Meet the Team Night
- Thread starter purple11
- Start date
We attended and it was very much like prior years. Band, cheerleaders, hotdogs, your-picture-on-the-big-screen. Very affable Fitz introduced captains on the Terrace. Activities were on the playing surface this year after being on the practice fields last year. Remarkable and unique opportunity to get access to the players. That said, I was chasing a 4-year old all over Ryan Field so didn't get a chance myself to do more than let one player borrow my pen to sign someone else's ball. Lot's of fun for all ages. Only new takeaway for me is that Clayton Thorson is a big dude.
I have to say after seeing the photos on Facebook from the event, it reminds me how incredible of a job NU football has done for much of the past 20 years to stay competitive. If this event were held for just about any other school in the BiG, it would be swamped with tens of thousands of people. To me, it looks like less than 500 people showed up. Being a small, private school in a big urban center with limited history of sports success is such a hurdle for this program to overcome. It amazes me sometimes that football (and now maybe basketball) can even come close to competing.
I couldn't agree more. It's one of the aspects that makes me (as a non-alum) such a fan of the program.
Always a fun event and this year was no exception. I thought there was a nice turnout- 500 feels a bit low- especially coming off two disappointing seasons and lacking much buzz for this one.
Whenever I'm at this event (or the basketball version), I do wonder how it would compare to a similar event at a 'top 10' school. I prefer to consider the disparity as a positive thing for NU (well, NU fans, at least). I can bring my family to a free event, with free food (at the basketball event), and meet the players and coaches. And not just meet them, we can have a conversation. They always make the interaction feel genuine and are very friendly and patient with my kid (now a 2-year-old). I wonder how much this experience would cost at a 'top 10' school?
Whenever I'm at this event (or the basketball version), I do wonder how it would compare to a similar event at a 'top 10' school. I prefer to consider the disparity as a positive thing for NU (well, NU fans, at least). I can bring my family to a free event, with free food (at the basketball event), and meet the players and coaches. And not just meet them, we can have a conversation. They always make the interaction feel genuine and are very friendly and patient with my kid (now a 2-year-old). I wonder how much this experience would cost at a 'top 10' school?
Great point. It's a fantastic event that also highlights the lack of fan support.
It's still really, really fricken hard to win at Northwestern on a consistent basis. Nothing has changed other than it's not as difficult as it was when Gary Barnett took over. But compared to every other team in the conference, we have the smallest fan base, worst game day environment (even when we are good), worst facilities and highest academic standards. And I am guessing that recruits are not that impressed that Gary Barnett went to the Rose Bowl before they were born and Randy Walker went 6 and 2 in the conference when they were still in diapers. NU has a tremendous amount to sell to athletes that are interested in developing beyond the football field and in being treated fairly. But for many of the top recruits, that's not a high priority. Those things aren't as easy to appreciate at 18 years old as 70,000 screaming fans and shiny new facilities. Everything needs to go well for this program to have a really good year. Generally, when the team is healthy, we've done pretty well. So hopefully that will be the case this year.
Last edited:
Similar threads
