Assuming (?) this week will be the final game at the old stadium, it seems fitting that we send it off with some reminiscences. My question is simple: What are your fondest, and worst, memories at Ryan Field? In-person experiences only. (Update: I now see there was a thread similar to this a few weeks ago, but I missed it)…

For me, the best is easy. Ohio State, 2004. I was an undergrad. Stormed the field. Magic.

Wisconsin 2009 gets an honorable mention. And, weirdly, Syracuse 2013. Why? Gorgeous evening game, large crowd, 95% purple. Coming off a thriller at Cal and a 10-win season. Easy, satisfying win, with nothing but optimism before the season went into a tailspin. I just remember it feeling very satisfying.

Worst memory? Gah, there are quite a few. Quite a few blowouts with half the place filled with visiting fans. 2006 blown lead on homecoming a true disaster. There was a night game against Purdue at some point that I remember being important. We lost and they shot off planned postgame fireworks, adding insult to injury. And maybe this is recency bias, but last season’s SIU loss was a low point.

Here’s to one more win at the place that I deeply love and somewhat hate — and to many more victories and a better home field advantage at the new, gleaming RF (fingers crossed)…

Went to the doc yesterday for what was supposed to be a minor thing and he took one look at me and said no dice I need to go back for a general anesthesia procedure Monday so I cannot make the games. Have fun those of you who are there.

First game, Mike Adamle was the running back. Today, Braun’s first as actual coach. Probably my last game at Dyche/Ryan Field.

Sparse crowd. Sunny. Windy. Go Cats,

Tough break for these guys. Najee is Questionable.

OUT
0 Coco Azema
5 Jacob Gill
12 Nigel Williams
16 Frank Covey
35 Kenny Soares
81 Chris Petrucci
87 Jack Fitzgerald
98 Duke Olges

It's the last game at Ryan Field! (Probably)

Northwestern (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) hosts Purdue (3-7, 2-5 Big Ten) with an 11:01 kickoff at Ryan Field. The game will air on BTN and serve as Northwestern's Senior Day.

With the mess of COVID eligibility, we don't have an official list of seniors in their last season, but know that just because someone walks today does not mean they can't come back next season.

NU will be slight underdogs at Illinois. The Cats can certainly do it. Illinois will likely playing for their sixth win.

This is an amazing season.

GO CATS GO CATS GO

Here's the release from NU....


Wildcats to Play at 2023 Hall of Fame Tip Off at Mohegan Sun


EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern men's basketball team has announced it will participate in the 2023 Hall of Fame Tip Off at Mohegan Sun on Saturday, Nov. 18 and Sunday, Nov. 19 in Uncasville, Conn.

The Wildcats will open the weekend on Saturday with a tilt against Rhode Island before appearing in the championship or consolation game on Sunday against either Mississippi State or Washington State. Game times and TV designations will be released on a later date.

Northwestern is 0-2 all-time against the Rams, and will meet for the first time since a 76-64 setback on March 17, 2010 in the first round of the NIT.

"We are excited to host another highly competitive weekend of basketball at the Mohegan Sun for the 2023 Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the host of the event. "We look forward to watching the field of teams play and welcoming their fans to one of the country's best early season events."

Tickets for the 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off will go on sale Friday, September 8, via Ticketmaster and on sale at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office starting Saturday, September 9. For more information, please visit hoophall.com.

Saturday, November 18
Mississippi State vs. Washington State
Rhode Island vs. Northwestern

Sunday, November 19
Consolation Game
Championship Game

Last season Northwestern finished in second place in the Big Ten Conference standings and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In the offseason head coach Chris Collins signed a contract extension that will keep him in Evanston through 2028.

Since the game is tomorrow one would think there's a list already.

Xfinity will be broadcasting the MSU vs IU in my area. Is there a way to stream our upcoming game against PU? Thanks for any tips.

Very interesting that NU opened up as 1.5 point favorites and that has swung all the way to Purdue being a 3 point favorite. Usually a swing like that is due to a QB injury or something else significant, but no sign of any significant injuries for NU.

Apparently, the bettors are loading up on the Boilers. It is what it is, but definitely interesting and a little surprising.

Back in the days when the Big Ten was filled with Legendary Leaders, there was a protected annual rivalry between NU and PU. There was little reason to it, but every year the two schools were ordained to meet, even while NU missed real rivals like Wisconsin or Iowa. And NU still meets PU every year in the Western Division. On Saturday, the two teams meet again in what might be the last game at NU's home stadium in its current form...a stadium that harkens back to the time of Legendary Leaders, to the time of Walker and Barnett, through the Dark Ages, to Ara, to hosting Al Capone.

As for the present, NU had a dominant win against the Badgers last week in their house, while a resurgent PU managed a third win on the season. With a win, NU clinches bowl eligibility. If it plays like it did last week, it should be favored.

PU 10
NU 28

Brutal:

I talked to Ray Niro III after practice on Tuesday about his improbable rehab from a foot injury, his last Senior Day at Northwestern and how he was able to make it back this season.

I talked to Ray Niro III after practice on Tuesday about his improbable rehab from a foot injury, his last Senior Day at Northwestern and how he was able to make it back this season.

Starting a new thread on the Stadium and its impact on the University and Athletic Department budget...

