Although not an alumni of NU, I have been a NU fan, season ticket holder and fan for many years. I have been to about 6 or 7 bowl games and even donated money to the program. I have met many on this board and enjoyed every interaction.
I was getting disillusioned with the mediocrity of the program. The inability to beat the best teams, in recruiting or in games. The constant laying of eggs in big games and some bowl games, Fitz's conservative to a fault game calling, our inability to want to even compete for big time recruits, the length of time it took to build the practice facility, the constant and dopey excuses from our fans on why we were in the position we were in. The constant baloney about our budget and our academic standards as a reason we for not improving in all areas. And truthfully, I disliked most of our so called fans.
Although some of the things I dislike about Fitz are still around, unending loyalty to a few that don't deserve it, insane secrecy even though our playbook hasn't changed one single bit since he got here, his inability to believe that message boards like this one are one of the reasons we become fanatics of a team. his secrecy around practices, injuries that are obvious to those with eyes and his belief that recruiting services were/are somehow all wrong.
Fitz is now extremely aggressive in going for it on 4th down and I love it. I have toured the practice facility and it was worth the wait. It is truly remarkable.
The team has won 4 bowl games in a row, never gives up, the talent level has incrementally and steadily increased in the past few years, Fitz and his newer coaches have been able to put a spark into recruiting, in big games we have at least been competitive with chances at winning, Fitz has shown the ability to change if something isn't working(like throwing 72 times in a bowl game), or not going for automatic points(short field goals) when there is no automatic field goals with our kickers. NU promotes the brand as much as any team and although it hasn't really helped our attendance, it has no doubt made us Chicago's Big Ten team.
The walk-ons have improved the depth and gave us two of our best receivers we have had in the Fitz era.
I still generally think NU fans are the worst fans in the country, (I'm not talking about those on the Rock), but now I don't care. I ignore the drunken fools who think the game is in the parking lot or the fans that come late and leave early, or the student body that is filled with meatheads that have to leave at half, or the fans that root for other academic schools when its against NU's interest and worst of all...the fans that sell their seats to the opposing teams fans to make a profit or to suck up to their boss. I go to the games, cheer the Cats and enjoy the experience more than ever.
I now see a path to even more consistent winning, more than occasional victories over ranked teams, more successes in recruiting the players that can defeat those incredibly talented teams and even bigger bowl games and yes...A Bigten Championship. It may not happen but in the next 2 or 3 years, but for the first time I actually don't think its a pipe dream.
I know we have won them before, but not under this more difficult format with more difficult schedules. It will be an accomplishment and a Rose bowl to remember.
I was getting disillusioned with the mediocrity of the program. The inability to beat the best teams, in recruiting or in games. The constant laying of eggs in big games and some bowl games, Fitz's conservative to a fault game calling, our inability to want to even compete for big time recruits, the length of time it took to build the practice facility, the constant and dopey excuses from our fans on why we were in the position we were in. The constant baloney about our budget and our academic standards as a reason we for not improving in all areas. And truthfully, I disliked most of our so called fans.
Although some of the things I dislike about Fitz are still around, unending loyalty to a few that don't deserve it, insane secrecy even though our playbook hasn't changed one single bit since he got here, his inability to believe that message boards like this one are one of the reasons we become fanatics of a team. his secrecy around practices, injuries that are obvious to those with eyes and his belief that recruiting services were/are somehow all wrong.
Fitz is now extremely aggressive in going for it on 4th down and I love it. I have toured the practice facility and it was worth the wait. It is truly remarkable.
The team has won 4 bowl games in a row, never gives up, the talent level has incrementally and steadily increased in the past few years, Fitz and his newer coaches have been able to put a spark into recruiting, in big games we have at least been competitive with chances at winning, Fitz has shown the ability to change if something isn't working(like throwing 72 times in a bowl game), or not going for automatic points(short field goals) when there is no automatic field goals with our kickers. NU promotes the brand as much as any team and although it hasn't really helped our attendance, it has no doubt made us Chicago's Big Ten team.
The walk-ons have improved the depth and gave us two of our best receivers we have had in the Fitz era.
I still generally think NU fans are the worst fans in the country, (I'm not talking about those on the Rock), but now I don't care. I ignore the drunken fools who think the game is in the parking lot or the fans that come late and leave early, or the student body that is filled with meatheads that have to leave at half, or the fans that root for other academic schools when its against NU's interest and worst of all...the fans that sell their seats to the opposing teams fans to make a profit or to suck up to their boss. I go to the games, cheer the Cats and enjoy the experience more than ever.
I now see a path to even more consistent winning, more than occasional victories over ranked teams, more successes in recruiting the players that can defeat those incredibly talented teams and even bigger bowl games and yes...A Bigten Championship. It may not happen but in the next 2 or 3 years, but for the first time I actually don't think its a pipe dream.
I know we have won them before, but not under this more difficult format with more difficult schedules. It will be an accomplishment and a Rose bowl to remember.
