Why bowl games matter

[Medill '03]

Not a lot of NU games get this kind of audience:

 

[zeek55]

Yep, add another game onto our multi-million viewer list. Another reason going bowling and winning is important even against a G5 opponent.

People will always watch these games, even the lowest one on the Big Ten's list, even a Big Ten team blowing out a G5 opponent.

 

[Sheffielder]

I'm not at all mad we were the lowest rated listed in that tweet, either - perfectly happy we beat a middling MAC team in a blowout that wasn't interesting to watch.

 

[cattul]

I’m very proud of the players who didn’t opt out, and chose to end the season with a legitimate Big Ten style win. That is team-first behavior.

The Cats looked better than their assigned bowl slot, which is a real compliment to Northwestern’s play.

 

[Baz = Heisman]

This is awesome. And we had a GREAT crowd!

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

This is awesome. And we had a GREAT crowd!

I was shocked. I thought we'd have like 1500 NU fans

 

[AdamOnFirst]

I continue to not need a reason for a game to matter. It’s a celebratory postseason game you get to play as a reward for having an okay or better season and match up against a novel opponent and watch your team play another game while young players get extra practice. That’s all I need to know.

 

[Baz = Heisman]

I was shocked. I thought we'd have like 1500 NU fans

Yup. Me too. I’m guessing we had at least 5,000.

 

[CatManTrue]

Not a lot of NU games get this kind of audience:

I'm not at all mad we were the lowest rated listed in that tweet, either - perfectly happy we beat a middling MAC team in a blowout that wasn't interesting to watch.

I’m very proud of the players who didn’t opt out, and chose to end the season with a legitimate Big Ten style win. That is team-first behavior.

The Cats looked better than their assigned bowl slot, which is a real compliment to Northwestern’s play.

Guys - was I the only one who caught the TV announcers saying we had 41 Michigan natives on the roster who were excited to play in Detroit’s NFL stadium?

I haven’t checked but that sounds about right (Tiernan should count for two… even though he gave up a sack ). Most of our roster and their families live an easy drive to Detroit (Ohio, Illinois, et al), and the entire team was pumped up for this hard earned bowl.

Selfishly, I would have been able to attend the Pinstripe Bowl so I wanted another 2016-like experience.

But I thoroughly enjoyed the 34-7 victory - even though it should have been 37-7.

I will make an effort to attend our next Detroit bowl game. Don’t care if it’s called the ****** Pizza bowl… as long as I don’t have to eat any ****** Pizza (again, spoiled by pizza in NYC & NJ).

 

[zeek55]

Yup. Me too. I’m guessing we had at least 5,000.

That will definitely help Jackson sell us to bigger bowls in the future too.

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

Guys - was I the only one who caught the TV announcers saying we had 41 Michigan natives on the roster who were excited to play in Detroit’s NFL stadium?

I haven’t checked but that sounds about right (Tiernan should count for two… even though he gave up a sack ). Most of our roster and their families live an easy drive to Detroit (Ohio, Illinois, et al), and the entire team was pumped up for this hard earned bowl.

Selfishly, I would have been able to attend the Pinstripe Bowl so I wanted another 2016-like experience.

But I thoroughly enjoyed the 34-7 victory - even though it should have been 37-7.

I will make an effort to attend our next Detroit bowl game. Don’t care if it’s called the ****** Pizza bowl… as long as I don’t have to eat any ****** Pizza (again, spoiled by pizza in NYC & NJ).

Little Caesars pizza is ketchup on cardboard, but Detroit Style at Pizza Papalis (near the stadium and elsewhere) is as good as Chicago style.

I really wanted to go, but am feeling my age. I had just driven to Toledo and back the weekend before to see in-laws, and was making merry here in Wisconsin with my wife/kids/grandkids on 24th/25th, and I couldn't stand the idea of another long drive.

Delta has a monopoly MKE to DTW ($800 per) and ORD wasn't much better. Too bad Bob Ignore wasn't around with his jet. For a consolation prize, I went to WRA on 30th and got cool Cats drinking glasses

 

[CatManTrue]

That will definitely help Jackson sell us to bigger bowls in the future too.

We have a 6 game bowl winning streak (something both Fitz & Braun can hang their hats on).

I don’t care where we end up in the postseason as long as we keep winning. Now that Indiana has firmly escaped the cellar of the Big Ten, we need to ensure Rutgers or UCLA stays there instead of us

 

[CatManTrue]

Little Caesars pizza is ketchup on cardboard, but Detroit Style at Pizza Papalis (near the stadium and elsewhere) is as good as Chicago style.

I really wanted to go, but am feeling my age. I had just driven to Toledo and back the weekend before to see in-laws, and was making merry here in Wisconsin with my wife/kids/grandkids on 24th/25th, and I couldn't stand the idea of another long drive.

Delta has a monopoly MKE to DTW ($800 per) and ORD wasn't much better. Too bad Bob Ignore wasn't around with his jet. For a consolation prize, I went to WRA on 30th and got cool Cats drinking glasses

If you want awesome pizza, then the Pinstripe Bowl is the one to hope for. I live outside NYC and there are a plethora of incredible pizza places in the greater NJ area. Hopefully we make another Pinstripe Bowl soon - I agree that Little Caesar’s is ketchup on cardboard.

