My Dublin Recap

[jimmyNU]

I landed back in Virginia at 6:30 PM yesterday and I'm back at work this morning.

• This is one of my top five Northwestern wins. I have duel citizenship in the Republic of Ireland so this one was extra special.
• Aviva Stadium is a great venue. However, the rain cover over the stands also makes it VERY loud.
• I was really impressed by the number of Irish fans who attended the game. Many wore their respective NFL jerseys.
• The free beer debacle will become a fond memory but was a serious PITA as the time. I waited in line for 30 minutes to get two beers.
• Our pep rally was rather dull but coming off a bad season with a very small representation in Dublin, there wasn't much to build on.
• The small NUMB group was plenty loud. I wish Dyche Stadium staff could set up similar microphones.
• Nebraska fans were very kind and likeable as always. It's really hard to maintain a rival mentality with such kind people.
• I thought we got screwed on the pass interference call in the 3rd quarter. However, in the airport yesterday Michael Wilbon disagreed with me. We did agree that officiating did not decide the game.
• The Nebraska fans are very willing to part ways with Frost at this point. Since he is an alum, I expect they will let him finish the season.
• I heard that Nebraska traveled 17,000 and NU only about 3,500. Those of us who made the journey were rewarded ten times over. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and arguably more fun than 70% of our bowl trips.
• I personally predicted that we would lose by 21 points. That was largely based on last year and a complete lack of confidence in Jim O'Neil.

 

[pawildcat]

I landed back in Virginia at 6:30 PM yesterday and I'm back at work this morning.

• This is one of my top five Northwestern wins. I have duel citizenship in the Republic of Ireland so this one was extra special.
• Aviva Stadium is a great venue. However, the rain cover over the stands also makes it VERY loud.
• I was really impressed by the number of Irish fans who attended the game. Many wore their respective NFL jerseys.
• The free beer debacle will become a fond memory but was a serious PITA as the time. I waited in line for 30 minutes to get two beers.
• Our pep rally was rather dull but coming off a bad season with a very small representation in Dublin, there wasn't much to build on.
• The small NUMB group was plenty loud. I wish Dyche Stadium staff could set up similar microphones.
• Nebraska fans were very kind and likeable as always. It's really hard to maintain a rival mentality with such kind people.
• I thought we got screwed on the pass interference call in the 3rd quarter. However, in the airport yesterday Michael Wilbon disagreed with me. We did agree that officiating did not decide the game.
• The Nebraska fans are very willing to part ways with Frost at this point. Since he is an alum, I expect they will let him finish the season.
• I heard that Nebraska traveled 17,000 and NU only about 3,500. Those of us who made the journey were rewarded ten times over. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and arguably more fun than 70% of our bowl trips.
• I personally predicted that we would lose by 21 points. That was largely based on last year and a complete lack of confidence in Jim O'Neil.

Glad you had a great time. I thought briefly of going as I'd like to see Ireland, but this hasn't been a wonderful year financially. And, if I'm being honest, after last year I thought the Cats might get their heads handed to them, and I had no desire to travel thousands of miles to witness a debacle.

I'm very happy the Cats and the coaching staff were able to exceed my expectations. If they can avoid laying their usual egg against Duke, a team that has no business beating Northwestern as badly as it did last year, I might take up my brother on his offer of Penn State-NU tickets.

 

[villox]

I hesitate to rub in any further how awesome this weekend was. I’d rather we give up on Wrigley and do Aviva instead.

 

[willycat]

I hesitate to rub in any further how awesome this weekend was. I’d rather we give up on Wrigley and do Aviva instead.

But, but Wrigleyville has as many if not more pubs.

 

[HappyNUyear]

NU should install rain covers/shields over stands. Anything to keep the sound in. Dolphins did similar

 

[FeralFelidae]

I thought we got screwed on the pass interference call in the 3rd quarter. However, in the airport yesterday Michael Wilbon disagreed with me. We did agree that officiating did not decide the game.

It was definitely pass interference. It was a sneaky tug on the jersey to slow down the receiver and it definitely affected the play. Maybe I would have called it as defensive holding instead, but however they called it, it's a stupid thing to do on 3rd and 16.

Is the sneaky jersey-tug a technique that the coaches teach? If you can get away with it, is it good technique?

