[NU Sports] Ryan Field fans ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Yes, we shouted "you NEVER leave Ryan Field early" at
those who left after Baz's INT with 5 minutes left.
(But yes, I was questioning how we'd win this one).

As for Ryan Field fans though - I just dunno what else
you can do to try and get fans there. You have Big Ten
football and a track record of thrilling finishes,
upsets and classic games.

Yes, NU has a long tradition of losing, but in the
last decade (and I'm using the Big Ten decade of 11
years :) ), consider what those of us who have been
loyal purple fans have witnessed at Dyche ...

1995
----
* Miami 30, NU 28 - Not a win, but one of the more
unlikely comebacks you'll see after we led 28-7 late.
That botched punt is still etched into my mind.
* NU 21, PSU 10 - Closer than the score - ABC under
the lights with Keith Jackson and we beat the
defending league champs and JoePa to gain national
respect
* NU 31, Iowa 20 - Again, this was a 4-point game
until Ismaeli's fumble return late on that cold day.

1996
----
* NU 17, Michigan 16 - Still the most unbelievable
comeback I have seen ... 16-0 well into the fourth and
we score a TD, two-point conversion and three field
goals to leave the Wolverine fans stunned.
* NU 26, Minnesota 24 - The Cardiac Cats begin
* NU 27, Illinois 24 - And strike again
* NU 27, Purdue 24 - And again

1997
----
* NU 24, Duke 20
* Rice 34, NU 30
* Wisconsin 26, NU 25 - Breaks went against us this
year -- especially D'Wayne's break :(
* NU 19, MSU 17
* PSU 30, NU 27
* NU 15, Iowa 14 - Six home games, 15 points
difference

1998
----
* Illinois 13, NU 10 - Those evil Illini draping our
statue with their flag still angers me!
* Michigan 12, NU 6 - The homecoming monsoon

1999
----
* NU 17, TCU 7
* NU 23, Iowa 21 - Walker's only win over the hated
Hawks ... until this weekend.:)

2000
----
* NU 54, Michigan 51 - Still the most unbelievable
game I've seen. WOW! We had more thrillers that year -
including the 47-44 win in Madison, but they were all
away from home. Still, 54-51 makes up for that.

2001
----
* NU 27, MSU 26 - Another wild finish and perhaps the
most unbelievable final 2 minutes until today
* NU 23, Minnesota 17
* PSU 38, NU 35
* Bowling Green 43, NU 42 - ouch

2002
----
* NU 26, Duke 21
* NU 41, Indiana 37
* Illinois 31, NU 24

2003
----
* Air Force 22, NU 21
* NU 16, Wisconsin 7
* NU 17, PSU 7

2004
----
* Arizona State 30, NU 21
* NU 20, Kansas 17
* NU 33, Ohio State 27 (OT) - Quite simply: Awesome!
* NU 31, Indiana 24 (2OT)
* NU 13, Purdue 10
* NU 28, Illinois 21 (OT) - Six games, a difference of
15 points at the end of regulation.

2005
----
* NU 38, NIU 37
* PSU 34, NU 29
* NU 51, Wisconsin 48
* NU 28, Iowa 27

If you can find a better place to watch exciting,
thrilling and nail-biting college football over the
last decade, let me know.

If fans aren't showing up -- their loss. And if
they're leaving early, what are you thinking!!! :) 

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!


		
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