Can We Stop?

[FitzFan]

Can we please stop posting rants about student attendance?

Most of us aren't enrolled at the university, and haven't been for years. Many of us aren't even alumni. Yet for some reason quite a few of us seem to think that current students are missing a vital part of their college experience by not attending football games just because we find some enjoyment in following Wildcat athletics (or found enjoyment as students). It's beyond stupid.

Northwestern is a great university, in part, because it provides an abundance of opportunity to explore diverse interests. It's not our job to tell students what opportunities they should pursue with their time in Evanston. Your internet rants will be read by, at most, dozens of current students and a couple hundred alumni who, like you, are already dedicated to Northwestern athletics. You're preaching to the choir. We're all internet weirdos on this forum who like Northwestern athletics. We're part of a very, very small club. Not everyone is going to have the same interests as us (thankfully). And even if they do, it's ok if they pursue that interest with less ferocity than we do (probably a smart choice). I'd imagine current students give less than a flying f*** what some middle-aged weirdo Wildcat fan says about them on the internet, and I'd imagine they give one fewer flying f*** about you telling them what they should be doing with their time.

In short:
If a student attends a football game and gets something out of it, great. If he/she attends a study group instead, great. If he/she chooses to get wasted at some house party with friends during the game, great. Their experience is not your experience. They will find value in experiences you didn't pursue, and vice versa. Your rants on this forum will not impact their behavior. Your rants only make the 200 weirdos reading this board very angry. So stop it, enjoy the win, and maybe celebrate the students who did show up to the game rather than bash the students who chose not to attend.

 

[NJCat]

Can we please stop posting rants about student attendance?

Most of us aren't enrolled at the university, and haven't been for years. Many of us aren't even alumni. Yet for some reason quite a few of us seem to think that current students are missing a vital part of their college experience by not attending football games just because we find some enjoyment in following Wildcat athletics (or found enjoyment as students). It's beyond stupid.

Northwestern is a great university, in part, because it provides an abundance of opportunity to explore diverse interests. It's not our job to tell students what opportunities they should pursue with their time in Evanston. Your internet rants will be read by, at most, dozens of current students and a couple hundred alumni who, like you, are already dedicated to Northwestern athletics. You're preaching to the choir. We're all internet weirdos on this forum who like Northwestern athletics. We're part of a very, very small club. Not everyone is going to have the same interests as us (thankfully). And even if they do, it's ok if they pursue that interest with less ferocity than we do (probably a smart choice). I'd imagine current students give less than a flying f*** what some middle-aged weirdo Wildcat fan says about them on the internet, and I'd imagine they give one fewer flying f*** about you telling them what they should be doing with their time.

In short:
If a student attends a football game and gets something out of it, great. If he/she attends a study group instead, great. If he/she chooses to get wasted at some house party with friends during the game, great. Their experience is not your experience. They will find value in experiences you didn't pursue, and vice versa. Your rants on this forum will not impact their behavior. Your rants only make the 200 weirdos reading this board very angry. So stop it, enjoy the win, and maybe celebrate the students who did show up to the game rather than bash the students who chose not to attend.

If it isn't a valuable part of the student experience, why is NU spending $260 Million on facilities?

 

[FitzFan]

If it isn't a valuable part of the student experience, why is NU spending $260 Million on facilities?

My point was that attending sporting events may be a valuable part of the college experience for some students, but it is not and does not need to be a valuable part of the experience for all students.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

If it isn't a valuable part of the student experience, why is NU spending $260 Million on facilities?

Because Pat Ryan wants to.

 

[NJCat]

My point was that attending sporting events may be a valuable part of the college experience for some students, but it is not and does not need to be a valuable part of the experience for all students.

Fair enough.

 

[NJCat]

Because Pat Ryan wants to.

Pat Ryan and his wife have invested in non-athletic facilities at NU, so if they have money to donate they probably are looking for the highest return on investment for the NU students.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

Pat Ryan and his wife have invested in non-athletic facilities at NU, so if they have money to donate they probably are looking for the highest return on investment for the NU students.

Pat Ryan loves Northwestern athletics.

 

[Fitz51]

I love X. WHY DO YOU NOT LOVE X LIKE I DO ARRRRGGGH!

 

[FitzFan]

Pat Ryan and his wife have invested in non-athletic facilities at NU, so if they have money to donate they probably are looking for the highest return on investment for the NU students.

