Redevelopment of Norris University Center’s East Lawn to begin this summer
April 5, 2024
The sun had not yet risen over Deering Library when more than 500 Northwestern University students, alumni, faculty and staff gathered to show their Purple Pride on national television and ESPN Radio.
Northwestern alumnus Mike Greenberg (Medill ’89) brought his “Mike & Mike” sports talk radio show to campus for a live broadcast on Deering Meadow from 5-9 a.m. Wildcat fans broke the early morning silence with loud cheers, “Go ‘Cats” signs, and lots of purple to kick off the Homecoming weekend festivities.
The broadcast featured appearances by head football coach Patrick Fitzgerald and two other Northwestern alumni who now work for ESPN -- Michael Wilbon (Medill ’80) and J.A. Adande (Medill ’92). Members of the Northwestern football team, the WildPride Spirit Squad, the Northwestern University Wildcat Marching Band and President Morton Schapiro also stopped by to join in the fun.
Greenberg will serve as grand marshal of Friday evening’s Homecoming parade and clearly relished the opportunity to broadcast his show on the home turf of his alma mater. Regularly interacting with the crowd of admiring students during the show’s commercial breaks, Greenberg signed autographs and told stories from his student days.
“I went over to Norris the other day, and I cannot believe how great that place is now,” he said of Norris University Center. “When I was here -- I kid you not -- Norris was one guy behind a grill. That was the food option. You’ve got a Frontera in there now!”
Read a Q&A with Greenberg for more of his college memories as well as his thoughts on the Wildcats’ recent athletic success.
The ‘Cats will take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in a night game Saturday at Ryan Field. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ABC.