Original baseline
The original baseline was a $800 million stadium, financed with $400 million from the Ryans and at least $100 million from other NU mega-donors. This meant $300 million would be financed via debt. At 5% interest and 20-year payback, the $300 million loan would cost $24 million per year to pay off. This cost would be offset by $10 million in incremental concert revenue, plus corporate naming rights, suites, etc.

- Debt Payment = $24 million per year
+ Concerts = $10 million per year
+ corporate naming rights
+ suites
+ improved parking/concessions/gear/ticket sales

Easy to see how this scenario gets to be a cash flow positive proposition for the university (i.e. BEAUTIFUL !!)

After Schill Declares NU Athletics Has a Cultural Problem
$800 million stadium. Ryan stay in at $400 million, but say 'it's up the University if they want to proceed', which means they ain't donating more.
loss of $100 million in mega-donors
loss of concert revenue

- Debt payment = $32 million per year
+ Concerts = zero
+ corporate naming rights = none today
+ suites = none today

Stadium looks like it could be a huge drag on University.

Worst Case
@techtim72 worst fears come true and stadium costs explode to $900 million, and university has to borrow $500 million to build it.

- Debt payment = $40 million per year
+ Concerts = zero
+ corporate naming rights = none today
+ suites = none today

In this case, the new stadium would use up most of the incremental B1G media money and leave no new money for our varsity teams (and maybe even take money away from the some team's budget). Buried in debt. Awful scenario.

What say the experts?

As you guys know, I was out of town watching Mizzou this weekend, so I didn't get a chance to watch my recording of the game until yesterday. Wow, I didn't see that coming. I knew the score and the stats, but I didn't expect to see that dominant of a performance.

Here are just a few impressions:

- Ben Bryant is a difference maker. When he gets time to throw, the guy is just deadly accurate. He knows where the ball is supposed to go, and he gets rid of it on time and in rhythm. Brendan Sullivan did a good job in his absence -- he's a heckuva backup and a serviceable starter. But I had forgotten just how good Bryant is.

- NU's secondary was lights out. Not only were they playing sound, fundamental shell coverage, but they were flying to the football whenever a Badger caught a pass. Johnson, Hollis, Heard, Joseph...they were just cutting guys down right after the catch. Badger receivers never had a chance to make any plays. And they lost Azema and didn't miss a beat. How many missed tackles did NU have in the whole game?

- That was the best Northwestern has played since 2020, and that first half was a work of art. It was the offense's best showing since the season opener against Maryland in 2020. They ran the ball, they protected Bryant and they were a third-down conversion machine. The offensive line completely controlled the line of scrimmage (I don't know the last time I wrote that sentence). Wisconsin didn't know what hit them.

- Speaking of Wisconsin, Luke Fickell's first year is not going well. His team was flat, the fans were flat and the student section never even filled up. The whole Air Raid thing seemed like an odd fit from the outset, and now I don't even know what their identity is. Neither do they, it seems. Fitz told us last spring that the potential was there for a cultural backlash in Madison, and I think we're seeing it.

- Fox broadcasters Chris Myers and Robert Smith obviously didn't do their homework for that game. Man.

I have extras since the school gave us two extras. Let me know but only for Cats fans.

While many are lamenting how poorly NU played tonight, here are a few positives to pick out of the box score:

Boo - 21 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 0 turnovers
Barnhizer - career-high 20 points, 7 boards, 3 steals, 3 assists
Clayton - career-high 23 minutes, made a three-pointer (his first points as a Cat)
Martinelli led the NU bench in scoring for second game in a row (albeit with just 4).

Team: Only 7 turnovers (vs. 17 for WMU). NU has won the TO battle in all three games this year by at least seven. Overall, it's a 51 to 26 differential for NU. They can't get regularly outrebounded like they did tonight, but if so, they can make up the difference via turnovers.

If you are a Northwestern fan and watching the game on TV, you are welcome to join us for a live Zoom discussion during the game. It is usually just a few of us fans who show up for these chats, but I have found that having others to talk to during the game makes for a better experience.

Come chat with us as the 'Cats host Purdue. This is the first game for new (non-interim) Head Coach Braun. It may also be the last game played in Ryan Field (AKA Dyche Stadium). It will be historic. I hope to see on Zoom on 11:00 AM CT.

Topic: Zoom In-Game Discussion: Purdue at NU Saturday Nov 18 11:00 AM
Time: Nov 18, 2023 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 816 9823 8674
Passcode: 431945

Go 'Cats
- Astro

Hopefully @CappyNU wont delete this thread.

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It seems like years now, maybe decades that our qbs have been running for their lives....even Clayton Thornson never seemed to have enough time. It seems surprising that some years OSHA was not called in. And we mull around on the board wondering if qbs hold on to the ball too long , receivers cant get open, coaches cant coach, we cant recruit or we run the wrong scheme for the kids we have. We have managed some years by having mobile qbs or outstanding running backs. This year it seems to me that it is not the receivers nor play calling but that the O-line can neither open solid holes for the backs or protect the qb to the level that allows us to have a successful offense. My question is does anyone know with some degree of expertise what the issue is with our offensive line? Is it recruiting? Is it coaching? Is it strength training? Is it the quarter system? Is it scheme vs type? Anyone? Bueller?

This guy….

So anything I have heard him say about NU has generally been negative. However, I have never been more entertained by any college football commentator.

He had some gems this week about the NCAA

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Tomorrow could be the last game at Ryan Field as we know it, @lou v and I log our predictions for Northwestern's matchup with Purdue.