This is probably a somewhat cynical view, but I think the facilities project is as much about money as it is about student experience. Investing in facilities will bring in better recruits, who will deliver better performances on the field/court. This will increase attendance, drive game day operations revenues up (even with only 6800 seats or whatever it is), increase the number of games on TV, increase ad revenue, increase tournament income, etc. In the end, it's a project that improves the student experience while also driving money into the school. It's a win-win for donors and the school.

 

[NJCat]

Pat Ryan loves Northwestern athletics.

Agree.

 

[mikewebb68]

Can we please stop posting rants about student attendance?

Most of us aren't enrolled at the university, and haven't been for years. Many of us aren't even alumni. Yet for some reason quite a few of us seem to think that current students are missing a vital part of their college experience by not attending football games just because we find some enjoyment in following Wildcat athletics (or found enjoyment as students). It's beyond stupid.

Northwestern is a great university, in part, because it provides an abundance of opportunity to explore diverse interests. It's not our job to tell students what opportunities they should pursue with their time in Evanston. Your internet rants will be read by, at most, dozens of current students and a couple hundred alumni who, like you, are already dedicated to Northwestern athletics. You're preaching to the choir. We're all internet weirdos on this forum who like Northwestern athletics. We're part of a very, very small club. Not everyone is going to have the same interests as us (thankfully). And even if they do, it's ok if they pursue that interest with less ferocity than we do (probably a smart choice). I'd imagine current students give less than a flying f*** what some middle-aged weirdo Wildcat fan says about them on the internet, and I'd imagine they give one fewer flying f*** about you telling them what they should be doing with their time.

In short:
If a student attends a football game and gets something out of it, great. If he/she attends a study group instead, great. If he/she chooses to get wasted at some house party with friends during the game, great. Their experience is not your experience. They will find value in experiences you didn't pursue, and vice versa. Your rants on this forum will not impact their behavior. Your rants only make the 200 weirdos reading this board very angry. So stop it, enjoy the win, and maybe celebrate the students who did show up to the game rather than bash the students who chose not to attend.

But I have so much fun making fun of their delusional GOML threads! MOAR GOML THREADS PLZE!

 

[hdhntr1]

Can we please stop posting rants about student attendance?

Most of us aren't enrolled at the university, and haven't been for years. Many of us aren't even alumni. Yet for some reason quite a few of us seem to think that current students are missing a vital part of their college experience by not attending football games just because we find some enjoyment in following Wildcat athletics (or found enjoyment as students). It's beyond stupid.

Northwestern is a great university, in part, because it provides an abundance of opportunity to explore diverse interests. It's not our job to tell students what opportunities they should pursue with their time in Evanston. Your internet rants will be read by, at most, dozens of current students and a couple hundred alumni who, like you, are already dedicated to Northwestern athletics. You're preaching to the choir. We're all internet weirdos on this forum who like Northwestern athletics. We're part of a very, very small club. Not everyone is going to have the same interests as us (thankfully). And even if they do, it's ok if they pursue that interest with less ferocity than we do (probably a smart choice). I'd imagine current students give less than a flying f*** what some middle-aged weirdo Wildcat fan says about them on the internet, and I'd imagine they give one fewer flying f*** about you telling them what they should be doing with their time.

In short:
If a student attends a football game and gets something out of it, great. If he/she attends a study group instead, great. If he/she chooses to get wasted at some house party with friends during the game, great. Their experience is not your experience. They will find value in experiences you didn't pursue, and vice versa. Your rants on this forum will not impact their behavior. Your rants only make the 200 weirdos reading this board very angry. So stop it, enjoy the win, and maybe celebrate the students who did show up to the game rather than bash the students who chose not to attend.

Basically, even at WIS or other large schools, probably only about 20% go. With us, that level of attendance would only be about 1600 (which is probably about what we get after the first week)

 

[GlideCat]

If it isn't a valuable part of the student experience, why is NU spending $260 Million on facilities?

Because it is a valuable part of the alumni experience.

 

[Eurocat]

To handle some business issues I am currently on Long Island living in my parents old house.

The High School I attended last had a good football team when I attended it....in the early 80s

Since then there have been a lot of losses and empty seats.

Then a new coach took over about four years ago and last year got us into the playoffs. This year we are in first place and could be ranked number one with three playoff games at our "stadium" (if it can be called that).

I went to the game on Saturday which started early enough for me to catch it and 3/4 of our NU game.

