Editing (section) Northwestern University 0 You are not logged in. The rich text editor does not work with JavaScript switched off. Please either enable it in your browser options, or visit your preferences to switch to the old MediaWiki editor <h3>1999-2005: The Randy Walker era</h3> <p data-rte-fromparser="true">After Barnett was signed away by the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Colorado%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22University%20of%20Colorado%20at%20Boulder%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUniversity%20of%20Colorado%20at%20Boulder%7CColorado%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/University_of_Colorado_at_Boulder" title="University of Colorado at Boulder" class="mw-redirect">Colorado</a> <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Buffaloes%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Colorado%20Buffaloes%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BColorado%20Buffaloes%7CBuffaloes%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/Colorado_Buffaloes" title="Colorado Buffaloes">Buffaloes</a> following the 1998 season, Coach <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Randy%20Walker%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Randy%20Walker%20%28football%20coach%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRandy%20Walker%20%28football%20coach%29%7CRandy%20Walker%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" class="new" title="Randy Walker (football coach) (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvUmFuZHlfV2Fsa2VyXyhmb290YmFsbF9jb2FjaCk/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">Randy Walker</a> (formerly of <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Miami%20University%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Miami%20University%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMiami%20University%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/Miami_University" title="Miami University">Miami University</a> in <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Ohio%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Ohio%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BOhio%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/Ohio" title="Ohio">Ohio</a>) was called to lead the team. Coincidentally, it was Coach Walker's Miami Redhawks, who handed NU their only regular season loss during the miracle 1995 season. Coach Walker, a former standout tailback at Miami University, placed special emphasis on developing Northwestern's offense, especially at the running back position. Walker ran a conventional pro style offense during the 1999 season, which resulted in a 3-8 record. Following the season Coach Walker and offensive coordinator, Kevin Wilson, visited Rich Rodriguez and Tommy Bowden at Clemson to learn from the offense that they were running. He also made a trip to meet with Mike Martz from the St. Louis Rams to pick up ideas. Coach Walker adapted the more passing based spread offenses to implement his desire to run the ball effectively.<span data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%20name%3D%5C%22Smart%20FB1%5C%22%3E%5Bhttp%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fsmartfootball.blogspot.com%5C%2F2009%5C%2F07%5C%2Fformer-northwestern-coach-randy-walkers.html%20Smart%20Football%20%5C%22Former%20Northwestern%20Coach%20Randy%20Walker%27s%20effect%20on%20the%20spread%5C%22%5D%2C%20July%2016%2C%202009.%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-Smart_FB1_0-0" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-Smart_FB1_0-0 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ366301ae58e4785e-nowiki-00000001-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E1%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ366301ae58e4785e-nowiki-00000002-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-Smart_FB1-0%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-Smart_FB1-0%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2222%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E1%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2223%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="#cite_note-Smart_FB1-0"><span data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[​</span>1<span data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]​</span></a></sup>​</span> The 2000 season, fueled by <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Damien%20Anderson%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Damien%20Anderson%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BDamien%20Anderson%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/Damien_Anderson" title="Damien Anderson">Damien Anderson</a>, saw the Wildcats emerge with an exciting no huddle, "spread offense." The spread offense employed many wide receivers to spread out the defense, thus allowing more cracks in the defense for running or passing plays. A 54-51 shootout victory over the University of Michigan led commentators to dub it "basketball on grass." That game became an <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22ESPN%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22ESPN%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BESPN%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/ESPN" title="ESPN">ESPN</a> Instant Classic and was representative of the season, which saw frequent high scores and dramatic finishes. The high-scoring offense usually was enough to overcome the porous defense, and the Wildcats earned their third Big Ten title in six years (co-champions). Anderson also finished second nationally in rushing yards (behind <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22LaDanian%20Tomlinson%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22LaDanian%20Tomlinson%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BLaDanian%20Tomlinson%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" class="new" title="LaDanian Tomlinson (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvTGFEYW5pYW5fVG9tbGluc29uP2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ==">LaDanian Tomlinson</a>). However, the Wildcats were blown out by the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Nebraska%20Cornhuskers%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Nebraska%20Cornhuskers%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BNebraska%20Cornhuskers%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/Nebraska_Cornhuskers" title="Nebraska Cornhuskers" class="mw-redirect">Nebraska Cornhuskers</a> in the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Alamo%20Bowl%22%2C%22link%22%3A%222000%20Alamo%20Bowl%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B2000%20Alamo%20Bowl%7CAlamo%20Bowl%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/2000_Alamo_Bowl" title="2000 Alamo Bowl">Alamo Bowl</a> 66-17. Coach Walker's offense revolutionized college football. In 2001, after being named head coach at Bowling Green, <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Urban%20Meyer%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Urban%20Meyer%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUrban%20Meyer%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/Urban_Meyer" title="Urban Meyer">Urban Meyer</a>, had his staff visit Evanston to learn from Walker and Wilson. There is little that Meyer is running at Florida in 2008 that Northwestern was not already running in 2000.