Tuesday, December 29, 2009


HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I know this is a shitty picture but I haven't uploaded anything from my camera yet. This picture is from Sconnie's on Saturday night . . before things got out of hand!
Another great outing . . . from what I can remember. We'll be posting pictures and updates throughout 2010. Feel free to send me your memories, quotes, pictures, thoughts from the weekend for the official re-cap which will be posted in November of 2010.
The schedule comes out in April. Start thinking about whether Christmas weekend or another weekend is best for the group next year. There is a good chance for a home game on Sunday 12/26/10. Please note that Wham Brady D can probably make it any weekend other than Christmas weekend.
Going to Mexico. See ya!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009








20TH ANNUAL NMU PACKER WEEKEND: OFFICIAL SCRIPT PRESENTED BY ANDUZZI'S
& CARL "BUCK" NYSTROM

Men, if there is one thing I learned from Professor Bing (or Biggie Munn, I forget) it's two things:

1. You gotta piss hard against the sidewalk; and

2. You gotta stay on script.



Before I get to the script a few thoughts on this year's roster.

  • Dahlke. Simple guy. My kind of guy and a helluva reach blocker.
  • Gregory. Not a simple guy. A head case. Still is.
  • Kraylovac. Jimmy' finest moment for me was the Ashland Mud Bowl when Dahlke got thrown out for ripping that linebackers face mask off. That one worked out niiicce.
  • Nickels. That kid from Okunto. I virtually invented this guy through sheer force of will. Berruttit too for that matter.
  • Wall. Nice range guy. Spends too much time in the dorms playing records, damn hippie. What's this damn defensive player doing in with my guys? Should have made him a tight end. I hear he's a union guy on a goddamm lean-to job now.
  • Modjeleski. A nice what? Sophisticated guard from Brown Deer. Nice.
  • Sweeney. I tell you why your back hurts Sweeney. Yooourre (still) too fat!
  • Stew. Love those Hofer guys from Menonmimee County. I shoud've run the Wing-T with that sumbitch.
  • Strube. Good looking kid, a real snatch magnet. Like how I stock-piled him, Nickel, and Wentland at Tight End in 91 and then threw them 7 passes all year? See, I can't stand a drop back passer with a cannon for an arm who all his lineman loved. I need a sprint-out quarterback to validate all of my theories about offensive football. You were all just lab rats in my grand experiment, you see.
  • Goerlitz. Liked the Dad, not sure about the kid. Good Germans from Milwaukee.

It's a good crew, men. Nice fibers and characteristics. Really glad you guys all get together for a Packer game every year. It's part of our common Northeast Wisconsin/U.P. heritage. Did I ever tell you about the story with the little old man and the bird in his hand? It goes like this, little old man, little old man . . . ah to hell with it.

Here's the script. Get your knees bent. Get your back straight and put it right in someone's thighboards.


Saturday, December 26

  • Noon to 3pm: Put your hand on the line and "All up" for Rally at the Residence Inn. Same room as the last two years men with a good view of our objective - Lambeau Field (a.k.a. the New Stadium).
  • 1 to 5pm-Gregory and Kraylovac go on a scout team mission to identify bars for Saturday night. Don't forget to stop by Fuzzy Thurston's No. 63. Can't believe that clown from Valpo made it in the pro's and I didn't.
  • 5pm - 530pm- Jingle Jangle.
  • 530pm - Start driking heavily. Someone bring the Crowne Royal as Mojikowski will not be there until Sunday.
  • 6 pm - Bubba pulls into an early lead for MVD.
  • 7:30 pm - The Mayor asks for contributions to the Chezury. Note, Gregory paid for the hotel so don't let Charlie add that to his bill for services rendered.
  • 8:00 pm - Bucky's Limo arrives. Apparently he wants no smoking this year. Men, we used to smoke cigs at half-time in the 50's that's all I'm going to say. That and hard-ons are all circulation so don't overindulge. Word to the wise from a man with flabitis.
  • 8:30 pm - Korner Pub, eastside. It's like 34 lead base men. Keep running this play until it doesn't work and then run it a few more times. Again, I can't stress this enough. Football is not about players. It's about all about using you as a vehicle to prove my theories about blocking techniques and offensive play calling.
  • 9:30 pm - Team meeting at the Oval Office.
  • 10:30 pm - Someone pukes in the limo. Again men, it's tradition. Don't let me down.
  • 11:00pm to 1:00 am - Pound the bricks and put Japanese discs in your ass and dance at a honky tonk.
  • 1am to close - Go to Anduzzi's just to piss off Nickels. Confront and Demand.
  • 2 am - check to see if Wall is still with you. If he is, something is wrong.
  • 2:30 am to 4 am - Fellowship.
  • 4 am - cover Bubba in clothes, wrappers, chew bottles, trash, whatever you can find, and take pictures.


