Only 131 days until kickoff.

Fans got a taste of Northwestern football at the annual spring ccrimmage on Saturday afternoon. Despite inclement weather, a dedicated contingent of NU faithful turned out for the contest/

“I am here because I love football and I love Northwestern,” McCormick freshman Billy Agee said. “It is good to bring out the fans, pump them up and see what we have in store for next season.”

Like Agee, several students showed up at Ryan Field under cloudy skies to see the Cats’ public tune-up for the 2010 season. Although the students that came were dedicated, some were disappointed at the lack of purple in the stands.

Communication junior Darby St. Clair-Barrie, a goalkeeper on the women’s lacrosse team, said athletes appreciate support from their classmates. She wished more people would have attended the scrimmage and showed school pride.

“There definitely needs to be more support for athletics at Northwestern,” Barrie said. “It has increased in recent years, but I’d love to see more people at the games.”

While most devoted fans came out to see the team, a few stayed at home to see where former NU players would end up in the NFL Draft. Several fans chose to find out where Mike Kafka and Corey Wooton will be playing on Sundays this fall.

McCormick senior Dallas Swift attended the scrimmage but was interested in seeing where the former NU stars would end up. He found a perfect balance.

“I (kept) track of the draft on my cell phone,” Swift said. “I want to see our current players, but I also want to see where the old guys will be next year.”

Like Swift, many seniors came to the scrimmage to see the Cats one last time as undergraduates. This year’s graduating class saw two close bowl games and many found it hard to say goodbye.

SESP senior Lauren Troy came to the scrimmage to get a final taste of NU football. She attended most games as a student and wanted to see the team that will be competing next year.

“It is really nice to see them one last time,” Troy said. “I try not to miss any games in the fall, so why would I miss this game in the spring?”

For students that will be on campus in the fall, the scrimmage offered a sneak peek at the 2010 season.

Weinberg freshman Laurel Friesen said she thinks the scrimmage is not a good barometer of how the Cats will perform next season.

“It is difficult to tell how they are doing because they all know each other and each other’s plays,” Friesen said. “But the game does give everyone an opportunity to play in a competitive game.”

Still, if some fans found holes in NU’s play Saturday, the team has the time to get ready for next year.

“There is so much time between now and new season,” Swift said. “Improvements and adjustments are made in the summer, but this is the starting point.”

All in all, most students attended the scrimmage to get an April dose of football.

“I love being out here and watching football,” Weinberg freshman Shawnee Bernstein said. “What else am I going to do, study?”[email protected]