Northwestern Skips Off To Pasadena As Most Improbable Big Ten Champion

It seemed so strange. The Michigan fight song, “The Victors,” rang out through the room, a tune that previously had nightmarish implications for Northwestern.

But not on this day. Not on this very special day.

“I hated to hear that song when we played up there,” linebacker Pat Fitzgerald said, “because it meant Michigan was doing well. But today I love hearing that song. Play it again.”

Michigan did play it again and again, and perhaps never before has Evanston, Ill., heard more beautiful music.

Saturday’s latest chapter in Northwestern’s amazing football season proved just as exciting and improbable as on Saturdays earlier this fall, when the Cats sprang shocking upsets over Notre Dame, Michigan and Penn State.

Without throwing a block or making a tackle - in fact, while they munched pizza and snacks - the Wildcats were transformed first into unlikely but fervent cheerleaders for Michigan, and then into joyous Rose Bowl-bound celebrants as the sole champs of the Big Ten Conference.

These events fell into place when Michigan, fueled by 313 rushing yards by Tshimanga “Tim” Biakabutuka, upset previously unbeaten No. 2-ranked Ohio State 31-23, sending Northwestern to the Rose Bowl.

The Wildcats, who finished the previous Saturday at 10-1 and 8-0, will play on Jan. 1 against Southern Cal in Pasadena, the site of Northwestern’s only previous bowl trip in 1949.

The Michigan-fan-for-a-day tag applied to coach Gary Barnett, his coaches and some 30 players who gathered at the Nicholet Football Facility north of Dyche Stadium. There, along with TV people who turned the auditorium into a brightly lit studio, the Wildcats viewed the Ohio State-Michigan game on a wide-screen TV.

The Cats turned into loud and enthusiastic Wolverine rooters from the moment Michigan’s Mercury Hayes cradled the opening kickoff.

“Take it all the way,” cried Fitzgerald. He groaned when Hayes tripped and fell.

The groans quickly turned to cheers. “Go, Tim, go, go, go,” urged offensive tackle Brian Kardos and tight end Shane Graham in unison, as Biakabutuka dashed 23 yards on his first carry.

More players arrived as the Wolverines moved ahead and maintained a 10-9 lead at halftime.

“I was in my apartment watching the game,” said wide receiver Dave Beazley, “but I had to join the guys here to see this together. We’ve been through so much. This means … it’s the Rose Bowl.”

The TV cameras frequently fo cused on closeups of Barnett’s expressive face. It mirrored emotions, ranging from hope and promise when Biakabutuka cut through huge holes to despair when Brian Griese threw interceptions.

“I can’t sit down,” Barnett said. “I had to stand and walk around. I asked the guys, ‘Do you want to go to Pasadena?’ They all said, ‘Yeah!”’

At halftime, when the Buckeyes trailed 10-9 on three field goals by Josh Jackson, injured placekicker Sam Valenzisi reminded people that “in 1975 Ohio State beat Michigan 12-0 on four field goals.”

But Ohio State wasn’t going to win on four field goals Saturday. Valenzisi was wrong. Michi gan continued to make big plays.

When it was done, they cheered for Barnett, and themselves.

“I feel good for the kids who stuck to their goal and took the risks and took the pressure,” he said. “I feel good for Larry Curry.”

Curry, senior tackle on the defense that keyed the turnaround season, was forced into service as backup long snapper when an injury sidelined Paul Janus against Miami of Ohio. Curry’s bad snaps contributed to the 30-28 loss to Miami.

That day seemed like an eternity ago. Saturday, there were only smiles.

Graham, a senior and native of Thousand Oaks, Calif., uttered the verbal equivalent of Red Auerbach lighting up his victory cigar.

“I’m going home for Christmas,” Graham said.