Sunday, December 27

  • 8 am - debate going to tailgate and decide not to.
  • 10 am - take drugs if necessary to revive yourself. In the immortal words of Phil Elliott in North Dallas Forty "You can always count on me to do whatever it take to play B.A. Hell, I love needles."
  • 11:45 am - Pre-game speech "Pound Green Pound. Smoke Green Smoke. Give me a chance Coach. Coach me Coach."
  • Noon - It's a beautiful day . . . . for football. Cram your fat asses into your tiny row and get ready to chant "Go Pack Go!" 238 times.
  • 1:30 pm - jam to Todd Rundgren's classic "Bang on the Drum on All Day."
  • 2:30 pm - last call for acohol . . . . in the stadium. Put your hand on the line and get your drink on.
  • 3:30 pm - Game Over. Now it's on to the real Fourth Quarter. FOOOURR!! Whatever you do, do not stop drinking. Do not take a nap. This is no time to get on a goddammn non-agression pact!
  • 4:00 pm - 50 Yard Line and/or Stadium View. I'm pretty sure they are the same place.
  • 6:00 pm - Anduzzi's. Reminder, women wearing Packer No. 50 jerseys do not like to be told they look like A.J. Hawk.
  • 8:00 pm - find a dead-end bar that will still have you on a Sunday 2 days after Christmas and stay there until midnight or so.
  • Midnight - And then, depression set in. Name and MVD.

Monday, December 28

  • Go home with a scorching hang-over and a few new regrets. See you next year for our 21st birthday.

Don't forget your emergency contacts:

  • The Mayor's cell, (920) 433-6563.
  • The Mayor's office, (866) 224-3190
  • The Oval Office, (920) 569-1888.
  • Mystic (to place an order), (414) 429-8077.
  • Brown County Jail, 3030 Curry Lane, (920) 448-4250.
  • Dave Babe, (517) 303-6788.
  • Bellin Hospital, 1744 S. Webster (conveniently close to the hotel), (920) 433-3500.
  • Stitch Jones (for purposes of harrasing phone calls), (906) 367-7018.
  • The former Korner Pub, the official bar of the NMU Packer Weekend, 1605 University, (920) 432-9691.
  • Chris "Cuddles" Goerlitz (if you know someone who can cat sit for him), (215) 783-1946



AN NMU PACKER WEEKEND SALUTE TO GILDO CANALE


We lost one of the all-time great Wildcats this year as Gildo Canale passed away at the age of 77.

Highlights of his storied NMU career include:
  • Graduated from from Northern Michigan College in 1956.
  • Joined NMC in 1959 as an instructor and athletic trainer and retired from NMU in 1993.
  • Athletic Director from 1971-85.
  • During that period the football team won the NCAA-II national championship and reached the playoffs five additional seasons.
  • Ice hockey, which he was instrumental in establishing as a NCAA-I sport at the university, made two trips to the frozen four, later winning the national championship in
  • Additionally, teams or individuals in men's basketball, diving, skiing, wrestling, and women's field hockey, gymnastics and skiing were all tournament competitive nationally.
  • Member of the NMU and U.P. Sports Halls-of-Fame. Was also a co-founder of both organizations.
  • Founder and Charter Member of the Golden Wildcat Club.
  • Gildo Canale Award given annually to NMU's Outstanding Senior Scholar Athlete.

