The Nebraska Cornhuskers are visiting Northwestern in Evanston for the first time since 1931. The sold out game is scheduled for kick off during prime time at 2:30pm.
This year in hopes to amp up the home field advantage, it was required that Northwestern purchase season tickets to attend the game. They also allowed season ticket holders to buy extras for the exciting match-up. They are hoping this will allow more Wildcat fans to attend, as last year, for the Cornhuskers first Big Ten game in Madison, WI it is reported that over 30,000 Cornhusker fans traveled for the game.
So how does Northwestern plan to prepare for Nebraska? By napping of course.
Northwestern will break out its all black uniforms, and then take a nap according to the Chicago Tribune. This comes after their last 2:30 start time against Boston College on September 15. Although the Wildcats won 23-13, Coach Fitzgerald said his team looked sluggish and had a slow start.
“What’s the deal? Why didn’t we start fast?” Fitzgerald asked members of his leadership council. They told him that the game time interfered with nap time.
In a normal schedule for the Wildcats, they would arrive at the complex just before 7:00am for team meetings, practice, attend class and then take an afternoon nap. The 2:30p.m start time interferes with there schedule and apparently makes for some tired football players.
Coach Fitzgerald said he couldn’t believe he agreed with it, “Unbelievable,” he said. “This is what I get paid to do. Seriously. Create nap time. It’s pathetic.” A snooze-in at the team hotel six hours before kickoff?
He may think its pathetic, but QB for the Wildcats, Kain Colter thinks its an awesome idea. “”We’ll wake up, have our pregame meal, do our mental things and then have a mandatory nap,” he said. “Those hotel beds are really comfortable and the pillows are soft. Â…We’ll [then] come down refreshed and ready to kick some butt.”
Northwestern is 6-1 on the season. Their only loss coming against Penn State when they lost 39-28 following a late collapse. Last weekend, they beat Minnesota on the legs of Venric Mark, out scoring them 21-13.
Last year Northwestern beat Nebraska 28-25.
No word if there will be a cookie or glass of milk provided before the nap.