Similar story: I wanted to make the trip but have family obligations which make trips on or after Christmas very difficult. But I’ll get to Detroit one of these years and hope the Cats dominate the Motor City Bowl again when we get back.

 

[TheC]

If you want awesome pizza, then the Pinstripe Bowl is the one to hope for. I live outside NYC and there are a plethora of incredible pizza places in the greater NJ area. Hopefully we make another Pinstripe Bowl soon - I agree that Little Caesar’s is ketchup on cardboard.

Similar story: I wanted to make the trip but have family obligations which make trips on or after Christmas very difficult. But I’ll get to Detroit one of these years and hope the Cats dominate the Motor City Bowl again when we get back.

I had Detroit style pizza for the first time last year with my MSU son. I have to say.... I think it may be my current favorite. I love the New Haven style pizza we get here in CT, but I like Detroit better.

 

[TheC]

I had Detroit style pizza for the first time last year with my MSU son. I have to say.... I think it may be my current favorite. I love the New Haven style pizza we get here in CT, but I like Detroit better.

Just to clarify, I don't mean Little Caesar’s .

 

[Baz = Heisman]

I got Buddy’s after the game and it was soooooo good

 

[TXnumbCAT]

I think the announcers said CMU had 41 players from the state, which seems more realistic.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

I had Detroit style pizza for the first time last year with my MSU son. I have to say.... I think it may be my current favorite. I love the New Haven style pizza we get here in CT, but I like Detroit better.

Detroit trying to claim pan baked focaccia pizza because it’s square irks the hell out of me. It’s been around for ever and isn’t exclusive to Detroit

 

[TheC]

Detroit trying to claim pan baked focaccia pizza because it’s square irks the hell out of me. It’s been around for ever and isn’t exclusive to Detroit

I typically don't let anything about pizza get me upset

 

[AdamOnFirst]

I typically don't let anything about pizza get me upset

Food is very very important

 

[Fanaticat98]

Detroit trying to claim pan baked focaccia pizza because it’s square irks the hell out of me. It’s been around for ever and isn’t exclusive to Detroit

The story goes that the pans were a specific weight and thickness which helped baking the crust, originally repurposed from automotive plants so supposedly not just a rectangular shape.

 

[CatManTrue]

I think the announcers said CMU had 41 players from the state, which seems more realistic.

I think they definitely referred to NU’s roster being exciting but mixed up the quote.

I’ll see the recording is still on my ESPN app so I can catch the verbatim.

Regardless: NU played like they wanted it, and they got the W.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

The story goes that the pans were a specific weight and thickness which helped baking the crust, originally repurposed from automotive plants so supposedly not just a rectangular shape.

It’s just a cast iron Bread pizza in a square

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

Food is very very important

When I lived in South Baltimore, there was a bar that made excellent pizza (and served ice cold Natty Boh). My neighbor wouldn't go there because, allegedly, an employee from a restaurant across town brought/stole the recipe to this bar. So I could either boycott this bar that was like an easy drunken stumble from my house or go to the other place that was 2x25$ for round trip Ubers. Um...no

 

[jne381]

Little Caesar’s pizza is the worst. I guess it is better than a frozen pizza, but about the same price.One of the mysteries of the world is how the pizza can be so bad, but the crazy bread can be so good. That being said, I still have a soft spot for Little Caesar’s because of the good Mike Illitch did with his cash.

As far as chain pizza places go, I would say Jet's is the best. This is a Detroit style.

 

[CatManTrue]

Little Caesar’s pizza is the worst. I guess it is better than a frozen pizza, but about the same price.One of the mysteries of the world is how the pizza can be so bad, but the crazy bread can be so good. That being said, I still have a soft spot for Little Caesar’s because of the good Mike Illitch did with his cash.

As far as chain pizza places go, I would say Jet's is the best. This is a Detroit style.

Uno used to have the worst pizza - even as a kid, I couldn’t eat it. I haven’t been to one of their restaurants in years.

And, yes: most frozen pizzas are better than Little Caesar’s and Uno.

Paul Newman’s brand is delicious and sends profits to charity. I’d rather have Newman’s at home any day than those two.

 

[hdhntr1]

Guys - was I the only one who caught the TV announcers saying we had 41 Michigan natives on the roster who were excited to play in Detroit’s NFL stadium?

I haven’t checked but that sounds about right (Tiernan should count for two… even though he gave up a sack ). Most of our roster and their families live an easy drive to Detroit (Ohio, Illinois, et al), and the entire team was pumped up for this hard earned bowl.

Selfishly, I would have been able to attend the Pinstripe Bowl so I wanted another 2016-like experience.

But I thoroughly enjoyed the 34-7 victory - even though it should have been 37-7.

I will make an effort to attend our next Detroit bowl game. Don’t care if it’s called the ****** Pizza bowl… as long as I don’t have to eat any ****** Pizza (again, spoiled by pizza in NYC & NJ).

I thought that was the number for CMU

 

[CatManTrue]

I thought that was the number for CMU

Yea that makes more sense. I was over enthusiastic given my Midwest bias