Voting with my feet

[Alan Smithee]

Like many of you I’ve been a season-ticket holder for decades.

Now, I have NEVER done it, and I’m not going to now. But since i already bought my tickets but refuse to waste my time and throw more good money after bad, why shouldn’t I try to recoup some of my losses by selling my choice seats to Badger and Ohio State fans? Again, just venting and won’t do it, but for the first time the temptation is there.
It’s not just the losses it’s the uninspired, ugly play in multiple phases to teams that not only aren’t very good but didn’t play very well in the loss themselves.

 

[Titanium999]

Like many of you I’ve been a season-ticket holder for decades.

Now, I have NEVER done it, and I’m not going to now. But since i already bought my tickets but refuse to waste my time and throw more good money after bad, why shouldn’t I try to recoup some of my losses by selling my choice seats to Badger and Ohio State fans? Again, just venting and won’t do it, but for the first time the temptation is there.
It’s not just the losses it’s the uninspired, ugly play in multiple phases to teams that not only aren’t very good but didn’t play very well in the loss themselves.

No fire 🔥 in this team at all

 

[CatManTrue]

Like many of you I’ve been a season-ticket holder for decades.

Now, I have NEVER done it, and I’m not going to now. But since i already bought my tickets but refuse to waste my time and throw more good money after bad, why shouldn’t I try to recoup some of my losses by selling my choice seats to Badger and Ohio State fans? Again, just venting and won’t do it, but for the first time the temptation is there.
It’s not just the losses it’s the uninspired, ugly play in multiple phases to teams that not only aren’t very good but didn’t play very well in the loss themselves.

Just sell those tickets to wrassler. He’ll keep them away from opposing fans by tucking them under his comfy schmumfy couch.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Like many of you I’ve been a season-ticket holder for decades.

Now, I have NEVER done it, and I’m not going to now. But since i already bought my tickets but refuse to waste my time and throw more good money after bad, why shouldn’t I try to recoup some of my losses by selling my choice seats to Badger and Ohio State fans? Again, just venting and won’t do it, but for the first time the temptation is there.
It’s not just the losses it’s the uninspired, ugly play in multiple phases to teams that not only aren’t very good but didn’t play very well in the loss themselves.

Normally I'd beg folks to stay loyal, but given the total lack of accountability within this department and the financial control of a tiny group of donors (ie, no amount of public pressure can force changes in a way that can happen at other schools) I'd have to say this is one of the only things you can really do to painfully indicate your displeasure. Sell your tickets and email your ticket rep after the season that you did so to indicate your displeasure with the hideous product and the pathetic response by the coaches.

 

[lunker35]

I love the people who sit around us, but I’m at the point where I really want to sell my tickets. I’m not going anymore because we’re an embarrassing mess and lead by a guy unwilling to be held accountable and make hard choices. I’m done with this team and spending money on something that’s totally miserable. I can get my $6 diet cokes somewhere else.

 

[Sheffielder]

I admit, I can't remember a time when it's felt this hopeless this early. Even when Fitz took over in 2006 we could basically say, "it will get better...probably."

Sure we pop the occasional boner and lose to an FCS team or a MAC team...or an academic peer...but not in the same season...in succession. Right? Is there a season in the past 25 that I'm forgetting?

What I really fear is that Fitz learned nothing with Hank covering defense, and that having elder/wiser coordinators was the glue behind the scenes that enabled Awwe Shucks Fitz to be the lovable public face of the program. Seeing something similar with Dabo on a much grander scale, but the notes are the same.

 

[jne381]

I don't know what I am going to do for the rest of this year. Even though I would know in the past NU probably wouldn't beat OSU, at least there was a chance. I don't think I am going to travel 3.5 hours to watch them get embarrassed.

 

[phatcat]

I don't know what I am going to do for the rest of this year. Even though I would know in the past NU probably wouldn't beat OSU, at least there was a chance. I don't think I am going to travel 3.5 hours to watch them get embarrassed.

I recently moved back to the Midwest after 12 years away, and I couldn't WAIT to go to the games regularly, instead of one or two a year. As we left (early) last night, I turned back wistfully and said to my wife: " might be our last game ever in the stadium". Sad.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

I recently moved back to the Midwest after 12 years away, and I couldn't WAIT to go to the games regularly, instead of one or two a year. As we left (early) last night, I turned back wistfully and said to my wife: " might be our last game ever in the stadium". Sad.

