N'WESTERN NOTES\Loss doesn't diminish pride\'Dream season' sure to stay with Wildcats players.

Byline: Eric Sondheimer and Tom Timmermann Daily News Deputy Sports Editors

They were the darlings of the national media, from TV to radio to print. Northwestern, a team that once lost 34 straight games, had somehow made it to Pasadena on New Year's Day.

Even trailing 24-7 in the second quarter Monday against USC, Northwestern players weren't about to panic. This was a new group of Wildcats, poised and confident.

They rallied to take a 32-31 lead early in the fourth quarter. There's no telling how glowingly the sports historians would have viewed the Wildcats if they had hung on.

But USC got a field goal, an interception and a touchdown to pull out a 41-32 win in the 82nd Rose Bowl, leaving Northwestern players disappointed but not feeling beaten.

"We haven't had time to sit down and realize what we've done," Northwestern receiver Brian Musso said. "I think in the years to come, when we reflect back on it, it will still have been a great year and the memories will be sweet."

Added center Rob Johnson: "The proof that we're no Cinderella will be when we come back with games like this next year and do what we have to do to get back to Pasadena. This was more frustrating because of the missed opportunities. You can't say SC was better in this game, but in each game there are winners and losers. We lost the game, but what a way to go out."

When it comes to offensive excellence, the Wildcats (10-2) surely showed that they have the talent to compete with the best. Quarterback Steve Schnur passed for a career-high 336 yards. Tailback Darnell Autry rushed for 110 yards in 32 carries, the 12th consecutive game this season in which he has surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark. Receiver D'Wayne Bates caught seven passes for 145 yards. All are underclassmen and give coach Gary Barnett a big reason to return to Evanston next season.

But the emotion of the game and this season weighed heavily on Barnett afterward.

"I have no feelings of joy or satisfaction," he said. "I'm sure in time I'll get it back."

The players were more willing to reveal their feelings. Many had endured losing seasons. Many didn't know what to expect from Northwestern's first trip to the Rose Bowl since 1949.

"Hopefully, guys will realize what it takes to get here and consequently realize what it takes to win," quarterback Schnur said.

"The whole experience has been a dream come true," Musso said. "I can't say I had any expectations of this trip because I had no idea what was to come. We walked around in awe of this place for two weeks. The game will always be a highlight and we'll remember playing in the Rose Bowl for the rest of our lives."

"It's been a great ride," free safety William Bennett said. "I've seen drab days, but this year has been fun. Next year's team will have some unfinished business. We've built something. We'll see what happens."

The Color Purple: The predominant color in the crowd of 100,102 at the Rose Bowl was purple, as Northwestern fans, appreciating the rarity of the event, outnumbered USC fans by a clear margin.

"There was a lot of purple out there," said Northwestern safety Eric Collier. "I heard that in California, you either love USC or hate them. It looked like a lot of people didn't like them."

"The whole world was against us going into this game," said USC tackle John Michels. "We felt it, too. It was frustrating early. We got booed out of places in our city and the newspapers had all these Northwestern stories. It got to where I was sick of the color purple."

So that was the problem: "We set our goals to get to the Rose Bowl," Northwestern wide receiver Brian Musso said. "Maybe we should have set our goals a little higher."

CAPTION(S):

PHOTO

Photo (1) Northwestern's Mike Warren doesn't feel like crashing USC's game-ending party. Gus Ruelas / Daily News (2) Northwestern fans Molly McCombe, left, and T.J. Callahan enjoy the Wildcats' first TD from a bar in Evanston, Ill. Associated Press