<p>Gator</a> Bowl: Monkey finally off Northwestern's back - chicagotribune.com</p>
<p>Big win today over the SEC. Lots of credit to Pat Fitzgerald, a class act.</p>
<ol>
<li>The win snapped the football program’s nine-game losing streak in the postseason, dating back to the Wildcats’ 20-14 Rose Bowl win over Cal in January of 1949.</li>
<li>The 2012 team became just the third 10 win team in school history.</li>
<li>Fitzgerald has 50 wins and two seasons to go before he turns 40.</li>
<li>Northwestern became the first BIG team in the BCS era (since 1998) to beat two SEC teams in the same season.</li>
</ol>
<p>I especially like that last one, because I’m in SEC/ACC area. I’ll have to make fun of the SEC kids for that :-D</p>
<p>In other news, my grandma went to NU during the Rose Bowl win. I have no idea if she went, but she was there.</p>
<p>Gator Bowl was amazing for current students and alums, especially alums like me who hardly even saw a victory on the field during our days at NU. Purple Pride is awesome. Definitely worth the trip to Jacksonville.</p>
<p>Hoping for the Rose Bowl next year!</p>
<p>GO CATS.</p>
<p>Nice to have reset the clock on that old Bowl Game streak. Now it’s all good. Go Cats!!</p>
<p>The good news is that while the schedule gets a bit tougher (dOSU and UW come back on the B1G rotation), the 'Cats are returning a majority of their starters, esp. in the skill positions.</p>
<p>The biggest loss will be on the O-line w/ 3 starters graduating, but there are plenty of highly touted underclassmen recruits to fill their slots.</p>
<p>The D-line/pass rush and secondary, long a trouble spot for the defense may actually be a strength for the team in 2013 (as well as 2014).</p>
<p>In addition, the 'Cats have one of their highest rated recruiting classes coming in, but since there is now good depth on the team, most will likely red shirt.</p>
<p>The 'Cats were basically 2 plays from going 11-1 in the regular season (if CB Van Hoose hadn’t been injured, they would have won those games) and the PSU loss could have been a win if Mark had been in at RB during the 4th Q.</p>