Owls’ celebration ends with second-half thud

“It’s definitely come a long way,” said senior safety Dominique Harris, a D.C. native. “We went through a lot together. We went through a one-win season, four [wins] and then we just built up. It built up. To end it the way we did this season, we wish we could have won this game. At the end of the day, we did have a successful season, and it came from a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears.”

So, too, did the Bruins. As a result of the win, their long flight back to Los Angeles will be a spirited one. And if they have their way, it will be the first of many.

“I told the team in the locker room this is a start,” Neuheisel said. “We want to start collecting these wonderful trophies and memories that college football provides, and we look forward to that.”