Non-Gameday Fodder

By Lake The Posts on September 24, 2011

A day can’t go by without a Dan Persa update. Skip Myslenski’s blog on NUSports.com serves up these insights which get to the bottom of the challenge, which Dan admits is more mental than physical. Click here to read the interview.

Serve it Up The Wildcat Way – Willie’s Wildcat

Many of you may have read about this in the Chicago newspapers, but Northwestern’s only group that I had yet to know about, the ‘Catbackers,  a women’s support group for NU Athletics has a very cool fundraiser, the Willie’s Wildcat Cookbook.  

From A (Minnie’s Apples from former Evanston mayor Lorraine Morton) to Z (Zack
Strief’s of the SuperBowl champs New Orleans Saints) Grilled Lime Marinated Flank
Steak, there’s something good for every food fan in Willie’s Wildcat Cookbook.

The cookbook is the brainchild of the CatBackers, a women’s support group for athletics
at Northwestern University. “We realized that NU was one of two Big 10 schools
without a collection of recipes for tailgates, dinner parties and beverages,” said Joann
Skiba, who first brought up the idea a year ago. “And who doesn’t like to share their
favorite recipes?” she queried.

Some 600 recipes later, the book will be available September 15th . According to Liz
Kerr, CatBackers president, “Testing the recipes was fun, we had so many varieties of
foods….appetizers, main dishes, desserts galore, we certainly enjoyed that portion of the
book!”

Loaded with coaches’ quotes, photos and recipes the cookbook will sell for $25 each
plus shipping and handling. All proceeds from the cookbook will go the Wildcat Fund
which supports all 19 varsity sports at Northwestern.

To order Willie’s Wildcat Cookbook go to the NUSports.com site. The book will also
be available at Let’s Tailgate, Evanston, The Bookstall at Chestnut Court in Winnetka,
The Backyard Barbecue, Wilmette, the Northwestern University Bookstore in Norris
Center and Beck’s Bookstore in Evanston.

Books will also be sold at NU football games through the Let’s Tailgate kiosks around
Ryan Field and at CatBacker luncheons this fall.

Also, Erryn Cobb, a former ‘Cat and noted foodie is signing books today at:

The Book Stall
811 Elm
Winnetka
11 am ct to noon

Wildside Follow-up

Alex Wilcox updated me with some great news. On Thursday night the Wildside hosted a get to know NU football event with Fitz and several players where they educated fans on some x and o’s, answered questions and fired up the students for Wildcat football. A packed house of 600+ showed up and the event was a huge success. Great work Alex and team.  Can’t wait to see the purple in full effect on October 8!

NUMB NEWS

Brittany Petersen had this update to share:

Chicago’s Big Ten Band

It’s been reported that the Athletic Department of Chicago’s Big Ten Team is spending some time romancing Chicago’s Big Ten Band. For the first time in recent memory, Northwestern marching band members received a swag bag of NU paraphernalia, including a set of Adidas track jacket, shirt, pants, and dufflebag. The students seem delighted, and it’s safe to assume that both the band and Athletics will continue to enjoy the new partnership. The students are working hard on a classic rock show for the Michigan game on October 8, and the swag bag is just the precursor to the unveil of an entirely new NUMB uniform at that same game. It’s an exciting time to be a Northwestern marching band member!

Chicago’s Big Ten Band Alumni

The NUMBALUMS are gearing up for the season, and registration for Homecoming is open! If you’ve ever been a member of the Finest Band in the Land, hopefully you’ll consider joining old friends and new (see who’s coming here!) by signing up to march the NUMBALUMS pregame before the Penn State game on October 22, as well as with NUMB at halftime and in the Homecoming parade on Friday night. If you’d rather stay stationary, you can sign up to just play with the band in Wildcat Alley and in the stands. If you’d rather leave the instrument at home entirely, be sure to at least stop by the NUMBALUMS bar night on Friday at Nevin’s and the NUMBALUMS tailgate on gameday in the West lot. Details, including a weekend schedule and info on ordering NUMBALUMS merchandise, can be found on the NUMBALUM website.