We won an absolute thriller. Going home I allowed others to pass before me on the aisle and I heard a girl say to one of her friends "It is SO COOL to go to a school with a good football team". The friend answered "I knew, isn't it?". The stadium was jam packed.

I truly believe sports, playing or viewing, are an important part of the school (college, High School) experience.

When I was at NU a joke was that at Wisconsin the favorite activity was drinking. At Chicago it was studying and at Nothwestern - complaining. That becomes tougher to do when you are one of thousands cheering your lungs hoarse and screaming "LETS GO NORTHWESTERN'.

No-one is suggesting that kids who don't go to games are bad people or anything like that. But it really is sad that more do not attend because I think the campus community would benefit from it as would the kids themselves, even if they do not know it at first.

"It is SO COOL to go to a school with a good football team" applies not just to my high school. I wish more students discovered that because then it becomes a self perpetuating thing. The more kids that go, the more kids...go.

You don't think the Grove at Ole Miss is one of the best memories kids have of that school? Or the Volunteer Navy at Tennessee? Tailgating at Wisconsin, are you kidding me, insane! Heck Harvard vs Yale draws the kids in. You think people attend Notre Dame purely for the academics? Or go to Duke not caring about basketball?

Let's do the same for NU football and basketball. Until we do......to me it is kinda lame.

Thanks for the many students that DO turn out. Props to them, and there are thousands of them, so let's not exaggerate. Many thousands DO care and come out.

GO CATS!

 

[GlideCat]

To handle some business issues I am currently on Long Island living in my parents old house.

The High School I attended last had a good football team when I attended it....in the early 80s

Since then there have been a lot of losses and empty seats.

Then a new coach took over about four years ago and last year got us into the playoffs. This year we are in first place and could be ranked number one with three playoff games at our "stadium" (if it can be called that).

I went to the game on Saturday which started early enough for me to catch it and 3/4 of our NU game.

We won an absolute thriller. Going home I allowed others to pass before me on the aisle and I heard a girl say to one of her friends "It is SO COOL to go to a school with a good football team". The friend answered "I knew, isn't it?". The stadium was jam packed.

I truly believe sports, playing or viewing, are an important part of the school (college, High School) experience.

When I was at NU a joke was that at Wisconsin the favorite activity was drinking. At Chicago it was studying and at Nothwestern - complaining. That becomes tougher to do when you are one of thousands cheering your lungs hoarse and screaming "LETS GO NORTHWESTERN'.

No-one is suggesting that kids who don't go to games are bad people or anything like that. But it really is sad that more do not attend because I think the campus community would benefit from it as would the kids themselves, even if they do not know it at first.

"It is SO COOL to go to a school with a good football team" applies not just to my high school. I wish more students discovered that because then it becomes a self perpetuating thing. The more kids that go, the more kids...go.

You don't think the Grove at Ole Miss is one of the best memories kids have of that school? Or the Volunteer Navy at Tennessee? Tailgating at Wisconsin, are you kidding me, insane! Heck Harvard vs Yale draws the kids in. You think people attend Notre Dame purely for the academics? Or go to Duke not caring about basketball?

Let's do the same for NU football and basketball. Until we do......to me it is kinda lame.

Thanks for the many students that DO turn out. Props to them, and there are thousands of them, so let's not exaggerate. Many thousands DO care and come out.

GO CATS!

I went to NU from 1978-1982. I went to more football games than many of my compatriots because I love college football. But I do not have many significant memories from those game experiences. The only real strong memories are the first game of the Dennis Green era and the Stop State at 28 game.

The interesting thing about The Grove and the Volunteer Navy is that they are both great experiences that primarily exist DUE TO ALUMNI. The students create neither of those nor really any of a number of the other great experiences of college football fandom. The alumni create the events and the students get to participate and then they become alumni and carry on the traditions.

The other football games that I attend (Vandy and Miss State) the student sections are empty at kick-off and usually empty again at the final gun. But they are rocking from the beginning of the 2nd quarter to the end of the 3rd. The students are at the pre-game parties until after kick-off and then rushing to the post-game parties before the end of the game.

These parties and gatherings are as much of a game day experience as the game itself.

So, if you want to blame anyone for perceived student ennui, blame us... the alumni. It is on us to create the game day atmosphere that competes for the student’s limited free time. We have traditionally stunk at that. So, to paraphrase your quote, at NU, some students’ favorite activity is partying on Saturday, other students are studying, and the alumni are complaining.

