Fitzerland is one clever name.
I thought The Izzone (Michigan State college basketball student section named after Tom Izzo) was a witty name for a Big Ten student section. And Fitzerland, the official Northwestern University football tailgate area, named after NU Coach Pat Fitzgerald, one-ups that. It just rolls off the tongue.
And it’s probably a neutral area; free of international strife and political conflicts. A college gridiron “No Spin Zone” if you will.
According to the Fitzerland website:
“Anyone is welcome to come to Fitzerland! Although it is a student-only tailgate, it is still open to the public. It is up to the individual discretion of those in attendance if they share food or drinks with non-students.”
Notice the snazzy purple and white version of the Switzerland flag on their homepage. Fitz himself on Fitzerland: “I had nothing to do with that. But I’m ECSTATIC about having a tailgate area for NU for students.”
“I’d be lying if I told you I haven’t been hoping for that for years. It’s college football, embrace it. It’s a party for three hours and fours hours beforehand. So I think it’s way overdue,” Pat Fitzgerald said.
However, Coach Fitz would like to see a name change. Obviously, the name wasn’t his idea.
“We’re at 8 o’clock next week, so hopefully the tailgaters can have a little bit more fun,” Fitzgerald said.
Yes, the Northwestern Wildcats take on the Western Michigan Broncos at Ryan Field at 8 p.m. Early lines have them as a 31 point favorite. It’s easy to understand why, NU marched right down on the field on a Syracuse team which was 8-4 last year, and scored in the opening minute. They went up 34-7 at halftime and never looked back.
And Western Michigan? Well they LOST to Nicholls State. I’d predict this game to be something like Northwestern 63, WMU 10. However, Fitz is way too classy to ever run up the score on anyone. He’s not like a Bill Belichick or Steve Spurrier in that regard.
Finally, I know you have this question about Fitzerland. And the Fitzerland homepage has Q&A for ya:
Are alcoholic drinks allowed?
All University policies regarding alcohol consumption by students will apply to consumption at Fitzerland. The University will treat student drinking at Fitzerland in a similar manner to other large campus events, like Dillo Day. Students are asked to police themselves at Fitzerland and seek assistance if a problem arises. Any serious issues will be dealt with by the Univeristy and University discipline may apply. If a student group renting a grill from Wildside is at fault, they will forfeit their cash deposit and face potential discipline by the University. No communal drinking sources like kegs are permitted. No glass bottles are permitted.
Side note, NU DB Traveon Henry had the quote of the week Saturday night after the game: “We try to stress rips, strips, tips, because tips equal picks.”
With this flow, and taking the ball away, he’s literally Rhymin’ and stealin’ (CC Beastie Boys)
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An analyst for 95.7 The Fan, he also writes on Chicago sports media for Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)