Thursday’s column from CBS Chicago … (CBS) When it comes to college football, the state of Illinois has an attendance deficit. Here in the Land of Lincoln, we have three FBS programs in Illinois, Northwestern and Northern Illinois. The school’s home venues – Memorial Stadium (cap. 60,600), Ryan Field (47,130) and Huskie Stadium (24,000) – […]
Author Archives: Dave
What Explains The Popularity of NU Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald?
My latest piece on Wednesday for ChicagoSide … He’s never won a bowl game. His career record in the Big Ten is 26-30. And, this season, his Northwestern Wildcats, while compiling an impressive 9-3 record, were perhaps best known for squandering leads. Nevertheless, Pat Fitzgerald remains as popular in Evanston as the Purple Line, and […]
Illinois Needs A New Border War Rival
Today’s column from CBS Chicago … (CBS) Come this evening in front of a rabid crowd in St. Louis, Illinois will defend its border against Missouri during the two schools’ annual Braggin’ Rights game. Three weeks from today, Illinois will defend its border against Wisconsin. The following month, it will stage a border battle against […]
For Illini and Tigers, ’tis the season to brag
This weekend’s Wisch List newspaper column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … The WISCH LIST Dec. 22, 2012 This week, a friend out in California wished me a Merry Christmas and said that perhaps I’ll find a new Illinois football coach in my stocking. I told him I’d settle […]
Cubs Need Championship-Caliber Pitching, Not Just Pitching
Today’s column from CBS Chicago … (CBS) Perception can be a funny thing. Last week, for example, after a Twitter storm about free agent pitcher Anibal Sanchez’s supposed imminent signing with the Cubs failed to blow anything but rumors into the Windy City, Chicago Tribune beat writer Paul Sullivan offered his take on the saga […]
Just Join The Big Ten Already, Notre Dame
Tuesday’s column from CBS Chicago … (CBS) It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I’m pretty sure that old Charles Dickens didn’t pen those words with Notre Dame in mind, but here in the waning days of 2012, he certainly could have. That’s because, on one hand, the Fighting Irish […]
Holiday Cheers: The best seasonal drinks in Chicago
This weekend’s Wisch List newspaper column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … By Dave Wischnowsky The WISCH LIST Before he left Yale to become president of the University of Chicago in 1890, William Rainey Harper was billed as the “busiest man in America.” And it was said his stamina […]
How Much Longer Can Carmody Last At Northwestern?
Today’s column for CBS Chicago … (CBS) With no games scheduled until Monday, the Northwestern basketball team is taking a break this week. But here in the meantime, what I’m wondering is if the Northwestern basketball program will ever decide to break away from coach Bill Carmody. Or if the school will just let it […]
The Fighting (And Winning) Illini!
Today’s column from ChicagoSide … It’s been more than 280 days since we’ve seen a snowfall in Chicago, perhaps because a torrential bad-luck weather system has been parked above Illini Nation the entire time. The Illinois football team went 2-10 this year, and last year’s basketball tam was an abysmal 17-15. After so much darkness, […]
Cutler’s Record Against Top Competition Isn’t Good Either
Tuesday’s column from CBS Chicago … (CBS) In Chicago, the heat is cranking up on Lovie Smith, Jay Cutler and the rest of the Bad News Bears. But even as the team’s championship hopes fade away, support for the embattled coach and quarterback hasn’t cooled among some members of the fan base. Last week I […]