The year of the 'cats: reflections of an alumnus on Northwestern's phenomenal season

Sporting News, The, Dec 11, 1995 by Michael Wilbon, T.J. Simers

"I had them sing along with Sinatra," Musseau says. "At first, they were reluctant."

He won them over. During the regular season, the players opened and closed each Thursday practice crooning "High Hopes" together.

"It was all about faith," Musseau says. "They had to believe in themselves. They had to believe as a team. They had to believe it could happen with no history to indicate otherwise."

Now, the sign still adorns the lockerroom door: "Believe without evidence."

"We gave them some exercises on visualization and goal-setting," says Musseau, who lives near Seattle. "They wanted six wins - enough wins to go to a bowl game - they also had a main goal, a goal to go to the Rose Bowl."

This is Gary Barnett's miracle. beginning with the imagination-defying declaration five years ago - "Expect Victory" - and continuing with hokey sayings and a contemptuous disregard for history.

"When I got here, I saw how these kids got barraged by negative stuff," Barnett says. "That's why we started taking these kids to Kenosha before the season. We could plant the seeds that we wanted planted, fertilize and bring it along before they had to come back on campus."

Quarterback Steve Schnur says: "It's hard to talk to Coach Barnett about Northwestern football without coming away thinking one of two things. Either the guy is completely crazy, or he's pretty damned determined. I chose No. 2; that's why I'm here."

Michael Wilbon is a sports columnist for The Washington Post who attended Northwestern from 1976 through '80, during which time the Wildcats were 3-40-1.