Straight to the gridiron!
Game 1 ~ Nebraska vs. North Park North Park University is a Christian liberal arts school of 3,200 students located on the north side of Chicago. The school was founded – in Minneapolis – by Swedish immigrants hoping to better their chances in America. With an offer to move to the North Park neighborhood of Chicago, the Swedes took it, and continued to live in Sweden-type coldness.
If you somehow doubt this connection to Sweden, know that the school currently has an exchange program with the Swedish college, Södra Vatterbygdens Folkhögskola, located in Jönköping.
North Park’s teams are, of course, the Vikings. North Side Vikings. North Side Vikings with the opportunity to study at Södra Vatterbyg, oh somewhere in Sweden.
Game 2 ~ Wisconsin-Stout vs. Tennessee University of Wisconsin-Stout is a state school of 9.400 students located in Menomonie. So why is it called Wisconsin-Stout, and not Wisconsin-Menomonie, or the University of Wisconsinomonie. Why, Stout is a person! In 1891, James Stout started a manual training school, and 129 years later, here we are as Wisconsin-Stout. The Cheese State thanks you, James.
Their teams are the Blue Devils. They’ve been the Blue Devils since the late ’20s, however their actual mascot has had an unusual and fashion-challenged history. In 2011, after a decades long mascot hibernation, they brought back a mascot, voted on by both students and faculty. In 2012, this Devil was given the name Blaze, possibly implying their opponents will burn in hell for challenging the greatness of one James Stout.
Game 3 ~ Truman State vs. Nevada
Truman State University is public school of 6,400 students located in Kirksville, Missouri. Oh my is this campus filled with campus lore (scroll down to Campus Lore). Weathervanes, gum trees, sacred potatoes, Truman pennies, and naturally, some ghosts. Only in college does one get believe in so much lore, without being committed.
Truman State teams are the Bulldogs, and the mascots are Spike and Simone. Spike goes back awhile, and Simone eventually joined him. There may or may not be lore surrounding these two, but there ought to be. Perhaps, every time Spike and Simone spend a night alone, Truman State is guaranteed victory the next day. I’m leaving now.
Game 4 ~ Missouri vs. St. Vincent
Beautiful Saint Vincent College is a private Benedictine school of around 1,800 students located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1846 by a group of Benedictine monks led by Boniface Wimmer, who was Archabbot of the first Benedictine Archabbey in the United States. That means he headed the monastery.
At every school, the success of an education is the positive effect is has on a student. So, let us take in some positivity from the Saint Vincentians. Saint Vincent’s a win-win, throwing in a third win for our having read about it. Saint Vincent!
Their teams are the Bearcats, possibly but probably not led by a Benedictine Archcat.
Let the games begin!
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