Gildo's finest attribute was his sense of humor. As my father liked to say, he was a character with character.

Some men pass through institutions. Other men shape institutions. Gildo was clearly the latter. He will be missed. Let's have at least one drink in his honor this weekend.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

BREAKING NEWS!

CHRIS "CUDDLES" GOERLITZ THREATENS (AGAIN)

TO ATTEND NMU PACKER WEEKEND.

Associated Press

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA - Chris "Cuddles" Goerlitz (blue shirt, pictured above), son of NMU Hall-of-Famer Gerry Goerlitz, has again threatened to attend the NMU Packer Weekend in Green Bay. In what has become an annual ritual, Cuddles stated. "[h]ey, I'm a public school teacher on Christmas Break; I'm a raving alcoholic; and I love me some Hank Sweeney (pictured at the far right above). Maybe I'll even get a women to lick my ear instead of Moon Man."
Chris, to quote our 43rd President and one of your personal favorites, George W. Bush, we have just one question for you: "Is our children learning?"


AN OFFICIAL NMU PACKER WEEKEND HAPPY 41ST BIRTHDAY WISH TO AMERICA'S GUEST!

Stroob, Strube Tube, Congo the Mailman, Congo, America's Guest, Marco, Lady Killer, International Man of Mystery, however, you know him, please wish Mark Strube a Happy 41st Birthday today.

Mark recently went through a messy break-up via public postings on Facebook. In case you missed it, it went something like this (I'm not making this up):

  • Strube Post: "When you see my ex-girlfriend, please tell her to give me back my phone, my I-pod, and my camera."
  • Ex-Girlfriend Post: "Stop embarrassing us on Facebook"
  • Random Post: "Give Strube his stuff back!"

Aaah, Strube. It's comforting to us mere mortals to know that even you have girl problems from time-to-time. Thanks and good luck in the Bacardi Cup.

Monday, December 21, 2009



20th ANNUAL NMU-PACKER WEEKEND: WHAT A LONG STRANGE TRIP IT'S BEEN!

What: 20 years of fellowship and beers! Packers vs. Seahawks. All-time series record is 14-5.

When: December 26 through 28, 2009.

Where: The Frozen Tundra

HQ: Residence Inn of Green Bay, 335 W. St. Joseph (east side off Webster adn 172). Same as last year.


Roster:

  • Your eternal host and Mayor, Cheesey Charlie Nickel. No Saturday night trips to Anduzzi's this year Chuck, we promise!
  • All-time MVD Leader, Bubba K. He's made a pledge not to get so drunk so early this year. Good luck to you sir!
  • The Electric One also known as "Hey Dennis, we gotta go to Ishpeming" Dahlke.
    Pat "Seriously, I used to play fullback" Modjeski. Someone else has to bring a bottle of Crowne this year as Pat is a game only participant this year.
  • Straight from his recent (and we swear not drug related) trip to Central America, Chip "Mystic" Wall.
  • Ol Number 60, Dave "Babe" Gregory and the John D. "I've had these tickets since they built the new stadium" Nickel memorial hat.
  • Special mystery guests. Hint, they've never attended and they are related . . . to each other.

Practice Squad

  • The Hawker. Try not to puke in the limo this year, Bill.
  • Well-known alcoholics, DJ Rein and Mike "The Mad Stork" Nichols. Seriously guys, we can't keep up with you two.
  • O Henry and his wife and kids. Seriously, that wasn't a buzz kill or anything. Bring em around anytime.

Injured Reserve

  • Wham, Brady D!! No way is Marcie letting him come two years in a row. See you in another decade.
  • Stewie. I want my Elvis glasses back, bitch!
  • That Big Fat Lumberjack, Keith Gering.

On Waivers

  • For the 15th straight year, the Ayatollah of Rock n Rolla, Stitch Jones who apparently has not one, but two different groups of friends coming in for ice fishing dates. Since when did this asshole start hunting and fishing?! From all of us, go fuck yourself!

Rules: The rules are there aren't no rules!

