Northwestern University Athletics
Russ Birkos' Favorite Memory
11/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
Four winners of two tickets to the game:
I just did the math, and I'm startled to see that this Saturday will be the 35th Wildcat-Illini game I have attended since I went to my first in 1955. Now that may not seem like much, but keep in mind that I am only 57 years old, and during many of the other 22 matches during my attendance span I was living, thanks either to Uncle Sam or the demands of the grownup job world, pretty far from Evanston. Over the past 24 years, I've commuted in from Ohio.
So those are my credentials; here are my memories:
The best memories in life are often those that involve a first-time experience, and thus it will be with this exercise. I was six years old. My father, who had spent a little time at NU on the GI Bill, had been going to NU-ILL games for several years with a good friend who was an Illinois grad. In 1955 however, the friend was forced to back out, and my dad figured it was time for me to see a `Cats game.
So, on November 19, a cold, blustery, snowy day, he packed me in the car at our home on the south side and we headed for Evanston. When we arrived at Dyche Stadium, we climbed into our seats in the west stands with hot dogs and hot chocolate in hand. At the time I thought the stadium was huge, and I marveled at the neatly lined grass field, that on this day was rimmed with banks of snow. I can vividly recall the band and the cheerleaders, and I have a vague memory of being quite amused by Willie. I also remember seeing the orange helmets of the Illini players and commenting that I would call them the "Pumkinheads."
Unfortunately, my knowledge of football was not yet extensive to say the least. My father long recalled me often cheering for the wrong team. His job was to try to watch the game, coach me in its finer points and etiquette, while keeping me wrapped in a blanket and filled with hot liquid. I'd have to give him a B+ for those efforts.
The game itself was interesting. The heavily favored Illini met up with an unexpectedly tough Wildcat team. The 'Cats had not won a game all year, but this time, they fought Illinois tooth and nail and came away with a 7-7 tie, the only near accomplishment of a grim season. Afterward, my dad escorted me across the field where we mingled with both Illini and Wildcat players and I even got to TOUCH the purple helmet of tiny halfback Bob McKiever who not only scored the 'Cats only touchdown, but kicked the extra point as well. With that I was hooked on Wildcat football.
The aftermath of the game created one of the most amazing stories in Wildcat lore. The head coach that day was Lou Saban, in his first year at the helm. Among his coaching staff, was a man named George Steinbrenner, who would later have some success in other endeavors.
So my 'Cats-Illini favorite memory is my first, and I still treasure it. But ask me (or any of my many embarrassed friends) how my neurotically detailed memories of a 10-9 loss in Champaign in 1963 led, eleven years later, to a completely idiotic remark that I'm sure ruined the day for a former Wildcat star and his entire family.
Thanks for the opportunity. 'Go Cats!
Sincerely,
Russ Birkos MSJ, '76
