As DM emcees Todd Johnson and Adam Welton talked about Johnson's prowess as a high school football player, one of NU's most distinguished players came up from behind and grabbed Welton.
Former NU linebacker and current head football coach Pat Fitzgerald, a two-time National Defensive Player of the Year, took the mic from Welton. He brought with him five members of his team.
Fitzgerald congratulated the dancers for finishing 16 hours and then told the crowd he wanted to sing a song he planned to sing "a lot this year."
The song, of course, was "Go, U Northwestern," which the team sings to the student section after each home win.
Dancers, committee members and football players broke into a rousing rendition of the fight song. Hundreds of fists pumped three times in the air and the cries of "Go, Northwestern Go!" echoed through the room.
"Keep it going," Fitzgerald shouted. "Tonight you guys are doing a great job. Go 'Cats!"
Fitzgerald then led his players off the stage and toward the main entrance of the dance hall, where he pointed one thumb towards the dancers. Led by defensive end Corey Wootton, the team filed onto the dance floor, giving out handshakes and hugs to many glassy-eyed dancers. But Fitzgerald didn't practice what he preached.
"I can't dance," Fitzgerald said, laughing, when asked why he wasn't joining in. "My guys are dancing."
Text: Nomaan Merchant/The Daily Northwestern
Photo: Lauren Pond/The Daily Northwestern
No comments:
Post a Comment