 

[Overly_Invested_Cat]

It makes me so mad that all the ranters on this board never seem to play Pokeman Go. It's a critical part of a life experience. What a waste that you don't spend your weekends wandering around parks and public plazas looking for new amazing creatures. /s

 

[BoJERJ]

I went to NU from 1978-1982. I went to more football games than many of my compatriots because I love college football. But I do not have many significant memories from those game experiences. The only real strong memories are the first game of the Dennis Green era and the Stop State at 28 game.

The interesting thing about The Grove and the Volunteer Navy is that they are both great experiences that primarily exist DUE TO ALUMNI. The students create neither of those nor really any of a number of the other great experiences of college football fandom. The alumni create the events and the students get to participate and then they become alumni and carry on the traditions.

The other football games that I attend (Vandy and Miss State) the student sections are empty at kick-off and usually empty again at the final gun. But they are rocking from the beginning of the 2nd quarter to the end of the 3rd. The students are at the pre-game parties until after kick-off and then rushing to the post-game parties before the end of the game.

These parties and gatherings are as much of a game day experience as the game itself.

So, if you want to blame anyone for perceived student ennui, blame us... the alumni. It is on us to create the game day atmosphere that competes for the student’s limited free time. We have traditionally stunk at that. So, to paraphrase your quote, at NU, some students’ favorite activity is partying on Saturday, other students are studying, and the alumni are complaining.

This is an observation from Saturday. With the team, the band and the students on the east side there was almost no standing and cheering in the west mid field stands. At least not until OT. Sections of the band coming over and playing in the aisles helped. An Iowa City newspaper referred to it as "sleepy Ryan Field".

We continue to have a mediocre game day atmosphere. While increased student participation would be a benefit it seems more a larger NU systemic problem. Not sure if there is a solution but it is more than the student attendance.

 

[NJCat]

An Iowa City newspaper referred to it as "sleepy Ryan Field".
.

This is the actual Ryan Field home field advantage. Put the opposing team to sleep. Make them think its a scrimmage or a spring game. An atmosphere like no other!

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

This is the actual Ryan Field home field advantage. Put the opposing team to sleep. Make them think its a scrimmage or a spring game. An atmosphere like no other!

Yeah, putting 4000 students in Ryan will not make it Madison, Iowa City or Lincoln. At least it's not Champaign, West Lafayette, etc

 

[TheC]

I love X. WHY DO YOU NOT LOVE X LIKE I DO ARRRRGGGH!

You love X? What is that.... the soft core stuff? Interesting. I guess you're sort of a romantic perhaps.

 

[StreamCat]

Can we please stop posting rants about student attendance?

Most of us aren't enrolled at the university, and haven't been for years. Many of us aren't even alumni. Yet for some reason quite a few of us seem to think that current students are missing a vital part of their college experience by not attending football games just because we find some enjoyment in following Wildcat athletics (or found enjoyment as students). It's beyond stupid.

Northwestern is a great university, in part, because it provides an abundance of opportunity to explore diverse interests. It's not our job to tell students what opportunities they should pursue with their time in Evanston. Your internet rants will be read by, at most, dozens of current students and a couple hundred alumni who, like you, are already dedicated to Northwestern athletics. You're preaching to the choir. We're all internet weirdos on this forum who like Northwestern athletics. We're part of a very, very small club. Not everyone is going to have the same interests as us (thankfully). And even if they do, it's ok if they pursue that interest with less ferocity than we do (probably a smart choice). I'd imagine current students give less than a flying f*** what some middle-aged weirdo Wildcat fan says about them on the internet, and I'd imagine they give one fewer flying f*** about you telling them what they should be doing with their time.

In short:
If a student attends a football game and gets something out of it, great. If he/she attends a study group instead, great. If he/she chooses to get wasted at some house party with friends during the game, great. Their experience is not your experience. They will find value in experiences you didn't pursue, and vice versa. Your rants on this forum will not impact their behavior. Your rants only make the 200 weirdos reading this board very angry. So stop it, enjoy the win, and maybe celebrate the students who did show up to the game rather than bash the students who chose not to attend.

This is why the board has been so dull lately. We forever have posters telling us what we should and shouldn't talk about. Of course, the conversation is silly... but it's fun. You know, fun? Ever hear of it?

