Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 2, 1996

New Year’s Day diary:

7 a.m.--I open the drapes and predict, with great confidence, that the Rose Bowl rain-less streak will reach 41. . . .

8:10--Watch Penn State and Auburn slip and slide in the Outback Bowl at Tampa. It’s raining cats and dogs and horses and cows. Tomorrow, thousands of people will be moving to Southern California to escape those brutal Florida winters. . . .

10:00--Arrive in Pasadena and see practically nothing but purple-and-white outfits outside the Rose Bowl. Will Northwestern have the home-field advantage over USC as Wisconsin did over UCLA here two years ago? . . .

10:05--Ticket scalper is getting scalped, offering $75 ticket for $50. . . .

10:12--Water-blowing fans are in place behind the Northwestern bench. After all, the Wildcats aren’t used to playing in 75-degree weather on New Year’s Day--or playing on New Year’s Day, period. . . .

10:19--TV announcer says Ohio State, which is playing Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl, spent 10 days working out at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla. Surprisingly, the Buckeyes haven’t flubbed a ground ball yet. . . .

1 p.m.--Colorado is leading Oregon, 32-6, in the Cotton Bowl. I knew there were no great teams in the Pacific-10 Conference, but until the bowl season I didn’t realize how many mediocre ones there were. . . .

1:30--Hungry Northwestern band, which hasn’t marched here since 1949, begins pregame show. Block N is crisp. . . .

1:40--I wonder what Wildcat Coach Gary Barnett is telling his players. Best possible pep talk would be, “I’ve decided to sign a 12-year contract and stay at Northwestern.” . . .

1:50--Announcement is made that no cheering will be allowed in press box. That includes veteran scribe Charlton Heston. . . .

1:55--John Robinson makes an early change in strategy. After winning the coin toss, USC decides to receive the opening kickoff rather than take its choice in the second half. . . .

1:57--Keyshawn Johnson makes his first kickoff return of the season, reaching his own 17-yard line. . . .

2:05--Robinson’s decision to receive the opening kickoff proves wise as LaVale Woods flies into the end zone from a yard out to climax an 83-yard, 12-play touchdown drive by the normally slow-starting Trojans. . . .

2:05 (cont.)--Key statistic in the drive: Johnson caught two passes for 44 yards and two first downs. . . .

2:15--Northwestern wide receiver D’Wayne Bates, not to be confused with D. Wayne Lukas, puts a great move on a defender after taking a pass from Steve Schnur for a 30-yard gain to the three. . . .

2:16--Tailback-drama major Darnell Autry, who doesn’t know whether he would rather be the next Barry Sanders or Denzel Washington, reminds me more of Sanders on three-yard touchdown run. . . .

2:30--In broad daylight, Rose Bowl lights are turned on. So much for water and power conservation. . . .

2:48--USC quarterback Brad Otton, who is very much on his game and in no need of relief, throws 21-yard touchdown pass to Terry Barnum. . . .

2:48 (cont.)--Key statistic of 78-yard, eight-play drive: Johnson caught three passes for 46 yards and three first downs. . . .

3:14--I’m starting to get the feeling that this is the Trojans’ day. Schnur completes pass to Brian Musso, but he fumbles and freshman cornerback Daylon McCutcheon scoops it up and returns it 53 yards for a touchdown that gives USC 24-7 lead. . . .

4:00--There isn’t going to be enough space in this diary, so we pick up the action early in the third quarter with the Wildcats, who have several lives, now trailing by only 11 points after Brian Gowins’ 28-yard field goal. . . .

4:02--Northwestern fans tap their skulls knowingly after Wildcats recover onside kick on own 48. . . .

4:10--America’s Team has America, or at least much of Pasadena, roaring as Autry scores his second touchdown. . . .

4:11--The score remains 24-19 when Schnur throws the ball out of the end zone on a two-point conversion attempt. . . .

4:20--USC calls an intelligent play. It’s a pass to Keyshawn Johnson. It’s good for 56 yards and six points. . . .

4:20 (cont.)--Johnson already has set a Rose Bowl game record with 199 yards in receptions, and more than 21 minutes remain. . . .

4:30--Naturally, Northwestern comes back again on Schnur’s sneak after a circus catch by Bates, who has only 134 yards in receptions. . . .

4:49--Autry scores again, and, as they would say in Chicago, Northwestern leads! Northwestern leads! Northwestern leads! . . .

5:00--Adam Abrams gives USC 34-32 lead with 46-yard field goal. This is definitely the kind of game that is won by the team that scores last. . . .

5:16--Trojan tailback Delon Washington dives into the end zone from two yards out, and USC fans resume normal breathing. . . .

5:26--Both teams receive standing ovations after one of the most entertaining Rose Bowl games ever.