Big Ten Memories - Northwestern

For many years I shot the end zone camera for the Iowa Football team. That provided many different spots - inside scoreboards, within aisles, in little sheds - but no place provided so many different, and unique spots over the years than Northwestern.

My first trip in 1989 the end zone shot was something new to conference members. Some schools hadn't put much thought into a suitable location, but it didn't appear to be too tough for the Wildcats to come up with something. Attendance was low, and we could set up anywhere in the south end zone stands as there were few fans in the area. The angle wasn't great, but it was the best we could do.

Within the next few years Northwestern gave us the roof of Welsh-Ryan Arena, where they played basketball, yet we were quite a distance from the stadium, it was stable. But in 1995 we had to battle the zero degree temperatures and howling winds as a snowstorm hit the morning of the game, giving way to sunny, clear and cold skies.

As Northwestern improved their facilities, the view from the basketball arena became blocked and a scaffolding was placed upon their locker rooms in the north end zone. The scaffold wasn't much, and we questioned the safety of it. But one thing it didn't do is protect me from the rain.

Prior to a game in the late 90s, along with the Iowa Football equipment staff, we decided to build a hut using a tarp. Rain had been in the forecast, and the equipment staff knew of my frustration with the lack of a secure shooting location. So there I stood, inside a blue tarp, attached to the scaffold with zip ties while the Northwestern student was being rained on. It was one of the last games of the year at Ryan Field, and I was told that impromptu hut is still sitting in a facility closet on the Evanston campus.

Then a few years later, it was a sunny day on Chicago's North Side. And a little tradition that former Iowa placekicker and I had started took on a different light on this Saturday afternoon. Nate Kaeding had used me as his focal point to aim at when kicking field goals and extra points. Every game in his career he would look for me in the end zone and I would give him a thumbs up. At Ryan Field, the scaffolding was located within 20 yards off the back line of the end zone, and field goals kicked in either pre-game or during the game would land near our spot. But on this day I could tell Nate had a different goal in mine. Not only was he aiming to make all of his attempts, but he wanted to hit the spot that he continuously aims for.

So as he trotted onto the field for an extra point attempt I was ready to give him the thumbs up. He located me, reciprocated my thumbs up and lined up for the one point attempt. I had a feeling something would happen so after I hit the record button, I "locked" my camera down. The snap, hold, kick ... and I took one step to the side and caught his extra point attempt. Of course I had to throw the ball back, but Nate and I had accomplished something that couldn't happen just anywhere.

Night Out on the Town

No trip to Evanston is complete without a stop in Mustards Last Stand. Mustards is across the street from Ryan Field and has become a must-stop for football fans.

A small little shop, it produces great hot dogs big on taste. It will create the hot dog Chicago Style or just with ketchup or mustard. It doesn't matter either way, each gives full flavor, and one doesn't seem to be enough.

In a day when Northwestern ranked among the worst in Division I football, visiting team personnel would find a way to get in a hot dog or two before travelling out of town following another convincing win.

Photos from Ryan Field

Saturday's Iowa road game wasn't one of the more memorable trips to the Windy City. It was a rainy, windy, dreary day on Chicago's North Side which found the Hawkeye on the losing side. But it was the first time since 1985 Ryan Field was a sell out for a team other than Michigan or Ohio State, and the Hawkeye fans showed up in full support of their favorite team. Below are some of the sights from the day.

Early in the day the Chicago skyline was bearly visible over the top of Ryan Field in Evanston.

I called them the One Tree Hill gang, but (R-L) it was Chad, Michael, Derek who accompianied me on Saturday from the video staff. I'm off to the left.

It was the Chicago Skyline to the south, but Lake Michigan was only a few blocks to the east of Ryan Field. Just beyond the field past the Northwestern locker rooms is Welsh - Ryan Arena, the home to the university's basketball teams as well as the annual Midlands Wrestling Tournament. On top of the Northwestern football locker rooms is a scaffolding that lets ESPN and each visiting team shoot an end zone shot. Before the locker room was built, that shot was taken from the top of Welsh - Ryan Arena, and in 1995 it was a cold spot to shoot from as the game time temperature was 2F.

At halftime Rob Brooks of Learfield Radio Network interviews Iowa Football Coach, Kirk Ferentz.

A closer look at the scaffolding. On the lower level is the Northwestern replay board camera with ESPN on top in the middle. Northwestern takes the far top position as Michael is on the near side.

Aside from the bowl game, the Iowa Marching Band and Dance Team makes one road trip a year. Saturday the Iowa Dance Team had to deal with the rain and wind.