On the plus side, it’s a crappy stadium

 

[docrugby1]

I just bought airfare for the Wisconsin game, more to see Uber et al. I gave away tickets to the first 4 games and have decided that I will not be renewing my 4 season tickets. Ryan Field is more than adequate from my point of view, and I do not want to be pestered with seat licenses or annual contribution requirements. NU football is and has been difficult to watch since offense was abandoned by the current regime. Fitz needs only to look into the empty seats to realize something has to change. NU has just had a windfall of about $100,000,000/year because they are grandfathered into the B1G. It is about time the administration and athletic department recognize that they have an obligation to justify that type of reward. I watched Georgetown take academically challenged athletes and develop a nationally competitive basketball team while assuring these young men succeeded academically and socially. John Thompson ran a strict no- nonsense program and Mary Fenlon, officially a coach, monitored academic progress. I see no reason why NU cannot invest in a program for carefully selected athletes to benefit from an NU education. I personally do not care whether NU is #10 on US N&W rankings if it benefits the students that attend, whether they have 1600 SATs or 1000 SATs. Get interested faculty involved to ensure their role is to educate all students, not only the academically elite. I remember Grundy Steiner, a Latin Professor, his classes were filled with every Catholic HS football player at NU-he taught a course that everyone benefitted from

 

[jne381]

I just bought airfare for the Wisconsin game, more to see Uber et al. I gave away tickets to the first 4 games and have decided that I will not be renewing my 4 season tickets. Ryan Field is more than adequate from my point of view, and I do not want to be pestered with seat licenses or annual contribution requirements. NU football is and has been difficult to watch since offense was abandoned by the current regime. Fitz needs only to look into the empty seats to realize something has to change. NU has just had a windfall of about $100,000,000/year because they are grandfathered into the B1G. It is about time the administration and athletic department recognize that they have an obligation to justify that type of reward. I watched Georgetown take academically challenged athletes and develop a nationally competitive basketball team while assuring these young men succeeded academically and socially. John Thompson ran a strict no- nonsense program and Mary Fenlon, officially a coach, monitored academic progress. I see no reason why NU cannot invest in a program for carefully selected athletes to benefit from an NU education. I personally do not care whether NU is #10 on US N&W rankings if it benefits the students that attend, whether they have 1600 SATs or 1000 SATs. Get interested faculty involved to ensure their role is to educate all students, not only the academically elite. I remember Grundy Steiner, a Latin Professor, his classes were filled with every Catholic HS football player at NU-he taught a course that everyone benefitted from

I could not agree more with all of this. if the athletes are committed to their education, then they should give the opportunity and the means to accomplish their goals.

 

[JournCat]

I just bought airfare for the Wisconsin game, more to see Uber et al. I gave away tickets to the first 4 games and have decided that I will not be renewing my 4 season tickets. Ryan Field is more than adequate from my point of view, and I do not want to be pestered with seat licenses or annual contribution requirements. NU football is and has been difficult to watch since offense was abandoned by the current regime. Fitz needs only to look into the empty seats to realize something has to change. NU has just had a windfall of about $100,000,000/year because they are grandfathered into the B1G. It is about time the administration and athletic department recognize that they have an obligation to justify that type of reward. I watched Georgetown take academically challenged athletes and develop a nationally competitive basketball team while assuring these young men succeeded academically and socially. John Thompson ran a strict no- nonsense program and Mary Fenlon, officially a coach, monitored academic progress. I see no reason why NU cannot invest in a program for carefully selected athletes to benefit from an NU education. I personally do not care whether NU is #10 on US N&W rankings if it benefits the students that attend, whether they have 1600 SATs or 1000 SATs. Get interested faculty involved to ensure their role is to educate all students, not only the academically elite. I remember Grundy Steiner, a Latin Professor, his classes were filled with every Catholic HS football player at NU-he taught a course that everyone benefitted from

If the recruiting rankings are to be believed, we get enough players now to be a mid-level Big Ten team most years. I’m not saying I disagree that we should let in more players. Only that academics can’t be an excuse for terrible coaching and player development.

