[NU Sports] 23 days

[Jim Leonard]

Fellow Wildcat Faithful,
 
I just saw the countdown clock on rivals.com cross below 23 days. I'm getting excited. In the absence of real football news, I will share with you some ideas that I sent along to the NU athletic department. This is for entrainment purposes only. I will save you the trouble of replying by admitting that these ideas are A) as dumb at the BcS Mess and B) will not lead us to getting a big man for the NU basketball team. 
 
Victory & Honor,
Jim
 
 
Preface: Fitz is the face of NU football and there are lots of ways that we can use his 'brand' to promote NU football. 
 
1) I know that the athletic department has taken over funding of NUMB. I am a NUMBAlum so I am very, very familiar with the band. I think NUMB should have a 'block 51' formation. It could be used in the post-game or perhaps worked into the pre-game show. This could easily become an NU game day tradition. You might be able to get Coach Fitz to pick the song they play in the "old 51".  
 
2) Rename the student section Area 51 and get banners advertising Dyche Stadium as "The 51st State".
 
3) As a promotion for cold weather games, give away free hot chocolate whenever the temperature drops below 51F during a game. 
 
4) I remember from my NUMB days that the game clock on the scoreboard would start with twenty minutes on it and would countdown to kickoff. I think it would be cool to change that 20:00 to 18:51 (the year the school was founded) and use that as the start of the countdown. 
 
5) This is an idea for a jumbo tron promotion during a TV timeout. Have the celebrity 'Fitz of the week'. You can show the back of someone in shoulder pads and a helmet wearing 51 Fitzgerald jersey. Then have the celebrity guest remove the helmet, turn around and give some sort of "Go Cats! "message. I am sure many of our famous alums and Chicago personalities would volunteer. 
 
6) Last year my fellow alums and I began a campaign on Facebook. It's called "51 for Fitz". The idea is simple. We all donate $51 to NU on December 2nd (the coach's birthday). Perhaps NU can promote this too. I expect it will grow each year and become a tradition.