If you don't agree with someone, argue against them. Don't just tell them to shut up.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

This is an observation from Saturday. With the team, the band and the students on the east side there was almost no standing and cheering in the west mid field stands. At least not until OT. Sections of the band coming over and playing in the aisles helped. An Iowa City newspaper referred to it as "sleepy Ryan Field".

We continue to have a mediocre game day atmosphere. While increased student participation would be a benefit it seems more a larger NU systemic problem. Not sure if there is a solution but it is more than the student attendance.

“Mediocre” is being generous. I watched a guy in 129 actively shout at people four rows down to sit during a third down play.

 

[ricko6543211]

“Mediocre” is being generous. I watched a guy in 129 actively shout at people four rows down to sit during a third down play.

When I'm in Chicago for games it's a constant struggle with the people who sit in the row in front of us, they say that me cheering hurts their ears. I've compromised to only doing it on third downs, I also sit on the other end of the row and try as hard as I can to direct my volume up and away from them, but it's still a struggle. The problem is we have all been sitting there for decades so know each other so have to be nice to them.

I find it a bit preposterous that you would go to a football game and then complain about people cheering.

 

[PURPLE Book Cat]

The beatings will continue until morale improves

 

[StreamCat]

“Mediocre” is being generous. I watched a guy in 129 actively shout at people four rows down to sit during a third down play.

When I'm in Chicago for games it's a constant struggle with the people who sit in the row in front of us, they say that me cheering hurts their ears. I've compromised to only doing it on third downs, I also sit on the other end of the row and try as hard as I can to direct my volume up and away from them, but it's still a struggle. The problem is we have all been sitting there for decades so know each other so have to be nice to them.

I find it a bit preposterous that you would go to a football game and then complain about people cheering.

It's time to stop being nice!

 

[PURPLECAT88]

So, if you want to blame anyone for perceived student ennui, blame us... the alumni.

The blame, if you want to call it blame, lies with the admissions department. Admissions look for kids who do stuff, not kids who watch stuff. If you're not the kind of kids who does multiple time-consuming extra-curriculars in high school, you're not going to be a Northwestern student. Those kids continue to do their thing when they get to NU. Unless that thing is marching band or cheerleading, they are just not that interested in watching other students do their extra-curriculars (football).

If NU wanted students who go to the football games, then it would tell admissions to screen for football fans.

 

[hdhntr1]

If it isn't a valuable part of the student experience, why is NU spending $260 Million on facilities?

Probably because it helps with the connection with certain groups of the alums. Makes it easier to hit them up for donations.

 

[StreamCat]

So, if you want to blame anyone for perceived student ennui, blame us... the alumni.

The blame, if you want to call it blame, lies with the admissions department. Admissions look for kids who do stuff, not kids who watch stuff. If you're not the kind of kids who does multiple time-consuming extra-curriculars in high school, you're not going to be a Northwestern student. Those kids continue to do their thing when they get to NU. Unless that thing is marching band or cheerleading, they are just not that interested in watching other students do their extra-curriculars (football).

If NU wanted students who go to the football games, then it would tell admissions to screen for football fans.

Going to a Cats game for students is doing stuff. They walk a good distance to the game. They stand throughout. They yell. They cheer. They sing. They walk back.

 

[Fitz51]

It makes me so mad that all the ranters on this board never seem to play Pokeman Go. It's a critical part of a life experience. What a waste that you don't spend your weekends wandering around parks and public plazas looking for new amazing creatures. /s

It's a great way to meet others and feel at one with the community!

 

[Fitz51]

You love X? What is that.... the soft core stuff? Interesting. I guess you're sort of a romantic perhaps.

Maybe I like actual insertion to be left to the imagination!

 

[Fitz51]

“Mediocre” is being generous. I watched a guy in 129 actively shout at people four rows down to sit during a third down play.

It happened in 131, too.

 

[Alaskawildkat]

It makes me so mad that all the ranters on this board never seem to play Pokeman Go. It's a critical part of a life experience. What a waste that you don't spend your weekends wandering around parks and public plazas looking for new amazing creatures. /s

It's a great way to meet others and feel at one with the community!

Now if we could get the MSU players to become Pokeman Go addicts this week it might prove entertaining to plant locations at strategic points that trend away from the end zones.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Going to a Cats game for students is doing stuff. They walk a good distance to the game. They stand throughout. They yell. They cheer. They sing. They walk back.