<span data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3Ehttp%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fsmartfootball.blogspot.com%5C%2F2008%5C%2F12%5C%2Fflorida-gatorurban-meyer-offense.html%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-1" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-1 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ366301ae58e4785e-nowiki-00000004-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E2%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ366301ae58e4785e-nowiki-00000005-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-1%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-1%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2228%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E2%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2229%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="#cite_note-1"><span data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[​</span>2<span data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]​</span></a></sup>​</span> The 2001 brough high expectations for the Wildcat program. The offense returned 10 of 11 starters. The untimely death of defensive back Rashidi Wheeler, during preseason workout drills, cast a cloud over the season.<span data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%7B%7Bcite%20news%7C%20url%3Dhttp%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.usatoday.com%5C%2Fsports%5C%2Fcollege%5C%2Ffootball%5C%2Fbigten%5C%2F2003-03-11-wheeler-supplements_x.htm%20%7C%20work%3DUSA%20Today%20%7C%20title%3DTeammates%20say%20Wheeler%20took%20supplements%20before%20death%20%7C%20first%3DNicole%20%7C%20last%3DZiegler%20%7C%20date%3DMarch%2011%2C%202003%7D%7D%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-2" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-2 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ366301ae58e4785e-nowiki-00000007-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E3%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ366301ae58e4785e-nowiki-00000008-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-2%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-2%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2234%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E3%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2235%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="#cite_note-2"><span data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[​</span>3<span data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]​</span></a></sup>​</span> The Wildcats suffered a number of close losses in route to a disappointing 4-7 record. The Wildcats did not make the postseason again until December 26, 2003, when they lost to <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Bowling%20Green%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Bowling%20Green%20State%20University%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BBowling%20Green%20State%20University%7CBowling%20Green%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/Bowling_Green_State_University" title="Bowling Green State University">Bowling Green</a> by a score of 28-24 in the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Motor%20City%20Bowl%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Motor%20City%20Bowl%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMotor%20City%20Bowl%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/Motor_City_Bowl" title="Motor City Bowl" class="mw-redirect">Motor City Bowl</a>. In 2004, the Wildcats beat then-ranked #6 <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Ohio%20State%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Ohio%20State%20Buckeyes%20football%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BOhio%20State%20Buckeyes%20football%7COhio%20State%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football" title="Ohio State Buckeyes football">Ohio State</a> in overtime to garner their first win over the Buckeyes since 1971, but that victory was the season's only national highlight. The 2005 season was Northwestern's best since 2000, finishing 7-5 and ending up ranked #25 in the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22BCS%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Bowl%20Championship%20Series%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BBowl%20Championship%20Series%7CBCS%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/Bowl_Championship_Series" title="Bowl Championship Series">BCS</a> poll. The team appeared in the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22AP%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22AP%20Poll%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BAP%20Poll%7CAP%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/AP_Poll" title="AP Poll">AP</a> and <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Coaches%27%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Coaches%27%20Poll%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BCoaches%27%20Poll%7CCoaches%27%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/Coaches%27_Poll" title="Coaches' Poll">Coaches'</a> polls for the first time since October 2001. The Wildcats earned an invitation to the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Sun%20Bowl%22%2C%22link%22%3A%222005%20Sun%20Bowl%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B2005%20Sun%20Bowl%7CSun%20Bowl%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/2005_Sun_Bowl" title="2005 Sun Bowl">Sun Bowl</a>, only to lose to <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22UCLA%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22UCLA%20Bruins%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUCLA%20Bruins%7CUCLA%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-12386229135f2bec2050b4b" href="/wiki/UCLA_Bruins" title="UCLA Bruins" class="mw-redirect">UCLA</a>, 50-38. </p> <br /><strong data-rte-washtml="1" class="error" data-rte-attribs=" class=error">Cite error: <code data-rte-washtml="1"><ref></code> tags exist, but no <code data-rte-washtml="1"><references/></code> tag was found</strong><p /> <!-- Saved in parser cache with key footbal:rte-parser-cache:17020 --> Loading editor Below are some commonly used wiki markup codes. 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