 

[BosCat]

But, but Wrigleyville has as many if not more pubs.

Yes, but do they have these pubs......

 

[CatManTrue]

Yes, but do they have these pubs......

@Alaskawildkat : just a heads up that @BosCat is stealing your schtick. You guys need to have a chat.

 

[BosCat]

@Alaskawildkat : just a heads up that @BosCat is stealing your schtick. You guys need to have a chat.

I am not stealing anything..... just trying to pick up a few tidbits from the great master. Nobody can come close to what he does

 

[villox]

But, but Wrigleyville has as many if not more pubs.

Untrue.

 

[Alaskawildkat]

@Alaskawildkat : just a heads up that @BosCat is stealing your schtick. You guys need to have a chat.

That is OK. FWIW, the security cam caught two Moose leaving my raspberry patch and crossing the driveway this morning.

Feeling good about a win against Duke already.

@BosCat Great photos! The renaming has now been preserved for posterity.

 

[jimmyNU]

Yes, but do they have these pubs......

I've been to both of those pubs on previous visits to Dublin.

 

[zeek55]

Of all the games I'd have liked to have been at since I went to Northwestern, this is definitely the new #1.

Must have been an incredible experience. Hope we go back there someday (I have a feeling they'll try to make this a more regular annual event in the future given the spotlight the game gets, so there should be another opportunity at some point).

 

[NJcatsfan]

I landed back in Virginia at 6:30 PM yesterday and I'm back at work this morning.

• This is one of my top five Northwestern wins. I have duel citizenship in the Republic of Ireland so this one was extra special.
• Aviva Stadium is a great venue. However, the rain cover over the stands also makes it VERY loud.
• I was really impressed by the number of Irish fans who attended the game. Many wore their respective NFL jerseys.
• The free beer debacle will become a fond memory but was a serious PITA as the time. I waited in line for 30 minutes to get two beers.
• Our pep rally was rather dull but coming off a bad season with a very small representation in Dublin, there wasn't much to build on.
• The small NUMB group was plenty loud. I wish Dyche Stadium staff could set up similar microphones.
• Nebraska fans were very kind and likeable as always. It's really hard to maintain a rival mentality with such kind people.
• I thought we got screwed on the pass interference call in the 3rd quarter. However, in the airport yesterday Michael Wilbon disagreed with me. We did agree that officiating did not decide the game.
• The Nebraska fans are very willing to part ways with Frost at this point. Since he is an alum, I expect they will let him finish the season.
• I heard that Nebraska traveled 17,000 and NU only about 3,500. Those of us who made the journey were rewarded ten times over. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and arguably more fun than 70% of our bowl trips.
• I personally predicted that we would lose by 21 points. That was largely based on last year and a complete lack of confidence in Jim O'Neil.

Good post. As I posted elsewhere, we definitely had way more than 3,500 in purple at Aviva. I’d say more than double that. UNL had 17-20k. You’re right about the volume.

 

[TXnumbCAT]

I'll disagree a bit on the assessment that unL fans are exclusively kind.

When one of our players (Hampton?) was down on the field with an injury that was announced over the P.A., the Nebraska fans wasted very little time before starting their "GO BIG RED!" cheer -- that's either classless or clueless to do that during an obvious injury timeout.

 

[docrugby1]

I hesitate to rub in any further how awesome this weekend was. I’d rather we give up on Wrigley and do Aviva instead.

I am sorry I missed the game but we have a new Cat fan as a buddy from Ballybunion used the tickets. I hope everyone enjoyed the Templebar and enjoyed The Aviva as much as I do when I am in Dublin for rugby games. The stadium has great sightlines, except low in the corners. The free beer must have been a windfall.

Name some of the pubs visited. Did Fitzsimons put on a good show ? Did anyone tour the Epic or play any golf ?

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

I am sorry I missed the game but we have a new Cat fan as a buddy from Ballybunion used the tickets. I hope everyone enjoyed the Templebar and enjoyed The Aviva as much as I do when I am in Dublin for rugby games. The stadium has great sightlines, except low in the corners. The free beer must have been a windfall.

Name some of the pubs visited. Did Fitzsimons put on a good show ? Did anyone tour the Epic or play any golf ?

Still can’t believe you missed out on this game. Had an incredible trip. Memories that will last a lifetime. Fitzsimons was terrific.