OT: Making 2008 Even Better By Donning Purple

by Chadnudj on Oct 1, 2008 10:00 AM CDT Comment 18 comments

This is the most excited I've ever been as a sports fan.....and it's not entirely about the Cubs.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a HUGE Cubs fan...but just north on the Red/Purple Line, something really special is happening with my true love -- the Northwestern Wildcats Football team. For the first time since the Kennedy administration (1962!), Northwestern is 5-0. This upcoming Saturday we have a bye week before facing off at home against Michigan State on Oct. 11th at 2:30 PM CT in a nationally-televised game on ESPN2.

Which is where BCB and its Chicago-area readers come in....

The Northwestern student body and alumni are calling for a Purple Haze to descend onto Evanston for the Oct. 11th, 2:30 PM CT game -- basically that we pack Ryan Field (f/k/a Dyche Stadium to older alumni) with purple fans to root for the Cats as they try to extend their undefeated season.

Northwestern students, faculty, and staff have LONG been major supporters of the Cubs (I personally skipped many classes for Cubs games in April, May, and September when I was a student), and they now NEED Cubs fans to return their support in a small way.

So go to NUsports.com or call 847-491-CATS and buy a ticket (honestly, Northwestern football may be the best value in Chicago sports - $35 for endzone, $50 for regular seats). Take the scenic drive up Sheridan Road to Evanston for the game, or easier still, take the Purple line El train to Central (two blocks from the stadium). Come early and join me and my Wildcat friends for tailgates (west lot by the stadium). Listen to the marching band, take pictures with Willie the Wildcat, and watch Northwestern go for 6-0.

The best part? No matter what, the Cubs won't be playing on Oct. 11th, so we all have NOTHING ELSE TO DO!

But most importantly, wear purple. Lots of purple.

GO CUBS! GO CATS!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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A couple notes on this:

1. As I noted, the Cubs will not be playing on Oct. 11th no matter what happens — you’ll need something to fill your sporting day besides constantly updating BCB, so why not root for Northwestern — a local college football team filled with REAL student-athletes who graduate and represent the University well inside and outside of class, and on and off the field — NU does not lower its academic standards at all for its athletes.

2. Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis sang the 7th Innning Stretch to boos on Saturday, July 26 during a game against the Marlins — and the Cubs lost 3-2. Pat Fitzgerald, NU’s coach, sang the 7th Inning Stretch the next day (July 27th) in another game against the Marlins, with the Cubs down 6-5….the Cubs responded to Fitzgerald’s dulcet tones by putting up 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th on their way to a 9-6 victory. Need I say more?

3. Northwestern is CHICAGO’S local college team. I mean, you can get there on the El — what’s more Chicago than that? So if your college team is far away from here, adopt the Wildcats as your #2 team and wear some purple. Or if your college didn’t have a football team — adopt the Wildcats (we’re really a lot of fun — it’s highly entertaining to see the consternation on other Big Ten teams’ fans’ faces after they lose to Northwestern). Or if you didn’t go to college — what better time to embrace Northwestern than now, when they’re 5-0 and potentially on their way to something special???

4. Purple is a regal color — trust me, you’ll look good in it.

5. Northwestern plays a LOT of close games (they’re nicknamed the Cardiac Cats) — in other words, you’re likely to get your money’s worth in terms of entertainment….

by Chadnudj on Oct 1, 2008 10:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

I’ll be there. Class of ‘02 and proud season ticket holder. I’ve seen my share of demoralizing losses over the years at Wrigley and at Ryan Field. Certainly turning that around on both fronts this year. Looking forward to being a part of special seasons for both teams well into the fall. Let’s take care of the Dodgers first!

4/4/3

by Born Again Cubs Fan on Oct 1, 2008 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed....

….let’s have the Cubbies take care of the Dodgers first, and then y’all can continue the good karma by heading up to Evanston for Northwestern football on Oct. 11th!

by Chadnudj on Oct 1, 2008 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a Wildcats fan too...

… having spent a year in grad school there (1980). I’d love to see them go 6-0. Maybe then the voters would rank them.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 1, 2008 10:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You're invited...

Al, I throw a great tailgate — feel free to come to the game and swing by for some excellent Greek-themed tailgating food (in honor of our “Spartan” opponents) on Oct. 11th….

Same goes for the rest of BCB, as long as you wear PURPLE! (Cubs hat with purple shirt is acceptable)

by Chadnudj on Oct 1, 2008 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If I can make it...

… no promises… might wear my ’95 NU Rose Bowl cap.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 1, 2008 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't have strong ties to them

but they are the local college team as you pointed out and I’d like to see them do well. I just closed on a condo yesterday and most of my free time will go towards the cleaning and fixing up of the place but I may have to take an afternoon off to watch some Wildcat Football.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Oct 1, 2008 10:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Go to the game...

…seriously, you will NOT regret it.

by Chadnudj on Oct 1, 2008 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to think of myself

as one of the bigger NU fans that DIDN’T go to NU. I always go to a couple games a year if I’m in town (at least the home opener, that always coinsided with me going up to UWGB) and always watched them when they were on TV. Rooting for these two teams really make you appreciate seasons likes this year because between the two, there’s a whole lot of suck in their past. Go Cats!

"You just don't know understand how frustrating this is"- Kevin Borseth

by TkGoUWGB on Oct 1, 2008 10:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Cubs-Northwestern connection, continued....

Former Cub great Joe Girardi?? Northwestern alum. He may be with the Yankees, but I still love him as a Cubbie.

Speaking of Yankees — George Steinbrenner? Former NU football grad assistant!

Michael Wilbon of PTI and supporter of the Cubs? NU Medill School of Journalism alum.

by Chadnudj on Oct 1, 2008 10:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Didn't Mike Greenberg go there too

He’s a Cub fan.

Go All In and Enjoy The Ride.

by Jayo525 on Oct 1, 2008 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes he did!

So did:
- Christine Brennan of USA Today
- Brent Musberger of ABC
- Darren Rovell of CNBC
- Alan Abrahamson of NBC
- Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist Matt Grevers
- J.A. Adande of Around the Horn and the LA Times
- Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated
- Helene Elliott of the LA Times
- Dan Shanoff of the Sporting News (he’s a traitor though — sold out NU for his wife’s Florida Gators, so we have no room on the Purple Bandwagon for him)
- Rick Telander of the Sun Times (thankfully we have no connection to Mariotti, other than hating him)
- Stephen Colbert
- Seth Myers of Saturday Night Live
- Zach Braff
- Jerry Springer
- David Schwimmer
- Warren Beatty
- Ann Margaret
- Charlton Heston
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus
- Governor Rod Blagojevich (booooo!)
- Justice John Paul Stevens of the U.S. Supreme Court
- Kenesaw Mountain Landis, former baseball commissioner
- Jerry Reinsdorf (boooo!)