COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : ROSE BOWL : Snow in Winter, Just Like Home

A mantle of snow on the mountains overlooking the San Gabriel Valley made the Northwestern Wildcats feel right at home Saturday as they moved their training base from UC Irvine to Citrus College in Glendora. Temperatures dipped into the 40s as Coach Gary Barnett worked his team under the lights.

After a stiff two-hour practice, the team was bused to the House of Blues in West Hollywood, where it was entertained by an old friend from Chicago, Dan Ayckroyd.

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For the first time in a week the Wildcats were at full strength Saturday as Chris Martin, their all-Big Ten cornerback, and D’Wayne Bates, their top pass catcher, took part in the drill. Both had been out because of minor injuries.

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Christmas will be spent at the Doubletree Hotel in Pasadena, Northwestern’s headquarters until game time. The team will get the day off and then be feted at a dinner and talent show at the hotel. “We’ll have an old-fashioned Christmas party with the players getting their Rose Bowl goodies,” Barnett said. “After a hard workout Sunday, they’ll deserve a day off.”