350,000 of these.
According to one report from NUHighlights’ Twitter page, and another from a reliable source at the NU athletic department, the ‘Cats have only sold 7,000 of the 12,000 tickets the university was allotted. Now, I’m not sure how this works. Last year, Minnesota bought all the tickets they were allotted to the Insight Bowl just so they could sell them out, but only about 1,500 people showed up. According to our source, this is where Northwestern was last year before the Alamo Bowl. Many big-wigs splurge around this time to help out and then donate the tickets.
That’s why here at Spread Far The Fame, we’re looking for anyone that wants to bone up some bling-bling. $70 x 5000 = $350,000. Yep, about as much as a small home in the Chicago area. That would also buy 700,000 Kit Kat bars at Wal-mart, but who’s counting.
This is a lot of tickets people, and I’m sure if you’re reading this blog, you already have a ticket or you are unable to go. However, for those on the cusp, for those on the fringe, BUY BUY BUY.
I feel like a skeezy used car sales or an insurance rep, but really. It’s important you buy, now.
Update: The ‘Cats have pushed their way into first place thanks to your votes. Let’s keep it up and show how dedicated NU fans are. Voting continues through Dec. 30.
Northwestern lacrosse needs our help. We know they’re the Chicagoland team of the decade, but somehow most Chicago Tribune readers/voters think that the White Sox’s(?) single World Series win trumps NU’s FIVE STRAIGHT NATIONAL TITLES.
In the true spirit of the Chicago-style democratic process, you can vote as often as you want (as long as you close your browser each time).
Here’s the link:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-2000-team-decade-poll,0,5850951.poll
Now go grab your Acorn friends and stuff that women’s lacrosse ballot box.
The sixth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Under the lights in Evanston. Overtime. 33-27.
Add all of it up, and you get our #7 moment of the decade.
Looking back at the history of Northwestern sports, a win like this one only comes around just once in a generation. Over the years the Buckeyes have been to the Wildcats what the Yankees are to Pedro Martinez: tip your hat and call them your daddy.
But not on this magical night in 2004.
Noah Herron’s 113 yards yards on the ground and three touchdowns, Mark Philmore’s 134 yards receiving and first-ever score as a Wildcat, Brett Basanez’s two TDs, and some clutch defensive plays pushed the ‘Cats to their first win over OSU in 33 years. The Buckeyes’ 24-game winning streak in the series ended under the lights.
Even as NU won three Big Ten titles since 1995, the Buckeyes proved to be the Wildcats’ mythical monkey on their back. But this win proved that no one is safe from the NU insurgency.
The unbridled joy of both the players and fans after this win is unmatched in any other victory this decade. The rushing of the field seems pure and the players reaction is best seen in Mark Philmore shouting to the camera at the top of his lungs, “How you like that, Columbus?!”
Some people say this win was a somewhat Phyrric victory. This was the second-worst Ohio State squad of the Tressel era. The ‘04 ‘Cats failed to make a bowl. And NU has yet to back it up with another ‘W’ over the Scarlet and Grey.
But for all those supposed shortcomings, the unforgettable joy of David finally getting the best of Goliath pushes this one into the top ten of the decade.
Out of the biggest tragedy imaginable, perhaps the most inspiring coach in all of college football emerged to lead NU to heights that on that dark day in 2006 seemed improbable.
When Coach Randy Walker passed away, it was not only shocking and tragic, it was also another gigantic hurdle for NU’s football program to overcome. It was not the first time NU had to deal with an unexpected death in this decade. In 2001, safety Rashidi Wheeler passed away when he was hit by an asthma attack during an optional conditioning drill before the season. That death resulted in a shadow over the football program that seemingly wouldn’t go away. Just when things started to settle down years later, Walker himself died of a heart attack.
Fitz was named head coach under ridiculous circumstances. Not only was NU dealing with another tragedy, their record-setting quarterback was headed to the NFL, and Fitzgerald, at age 31, was the youngest head coach in all of college football.
Naturally the first year didn’t go so well, as NU went 4-8. But after beating Illinois to end the year, Fitzgerald confidently proclaimed in his post-game press conference that people should start booking their Rose Bowl tickets, because that’s where the program is headed.
It hasn’t happened yet, but NU has gotten better under Fitz in each year he’s been at the helm. Now they’ve earned back to back bowl berths for the second time in school history, and will be playing in a January 1 bowl for the first time this decade.
A lot of people (including us) like to make fun of Fitz a bit for his “coach speak” and some of the phrases he uses, such as: “FINISH!!!!” But the thing is…they work. The players totally buy into his message, and there is absolutely NO ONE who is a better representative of Northwestern University than Coach Fitzgerald. He’s inspiring, determined, loyal, and a winner.
