Annual (Non) Spring Game Ranting Thread
- Thread starter TheC
- Start date
It's kinda hard to know that NU football still exists, even if you're trying to follow the sport.
NUFBFamily Twitter appears to have four posts about spring practice.
It’s pretty pathetic.
Here’s the best one, 126 likes!
At least they’re really good posts.
I too wish we had a little fanfare around our spring game though. Even if they tossed it online for our nationally disbursed fan base and let the WNUR kids broadcast it.
How do you have fanfare when they don't do anything for fans. Spring games are just as much for fans as they are for the team. Even if you're worried about players getting hurt or exposing secrets you could still have a glorified non-contact practice at Ryan Field that would allow the fans to sit in the lots for a bit to swill some drinks and then head in to sit in the stadium for a bit.
I never ever imagined the new Ryan Field House would be used to shut out the fans from the team.
Well a public spring game of some kind is basically exactly what I meant by “fanfare”
Right, they don't want to expose the secret to achieving 3-9 seasons. Opposing teams now figure out NU in the first series of downs of the year, so what's the big deal in giving them a one game head start. If NU had any marketing skill at all, they would invite 50,000 fans to a nationally televised full 60 minute game in April with the enticement of free beer, brats and burgers all afternoon. If you graduated from NU, you get all you can eat lobster bisque with a slightly chilled Alsace.. You know, to replace the bowl game they didn't get to play. I exaggerate, but I yearn for the days of the CARDIAC CATS, which really weren't that long ago. Perhaps they can get the magic back.
Jesus H. It's like non of you have ever spent a day paying attention to NU sports. Yes, NU does things differently. Deal you freaking snowflakes.
The Spring Game used to be great fun as well an excellent marketing opportunity for NU sports. Several times I drove out from Pa. and spent the weekend so I could attend the Spring Game as well as a lacrosse game, a softball game, and sometimes a baseball game. uber and Alan Smithee, among others, will remember this well. In my view, just plain dumb that we no longer do this.
If you’re so inclined to make such a trip in the future, I’d suggest reaching out to the football office. They are pretty good at accommodating alums that wish to check out a practice. Goes without saying the “Turk rules” are strictly in effect.
Back in 2013, I brought my family up from North Carolina to visit my sister’s family in Milwaukee. It happened to be during Camp Kenosha, which already was closed to the public by this time. I called the football office to inquire about attending. They put me in touch with Jacob Schmidt, who graciously arranged for us to attend and even sat on the hill with us and chatted for about 15 minutes. He was terrific.
It was rather surreal. Pretty much the only outsiders present that day were the B1G Network crew (which was taping its annual segment), Teddy Greenstein, one other reporter, and maybe 2-3 other people. We stood there alone and watched the B1G Network interviews. It was a fun experience. I am not sure whether they would still allow it today. For all I know, they ran a security check on me beforehand.
NU puts out a lot less content than most other program too. I had a post awhile ago about CFB program instagram posts per month and NU had by far the least of all the teams I compared to. I realize NU doesn't have a large fanbase demanding content but they don't do much to keep fans engaged during the offseason. Don't think it is a smart strategy at all but it won't ever change under Fitz.
As you’ve implicitly acknowledged downthread, the content is pretty limited and kinda sucks.
Think it is more about how we keep getting these posts even when we all know it won't change under Fitz. Maybe we can run on the field in Ireland and hold up "Spring Game Now" on a bed sheet for some real change.
I guess that’s true.
Like hiring an objectively bad (based on three years of performance) defensive coordinator and then keeping him on after an expectedly terrible season, NU doesn’t behave like a major college football program.
I’m just happy the Fitzgerald family enjoyed Opening Day at Wrigley.
I’m sure they will deal like they have every year. This year some of that ‘dealing’ might be noticed in their apathy, abstinence, etc. of course, that’s because we have terrible fans with unreasonable expectations.
NU should really appeal to Cubs nation instead of Chicago’s Big Ten team. Might get more of the fan type they seek - fans without a clue or expectation that just seek a place to drink and hang w hot chicks. Of course, they will probably have to important the hot chicks from opponent schools.
Great idea Coral, but I don't think I can make it for Spring Practice this year. Might still make it for a Spring Sports Weekend, though, and would definitely make it if we had a Spring Game or Scrimmage or something!
That’s what I’m worried about. This whole group needs to be fired, it’s so pathetic. I don’t know much about Xs and Os but I’ve been working in social media for 15 years. Thanks for the insightful prompt.
Well a spring game does nothing to spark enthusiasm for the product. Or for that matter the opportunity of sell g ticket packages. But rest assured it’s not like The Cats need the practice.
Don't you know Northwestern has sold out the entire stadium with season ticket holders, so they don't need to market the team. So why should they allow their fans and potential fans to watch a practice?
Given the weather probably not too many fans. More than likely many competitors with cameras. A good decision in my opinion.
How much are the "competitors" going to learn by watching our spring game? And why isn't that a problem for the schools that broadcast their spring games for a national audience?
I went to the old Spring games, walked around, changed seats every 15 minutes and never once saw anyone filming, let alone any suspicious character that might be aligned with a competitor.
If we are dumb enough to get beat by an opponent because they went to our Spring game, we would have the worst Coaches on the face of the planet.
They beat the crap out of NU without seeing spring film… though I would love if football coach paranoia were one of the drivers of NU’s unconventional approach.
I wonder how many of the 70k at Georgia will have cameras this weekend…
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