January 8, 2004

’Cats drive to Motor City

The Wildcats fell in the Dec. 26 Motor City Bowl 28-24 to the Bowling Green State University Falcons, the Mid-American Conference representative.

Fans cheer a Northwestern score during the first half.

photo by Stephen Anzaldi

The seventh annual game was televised by ESPN.

Northwestern played one of the country’s most challenging schedules, facing eight bowl-eligible teams. Seven of those teams played in postseason games. Northwestern went 2-5 versus its bowl opponents.

The Northwestern Alumni Association sponsored a game-day package for Wildcat football fans.

The $75 special included a game ticket and a tailgate party two hours before kickoff in Ford Field’s Hall of Legends. The sold-out tailgate drew almost 500 people.

The tailgate featured food and drinks, a scouting report by Athletic Director Mark Murphy, and appearances by Willie the Wildcat, the Spirit Squad and the Marching Band, which led the crowd in singing the fight song and alma mater.

“The tailgate party was a perfect prelude to a thrilling day for Northwestern,” said Catherine Stembridge, associate vice president and director of alumni relations. “Enthusiastic alumni and fans filled the room with an energy that carried out to the Ford Field stands and provided the Wildcats a big boost.”

After the game, the NU Club of Detroit and the Kellogg Alumni Club of Michigan sponsored a post-game party at the Hockeytown Café.

The NU Club of Chicago sponsored round-trip bus transportation from Evanston to Detroit.

Four buses with about 200 people pulled out of Ryan Field at 8 a.m. the morning after Christmas and returned to Evanston late that night.

“We appreciate the work of the NU Club of Chicago in organizing the bus trip,” Stembridge said.

The loss to Bowling Green was Northwestern’s fourth straight post-season defeat. The Wildcats have not won in the postseason since 1949 when they defeated California in the Rose Bowl.

The Motor City Bowl appearance was the second postseason game during Head Coach Randy Walker’s five years at Northwestern.