The hiring of Coach Fitzgerald might move up our list in future years, but he has yet to win a bowl game or win a Big Ten title.
He has a chance to do the former on the first day of the new decade.
And the latter might come sooner than you think.
With the 70-62 win over the hated Stanford Cardinal in the books, the ‘Cats are on the verge of cracking the top 25 for the first time in decades.
Who would have thought this team would be 9-1 after Coble went down for the year?
Wins over teams from the Big East, ACC, Big 12, and Pac 10. Showing that killer instinct. Certainly building their tournament resume in non-conference. Now let’s make some free throws.
I’m not much of a wrestling fan, but this match for the 2008 Heavyweight National Championship sticks out in my mind as one of the great sporting events I’ve seen. I was glued to my TV for 15 minutes watching Dustin Fox win NU’s second national title of the decade.
A few things stand out about Fox’s title that vault him (and not two-time champ Jake Herbert’s wins) into our top 10.
Number one – THE BLOOD. It’s hard to see it gushing out of Fox’s face like Old Faithful on the YouTube video above, but look at the headbutt at the 45 second mark. Fox had already received multiple blood timeouts because of a gash on his head before J.D. Bergman’s noggin nearly broke his nose.
Number Two – This match was an epic battle that stretched into multiple overtimes. These two titans just kept on fighting until Fox finally made his move to win by take down in sudden victory. Much more dramatic than Herbert’s relative cakewalk 6-3 and 6-1 decisions.
Number Three – Fox is just an eclectic dude who captures what NU sports are all about. He’s not just an athlete. He DJed at WNUR, wrote for the PLAY pullout in the Daily, worked at Al’s Deli, spoke Mandarin, and was just generally kind of weird (like most of us are, even if we won’t admit it).
All in all, a very solid decade for Northwestern Wrestling. And it looks like the best may be yet to come.
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As we kick off our countdown of the top ten significant events and trends of Northwestern of the 2000s, we have to pay homage to the ladies of the hardcourt.
This is a special squad, led by a special coach, Claire Pollard. In her eleven years at Northwestern, she’s won eleven Big Ten titles and is unbeaten in postseason play against conference opponents.
When you think of how far Northwestern tennis has come and where they are today, it is the top of the top. Northwestern achieved a number one ranking in 2009 and is looking for the same next year.
In terms of success, the women’s tennis team doesn’t get all the credit and publicity that the lacrosse team gets, but it is a special team as well. Let’s congratulate them on a great decade and wish them luck in the next decade.
In case you missed it, we’re getting you in an Outback Bowl state of mind with daily factoids about the best (read: only) island continent in the world.
So let’s talk dollar bills, y’all.
First, each bill is a different length so that even blind people can tell its value. (How considerate.) The larger the value, the longer the banknote.
Second, in 1988 the Aussies shifted to polymer currency. “What’s that?” you ask. They’re actually made out of crazy-thin sheets of plastic. It adds durability and security features. Each dollar has a hologram of different Australiany things to help prevent counterfeiting. B-A-D-A-S-S.
Third, the old paper currency actually featured a picture of a convicted felon, Francis Greenway. I guess that’s what you get when you’re founded as a penal colony.
Consider yourself learned for the day.
In the history of the world, every year ending in 9 has led man to look back at the decade that was. And while some media outlets are calling the 2000s “The Decade from Hell,” we’re a little more positive at Spread Far The Fame.
Maybe it’s our short memories, or maybe we like hyperbole, but this decade seems to be the best ever for Northwestern sports and NU fans.
And so SFTF is ranking the top ten moments for the Wildcats from the last decade. We’ll count down from 10 to 1 over the next week and a half. These are the best, most significant, and most memorable moments from that stretch for the purple.
There are some honorable mentions that didn’t make the cut. Wins against Iowa from 2009 and 2005. Michael Jenkins’s buzzerbeater. Tyrell Sutton rushing onto the scene against Wisconsin in ‘05. C.J. Bacher’s offensive outburst at East Lansing. A win at the Big House. A game-winning pick six against the Gophers. Men’s soccer in the Elite Eight.
All of them are great moments, but they didn’t make the cut. Maybe that in itself sums up how great it has been to wear purple this decade.
Read, agree, disagree, debate, comment. And as always, SFTF.
Just got word today that Fitz’s footballers will have a special guest at practice on Friday as they prepare for the Outback Bowl.
Governor Pat “at least he’s not Blago” Quinn (JD ‘80) will give the team a pep talk before they head for Tampa.
It’ll probably have something to do with ethics.
We’ll keep you posted.
