Purple in Pasadena: Northwestern set to relive magical ‘95 season
Northwestern pulled a major surprise by beating Penn State last Saturday as 21-point underdogs.
But it doesn't compare to the first time the Wildcats beat Penn State, on Nov. 4, 1995.
That one wasn't necessarily an upset. More like an arrival.
Northwestern had already beaten Notre Dame and Michigan that season, so the win over Penn State was validation of NU being a legitimate top-10 team. Having the game televised nationally with Keith Jackson in the booth and the portable lights surrounding Dyche Stadium was previously unimaginable.
That was the year everything changed, and it will come full circle in Evanston on Saturday when Northwestern hosts a reunion of the 1995 Rose Bowl team during the game against Purdue.
Coach Gary Barnett is expected to be there. Former linebacker Pat Fitzgerald reportedly said yes. After securing a settlement with the school stemming from his dismissal as head coach, why not?
“I don't know if he will, but I hope he does,” NU coach David Braun said at his weekly news conference. “Fitz is one of the most iconic Northwestern football players of all time, one of the best coaches to ever do it here, was a critical piece of that Rose Bowl team. Really hopeful he is a full participant in Saturday's celebration.”
Not many details are available for what's in store Saturday. Barnett and running back Darnell Autry were featured in the school's social media promo for the reunion.
Braun talked about the indirect influence Barnett has had on him. It's important to remember before the Rose Bowl season, Northwestern won 46 games in 23 seasons — an average of two per year. The Cats never sniffed a winning record or bowl invitation.
Back in the days when a trip to the Rose Bowl was the ultimate prize in the Big Ten, this seemed like an impossible dream for Northwestern.
“Coach Barnett and I got a chance to spend a little time together the first spring I was here for a golf outing,” Braun said. “He's someone that will always be welcome around this program, excited that he's going to be back this weekend.
“He might not even know it, but whether it's reading his book or hearing through others about the way he approached things, always taking nuggets from him.”
Braun talked about how he learned more from Barnett via Fox television analyst Joel Klatt. After Barnett left NU for Colorado, Klatt played quarterback for the Barnett-coached Buffaloes.
During preparation for the Big Noon game against Oregon last month, Klatt described a Barnett annual exercise of asking, “Who are we, where are we going and how are we going to get there?”
“I immediately scrambled for a pen and I'm taking down notes,” Braun said. “It couldn't have been more perfect timing, because 24 hours later, we're frustrated after a loss to Oregon. Going into a bye week, three-week sample size, and literally that's the exercise we went through as a program over the bye week.”
A win over Purdue would boost Northwestern's record to 5-2, close to bowl contention. But the remaining schedule is challenging, with road games at Nebraska and USC to follow.
Saturday's game will also be the last one played at the temporary lakefront stadium. The final two home games of this season, against Michigan and Minnesota, will be at Wrigley Field. Then the new stadium should be ready next year.
“We've got to send it out the right way,” Braun said.
Northwestern's third-year coach also shared his thoughts about Penn State firing coach James Franklin after last week's Wildcats victory. Franklin posted a 104-45 record over 12 seasons and just led the Nittany Lions to the CFP semifinals.
“Gosh, it's heavy,” Braun said. “To be honest with you, if you start to process through it, it bums you out. It's kind of shocking. He put his heart and soul and spirit into that place for more than a decade, did an incredible job.”