Hey all,
I am looking into the premise of adding Northwestern to the series of “100 things every fan should know...” books and wanted to make sure I get a good foundation from the knowledgeable fan base like yourself.
Give me 10 things that you think are VITAL to being an NU football fan. They can be a variety of great plays, great games, traditions, stories, etc- anything you think is an interesting link to NU football (or the school itself).
Here is what I have so far...
. Wildcat Nickname (Fighting Methodists… Purple… Wildcats; story of Wallace Abbey)
. Turning the Clock Tower Purple
. Laking the Posts (into Lake Michigan)
. Pat Ryan- friend to the program and generous benefactor
. The Northwestern Stripe
. “Chicago’s Big Ten Team”
. Otto Graham (and his story of being discovered playing Intramural basketball)
. Coach Randy Walker (story of him beating the ‘Cats and then eventually earning the job)
. Coach Ara Parseghian (and how he never lost to Notre Dame)
. Coach Gary Barnett
. Pat Fitzgerald (the unheralded recruit that became one of the best defensive players of his era)
. Coach Pat Fitzgerald (how he said to Coach Walker that he wanted his job during the interview to be an assistant)
. Justin Jackson “the Ball Carrier”
. Austin Carr (and his self-made story)
. 2012, 2015, 2017- the Ten Win Seasons
. 2 Rose Bowls (1948, 1995 seasons)
. 1995 Champion Underdog Season
. Stadium History (Deering Meadow… Dyche Stadium… Ryan Field)
. “Wildcat Dash”- freshmen running onto the field
. Northwestern-Illinois Rivalry for Sweet Sioux Tomahawk/Land of Lincoln Hat
. Northwestern Fight Songs- Go U Northwestern; Push On Northwestern; Alma Mater)
. Northwestern-Notre Dame Rivalry
. Northwestern-Wisconsin Rivalry
. President Henry Bienens
. Academics as a crutch (perceived anyway)
. Academics as a benefit
. Mustard’s Last Stand
. Lakefront Facility- Ryan Fieldhouse, Wilson Field, and Walter Athletics Center
. Larry Lilja
. Mount Trashmore
. In Memoriam- Marcel Price, Matt Hartl, Bobby Russ, Rashidi Wheeler,
. Dan Persa- Heisman Candidate (PersaStrong)
. Willie Wildcat
. Retired Numbers
. All-Americans at NU
. Family Tradition- Brothers in Arms (the Halls, the Quieros, the Bergins, etc.)
. Academic #1 (APR)
. Big Ten Champions
. NGN- Northwestern Gridiron Network
. Darnell Autry (4th in Heisman, almost left the program)
. Chris Hinton
. Running Back U
. The “Cardiac Cats”
. Mr. Wildcat, Dave Eanet
. Tim McGarigle- NCAA’s all-time leading tackler
. NUMB- the best marching band in the land
. Guarding the Painted Rock
. The Primal Scream
. Jingling of the Keys
. Weber Arch and “the March”
. Wildcat Growl and Claw
. “Put your hands up in the Air”
. Kellogg Business School
. Medill School of Journalism
. Famous Alumni
. Trust Yourself Sign
. NU Pyramid of Success
. Spirit Team and “the Grynder”
. Wildcat Alley
Feel free to add or sharpen anything.
Or email me at nufbhistorian@gmail.com
Go 'Cats!
I am looking into the premise of adding Northwestern to the series of “100 things every fan should know...” books and wanted to make sure I get a good foundation from the knowledgeable fan base like yourself.
Give me 10 things that you think are VITAL to being an NU football fan. They can be a variety of great plays, great games, traditions, stories, etc- anything you think is an interesting link to NU football (or the school itself).
Here is what I have so far...
. Wildcat Nickname (Fighting Methodists… Purple… Wildcats; story of Wallace Abbey)
. Turning the Clock Tower Purple
. Laking the Posts (into Lake Michigan)
. Pat Ryan- friend to the program and generous benefactor
. The Northwestern Stripe
. “Chicago’s Big Ten Team”
. Otto Graham (and his story of being discovered playing Intramural basketball)
. Coach Randy Walker (story of him beating the ‘Cats and then eventually earning the job)
. Coach Ara Parseghian (and how he never lost to Notre Dame)
. Coach Gary Barnett
. Pat Fitzgerald (the unheralded recruit that became one of the best defensive players of his era)
. Coach Pat Fitzgerald (how he said to Coach Walker that he wanted his job during the interview to be an assistant)
. Justin Jackson “the Ball Carrier”
. Austin Carr (and his self-made story)
. 2012, 2015, 2017- the Ten Win Seasons
. 2 Rose Bowls (1948, 1995 seasons)
. 1995 Champion Underdog Season
. Stadium History (Deering Meadow… Dyche Stadium… Ryan Field)
. “Wildcat Dash”- freshmen running onto the field
. Northwestern-Illinois Rivalry for Sweet Sioux Tomahawk/Land of Lincoln Hat
. Northwestern Fight Songs- Go U Northwestern; Push On Northwestern; Alma Mater)
. Northwestern-Notre Dame Rivalry
. Northwestern-Wisconsin Rivalry
. President Henry Bienens
. Academics as a crutch (perceived anyway)
. Academics as a benefit
. Mustard’s Last Stand
. Lakefront Facility- Ryan Fieldhouse, Wilson Field, and Walter Athletics Center
. Larry Lilja
. Mount Trashmore
. In Memoriam- Marcel Price, Matt Hartl, Bobby Russ, Rashidi Wheeler,
. Dan Persa- Heisman Candidate (PersaStrong)
. Willie Wildcat
. Retired Numbers
. All-Americans at NU
. Family Tradition- Brothers in Arms (the Halls, the Quieros, the Bergins, etc.)
. Academic #1 (APR)
. Big Ten Champions
. NGN- Northwestern Gridiron Network
. Darnell Autry (4th in Heisman, almost left the program)
. Chris Hinton
. Running Back U
. The “Cardiac Cats”
. Mr. Wildcat, Dave Eanet
. Tim McGarigle- NCAA’s all-time leading tackler
. NUMB- the best marching band in the land
. Guarding the Painted Rock
. The Primal Scream
. Jingling of the Keys
. Weber Arch and “the March”
. Wildcat Growl and Claw
. “Put your hands up in the Air”
. Kellogg Business School
. Medill School of Journalism
. Famous Alumni
. Trust Yourself Sign
. NU Pyramid of Success
. Spirit Team and “the Grynder”
. Wildcat Alley
Feel free to add or sharpen anything.
Or email me at nufbhistorian@gmail.com
Go 'Cats!
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