 

[docrugby1]

If the recruiting rankings are to be believed, we get enough players now to be a mid-level Big Ten team most years. I’m not saying I disagree that we should let in more players. Only that academics can’t be an excuse for terrible coaching and player development.

I did not want to imply that the ineptitude of the program was only related to academic restrictions. The problems are much deeper than that. I believe that NU has an obligation to field championship quality teams, if they continue to accept huge sums of money from the B1G. NU has to make the necessary changes to be competitive, whether it be coaching or establishing a program to guarantee academic progression in a useful discipline for all students that excel in sports, the arts etc

 

[AstroCat]

When a longtime fan like Smithee starts saying, even in jest, that he is thinking of selling his tickets to OSU fans, then something is broken.

For those of us who attend games, the 2019 season, the 2021 season, and the current season have been particularly brutal. Yes, it is true that we won the division in 2020, but there were no fans in attendance that year, which means that us season ticket holders are now facing a third consecutive season of disappointing football.

I have four season tickets, and my group is rather easy to please: just give us a team that looks competent, wins the games it is strongly favored to win, and is competitive in the rest -- anything beyond that is gravy. But we are not even achieving that, and the last two losses were just soul-crushing. As a result, everyone in my group is expressing doubt about renewing season tickets next year. Given how pro-NU this group is, that means something, and I cannot emphasize that enough. We are turning off our most loyal fans.

This has to be fixed soon. It cannot wait until next year. The fans that are at risk now are not the delusional ones (they were already up in arms last year), but the real salt-of-the-earth fans, our core fans, the ones who have been loyal and reasonable for years.

 

[cattul]

I saw the question posed, last season, “Is this what the dark ages felt like?”

Honestly, for me, the answer was ‘no.’

But this season? After dropping a series of embarrassing OOC losses, and staring realistically at a winless remaining conference season with multiple pulverizings? While the leadership’s response is to hold the course and do things the ‘Northwestern Way?’

Yes, this feels exactly like the dark ages.

 

[IGNORE2]

When a longtime fan like Smithee starts saying, even in jest, that he is thinking of selling his tickets to OSU fans, then something is broken.

For those of us who attend games, the 2019 season, the 2021 season, and the current season have been particularly brutal. Yes, it is true that we won the division in 2020, but there were no fans in attendance that year, which means that us season ticket holders are now facing a third consecutive season of disappointing football.

I have four season tickets, and my group is rather easy to please: just give us a team that looks competent, wins the games it is strongly favored to win, and is competitive in the rest -- anything beyond that is gravy. But we are not even achieving that, and the last two losses were just soul-crushing. As a result, everyone in my group is expressing doubt about renewing season tickets next year. Given how pro-NU this group is, that means something, and I cannot emphasize that enough. We are turning off our most loyal fans.

This has to be fixed soon. It cannot wait until next year. The fans that are at risk now are not the delusional ones (they were already up in arms last year), but the real salt-of-the-earth fans, our core fans, the ones who have been loyal and reasonable for years.

👀

 

[IGNORE2]

I saw the question posed, last season, “Is this what the dark ages felt like?”

Honestly, for me, the answer was ‘no.’

But this season? After dropping a series of embarrassing OOC losses, and staring realistically at a winless remaining conference season with multiple pulverizings? While the leadership’s response is to hold the course and do things the ‘Northwestern Way?’

Yes, this feels exactly like the dark ages.

It will start looking more like it - 11 losses in a row going into next season. All we need are marshmellows and Penthouse to declare us the worst team in college for the first of two consecutive years.

 

[CatManTrue]

I saw the question posed, last season, “Is this what the dark ages felt like?”

Honestly, for me, the answer was ‘no.’

But this season? After dropping a series of embarrassing OOC losses, and staring realistically at a winless remaining conference season with multiple pulverizings? While the leadership’s response is to hold the course and do things the ‘Northwestern Way?’

Yes, this feels exactly like the dark ages.

I was the one who asked the Dark Ages question. And I’m glad you brought it up again as I have to believe the current NUFB experience is similar to what fans felt during the Dark Ages.

Actually it may be worse in one way: we didn’t lose to three 1-AA teams during the Dark Ages, did we?

