Northwestern's McNaul keeps in close touch with his older
sibling in Afghanistan  It was 4 a.m. CST on Christmas in Baraki
Barak, Afghanistan, when U.S. Army 1st Lt. Austin McNaul
conducted a video chat with his little brother Bryce, a junior
Northwestern outside linebacker.  Having gone two months without
seeing Austin and weeks without having a conversation, it
represented to Bryce the kind of gift money can't buy because it
symbolized the ultimate cost his brother is willing to pay.
"The best Christmas present I've ever gotten," McNaul said
Tuesday over the phone from Dallas. "This Christmas was the
first time my two brothers and my parents weren't all together.
It's probably the hardest year and something you don't really
get used to. My thoughts are always with him, off the field and
sometimes on it."  McNaul will start Saturday for Northwestern
against Texas Tech in the TicketCity Bowl, one of 35 bowl games
with changing names and corporate sponsors that make some people
roll their eyes and snicker.  I