapers also kept track of the players away from practices and the team hotel, the luxurious Huntington. A Washington loss to Oregon on November 4 put USC in the lead in the Pac-10 race. My most vivid memory is standing in front of all these guys interviewing me, and somebody threw a soda can that was about half-full from up in the stands, and it hit me right in the back. Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images. And so on the cover of our scouting report, it said, "Wisconsin is Big Six." Chris Martin: I think I made a comment in the paper the week before about how we just don't like Iowa, and I guess it became bulletin board material for Tim Dwight and their locker room. It's an exercise in drawing a team together based on a promise and a commitment. Gary Barnett was fulfilling a personal wish to visit the stadium the night before the 1996 Rose Bowl game. Everybody who was editor of their high school newspaper, stand up." He had a couple stumbles, but made it across. And he shared with us the reason why: "Because he showed very little evidence of being able to coach d-line effectively as evidenced by the product of his players."