Q 01/05

Before they became the Wildcats in 1924, what were Northwestern's teams unofficially called?

A) Fighting Methodists

B) Fighting Presbyterians

C) Praying Colonels

D) Battling Bishops

Answer · why

A) Fighting Methodists

Fighting Methodists was the unofficial name and The Purple the official one until a Chicago sportswriter likened the 1924 team to wildcats after a los...

Q 02/05

Northwestern hosted the first final of which event in 1939, yet never played in it until 2017?

A) College World Series

B) NCAA basketball tournament

C) National Invitation Tournament

D) NCAA Frozen Four

Answer · why

B) NCAA basketball tournament

The NCAA basketball tournament crowned Oregon its first champion at Northwestern's Patten Gymnasium. The Wildcats finally qualified 78 years later and...

Q 03/05

Which future baseball owner spent 1955 as an assistant coach on Northwestern's winless football team?

A) Charlie Finley

B) Jerry Reinsdorf

C) George Steinbrenner

D) Edward Bennett Williams

Answer · why

C) George Steinbrenner

George Steinbrenner worked under head coach Lou Saban through an 0–8–1 season, moved on to Purdue's staff, and led the group that bought the New York ...

Q 04/05

Northwestern's 2005 champion women's lacrosse team caused a stir by wearing what to the White House?

A) Flip-flops

B) Baseball caps

C) Team jerseys

D) Sunglasses

Answer · why

A) Flip-flops

Flip-flops on several players in the team photo with President Bush made national news, and the squad later auctioned the sandals for charity.

Q 05/05

Which 1940s Northwestern quarterback took the Cleveland Browns to ten straight league title games?

A) Sid Luckman

B) Otto Graham

C) Sammy Baugh

D) Bobby Layne

Answer · why

B) Otto Graham

Otto Graham arrived at Northwestern on a basketball scholarship in 1940 before football became his main sport. He won seven of those ten title games.