[NU Sports] Epic Game

[Joe Thiegs]

"For games against Barry Alvarez, the yardstick is always going to be
October 21, 1995, When an excellent Badger team was shutout 35-0 at Dyche."

That is a pretty good benchmark for games against ANYONE.  That game remains
for me the most impressive and satisfying one I have ever attended--or have
ever seen, for that matter (I only caught the fourth quarter of the 1995
NU-ND game on WGN radio while I was in Grant Park that September day).  The
Wisconsin game was homecoming my senior year, and our house placed high in
the float-building competition the night before (which effort I headed for
our fraternity), my family was there for their second game (the first being
a blowout loss to Michigan on Parents' Weekend in 1992), and it was my
grandma's first and only time at a D-I football game.  Sadly, my grandpa had
passed away at the end of the previous school year, so it was a big deal for
her to make a trek as far away as Chicago.  I still remember standing
through most of the game (in the rain?) and the crowd pouring onto the field
after time expired.  Also, the next day was my golden birthday, so that made
for one great weekend.  Ah, the memories....

Back to the present, I was happy to attend last weekend's circus.  It was
exciting and a big win but, as others have said, didn't feel as momentous as
last year's OSU win or the Michigan win in 2000.  Could the defense be
better?  Of course.  For the record, I'd take a lock-down defense and a
mediocre offense (see Ohio State in 2002) over a high-powered offense and a
mediocre defense (us in 2000) any day.  I think, though, that I'd rather
have a high-powered offense and a really bad defense (us this year?) than a
lock-down defense and a really bad offense (Penn State last year).  In any
event, I'll take a victory over a 5-0 team without too much complaint,
notwithstanding obvious the obvious room for improvement on defense.

-Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
Behalf Of cherron604 at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 2:38 PM
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Epic Game


 Was this game truly 'Epic' ?
 
The definitions seem to cluster around:
 
- very imposing or impressive
- surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale)
- constituting or having to do with or suggestive of a literary epic
 
I would probably not consider it imposing (distinguished ?), but it was
impressive that a 6.5-7 point underdog was able to win.
 
It definitely surpassed the ordinary game in duration (and yards).
 
The question is, given that we all want wins - do we want Epic games, or
brilliantly played games ?
 
For games against Barry Alvarez, the yardstick is always going to be October
21, 1995, When an excellent Badger team was shutout 35-0 at Dyche.
 
Chuck Herron   Tech '85 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: warneradams <warneradams at comcast.net>
To: nwu-sports at romaine.tssi.com
Sent: Sat, 8 Oct 2005 19:30:33 -0500
Subject: [NU Sports] Epic Game


Some other thoughts:

 

Outstanding football weather today and 80% NU fans in my section (10 yard
line, south end of west stands).  Northern Illinois seemed to fill the place
more than Wisconsin fans did.  Certainly there was a sea of red but the
purple filled up their block of the east stands too.  How do so many
Wisconsin fans get great tailgating spots in the east and west parking lots?
I thought those spots were reserved for NU season ticket holders who give
extra $$$.

 

Sutton was a big story but so were the special teams.  The missed xp was bad
but our return game is so much better than in previous years. 

Barry Alvarez ends his career 3-5 at Ryan Field.  Since my sophomore year
(1985) when the Cats broke a 13 game losing streak with a win at Camp
Randall, NU is 10-9 against the Badgers.

I thought we missed a great opportunity at the end of the first half when
Baz didn't throw into the end zone on 3rd and goal.  What happened there?  

The fan with the white Wisconsin Calhoun jersey in front of us enjoyed
standing up and saluting every first down to the NU fans around him. Usually
shouting the word "Houn" when he did it.  His final message to us was the
middle finger as he bolted for the tunnel with the score 51-34.  His girl
friend must be proud.

My seven month old daughter is now 3-0 after staying with a baby sitter for
the PSU game.  We'll be heading to Purdue next weekend to make it four in a
row.

 

I like to watch the game again when I get home so it was more than a little
upsetting to find out my TIVO recorded Va Tech-Marshall instead.  What are
the chances I can pay someone to make a tape of the game for me?  This one
needs to go into the vault.

 

David Warner

Evanston

 

 

 

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