This has been a tough past 4 months- for the board and the program. Too much "drama and trauma". Losing games and a long time coach is bound to lead to a lot of bad feelings and disagreements. Now that the Evanston city council appears to have made the new stadium plan a reality I though maybe a nostalgic look back at some Dyche/Ryan memories would be a non-controversial post. Ive been to a lot of games in the past 47 years-here are my personal recollections of my first, worst,best and last NU games at the gray edifice east of Mustards.
First- Sept 25,1976- 2 days before starting NU med school- Notre Dame 48-Cats-0. Growing up in Wisconsin and doing undergrad at Madison in the late 60's-early 70's I thought nobody could have a worse football program than the Badgers- Sadly I was wrong... By the time I actually witnessed a win ( one of 3 in my 4 years at NUMS)- Over MSU before 15,00 freezing fans in late November I came to the realization that this team needed my support. I was hooked.
Worst- Gotta be the blown 36 point second half lead to lose to the Spartans 41-39 in Fitz's first season. I had just bought myself a book on "Football game clock managent" to help me coach a youth football team. I purchased a 2nd copy and sent it to our head coach. Runners up including the loss to OSU under the lights in 2013 (Kain made that 1st down!!!), and the 2 losses to Michigan in 2013 ( referee aided last second tying FG by the Hokies) and 2014 ( Siemian slips rolling out on potential game winning 2pt XP attempt). We lost so many heartbreaking home night games that I came to truly believe that Bob Stotz's Ghost resided in the the upper caverns of the North tower and continued to haunt the program.
Best- Easy- 2000 54-51 over the Wolverines and their haughty fans . I almost left when DA2 dropped that pass in the stadium lights ( I blamed Strotz then too) but Im glad I stayed for the Wiebers strip and recovery of Anthony Thompson and Zaks subsequent game winning TD pass. Other great ones- the 35-0 shutout of the Badgers on Homecoming , the domination of JoPa and the Nittany Lions on national TV and the freezing clincher of the incredible 1996 season over Iowa ( thank you Hudafei Ismaeli).
And my last game- coming up in 2 weeks against Purdue. I'll be in the West lot with my son, my son-in-law and Grandson ( who hopefully will see his 11th Birthday announced on the Jumbotron during the game). Not counting any chickens before they are hatched but a Wildcat win over the Boilers would be a perfect send off to a tired, old concrete friend. And I will celebrate the subsequent wrecking ball eviction of the Strotz poltergeist from his den in the venerable north tower!
Anybody else have any memories to share? Go Cats!
First- Sept 25,1976- 2 days before starting NU med school- Notre Dame 48-Cats-0. Growing up in Wisconsin and doing undergrad at Madison in the late 60's-early 70's I thought nobody could have a worse football program than the Badgers- Sadly I was wrong... By the time I actually witnessed a win ( one of 3 in my 4 years at NUMS)- Over MSU before 15,00 freezing fans in late November I came to the realization that this team needed my support. I was hooked.
Worst- Gotta be the blown 36 point second half lead to lose to the Spartans 41-39 in Fitz's first season. I had just bought myself a book on "Football game clock managent" to help me coach a youth football team. I purchased a 2nd copy and sent it to our head coach. Runners up including the loss to OSU under the lights in 2013 (Kain made that 1st down!!!), and the 2 losses to Michigan in 2013 ( referee aided last second tying FG by the Hokies) and 2014 ( Siemian slips rolling out on potential game winning 2pt XP attempt). We lost so many heartbreaking home night games that I came to truly believe that Bob Stotz's Ghost resided in the the upper caverns of the North tower and continued to haunt the program.
Best- Easy- 2000 54-51 over the Wolverines and their haughty fans . I almost left when DA2 dropped that pass in the stadium lights ( I blamed Strotz then too) but Im glad I stayed for the Wiebers strip and recovery of Anthony Thompson and Zaks subsequent game winning TD pass. Other great ones- the 35-0 shutout of the Badgers on Homecoming , the domination of JoPa and the Nittany Lions on national TV and the freezing clincher of the incredible 1996 season over Iowa ( thank you Hudafei Ismaeli).
And my last game- coming up in 2 weeks against Purdue. I'll be in the West lot with my son, my son-in-law and Grandson ( who hopefully will see his 11th Birthday announced on the Jumbotron during the game). Not counting any chickens before they are hatched but a Wildcat win over the Boilers would be a perfect send off to a tired, old concrete friend. And I will celebrate the subsequent wrecking ball eviction of the Strotz poltergeist from his den in the venerable north tower!
Anybody else have any memories to share? Go Cats!