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Northwestern Home Game Programs Gallery
The Classic Covers Summary
Posted 8/19/12; Updated 9/22/19
Here
they are: the twenty covers (plus one bonus cover!) selected from the home game programs from
1895 through 1991 that are the most memorable, iconic, and
representative of NU football.
Click here to return to the program gallery main page.
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Nov. 12, 1910
Illinois
The
1910 home games featured larger programs with purple construction paper
covers and hand-glued photos on each. The program for the
Illinois game is a great example.
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Nov. 13, 1926
Chicago
Northwestern
Stadium was renamed Dyche Stadium at this landmark game. The
program is also a landmark, featuring a unique view of the southwest
tower.
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Oct. 22, 1927
Illinois
The combination of the stylized player and the Dyche Stadium background make this drawing a memorable NU image. |
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Nov. 12, 1927
Indiana
NU
had been referred to as "the Wildcats" in its programs during the
previous three seasons, but this was the first home game cover to feature a
wildcat.
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Oct. 20, 1928
Kentucky
Another
early Wildcat cover, this one playing on the "Wildcat vs. Wildcat"
angle of the Kentucky game. |
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Oct. 25, 1930
Centre College
This art deco masterpiece provided an iconic rendering of Dyche Stadium.
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Nov. 15, 1930
Wisconsin
Yet another masterpiece from 1926-1930, the artwork for this cover would be copied for years to come.
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Oct. 31, 1931
Illinois
This
original drawing, featuring a sketch of the northwest tower and art
deco lettering, epitomized the poster style that would become popular
during the NRA (Nat'l Recovery Act).
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Nov. 22, 1941
Illinois
The
only original cover artwork for the '41 home season, this drawing by
Lew Merrell incorporated the Wildcat, Chief, and the visiting team's
colors in a memorable image. |
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Sept. 28, 1946
Iowa State
For
this cover, NU briefly abandoned the cute Willie comic character and
employed a far more menacing Wildcat, huddled with NU's team.
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Nov. 9, 1946
Indiana
Its
dramatic use of the early 1930s version of the Wildcat, superimposed
with the Harvest Moon, evokes fall football, NU style. |
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Nov. 15, 1952
Iowa
Predating
a cartoon style that would become the standard for NU in 1959, this
drawing of battling mascots is wonderfully whimsical.
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Sept. 27, 1958
Washington State
This particular cover, for the Washington State
game, epitomized the style NU used from 1953 through 1958.
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Nov. 4, 1961
Indiana
An
image that breaks ranks with the 1959 - 1963 Fraser covers (no Wildcat;
no fighting with the opposing mascot), but it has a lot of fun
elements: a crowd outside of Dyche, nostalgia, and a lot of pipe
smoke.
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Oct. 27, 1962
Notre Dame
Program for NU's only homecoming game against a non-Big Ten opponent
(this game also holds the Dyche / Ryan attendance record and gave NU a
#1 ranking). The cover itself epitomizes the 1959 - 1963 style. |
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Oct. 12, 1963
Minnesota
Another
very creative comic cover from 1959 - 1963. The look of fear on
the Minnesota player's face is priceless.
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Oct. 18, 1969
Wisconsin
The
second of the 1969 staged shots covers featured this great first down
debate image. |
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Sept. 11, 1971
Michigan
For
1971, NU moved away from the minimalist style it used for its '70
programs and began the "Wild Cats!" style that would last two
yeas. '71's covers were more psychedelic, and this cover is a great example: bold, loud, and
wild.
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Nov. 11, 1978
Michigan
Another
program that featured the 1978 helmet, this juxtaposition with Dyche
Stadium's northwest tower produced a famous image. |
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Nov. 13, 1982
Ohio State
Of
Ron DiCanni's 1982 watercolor images, arguably the best is this version of the
iconic '49 Rose Bowl photo, showing Ed Tunnicliff's TD run and Richard
Anderson's monster block.
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Bonus Cover:
Sept. 21, 2019
Michigan State
Although
the 2019 MSU game is out of the range of our 1895 - 1991 program cover
gallery, we had to include this fantastic cover, a one-time project by
artist Anthony Zych. Zych replicates the old-school Marvel Comics look
to perfection.
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