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The more than 55,000 football fans who attended the 2008 Valero Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29 in San Antonio witnessed a real catfight. In a thrilling overtime battle, the Missouri Tigers defeated the Wildcats 30-23.
Wildcat quarterback C.J. Bachér (C08) tied an Alamo Bowl record by throwing for three touchdowns, completing 27 of 43 passes for 304 yards. He closed his career ranked third on Northwestern's career list for touchdown passes (43). Wildcat senior receiver Rasheed Ward, who caught seven passes for 101 yards and a touchdown in the game, earned the Alamo Bowl's Fred Jacoby Sportsmanship Award.
The game, one of the most competitive of the bowl season, ranks as the 10th most-watched bowl game in ESPN history, with about 7.2 million viewers. Northwestern sold all of its 10,800-ticket allotment, while Missouri sold only 6,000.
Two-hundred-fifty Wildcat fans traveled on the Northwestern Alumni Association's Alamo Bowl Tour. More than 360 people attended the NAA's Celebrate Northwestern, a reception and musical performance with acts by Broadway alumni and current students and a skit with Willie the Wildcat.
More than 1,000 people tailgated with the NAA about 100 yards away from the Alamodome.