On Saturday, Northwestern will play in its tenth bowl game. The Wildcats haven’t won in the postseason since 1948, despite this year’s senior class being the most successful class in history with its four straight bowl game appearances. So, what’s at stake for the ‘Cats on the last day of the year?
For starters, at a school like Northwestern statement wins mean everything. It’s safe to say that Northwestern doesn’t inherently draw sports fans like its Big Ten colleagues, so it’s up to the teams to get the students excited about Northwestern sports. With football, the Cardiac ‘Cats tend to rely on too-close-for-comfort endings as a source of entertainment, but fair or not, these always seem to be disheartening. Last-minute finishes lose some of their luster if your team on the losing end of them, nor are they as thrilling if they are the result of your team blowing a comfortable lead and allowing the opponents to threaten the victory. In November, the Wildcats came up with the huge upset over Nebraska, which injected some life into their season and their fans and was part of a four-game winning streak, but after the early season struggles and the season-ending loss to Michigan State, a bowl win would not only end our postseason victory drought but put an emphatic end on a season defined by largely unfulfilled potential.
Second, this is the most lauded senior class in recent memory. Dan Persa, Jeremy Ebert and Co. have reached bowl-eligibility for five straight years and appeared in four consecutive bowl games, but they’ve never won in the postseason. For these guys, this game is the culmination of their careers and a chance to leave an admirable legacy at Northwestern. The reality is that none of these seniors are guaranteed any future in football, and after all they’ve accomplished in the purple and white these ‘Cats deserve to finally break through and go out with a win.
From a practical standpoint, a win on Saturday would be validation of Northwestern’s faith in its current football staff. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald has a contract through 2020, as does Athletic Director Jim Phillips, but while the program has certainly improved in recent years it has been inconsistent yet promising at best. At this point, just qualifying for the postseason can’t be enough – the Wildcats have to show a commitment to winning and they can start by defeating the Aggies.
Yes, it’s the last day of the year, but Dec. 31 will also be the end of an era for the Wildcats. Come 2012, the most successful seniors in school history will have finished their reign at Ryan Field and their last chance at defining a legacy will come in Houston, Texas. When Northwestern faces Texas A&M at the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, more than just a victory will be at stake.