Early Roadtrip Planning

by platnumkid on Jul 15, 2009 9:21 PM EDT

So i've decide with the Halloween game being at Northwestern and me have 2 cousins it would make a pretty good road trip. I have a couple questions for BSD nation and any TLP'ers here to visit.

Firstly has anyone ever been to a game in Evanston before? What's the tailgating scene like?

If you've been to a roadtrip out there before how was the PSU representation?

Is anyone around here thinking about going this year?

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RUTS and I are in

As well as a few other members of our Road Dawg Crew.

Been on the Chicago road trip, but not to NW. Went to Illinois in ‘07. Can’t help with the tailgating question, but PSU will be well represented.

by Tailgate Shogun on Jul 15, 2009 9:40 PM EDT reply actions

heading to illinois this year

any advice with respect to tailgating, fields, or anything else you think one should know?

I looked at Ohrnberger in the fourth quarter and he looked back at me. And we said, 'We're not losing this game"

by psudrozz on Jul 16, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Perhaps

Tailgating there sucked. We were parked a block away (seriously), with no one around us. Parked next to the law school building, which was nice, as it was open for us to use the bathroom. Apparently, their version of the grass lots was on the other side of a cemetary from where we were, so we weren’t where the action was. Odd, seeing how we were closer to the stadium.

What we did, and I definitely recommend, is to check out the PSU Chicago alumni chapter. They ran a bus trip from Chicago down to Champaign. $100 got you a seat, a ticket, and free food. Free beer, too. You could also bring your own alcohol supply for the trip to/from. Much easier, as I’m guessing you’ll be staying in Chicago. Bus picked us up right at Sears Tower.

Fans were nice. Most didn’t care. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend getting fries inside the stadium. They were the bomb. Can’t remember if they were cheese fries or regular fries (free beer does that to you). But I loved them.

Anyway, hope that helps. Definitely a fun trip.

by Tailgate Shogun on Jul 16, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Do you know if they run a bus to Evanston?

That would be great. Definitely would fly eliminating the need for a rental!

I thought only safeties played 15 yards off the ball?

by pic15 on Jul 17, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm there from WI.

I’m planning on heading down to Evanston from Madison, WI, and know that some of my friends are doing the same. It is a great trip since you can hang out in Chicago and then take the train up for the game. (Stewart Mandel named a trip to Evanston one of his top three road trips for a college football fan this season. I think it was in his mailbag today. Of course, he is a NW alum…)

I was at the NW game in 2003. The stadium was very empty, and there were clearly more PSU fans there than NW fans. (There are a lot of PSU alums in the Chicagoland area, and they show up.) You could sit anywhere you wanted. Kind of like a big high school game. Goose Island brewery was giving out free beer at a tailgate behind the stadium. Yes, free beer. And there was no line. It was cold and snowing, so that may have had something to do with it, but I’ve heard they never sell out. But we had a great time, even though it was another loss during the dark years.

The stadium is right in Evanston, so it is parking lot tailgating. The Chicago alumni chapter throws a big tailgate.

As a bonus, the NY Times just ran an article about the up and coming craft beer scene in Chicago.

I’m also thinking about heading down to Illinois this year.

Phil

by baronlion on Jul 15, 2009 10:15 PM EDT reply actions

Ryan Field

Sure, they never sell out, but that’s still better than Indiana’s famous (at least among Purdue fans) “picture day” – which is always when they’re hosting Ohio State, as the colors are similar.

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jul 15, 2009 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

It'll probably feel like an away game at Temple

Which feels a lot like a PSU home game, except not as big.

by dawsonPSU10 on Jul 15, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I've been to Northwestern (was there in 2005)

and it is a great time for PSU, since we dominate the stadium, and there are a million Chicago PSU alums. The tailgating is honestly meh (what do you expect with a <30k stadum), but PSUers still know how to make it good. If I recall correctly there are a lot of really scattered parking lots that you can tailgate in, and I think they have (free?) shuttles to get you to the game.

I plan on being there this year, as well as for Illinois (only ticket I have so far) and I also plan on Michigan (1 hr away), and Michigan State (0 min away). As for home games, I plan on going to Iowa and Ohio State. (I’m not gonna start “officially” pandering for tickets just yet, as I still might have some “ins”, but if anyone has any extras to any of these games, feel free to let me know)

Also, “good news”. My gf is starting a 6 month internship in Texas right before Labor Day, so I won’t be guilt tripped into not going to any games this year (not that the guilt trip worked at all last year).

by The JuggerNitt on Jul 16, 2009 3:33 PM EDT reply actions

My gf is starting a 6 month internship in Texas right before Labor Day, so I won’t be guilt tripped into not going to any games this year (not that the guilt trip worked at all last year).

Dude. Just…dude.

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jul 16, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Definitely in.....

Figured a day game in Evanston and Halloween in Chicago would be a good time. We (my SEC wife) usually road trip but I may be flying up since it is very easy (and cheap) to get a flight in and out of Chicago. The tailgate sounds great……if anyone gets any further details please post. Think we will be heading up to Ann Arbor again this year too. Hopefully this time the trip will be worth it (unlike 07)!

I thought only safeties played 15 yards off the ball?

by pic15 on Jul 16, 2009 3:36 PM EDT reply actions

Your wife sounds

FAST! OH EM JEE, ESS EEE SEE SPEED!

I bleed Blue and White.

by Horse N Buggy on Jul 16, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL!

That’s good for me right?

I thought only safeties played 15 yards off the ball?

by pic15 on Jul 16, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

well, fast girls tend to be loose/easy girls, so that depends on how you look at it ;-)

by The JuggerNitt on Jul 17, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

was there in 2003

long story short, i turned 21 THAT DAY, i was sober (with my dad and some older guys), and we lost in the snow.

they parked us way out of the way, past the natatorium by the lake, freezing ass cold the whole time, and charged us a freaking arm and a leg to park close to 2 miles away. before the game you can get in the building connected to the stadium ( i think for some sort of pre game festivities). if you end up having extra tickets, go across the street (you’ll get fined) and its pretty much the quietest game you’ll ever be to.

For the glory

by lionalum05 on Jul 16, 2009 9:59 PM EDT reply actions

ill tell you what

Halloween in Purdue. 2006 was crazy, i watched two drunk ass co-eds taunt me about going to penn state, and then one proceeded to get her foot ran over and didn’t even flinch. the rest of the weekend was fuzzy thanks to Jim Beam and Octoberfest

For the glory

by lionalum05 on Jul 16, 2009 10:12 PM EDT reply actions