Emergency Contacts:

  • The Mayor's cell, (920) 433-6563.
  • The Mayor's office, (866) 224-3190
  • The Oval Office, (920) 569-1888.
  • Mystic (to place an order), (414) 429-8077.
  • Brown County Jail, 3030 Curry Lane, (920) 448-4250.
  • Dave Babe, (517) 303-6788.
  • Bellin Hospital, 1744 S. Webster (conveniently close to the hotel), (920) 433-3500.
  • Stitch Jones (for purposes of harrasing phone calls), (906) 367-7018.
  • The former Korner Pub, the official bar of the NMU Packer Weekend, 1605 University, (920) 432-9691.
  • Chris "Cuddles" Goerlitz (if you know someone who can cat sit for him), (215) 783-1946


Official Script: To be posted tomorrow.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009





RETRO EDITION: FLASHBACK TO 1989.

1989. Our hair was thick and our wallets were thin. Time Magazine recently called 1989 "The Year That Shaped Our World."

I like to call 1989 "The Year I Blew Out My Knee and Developed a Long-Term Drinking Problem." Either way, it was a very good year.

Most importantly, 1989 was the first year of the NMU Packer Weekend. The original roster was: The Mayor, Stitch Jones, Fatty Gering, and Dave Babe. There was a special appearance by America's Guest at the now defunct Top Shelf Bar.

Highlights of that maiden voyage included meeting Lynn Dickey, Strube getting thrown through a plate glass window, living the "Life of Reilly", encountering a drunken and very intimidating Roy Brown outside Lambeau, and going on a downtown movie date with 3 of my teammates in tow.

A tone was set my friends. And for 20 years we've followed the tradition of boozy excellence set that very first weekend.

What follows are a few of the other highlights from 1989 . . . the last year of a great decade.

World Events

Cold War ends with the fall of the Berlin Wall and Soviet domination of Eastern Europe

Around NMU

The gang moves off campus. Wall, Electric, Bubba, Ratt and Sweet Head of Devine move into the crime scene that was 124 W. Crescent Street -- just a few doors down from the Pub. The Mayor and company move into 1826 Van Evera (former swimmer's house).

Speaking of the Pub, Power Hour still in effect. 50 cent drafts from 10 to 11 pm, 364 days a year. By the end of the year, the only "legal" freshman from our crew were Ratt, me, and Bubba who all turned 21 in October.

Whelps turns O-Line Night into a roving off-campus party complete with hazing (making freshman kiss plungers and eat gourds and spiders) and random ackts of vandalisim (raiding the swimmers' house).

No diving. In a sad development, The Alibi as we know it closes its doors in December. In a bit of poetic justice it's now gym.

Pop Culture

Eat my shorts! The Simpsons debuts on Fox in December

Top Singles of the Year


  • Like a Prayer, Madonna

  • Eternal Flame, The Bangles. Bubba and I still have a crush on lead singer Susanna Hoffs.

  • Another Day in Paradise, Phil Collins
  • The Look, Roxette. My girlfriend had a sweet Roxette haircut.

  • Love Shack, B-52's. Tin Roof. Rusted.


Critically Acclaimed Songs

  • Fight the Power, Public Enemy
  • Monkey Gone to Heaven, The Pixies. Spring Break Theme Song. Padre 91.
  • Rockin in the Free World, Neil Young. "I see a thousand points of light, for the homeless man. I see a kinder, gentler machine-gun hand."
  • Personal Jesus, Depeche Mode. For my man Brys.

Top Movies

  • Batman. "I'm Blackman. Tell the brothers about me." bastardized quote courtesy of Shaun Manego.
  • Look Who's Talking. Didn't we see this movie on a football road trip?
  • Dead Poets Society "Oh Captain, My Captain."
  • Born on the Fourth of July.
  • Say Anything. "I gave her my heart and she gave me this pen."

Sports

  • Saskatchewan Roughriders upset the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 43 to 40 in the 77th Grey Cup. Rookie lineman and NMU alum Chuck Klingbeil named defensive MVP. No shit, they guy only bench pressed 600 lbs!

