Met the BTN sideline reporter, Larra Beth Overton in the bowels of Ross Ade prior to kickoff
10:10-
-arrive at BS-designated spot in press box
-great view of new practice fields from row 3 on press row
-Philly cheesesteak sandwiches/polish sausage for media free lunch, donuts for dessert
-Joe McConnell/Pete Quinn behind me in line for sandwiches
-10:30 eat
-10:40-
-Meet guy in slot next to me in the booth- photographer from DeKalb Register named Beck...nice dude; University of Illinois grad
10:55-
-Go down to field level, see NIU team entering RA turf- confident, not cocky, loose
-Band Day...tons of Hsers filing into stadium
11:05-
-Meet BTN sideline reporter, Overton...she's shorter than me (that's tough to do)- about 4'11”
-Says she likes working for BTN- first year after working for Fox BTN affiliate
-Loves Coach Hope's attitude and calls him a “guy that never stops”
11:10-
-back up to box
-Gene Keady's suite is at the end of the hall near elevator...no sign of Keady.
-NIU athletic dir. suite next to Keady's
11:20-
-watch warm-ups
-King still not dressed
-Halliburton doing drills
-Purdue looks crisp/disciplined in warm-ups
-Receivers/TEs catching the ball well- Elliott's passes have a lot of “zip”
-11:40-
-teams off of the field
-11:45-
-Band on the field...just realized how insulated we are from the sound below...all I can hear is the bass drum
-Radio reports Nicaro Golding was kicked off of the team yesterday...After suspensions and problems
-11:52-
-Game ball delivered by Chick-Fil-A cow
-11:54
-Purdue on the field...crowd still a bit sparse