My recent grad daughter went to games as a marching band member, but she had all kinds of trouble convincing her friends, dorm-mates, sorority sisters, etc. to go too. Not because they were sleeping or studying but because they had rehearsals or organization/club activities on Saturdays. Walking, standing, yelling, cheering, they are all worthy activities. They just don't look so great on a resume.

 

[StreamCat]

My recent grad daughter went to games as a marching band member, but she had all kinds of trouble convincing her friends, dorm-mates, sorority sisters, etc. to go too. Not because they were sleeping or studying but because they had rehearsals or organization/club activities on Saturdays. Walking, standing, yelling, cheering, they are all worthy activities. They just don't look so great on a resume.

You've hit on it. Cancel Saturday activities! End of problem.

 

[mickbula]

I think some of the posters on WR just don't understand something about Northwestern. NU is different than almost all other universities/colleges that play football in a major conference. Going to Cats games is more like going to Ravinia than it is like giving head-butts in the stands with peers (like at other BIG/sec/pac12/acc schools). Students and players at NU almost always enjoy studying and the finer things in life. I aint saying that going to NU football/bball games isn't part of this experience. It is just that you are more likely to find fans/students in the stands that would prefer bree and crackers with a glass of chardonney instead of gut/heart killing detritus. I just find that there is an understated sophistication amongst NU students that may come off inaccurately as aloofness/blase. Have you seen the grades/test scores of the current students? I loved studying for my classes at NU. Even more than going to games ( even though I went to a lot of them/and had season tickets for 25 years after graduation). The only schools that might have this atmosphere include the Ivies/Duke/Stanford. I went to a Berkeley game in Sept. and it was different- most of the students there were high on marijuana to see the game- at least the ones I sat near. Am I making a point? Maybe I smoked too much weed before I wrote this? ?

 

[NJCat]

You've hit on it. Cancel Saturday activities! End of problem.

Or better yet, schedule football games on Friday evenings.......

 

[Windy City Cat Fan]

My recent grad daughter went to games as a marching band member, but she had all kinds of trouble convincing her friends, dorm-mates, sorority sisters, etc. to go too. Not because they were sleeping or studying but because they had rehearsals or organization/club activities on Saturdays. Walking, standing, yelling, cheering, they are all worthy activities. They just don't look so great on a resume.

She needs to apply for a job at Scru Industries, they love those on a resume. She may be told what she needs to start doing during her lunch hours and weekends, but such is life.

 

[StreamCat]

I think some of the posters on WR just don't understand something about Northwestern. NU is different than almost all other universities/colleges that play football in a major conference. Going to Cats games is more like going to Ravinia than it is like giving head-butts in the stands with peers (like at other BIG/sec/pac12/acc schools). Students and players at NU almost always enjoy studying and the finer things in life. I aint saying that going to NU football/bball games isn't part of this experience. It is just that you are more likely to find fans/students in the stands that would prefer bree and crackers with a glass of chardonney instead of gut/heart killing detritus. I just find that there is an understated sophistication amongst NU students that may come off inaccurately as aloofness/blase. Have you seen the grades/test scores of the current students? I loved studying for my classes at NU. Even more than going to games ( even though I went to a lot of them/and had season tickets for 25 years after graduation). The only schools that might have this atmosphere include the Ivies/Duke/Stanford. I went to a Berkeley game in Sept. and it was different- most of the students there were high on marijuana to see the game- at least the ones I sat near. Am I making a point? Maybe I smoked too much weed before I wrote this? ?

And we wonder why Chicagoans don't like Northwestern football.

 

[Styre]

Students and players at NU almost always enjoy studying and the finer things in life. I aint saying that going to NU football/bball games isn't part of this experience. It is just that you are more likely to find fans/students in the stands that would prefer bree and crackers with a glass of chardonney instead of gut/heart killing detritus.

Fans, maybe, but I don't remember going to the Keg as an undergrad to drink Chardonnay and eat brie and crackers.

It's very simple: we have a small student population that is drawn from all over the country (all over the world!), including many regions in which college football is not a big deal or doesn't exist at all, and includes a ton of people who have absolutely no interest in sports. It's not easy to get them out to football games, especially at 11 AM when the team is 3-3.

 

[Catreporter]

We've had 40-thousand plus for the last two games and they are saying "limited tickets available" for Michigan State, so some Chicago fans are liking NU football a lot regardless of how many students show up!