I've put thoughts of a move to the Ivy League on hold.
- Thread starter stpaulcat
- Start date
i think this win might rank right up there with the biggest games in the past in terms of program signifigance.
Right before MAJOR changes in college football. New billion dollar contracts. New leagues. "Is Northwestern good enough to be in the Big Ten" (from opponents) and "Maybe we should leave this rat race" (from some observers).
And...
Right before MAJOR renovations to our stadium. Do we really go big?
And...
Right before MAJOR changes in our administration (no more Morty, no more Phillips). I'm not knocking the new AD in any way at all, but surely we can't say he's "proven" after his still early service to the school. How much do we invest in sports and especially expensive football? Worth it? Can we win?
Northwestern really might have considered going small if we had not buikt the new practice building (I think this REALLY saved us) and this win on national TV (and being talked about on just about ALL sports boards, heck go to any active board, like the Florida Gators or UCLA board or some place like that and people were watching this game) and see how many people say "Northwestern is my second favorite team". There are LOT of these people.
I think in time we will see how important this season and this specific game was. BIG win!
Right before MAJOR changes in college football. New billion dollar contracts. New leagues. "Is Northwestern good enough to be in the Big Ten" (from opponents) and "Maybe we should leave this rat race" (from some observers).
And...
Right before MAJOR renovations to our stadium. Do we really go big?
And...
Right before MAJOR changes in our administration (no more Morty, no more Phillips). I'm not knocking the new AD in any way at all, but surely we can't say he's "proven" after his still early service to the school. How much do we invest in sports and especially expensive football? Worth it? Can we win?
Northwestern really might have considered going small if we had not buikt the new practice building (I think this REALLY saved us) and this win on national TV (and being talked about on just about ALL sports boards, heck go to any active board, like the Florida Gators or UCLA board or some place like that and people were watching this game) and see how many people say "Northwestern is my second favorite team". There are LOT of these people.
I think in time we will see how important this season and this specific game was. BIG win!
It was an important win given the stage.
Probably put it in the top 10 wins of the past decade behind the critical division games against Iowa and Wisconsin in 2018/2020 as well as the bowl wins against Auburn and a division winner in Utah in those years.
Right up there after those 6 wins for sure.
As far as the program goes, the critical commitment of $400+ million to facilities over the past decade as well as another potential $400 million on the stadium should ensure that the leaders that matter around the conference know that we're committed to competing at this level and aren't just here to cash checks.
