[NU Sports] Big Ten Bowl Game at YANKEE STADIUM? 'CATS at YANKEE

[NEONRye at aol.com]

Mike:
 
I just went to the "new" Yankee Stadium for the first time last Thursday  
(One of few games they have lost at home since All-Star Break!).  It is  
certainly large enough for gridiron.  The dimensions in the outfield are  the 
same as the "old" (renovated) Yankee Stadium across E. 161st Street, and  
there were FB games played there periodically, although there is less room from  
home plate to the screen.  It will be tight, but not dangerous, as far as I 
 can tell.   Certainly, the Stadium has more room for pigskin play than  
Wrigley does.  
 
I think Northwestern playing at the "House That Jeter Built" (a/k/a "The  
House That George Built") would be an incredible boost for the visibility of 
the  University in a number of areas--recruiting (of students and student 
athletes),  highlighting the University's contributions to Broadway (You could 
have somebody  like Craig Bierko  sing the National Anthem.) and NYC in 
general (Maybe  Barry Cofield of the Giants could flip the coin.), etc.--right 
in the bailiwick  of the Ivy League.  Sort of showing how we combine the 
best in academics  with a high profile in athletics, done the right way (Hear 
that Rich  Rod????)--with Fitz and Girardi at the core--both exemplary 
representatives of  successful student athletes & coaches who have matriculated in 
Evanston and  who demonstrate the value of an NU education.   If the game 
is, in  fact, against Army or another notable East Coast team (such as 
Rutgers or 'Cuse  or maybe Duke [since we have played them so often]), that would 
serve to  increase the interest in this neck of the woods.  
 
By the way, the "new" Stadium is very nice, indeed--but I miss the "old"  
one nonetheless.  The field is pretty, but is not the hallowed ground where  
the Bambino, the Iron Horse, Joltin' Joe, the Mick, Yogi, Whitey,  Thurman, 
Reggie, Donnie Baseball, etc., created their legends.  I once  went to a U-2 
Concert there, and had seats in center field, and was as excited  about 
sitting where my hero, Mr. Mantle, had played, as I was in seeing Bono and  
Company.
 
One last thought, on an NU note:  Read an article online the other day  
predicting J.A. Happ will cop Rookie of the Year honors in the National  
League.  He is having a wonderful year.  Not bad for a product of our  baseball 
team, which our colleague John DeGroat has advocated should be  scrapped, for 
lack of success.:-)
 
Paul Levinson