  • Notre Dame Football Coach Brian Kelly named defensive coordinator at GVSU.
  • Bad Boys Ride Again. Detroit Pistons win their second straight NBA title.
  • The Oakland A's, who were more juced up than most college football teams, win the World Series 4-0. Series interrupted by earthquakes.
  • Niners down the Bengals 20-16 in Super Bowl XXIII. More importantly Steve Avery throws a kick-ass Super Bowl Party at JT's Shaft. One memorable site was Bubba sitting at the bar with one eye open, one eye closed, and Slick draped all over him.

NMU Football (5-5)


Oh Captains, Our Captains: Eduardro, Rednuts, Baraga Bandit

Quote of the Year: "Gering, you're a big fat lumberjack. It's your fault, Marana, you recruited him!" Carl "Buck" Nystrom.

Game-by-Game Results:

  • NMU 24, North Dakota 22 - Tocco kicks winning field goal in his first game. Bubba celebrates by passing out in the flower bed at Ten O'Clock Charlies.

  • NMU 23, North Dakota State 55 -- The Mayor makes his first catch.

  • NMU 17, Hillsdale 27 -- Hillsdale always had our number.
  • NMU 17, Wayne State 13 -- back when they were still the Tartars.

  • NMU 19, Ferris State 14 -- I still hate Ferris. Never lost to them in 5 years!

  • NMU 14, Grand Valley 38 -- The luck of the Irish is with Brian Kelly.

  • NMU 28, Saginaw Valley 27 -- Must have been a good one; don't remember a thing.
  • NMU 43, UW Stout 22 -- Got drunk the night before this one. First and only time.
  • CENSORED -- DG blows out his knee. NMU just plain blown out!
  • NMU 20, St. Francis-Illinois 32 -- Whelps' last game. Dahlke plays center in my absence. No wonder we lost.

Thursday, December 10, 2009



2008 RECAP: O & 16 OR BUST!

Game: W over . . . wait for it . . . THE DETROIT LIONS! 31-21 on 12/28/08.

Highlights:

Direct from "the new stadium" the return of the John D. Nickel memorial hat. Best gift I got all year.

Lions make history as the first NFL team to go winless in a 16 game season. For the record it was our 4th straight and 7th overall Lions-Packer game.

The Return of Brady after an absence of several years. Hope to see you in 09.

A vist to the Oval Office including a land speed record for a forced exit. I swear we weren't there for more than 90 seconds before one of us was kicked out. Care to guess who?

Special guest appearance by noted heavy drinkers DJ Rein and Mike "Mad Stork" Nichols. Good to see you guys again Next time try to stay up past 10:00 pm!

Our man on the inside of the Packers organization, NMU Alum Bill Hawker leaves a gift for us in the limo. How thoughtful of you Bill!

Note to self: don't take the Mayor to Anduzzi's on Saturday night! All is forgiven as we head to Anduzzi's on Sunday night.

Post-game cameo by Hammerin Hank Sweeney at the 50 Yard Line Club (or was it the Stadium View, I always get those 2 mixed up).

Stitch Jones no-show, keeping the streak alive.

Quotes: Don't remember any, but I am sure you were all your usual witty selves.

Thursday, December 3, 2009


TODAY'S TRIVIA QUESTION

Mike Berutti fist met his childhood hero, Lynn Dickey, at a grocery store Iron Mountain. In what now defunct Green Bay bar did their second meeting take place during the inaugual NMU Packer Weekend in 1989?

ANSWER: The Top Shelf Bar. Also the site of the infamous James Lofton stairwell incident.

Bonus question, what former NMU great was thrown through a plate glass window at the same bar in 1989?

ANSWER: America's Guest, Mark Strube.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009


NO CAPTION NEEDED.






LORENZO WHITE WANTS YOU TO GO TO THE 21ST ANNUAL (minus 1) NMU PACKER WEEKEND!



He told me so himself when he stopped by my office this year to swap Coach Buck stories. Amazingly his are no different than ours!



CALLING ALL MORONS!

The Actual 20th Anniversary of the inaugural NMU Packer weekend is this year! The game is Packers vs. Seahawks on 12/27/09 at the frozen tundra. We are staying at the same hotel starting on Saturday the 26th! Be there.