On Thursday, Northwestern celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the 1962 Wildcats, one of the greatest teams in NU history.  Returning to campus were team captain Jay Robertson, quarterback Tom Myers, wide receiver Paul Flatley, and other members of the team.  Coach Ara Parseghian had been invited to return, but unfortunately had an obligation elsewhere this week.  In addition to attending the fiftieth celebration on Thursday, Flatley will attend this Saturday's homecoming game against Iowa as the Wildcats' honorary captain.

The 1962 team was the culmination of Coach Parseghian's rebuilding of the Wildcat program.  Parseghian came to NU from Miami, Ohio, in 1956, just after NU had suffered its first winless season in decades.  Parseghian brought with him an intensity unmatched among college coaches and an uncanny ability to recruit.  His recruiting efforts began to bear fruit in 1958, when the 'Cats reached #4 in the nation after knocking off two top-ten teams (#10 Washington State and #5 Ohio State).  A year later, the 'Cats famously took down #2 Oklahoma en route to their own #2 ranking. 

During Thursday's celebration, athletic director Jim Phillips held a panel discussion with Robertson, Flatley and Myers, and each described Parseghian's recruiting abilities.  Flatley recalled being impressed with Parseghian's passion-- "how could you not be impressed?"  For Myers, the key impression was the one that Parseghian made on his mother, who was swept away by Parseghian's energy and charm.  Myers, who is from Ohio, had also been recruited by Woody Hayes.  Hayes complemented Myers' athleticism "as a pole vaulter," but had little use for a passer in the "three yards and a cloud of dust" Big Ten of the early 1960s.  Parseghian, however, was far more creative and adaptable. 

NU was, at the time, also a ground-based team, but Ara saw in Myers the opportunity to open up the air game, and he crafted his offense around his new weapon.  1962 was Myers' first season as a varsity player, and it would open up the Wildcat's passing game as never before.  Parseghian took Flatley, a 190-pound fullback, and moved him to wideout, and the fireworks began.

The 1962 team began by beating South Carolina, a game during which-- as recalled by Flatley-- Myers completed 20 straight passes.  The Chicago Tribune wrote afterward, "Yesterday, a sophomore quarterback playing his first collegiate game had fans whispering his name in the same breath with (Otto) Graham's."

Wins against Illinois and Minnesota set up a blockbuster game against the Buckeyes in Columbus.  NU was ranked #8; OSU was #6.  Myers and Flatley recalled the nightmarish way the game began: Ohio State returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, held NU's first drive to a three-and-out, then drove in for another touchdown.  Despite being down 14-0 within minutes of the game's start, "no one on our side seemed concerned," Myers recalled, "and Ohio State would not score again."  The game ended in an 18-14 Wildcat victory.

All three alumni described the reception the team received by students upon their return from Columbus.  A large group of students met the team at the airport, and students continued the party throughout the weekend.  The win propelled the team to a #3 ranking, and the 'Cats were fired up for their homecoming tilt against Notre Dame, a team that NU had beaten three straight times. 

Flatley's catch vs. Notre Dame [NU Archives]

The NU - Notre Dame game became a legendary moment in Wildcat football (and ranks #7 on HailToPurple.com's list of the greatest games in NU history).  Northwestern swamped the Irish 35-6, taking advantage of the Myers-to-Flatley aerial circus that was powering the 'Cats.  Flatley's one-handed grab during the game has become an iconic image of NU football, and Myers' account of that play was quite funny: "I'm not a fan of that play, because that great catch meant it was a terrible throw!"  Flatley recounted how he had applied stickem to his hands before the game ("It was legal back then!  It was legal!"), leading Myers to quip, "I didn't want to touch the ball afterwards.  I was afraid it wouldn't leave my hands on the next throw." The win over the Irish led to Northwestern taking the #1 spot in the AP Poll for the first time since 1936, and NU would hold the top spot for just two weeks.  A 26-21 win over a strong Indiana team the following week allowed the 'Cats to keep their #1 ranking, but the win proved costly, and NU found itself riddled with injuries and lacking the needed depth to maintain.  NU lost to #8 Wisconsin a week later.

The team wrapped up the season by beating the Miami Hurricaines for its seventh win, giving NU one of its finest seasons.