... I won't take that bait. I'll wait for Spanky to bite.

Take the bait? You said it! Don't run away now.

Considering spanky spent much of the last month calling Purdue a doormat I don't really feel too bad that at some point I pointed out that NIU's wins over the Big Ten are pretty much against Big Ten teams at their absolute worst.

I don't even think I've been that unfair to Northwestern. All I can really remember is saying that the Prater waiver was just to try and get him on the field earlier and laughing at Fitzgerald for saying "Chicago's Big Ten Champions".

You just get really sensitive about Fitzgerald so it seems like more.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Now that we've succeeded in changing his name, I'll stipulate to NU being Chicago's Big Ten Team.

Seriously, I guess I just may be sensitive as a guy who grew up in Evanston and ended up in Chambana. It was bad enough living in the shadow of University Hall, a place that would not have me. Now I see that slogan as a direct attack on the Illini. And it will always be Dyche Stadium to me too.

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The Court will accord substantial deference to the government's immigration policies, particularly those that implicate matters of national security.

Nah... Chicago's Big Ten Team wasn't directed at the Illini at all (although the Illini took exception with it because they view Chicago as their home turf... I'd argue its just as much as Iowa or Wisconsin's home turf as theirs). The marketing campaign's goal was to get any unaffiliated or perhaps affiliated Chicago area college sports fans to give the Cats a try. It's a short El ride up to Evanston. It's cheap. And it's a fun product. I was talking to a marketing guy about it and he told me something like this... "If you're an Iowa fan, stay an Iowa fan, but bring your kid up to some games at Ryan Field. Root for the Cats for all except one game a year. If you're a Bears fan. Stay a Bears fan, but go get Cats season tickets for the price of one game in decent seats at Soldiers Field." It's always been about an acknowledgement that Northwestern has the second LEAST number of alumni in the greater Chicago area... but there is no reason why college sports fans in Chicago can't take a quick El ride to Evanston to see some fun games.

And you also have to understand that this campagin was probably the first real effort by the University to do ANY sports branding ever. I've only been in Chicago since 1992, so perhaps someone can refute this.

I'd also add that the family atmosphere at Ryan Field is something pretty cool. As a Dad, I kinda like the fact that the fanbase is not very hostile. My kids aren't as likely to learn new four-letter words than they would at the Horseshoe. And the pre-game Wildcat Alley activities are pretty fun for the kids. Not to mention that the program is very accessible. You can meet the players and coach very easily and get to know them. Whether its the Spring game or at the team tailgate after the games. Now my kids are young, but he gets just as big of a kick out of his signed Colter jersey as he would from a signed Cutler jersey (admittedly he doesn't have one of those).

If it's not a shot at the Illini then what does "Chicago's Big Ten Champions" mean?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Are you really gonna parse every word out of the guy's mouth? He's babbling after an emotional victory... we get it... it's a little silly, but forgive the guy. He just won more games than any other coach at Northwestern ever did and he helped the team win its first bowl game in 63 years.

It's BRick.

I think it is a clear shot at Wisconsin.

Everyone hates them. Fuck Wisconsin!

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

I've heard him on the radio a lot, and he always sounds that way though. In the same interview, he once again took shots at Vanderbilt and Stanford about Northwestern being more consistent.

Once again, you admit that if you weren't a Northwestern fan, you'd feel the same way, so besides the fact that you don't like that I'm picking on Fitz, what is the problem?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

That's a pretty tough argument. I know Chicago likes to pretend it isn't in Illinois but, as Michael Jordan could prove geographically, it is.

So, the state University does have some claim to things that are actually in its own state.

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My Maserati does 186.

Anyone who gets emotional about a marketing slogan either way has mental problems.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

I guess Hatchetman won't be teaching the world to sing anytime soon.

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My Maserati does 186.

?? That's like saying NYC belongs to Syracuse. Chicago's got major institutions all around. Univ of Illinois is 2 hours 10 mins away. Purdue is 2 hours 6 mins away. Iowa is 3 hours and 20 mins away. Evanston is 20 mins away. I'm not sure state borders have anything to do with who "claims" Chicago. All NU's marketing campaign was is a wakeup call to the city of Chicago that there is Big Ten Football being played a short El ride from your downtown. They are trying to sell tickets. Nothing less. Nothing more.



I'd tend to agree.

That made me smile.

It's not. Syracuse is a private university.

Illinois is a part of the public state school system that also includes a campus in Chicago and is partially funded by tax dollars from its citizens, including those that live in Chicago. 85% of Illinois' students are from the Chicagoland area with over a quarter-million alumni here. In that sense, I feel that Chicago is more home-turf for Illinois than it is for Wisconsin or Iowa.

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My Maserati does 186.

That's a stretch... I know this is simply mental masterbation, but permit me to "go all BRick on you"... so "claim" is based on who funds who? I guess that would mean Chicago could claim University of Illinois, but perhaps not the other way around . Chicago... you can rest assured that you actually make money from taxes on land that Northwestern leases from both the state and the city of Evanston... and lose it through taxes paid to help fund University of Illinois.

NU is allowed some stupid comments from thier staff. How long was the Chief Illiniwik controversy?

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

CSFMBers have an uncanny ability taking the thread in a completely different direction than what was intended. I apologize for feeding the beast...


My original point was that NU could be 8-4 next year... thoughts?

Tougher schedule,but with Venric Mark and a QB hopefully with a healed throwing wrist,they might be better IF the O_Line is stable.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

I wouldn't be surprised to see the snaps go from 60% Kain 40% Siemian... to the opposite. Kain will take the Wildcat read-option role... and play slot receiver when he's not being the read-option QB.

Did you think Colter was pouting after they called that keeper for Siemian? That was kind of the impression I got. It was like, "Hey, I'm supposed to be the running guy!" By the way, that fake was about as good as any I've ever seen. Both the defensive lineman and I still think the running back has the ball.

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The Court will accord substantial deference to the government's immigration policies, particularly those that implicate matters of national security.

I was at the game... and still haven't seen the replay. Maybe. I actually ran into Trevor after the game. He was with his Florida highschool buddies who came up to see the game. Even got a picture with him. (which I'm sure I could sell on ebay for $0.23 plus free shipping!).