By Teddy GreensteinNorthwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald ordered a strip of black tape removed late Saturday afternoon. The tape covered the words: "WIN A BOWL GAME" on a motivational board that hangs in an NU meeting room.
Now that's the bottom line, literally, on the formalized list of "NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL GOALS."
The Wildcats have gone 0-6 in postseason play since the 1949 Rose Bowl. That's a drought of such epic proportions, several NU players have likened winning a bowl game to climbing a mountain.
"We're miles from that mountain top right now," Fitzgerald said.
Yes, the Wildcats will have to wait until Dec. 6 to learn their bowl fate. Then it will be at least three weeks before they take the field.
If two Big Ten teams make BCS bowls, as expected, the Jan. 1 Outback in Tampa, Fla., will choose between Northwestern and Wisconsin.
Even if only one Big Ten team gets in the BCS, Northwestern is a
safe bet not to fall below the Dec. 29 Champs Sports, in Orlando, Fla.
A Big Ten bowl official told the Tribune today that he predicts the Champs Sports would select Northwestern over Wisconsin, which has played in Orlando bowls in three of the last four years.
Said Fitzgerald: "There's are a lot of unknown right now. We'll worry about that when it matters."
Bowl selections can be hard to predict.
Consider this: CBSsports.com projects a Champs Sports Bowl matchup of Northwestern vs. North Carolina . ESPN.com has a split decision, with one prediction that Northwestern will go to the Champs Sports and the other the Outback.
All three projections have a different SEC opponent in the Outback: LSU, Auburn and Tennessee.
Outback Bowl President/CEO Jim McVay said today that his bowl cannot go wrong with either Northwestern or Wisconsin.
"We'll look at losses, we'll look at wins, who beat who," McVay said by telephone. "We'll consult all of our constituents, including sponsors, ticket buyers and broadcast partners. We probably overanalyze these things."
McVay said the decision rests with 45 Board of Directors, who will consider "everything."
"The number of tuba players," he joked, "the number of cheerleaders and do we like the mascot costume."
A Big Ten bowl official told the Tribune today that he predicts the Champs Sports would select Northwestern over Wisconsin, which has played in Orlando bowls in three of the last four years.
Said Fitzgerald: "There's are a lot of unknown right now. We'll worry about that when it matters."
Bowl selections can be hard to predict.
Consider this: CBSsports.com projects a Champs Sports Bowl matchup of Northwestern vs. North Carolina . ESPN.com has a split decision, with one prediction that Northwestern will go to the Champs Sports and the other the Outback.
All three projections have a different SEC opponent in the Outback: LSU, Auburn and Tennessee.
Outback Bowl President/CEO Jim McVay said today that his bowl cannot go wrong with either Northwestern or Wisconsin.
"We'll look at losses, we'll look at wins, who beat who," McVay said by telephone. "We'll consult all of our constituents, including sponsors, ticket buyers and broadcast partners. We probably overanalyze these things."
McVay said the decision rests with 45 Board of Directors, who will consider "everything."
"The number of tuba players," he joked, "the number of cheerleaders and do we like the mascot costume."
Register with Chicago Tribune and receive Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks newsletters for free. 
When sports news breaks, be the first to know. (To get alerts on a mobile device, text CHISPORTS to 31286.). 
As an Auburn fan we hope to see you guys in the Outback. War Eagle!
Methinks the Cats would match up much better with the North Carolina team than any of the SEC teams mentioned as likely opponents in the Outback Bowl.
noway seems about on the money. 0-6 over 60 years means NU hasn't been there that often. How has THE Ohio State University done in the past few years? For that matter, how has any Big Ten school done in bowls recently?
BTW, the way Bowl eligibility was explained on Dave Eanet's program, apparently 7 of the Big 10's 11 teams are assured some sort of bowl. Even if they go to the Bowl sponsored by American Standard or Kohler, it's still a bowl.
The pressure's on, Willie...