Northwestern students stormed the field following the upset of #12 Iowa. It was the last game of the 2010 season at Ryan Field. This Saturday Northwestern hosts Illinois at Wrigley Field

College Football Week 10

It was Senior Day Saturday for the Indiana Hoosiers as it was their last game of the season at Bloomington's Memorial Stadium. Their last "home" game is against Penn State at Fed Ex Field in Washington D.C. Judging by the late arrival this past weekend, I don't foresee the home of the Redskins providing much of a home field advantage for the Hoosiers...The month of November will be full of Senior Days for the Iowa Hawkeyes. This past Saturday was the final game at Memorial Stadium for the Hoosiers. This upcoming Saturday will be the final game for the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field. Their final "home" game is at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs a week later. The Hawkeyes return home for their last game at Kinnick Stadium, followed by the season finale at Minnesota for both teams....And the Hawkeyes have played the most games against top 25 teams in 2010. They are 3-2 with wins over Michigan, Penn State, and Michigan State; losses to Arizona and Wisconsin...

College Football Week 11

One would think this young lady from Louisville is looking for the day when the Cardinals are respectable again in the Big East. Times won't change until someone new heads up the program...Hats off to SMU and June Jones. Jones doesn't go to the top programs, but he has righted the ship at SMU and Hawaii as well as putting them on the national radar....The opportunity to replace Michigan Head Football Coach Rich Rodriguez is starting to take shape. Winning only one conference game with one remaining (v OSU), the maize and blue fans won't tolerate much more mediocrity. Michigan defensive players have experienced four new coordinator over the same amount of time and there has been no improvement. With allegations facing the program of not filing practice logs and rumors running rampant of players transferring the once proud program is slipping further and further. However a switch of head coaches isn't that easy. Of course he will have to be bought out--some Michigan alum will swallow that pill, but the current Athletic Director, Bill Martin, is retiring next September. No quality candidate will take the job without knowing who the athletic boss will be. Fans are losing patience, but a change may not be imminent...On the final weekend of conference play, the Big Ten game of the week is not in Ann Arbor, Iowa City or East Lansing. The game with the most on the line is in Evanston, Illinois. Resurging Northwestern hosts Wisconsin for the first time in two years and many storylines. Not only are bowl implications on the line, but former Badger Defensive Coordinator Mike Hankwitz will be facing his former team for the first time heading up the Wildcats D. Wisconsin has had wins over Michigan and Michigan State, but an impressive victory still eludes them. A victory Saturday over Northwestern may not sound like much, but it could be Bucky's best win of the season...Many discussions have occurred surrounding the regulation end of Iowa and Ohio State. Iowa Football Coach, Kirk Ferentz decided, after having the ball in their own territory and tied with less than a minute to go, to play for overtime. There may not be a right or wrong answer as to whether he should've played for the win, but consider what the Miami Dolphins did in Sundays' game. Leading 22-16 with under two minutes to play, Dolphin QB Chad Henne threw a pass which was intercepted and later led to the go ahead TD. Miami was able to overcome the mistake and eventually win the game. With a freshman quarterback and already throwing two interceptions, Ferentz did the right thing by playing for the additional fifth period.

Images from Northwestern Weekend.

Not many photos captured on the weekend of Iowa's first defeat of the 2009 season.

On Friday the announcing crew of Dave Pasch and Bob Griese along with the producer and director sits down with Iowa Football Coach Kirk Ferentz. This proceeded a two hour video session between Griese and Pasch. They took a look at each team's offense from the week before.
Here they are in the booth prior to the start of the Iowa - Northwestern game in the Kinnick Stadium Press Box.

Herky enters Kinnick Stadium.

Then the Hawkeyes take the Kinnick Stadium field.

And here comes the 'Cats.

9-1

The undefeated season for the Iowa Football team came to an end Saturday as turnovers and an injury to starting QB Ricky Stanzi was too much for the Hawkeyes against an upset-minded Northwestern Wildcat football team. The Hawkeyes took an early 7-0 lead on the third play of the game when Stanzi connected with Marvin McNutt. That was followed up by a Daniel Murray field goal and a 10-0 lead. However things started to turn when Stanzi, from his own end zone was sacked and fumbled the ball resulting in a Wildcat touchdown. Stanzi injured his ankle on the play and his return is unknown. The Hawkeyes did not score again and lost 17-10.

The Hawkeyes travel to Columbus next Saturday with the winner having the inside track to the Rose Bowl.

(Photo courtesy Des Moines Register)

Night Out on the Town

Across the street from the front entrance of Wrigley Field is the "Cubbie Bear." Best known a few years ago for it "Cubbie Bear" beers, it has since remodeled and it continues to pour some of Chicago's finest as well as provide good "bar" food quickly allowing many patrons in and out before a Cub game. Along with some of the renovations, it now is known for its local music scene with a stage allowing for some of the Windy City's smaller musical acts.

