There was a lot of purple…on the tables, on the attendees, and of course a purple tie on Northwestern’s new president, Morty Schapiro, at the annual Northwestern Gridiron Network (NGN) auction on Saturday, April 24th.
Over 400 fans, former football NU stars, parents of players, Big 10 Network hosts, head coach Pat Fitzgerald (pictured here with his wife, Stacey) and President Schapiro gathered at a transformed Welsh-Ryan arena to have fun and get the team on the Road to Pasadena, the theme for the night. Tables were decorated with highway markings that led straight to the Rose Bowl and mugs filled with purple and white flowers.
Sports memorabilia, exotic vacation spots, luxury hotel accommodations provided excitement but when the live auction got going there was a Wrigley rooftop prize, an NU van with everything for the serious tailgater, a chance to throw out the first pitch at a Cubs game, a private jet to whisk fans up to the Oct. 2 tilt with Minnesota, and jewelry and purple purses and more.
Head coach Pat Fitzgerald led the auctioneer group, joined by former Bear Ted Albrecht, and former NU stars including the Big 10 Network’s Chris Martin, Brett Basanez of the Bears and Zach Strief of the World Champion New Orleans Saints.
The funds raised by the NGN are used to assist players and coaches in attracting the best and the brightest to NU’s football program. Past parties have paid for the FieldTurf practice field, renovations of the weight room and football offices, counseling on resume writing and post playing opportunities. This year’s event brought in $115,000.
