The NYSE (New York Stock Exchange), Wall Street, One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower), 9/11 Museum/Memorial, Times Square, Yankee Stadium…we could go on and on, the Northwestern football team saw an awful lot in New York City on their Pinstripe Bowl trip.
Of course, it’s New York City, so there’s a ton more to still see and do on the next trip, and the next one after that.
For the “bowl games are meaningless exhibitions” and/or “there’s way too many bowl games” crowd, they need to realize that these trips are about a lot more than football.
Behind an extremely dominant performance from Justin Jackson, and some added motivation from ESPN Analyst Danny Kanell, this Northwestern football team upset solidly favored and ranked #23 in the nation Pitt in the Pinstripe Bowl, and experienced a lot of culture, and had a lot of fun as well.
“The impact of 9/11, our guys going, had on their lives. It will be with them the rest of their lives. In the arena is only three and a half hours, but the bowl experience is second to none, especially this one has been absolutely spectacular, an experience that our guys I think would never trade.”
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“I hope and pray that that never changes. I think those that have a negative opinion to it probably didn’t play, didn’t coach, and didn’t experience it. I get it. As a fan, you’re a consumer. Go watch something else. I think for every college football fan, they love watching games. I think for every player and coach, they love competing.
“I’m all for it.”
Before the bowl game we asked some Northwestern football players what they were looking forward to doing, other than football, while they’re in NYC (You can read that at this link).
Then after the game, we asked them all about what they saw and did during the trip. First we brought up the NYSE.
“I’ve learned about it, those guys are the superstars in the classes that I’m taking, when we talk about ‘em,” side wide receiver Austin Carr, who is pursuing his Master’s Business Administration at NU’s Kellogg School of Management, third in the nation according to some MBA school rankings.
“It was a priceless experience, who knows if we’ll ever be able to do that again.”
Carr has already earned an undergraduate degree in philosophy major and his master’s concentration will be in management studies.
“I’m from northern California and that experience alone (stock exchange), I’m like maybe I’m more glad we came to New York than Santa Clara, the Benicia, California native said in reference to NU being possibly considered for the Foster Farms Bowl instead of the Pinstripe.
“And I will say a bowl victory feels a little better than that, but it was a great experience.”
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Carr, along with linebacker Anthony Walker, were two of the three Northwestern football players who got to ring the opening bell at the exchange on December 27th.
“We came here to win, but why not enjoy that opportunity? You grow up as a kid seeing it (the exchange) on tv and hearing about it, but you’re never actually there,” said Walker.
“Just like playing at Yankee Stadium, getting to go to the New York Stock Exchange are big moments for our lives that we’ll always remember. “
Christmas tree and festive lighting @NYSE pic.twitter.com/wVHX6gl3Ar
— Paul M. Banks (@PaulMBanks) December 31, 2016
Northwestern Athletic Director Jim Phillips said before the game that the highlight of the trip was a Christmas Day visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum:
“If nothing else happens on the rest of this trip, we are all better people for that day we spent together on Dec. 25. If wasn’t about opening gifts, it was paying respect and tribute for our fallen heroes.” Added super back Garrett Dickerson:
“My favorite thing that I did off the field was probably going to the 9/11 Memorial on Christmas Day and pay respects to the first responders, and those who passed away in that tragic incident.”
“It’s a beautiful place, and a very nice tribute all the people who lost their lives on 9/11.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.