It comes as no surprise that Weinberg freshman Brian Retson knows every word to “Go U Northwestern” and can recall NU football highlights dating back to 1995.

After all, before he was born, his father sang the spirited fight song to Retson every night.

“That was the first song they learned to sing,” said Retson’s father, Nick Retson. “We have all these home videos of the kids banging on pots and singing ‘Go U Northwestern.”’

When the Retson children were younger, they often dressed in NU gear. At Christmas, Nick Retson gives them all things purple and white.

Nick Retson graduated from the Medical School in 1975 after majoring in math as an NU undergraduate. He said he has missed about 20 home games since 1967 and attended all but one as a student.

“There are a lot of lean years,” he said. “But when they are competitive and they are playing well, it’s just a lot of fun.”

Other families have pledged their undying love for the school’s sports teams.

Elaine Brown and her husband make the eight-hour drive from Nashville, Tenn. to watch their daughter, Brie, pitch on the softball team.

“We live, eat and breathe softball,” Elaine Brown said. “We can’t stand (it) if we have to miss a game.”

Elaine Brown said she tries to attend all the away games and often brings candy for the team.

“Sometimes Brie looks at us and says, ‘I can’t believe it. I can’t believe you’re here,'” Elaine Brown said. “But we’re there in rain, sleet, snow or shine, and we’re not the only ones.”

The Retsons also share that devotion to NU athletics. After the family moved to Crown Point, Ind. and built a new home, Donna Retson ordered custom wall-to-wall carpet for her husband’s special room — off-white carpet with a giant purple “N” in the center. Nick Retson decorated the basement with an entire wall of pennants and newspaper clippings from a 1995 football victory over the University of Notre Dame.

“You don’t mess with that wall,” Brian Retson said. “It’s sacred.”

Nick Retson videotaped the game’s television broadcast and made a cassette tape for his car. That way, he said, he can still listen to it at least once a week.

Despite his father’s love for NU, Brian Retson said he felt little pressure to come to NU for college.

“He always said I could go wherever I wanted,” Brian Retson said. “He would have been supportive of me wherever I went. But you could tell that deep down inside he was really hoping I’d come here.”