Dear Wildcats,
We at Sherman Ave talked a lot about An Ohio State University getting fucked, wrecked, guzzling our Siemian, and all sorts of other fantastic verbage *does Trumpy dickswinging celebration out of habit*. At this point, if you’re not familiar with the events of the OSU-NU game, you can just close this tab, and then find some Siemian to guzzle or something.
In reality, no real fucking or wrecking was had, neither by NU nor OSU. Of course, OSU supporters will be quick to say that, actually, they fucked us. But they’d be fucking wrong.
I will admit that I had originally intended to write something about Northwestern’s miraculous victory over the douchebaggery of OSU, and with about four minutes left in the fouth quarter, things were looking good. Yes, OSU was up by 4 points. Yes, Northwestern was living up to its “Cardiac Cats” reputation. To many of us, though, that particular drive seemed preordained to end in a touchdown. Like much of life, things looked good, until they weren’t.
The spot call on 4th and inches was a real heartbreaker. And the official review took that broken heart and doused it in kerosene mixed with dogshit, and then set it all on fire. There were millions of people watching this game, but the officials couldn’t use a camera angle from the other side of the field? For shame. But one call is one call, and the Wildcats could have done more to keep it from coming down to that.
But the scoreline doesn’t reflect the real winner. Northwestern scored victories last night across all categories but one. OSU fans will argue that the category in question, the scoreboard, is the most important one. Coincidentally, that’s exactly why nobody fucking likes them.
Northwestern showed up yesterday—on the field, in the stands, in the media—better than I ever could have expected. No one asked, “Hey, isn’t that school located in Boston?” Our spot on the map is assured. No one remarked, “Wow, that travelling horde of obnoxious Ohioans sure showed Northwestern how to support their team.” We came out in droves and screamed for our team all four quarters. No one said, “Oh man, Northwestern is getting wrecked by OSU, let’s watch the Washington-Stanford game instead.” Far from it. NU played one of the most exciting games of football this season and surprised everyone, including Ohio State.
Watching the game at Nevin’s[1], I saw fear in OSU’s fans’ eyes. I saw them go quiet many times. I saw them celebrate, too, but their moments of happiness were few and far between, much rarer than anyone expected. OSU’s faithful likely thought our #16 ranking a joke, a farce, an injustice to be swiftly undone by the righteous institution that is OSU football.
How wrong they were.
An hour or so before the game, I saw a female Northwestern student walking towards the library, a textbook in hand and a few more tucked into her bag. She wasn’t wearing purple, and it was obvious she wasn’t interested in the revelry of “Fall Dillo” (prepare yourself for next year, Evanston) going on around her. She was off to study, and even the biggest game in Northwestern’s history wasn’t going to stop her. But no one around her publicly begrudged her choice. Northwestern cares about football, sure, but it alone does not define us.
We come to Northwestern to for much more than the glory of sport, something I’m not sure OSU’s “fantastic” traveling fanbase understands. When the sport of football ceases to exist by 2050 for a myriad of reasons, we won’t be decimated by its departure. We’ll mourn the lost chances, and we’ll reminisce about our great program, but we’ll still be Northwestern. We’ll still have our soul, and our pride won’t waiver—much.
I think you’d be hard pressed to say that the same is true for An Ohio State University. I would even feel bad for them, if they weren’t such insufferable football fans.
But the really sad part? They’re STILL not going to make the National Championship game. Strength of schedule is such a bitch, isn’t it?
With love to all my Wildkittens,
The Commandant
[1] I graduated, so no free ticket for me, and couldn’t afford
Sherman Ave 
Although we managed to still cover 40% of your glorified high school stadium (told from first hand experience) in scarlet, you guys played one hell of a game. Although it was blatantly obvious you were outgunned in the talent department in almost every facet, you played well down the stretch and forced us to constantly use the one player you didn’t have an answer for. Here’s to hopefully seeing you in Indy.
Blatantly outgunned in the talent department in almost every facet? Obviously not or OSU would not have been outplayed for three quarters. It seems clear that OSU has nowhere near the talent it thinks it does if smart play can so nicely thwart what raw muscle hopes to achieve.
What’s enrollment at OSU? 63k and change? And you’ve existed how many years? 183? So that’s a lot of graduates (of course you didn’t have that many students, all of that time, nor are they all alive). Your fanbase is located in the Midwest when NU draws less than half of its students from the Midwest, and even fewer stay there (not that there’s anything wrong with the Midwest, I’ve lived here my whole life). I know there are many OSU graduates living in Chicago, so I personally expected 40% of the stadium to be scarlet. I’m actually surprised it wasn’t more. I’m not trying to be rude here, it’s just simple facts and numbers. And yeah, our Stadium is kind of weak shit, but I think you’re missing the point again there.
Like I mentioned in the article, I don’t intend to break down why Northwestern lost, but you’ve identified a few of the reasons yourself.
Wow, you write a Northwestern blog and didn’t actually go to the game and watched it at Nevins instead of Ryan Field. What type of fan are you. Additionally, you call out a girl for going to the library… when you didn’t go to the game. Congratulations… you’re just as bad. Good job.
The game is free* for the student, the blogger would have to shell out cash. Also he wasn’t “calling out” he was making a point that even though football is becoming a big part of the school, the students wont berate those going to study on one of the biggest game days of the year.
“even the biggest game in Northwestern’s history wasn’t going to stop her. But no one around her publicly begrudged her choice. Northwestern cares about football, sure, but it alone does not define us.”
*students pay an athletic fee in the tuition, which covers cost for all sports matches.
You shouldn’t waste your time on idiots, but it’s sweet that you tried.
Who is a bigger fool? the fool or the man who tries to talk reason into a fool?
I should’ve known the internet is full of idiots.
Great reading skills, 10/10.
It should be noted that students, who get admission into the stadium, were turned away because the student section was completely full. 5k students were admitted out of 8k undergrads and more wanted in. So begrudging someone because they weren’t in the stadium is just shitty.
Pretty pathetic that you have an article discussing what Northwestern students are good at following a Buckeye beat down that prior to you claimed the Wildcats would bend us over. Sounds like a childish blog who talks a lot of crap, knows little about football, and doesn’t have the stones to admit he talked too much and looked like a fool. Lost a lot of respect for your university, and clearly this blog has no concern for real journalism or writing. What a joke.
What did you come here to say? That you don’t respect this blog or that you don’t care what we think? What a windbag.
I’m sure OSU has really prepared you to come teach some Northwestern students what journalism is all about (read: Medill).
I think you’re a little bit confused about what and how Sherman Ave writes.