 

[TheC]

I was the one who asked the Dark Ages question. And I’m glad you brought it up again as I have to believe the current NUFB experience is similar to what fans felt during the Dark Ages.

Actually it may be worse in one way: we didn’t lose to three 1-AA teams during the Dark Ages, did we?

During the Dark Ages, I think most NU fans just sort of accepted their position as the laughing stock of the league. Today, things are worse because we've seen success and can't accept being the laughing stock again. Things are also better because we've seen success and can't accept being the laughing stock again.

 

[IGNORE2]

I was the one who asked the Dark Ages question. And I’m glad you brought it up again as I have to believe the current NUFB experience is similar to what fans felt during the Dark Ages.

Actually it may be worse in one way: we didn’t lose to three 1-AA teams during the Dark Ages, did we?

Not even close. Football team that nobody, literally nobody cared about. Fraternities used as reason to party. But nobody cares about the games. In a non cancel world, the football game struggled for much coverage in the Daily.

 

[The Purple Knight]

Like many of you I’ve been a season-ticket holder for decades.

Now, I have NEVER done it, and I’m not going to now. But since i already bought my tickets but refuse to waste my time and throw more good money after bad, why shouldn’t I try to recoup some of my losses by selling my choice seats to Badger and Ohio State fans? Again, just venting and won’t do it, but for the first time the temptation is there.
It’s not just the losses it’s the uninspired, ugly play in multiple phases to teams that not only aren’t very good but didn’t play very well in the loss themselves.

You have every right to sell your tickets and recoup some, or all, of your season ticket cost. The last time I checked NU wasn’t reducing the cost of tickets or refunding money when the product sucks.

 

[Alan Smithee]

You have every right to sell your tickets and recoup some, or all, of your season ticket cost. The last time I checked NU wasn’t reducing the cost of tickets or refunding money when the product sucks.

This is, of course, correct. I still believe in the difference between things I have the right to do and the right thing to do. For me that calculation still applies here, but I have no quarrel with those who see these as merged here.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I watched Georgetown take academically challenged athletes and develop a nationally competitive basketball team while assuring these young men succeeded academically and socially. John Thompson ran a strict no- nonsense program and Mary Fenlon, officially a coach, monitored academic progress. I see no reason why NU cannot invest in a program for carefully selected athletes to benefit from an NU education. I personally do not care whether NU is #10 on US N&W rankings if it benefits the students that attend, whether they have 1600 SATs or 1000 SATs. Get interested faculty involved to ensure their role is to educate all students, not only the academically elite. I remember Grundy Steiner, a Latin Professor, his classes were filled with every Catholic HS football player at NU-he taught a course that everyone benefitted from

Obviously there is a great deal of discussion of and focus on societal equity, and education (public and private) has a huge role in this. I do not think it is in NU's mission interest to aim at educating a broad swathe of the less advantaged. We certainly don't have the campus assets to support enrollments of, for example, tens of thousands of students, unlike our Big Ten public land grant peers.

My belief is that NU should always aim to pursue its mission by recruiting the best talents possible into its programs, preparing them and them setting them to work on important problems across all disciplines (including the Liberal Arts!). I do think should work extra hard at finding gifted students from less advantaged communities to expand their reach.

I consider Big Ten-caliber athletes to be exceptionally gifted, and think easing academic requirements is warranted. We are talking about a very small population (how many schollies across all sports?) relative to the campus population.

 

[Ryanfield124]

This is the thread many of us have been warning of for years. The trend is losing at NU not winning. We recruit smart kids here so frankly I have higher expectations. NU gets enough money to accommodate students with potential and in need of support to be successful.

BUT we need a coach who knows how to extract more in competition than we have been getting through this span of 4 years. You don't build these facilities for a multiple 3-9 program.

 

[IGNORE2]

This is the thread many of us have been warning of for years. The trend is losing at NU not winning. We recruit smart kids here so frankly I have higher expectations. NU gets enough money to accommodate students with potential and in need of support to be successful.

BUT we need a coach who knows how to extract more in competition than we have been getting through this span of 4 years. You don't build these facilities for a multiple 3-9 program.

👀

 

[Zootcat]

Not even close. Football team that nobody, literally nobody cared about. Fraternities used as reason to party. But nobody cares about the games. In a non cancel world, the football game struggled for much coverage in the Daily.

