NEW YORK _ Justin Jackson ran it so spectacularly in the Pinstripe Bowl, Northwestern either needs to launch a Heisman Trophy campaign or thank him for his three years and wish him luck in the pros.
Northwestern's Chicago-bred tailback rushed for 224 yards and three scores on 32 carries, spinning and stiff-arming Pitt defenders all day.
But Jackson was only part of the story in a game at Yankee Stadium that was both wildly entertaining and stretched long enough, thanks to numerous replay reviews, to feel more like postseason baseball.
Of most importance, Northwestern capped its season with a 31-24 victory over Pitt, giving the school just its third bowl victory in 13 tries.
Safety Jared McGee made a huge play with 2 minutes, 49 seconds to play, a leaping interception on a pass from Pitt backup quarterback Ben DiNucci. The Wildcats (7-6) had knocked out the terrific Nathan Peterman with a crunching, helmet-to-helmet blow by lineman Xavier Washington.
Fellow safety Kyle Queiro stepped in front of Pitt's Dontez Ford to seal the game with a pick with 1:22 to play.
Pat Fitzgerald made bold, well-reasoned decisions all day, coaching like a rebel _ or a man who believed in his offense far more than his specialists. He passed up a 27-yard field goal that would have tied the game early _ and Northwestern ended up getting a touchdown.
And on the fourth-quarter drive that gave Northwestern a 28-24 lead, he twice went for a first on fourth down. Needing three yards, Clayton Thorson threw a sinker that Macan Wilson corralled for a rolling grab.
And rather than try to tie the game with a 38-yard Jack Mitchell field goal, Fitzgerald dialed up a shallow cross to Garrett Dickerson, who was all alone for a 21-yard score.
On Pitt's next play from scrimmage, linebacker Anthony Walker ripped the ball free from Quadree Henderson for a fumble. And Mitchell ended the drive with a 37-yard field goal.
The novelty of this game, in this incredible setting, was apparent throughout.
After a Mitchell extra point kick sailed into the stands, fans played catch with the ball, tossing it from section to section. At one point Northwestern players on the sideline kept warm by imitating the famous Rockettes of Radio City Music Hall, kicking up their legs in (attempted) unison.
At the half, Fitzgerald said on ESPN: "Essentially we have two turnovers in the scoring zone, so do they. So I guess we're going pitch for pitch at Yankee Stadium."
The temperature at kickoff was 39 degrees and the wind chill was 31, perfect weather for a $10 stadium hot chocolate. (Hey, it came in a souvenir cup!)
This Northwestern-Yankees link was forged by George Steinbrenner, a wildcat assistant in 1955 under Lou Saban. (The tenure did not go beyond that fall, as Saban and his staff got dismissed after going 0-8-1.)
The modern-day link comes mainly from Yankees manager Joe Girardi, the Peoria native who starred as a catcher at Northwestern and earned a degree in industrial engineering. Girardi said before Wednesday's game that his plan had been to vacation with his family in Florida.
"This changed our whole vacation plans, and I'm glad it did," he said.
Northwestern President Morton Schapiro said he's the rare baseball fan who roots for both the Mets, his first love, and the Yankees, because of Girardi.
"I'm from the New York area," Schapiro said, "which means New Jersey. If I was from New York, I'd say that."
