Dreams do come true, even in Evanston, where athletics have suddenly overshadowed academics.

Perhaps the Northwestern Wildcats are having a Cinderella season or maybe the team is just now coming to life. Cinderella or not, the Cats are going to be seeing red roses in Pasadena, Calif. on New Year’s Day.

SIUC football fans can relate to Northwestern’s phenomenal year in terms of a dramatic turn-around. The Salukis came from a 1-10 season last year to post a 5-6 record this year. Of course, SIUC is not in the Big 10, nor is the Rose Bowl feasible for the Dawgs. I am sure the feeling of accomplishment is the same, however.

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The Wildcats are realizing a dream which encloses a 10-1 record and a trip to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. When 18th ranked Michigan showed 2nd ranked Ohio State how upsets are orchestrated, we saw gold at the end of the rainbow.

Northwestern fans must thank Michigan for their stunning upset over second ranked Ohio State, though. Many people took for granted that the Buckeyes would be bound for Pasadena. Even the Rose Bowl guy was in Ann Arbor, Mich. with three dozen roses in hand ready to congratulate the then number two ranked team in the country.

This proves once again that not everything in college athletics can be taken for granted. The giant sitting aloft his high mountain of victories does fall from time to time.

If Northwestern’s phenomenal season proves nothing else, it proves that a team who won only eight games in the previous three years could come so far as to win ten games in one year.

Northwestern did not start its football program with the expectation of sitting atop the college ranks or even the Big Ten, because if they consistently battle Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State for the Big 10 title the Wildcats last held in 1936.

After the season ends, things in Evanston will most likely go back to normal; no more football hype or dreams about another unreal season. Most likely as soon as the Rose Bowl is over and done with, the only thing to do is riminisce of victories pastthat is until next season.

We now must wait to see if next year’s Wildcat team will yield another outstanding season performance. However, it does take time to build a quality program out of virtually nothing. Maybe this is a glimpse of things to come for Northwestern fans and athletes.

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