Yes, by comparison we aren’t there yet. But it’s beginning to feel like it.

During the “Dark Ages” I remember arriving late without a ticket and simply walking in without being asked for one. Also, we would bring a picnic basket and make a bench into a picnic table, including schnapps for our group.

I truly hope we aren’t headed there.

 

[CatManTrue]

Yes, by comparison we aren’t there yet. But it’s beginning to feel like it.

During the “Dark Ages” I remember arriving late without a ticket and simply walking in without being asked for one. Also, we would bring a picnic basket and make a bench into a picnic table, including schnapps for our group.

I truly hope we aren’t headed there.

What better way to send off the old Ryan Field?

 

[SmellyCat]

The Dark Ages are considered as 1972-1994, right? In 1971, NU was pretty good. Kind of feels like we're in 1972 or 1973 now, rather than the heart of the dark ages with The Streak (1979-1982) and whatnot. There's still some time to avoid that. Let's hope.

 

[phatcat]

The Dark Ages are considered as 1972-1994, right? In 1971, NU was pretty good. Kind of feels like we're in 1972 or 1973 now, rather than the heart of the dark ages with The Streak (1979-1982) and whatnot. There's still some time to avoid that. Let's hope.

Yeah we averaged 2 wins a year during that stretch. That era, alone, almost exactly equals the amount if net losses to make us an all-time, sub 500 program.

 

[cattul]

O.k.

Given what has transpired since I posted a few days ago, I must confess: ‘snazzy new stadium’ does not leave me with a dark age vibe, at all.

 

[hdhntr1]

During the Dark Ages, I think most NU fans just sort of accepted their position as the laughing stock of the league. Today, things are worse because we've seen success and can't accept being the laughing stock again. Things are also better because we've seen success and can't accept being the laughing stock again.

Back then the reason was the lack of support of the administration that were basically trying to destroy the program so the could move on from it ala University of Chicago. This is different as there has been tons of support but there is something just not working. It is more than just the D not working.

 

[hdhntr1]

The Dark Ages are considered as 1972-1994, right? In 1971, NU was pretty good. Kind of feels like we're in 1972 or 1973 now, rather than the heart of the dark ages with The Streak (1979-1982) and whatnot. There's still some time to avoid that. Let's hope.

I witnessed the success of 70 and 71 and the foundations of the dark ages (lack of administrative support leading to Agassi choosing to leave and the hiring of Pont) but being in Springfield during the actual Dark ages I was far enough away to have been spared the pain of the actual Dark Ages. Remember, in those days games were not really televised. I came back to Chicago area in early 90's so was fortunate to see the end of the Dark Ages.

 

[hdhntr1]

I saw the question posed, last season, “Is this what the dark ages felt like?”

Honestly, for me, the answer was ‘no.’

But this season? After dropping a series of embarrassing OOC losses, and staring realistically at a winless remaining conference season with multiple pulverizings? While the leadership’s response is to hold the course and do things the ‘Northwestern Way?’

Yes, this feels exactly like the dark ages.

It is still different. Back then the Dark Ages were caused by a lack of support from the administration as they did their darndest to destroy the program and put it behind them so that they could move on ala the University of Chicago example. This is different because there is not lack of support at the bottom of this. In fact this is the most support the program has ever had. $100 million per year from BIG, new practice facilities and now a new stadium potentially costing upwards of $1 B. Now it is just something missing. The D is evident but it seems far deeper. We (the program) seems to have lost its heart.

 

[StreamCat]

Yes, by comparison we aren’t there yet. But it’s beginning to feel like it.

During the “Dark Ages” I remember arriving late without a ticket and simply walking in without being asked for one. Also, we would bring a picnic basket and make a bench into a picnic table, including schnapps for our group.

I truly hope we aren’t headed there.

It won’t be the Dark Ages until I can park in the West Lot for any game with no donation and no season pass.

 

[Zootcat]

It won’t be the Dark Ages until I can park in the West Lot for any game with no donation and no season pass.

Yep. Forgot that part.

 

[hdhntr1]

It won’t be the Dark Ages until I can park in the West Lot for any game with no donation and no season pass.

Since there are fewer spaces, that might require even greater depths. But at least no potholes t fall into.