Perhaps this could be a meeting place for fans of SportsFanEngy once the powers that be make a Northwestern - Iowa football game at the friendly confines a reality.

College Football Week 3

After going a season without a win, it is only fair to show the Washington Huskies Cheerleading team some love after the football team upset USC in Seattle. As upset as Pete Carroll is at the loss imagine how Tyrone Willingham must feel.

Kansas State head coach, Bill Snyder signed his contract extension at the right time. After doing so his Wildcats went on the road and lost to Louisiana-Lafayette and UCLA. You could call him the Anti-Ferentz. Ferentz who hadn't finalized his contract until the second season of his Iowa head coaching career went on to win at Penn State and home against Big Ten leader Northwestern.

The ACC will take much heat this season as a conference that should be known more for basketball than football, but they will be better than public perception. Virginia Tech and Miami face off this weekend in the only battle between top 25 teams. North Carolina will contend for the title and Georgia Tech has a tough offense to prepare for in a week's time. The winner of the conference will definitely be BCS worthy and one that will be difficult to beat in a bowl game.

It is tough to put a "must-win" label on any game in week 4, but that is what Michigan State faces as they head to Madison in their conference opener. Very few expected them to be 1-2 and a road loss to an undefeated Badger team will place them in a corner they will fighting out of the next two months.

Hawks - Cats getting closer

Hawkeyes vs Wildcats at Wrigley Field...You heard it here first.

Hawkeye Football at the Friendly Confines

There has been much talk of late to a college football game at Chicago's Wrigley Field. The "Friendly Confines" has been home to baseball's Chicago Cubs since the early 1900s. The famous ballpark has recently been home to an NHL match-up of the Chicago BlackHawks and Detroit Red Wings as well as the Chicago Bears over forty years ago. Playing a college football game at the 1060 W. Addison makes much sense. But the two teams in the discussion would not be the best choice.

Northwestern would be the natural host for this game. Located only a short distance to the north in Evanston, this would be their home game. Currently they play in aging Ryan Field and draw crowds less than Wrigley's capacity. The rumored opponent would be the Illinois Fighting Illini. An in-state rivalry would make sense, but it isn't the best choice.

Of course I would be in favor of seeing the Wildcats host the Iowa Hawkeyes, but it makes the most sense. In 2007 the Hawkeyes played Northern Illinois at Soldier Field. Although it was a home game for the Huskies, it was a sell-out based on the number of fans that came from Iowa. Although a different time, the Illini played a game at Soldier Field in 1994 to a less than capacity crowd.

While both fan bases are well-represented in the Chicagoland area, there are many Iowa grads that live in the Wrigleyville area. Iowa grads that aren't afraid to spend money as seen on recent bowl trips and away regular season football games.

Lastly, if Northwestern wants to look at this as a way to profit off a novel concept, Iowa is the bigger sell. Tickets for a game between the Wildcats and Illini could go for $60 and sell out. But a ticket to watch the Hawkeyes in Wrigley Field would demand $90 for the cheapest of seats. And without a doubt it would be a sell-out.

Before it is too late, a Hawkeye-Wildcat match-up needs to be worked out.

Hawks Downed 22-17

Four and five were the numbers of the day. Four straight downs from the eight with under ninety seconds to play which resulted in no points, and five turnovers helped give Northwestern a 22-17 victory on Homecoming Saturday in Iowa City. The loss puts the Hawkeyes to 3-2 and 0-1 in Big Ten play while Northwestern gets off to a 5-0 start for the first time since 1962.

The Hawkeyes accumulated over 400 total yards but after an early second quarter 17-3 lead, were unable to find the end zone again. Prior to half, Andy Brodell fumbled a Wildcat punt which gave the ball back to Northwestern. The drive resulted in six points and a 17-9 Hawkeye Halftime lead.

Northwestern took the lead in the 4th quarter and maintained the advantage until the final gun. Another sell out crowd silently left after the Hawkeye failed to convert on their final drive.

Week 5: Northwestern

The Hawkeyes begin Conference play this Saturday as Northwestern is the 2008 Iowa Homecoming opponent. Kickoff is 11:02 on ESPN Classic with Dave Lamont and Shaun King calling the action. Of course the game can be found on the Hawkeye Radio Network with Gary Dolphin and Ed Podolak on the call

Northwestern enters the game 4-0 with their victories coming over Syracuse, Duke, Southern Illinois and Ohio. The Hawks are 3-1 including their recent loss at Pittsburgh.

This will be Iowa's first Live appearance on ESPN Classic. Ironically this is yet another network local cable company Mediacom does not carry on its basic package. Hawk fans recently witnessed the battle between Mediacom and the Big Ten Network resulting in a years abscence on the primary cable outlet in the state of Iowa.