After an exciting first round of schools, Mr. Gibson found himself in the heartlands of Ohio. With Ohio State in his rearview mirror, Gibson was ready to hit the heart of the Midwest with his next stretch of schools. The amount of memories created from this first stretch was enough for its own story, but he was not done yet. Gibson was heading northbound with four schools in his sights.
During a long drive from Columbus to Ann Arbor, he passed through Toledo and Detroit to reach his next destination, The University of Michigan. The campus, full of athletic prowess, has seen many trophies in its existence, including twelve football championships. The suburban skyline of Ann Arbor is a perfect combination of city and secluded, which many students flock to year after year. The university is filled with a plethora of gardens and nature walks that help maintain the natural beauty of Michigan, and give students a break from the Detroit suburb. Along with gardens, art of all different kinds covers the streets and walls of Ann Arbor with vibrant colors and stunning shapes. The skyline is highlighted by U of M’s Medical School and Memorial Hospital, which is a coveted school by many students who want to pursue a career in the medical field. Lastly, Gibson visited the world-famous “Big House”, the home of Michigan Football, which is the second largest stadium in the world, behind North Korea’s “Rungrado 1st of May Stadium”, per Brittanica. The athletic complex is connected to the Crisler Center, which houses the Wolverine’s basketball teams. This arena has seen a multitude of historic teams including the “Fab Five” and the 1989 national championship team. Ann Arbor has many local dives to fill your time on campus including Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger and the Pretzel Ball. With Detroit’s vast transportation network, access to downtown Motown is minutes away. With the amount of activities available, there is no reason for someone to “go blue” in Wolverine country.
As Gibson drove out of the bright lights of the Detroit Area, he ended up in the heart of the Michigan countryside, Michigan State University. The state college of the mitten is nestled east of the state’s capital, Lansing, with many agricultural programs and facilities placed around it. The divide between the historic agricultural buildings and the modern academic wings can help define your experience in East Lansing. The Spartans’ football stadium is sleek and modern and provides a loud atmosphere for Spartans fans to let it all out. Gibson got a chance to walk into the Breslin Center, which has seen legends like Magic Johnson and Draymond Green. Other than the state-of-the-art sports facilities, MSU has vibrant green gardens that spruce up the campus and provide a welcoming environment to separate students from the sleek modern architecture of the campus. Other than the university, downtown Lansing showcases a small-scale city with a momentous history, along with boisterous art and music scenes. The food scene in Lansing is highlighted by places like the Peanut Barrel and the Soup Spoon Cafe, which are places that add an upscale flare to the typical college town restaurants. Even though Michigan State University is known as the “Little Brother” university in the mitten, the big bold atmosphere of Lansing has something for everyone.
After leaving the Great Lakes State, Mr. Gibson traveled along I-94 back into his home state on that way to the “windy city”, the home of Northwestern University. The prestigious academic university is the true definition of the original Big Ten Conference goal, which was to connect the “Midwestern Ivies” together through sports. Throughout the years since Northwestern is one of the few that has stuck to its level of prowess in a college sports world full of money and greed. The Lake Michigan coast campus allows for stunning views to be seen from most parts of the university. The outstanding arts programs provided at Northwestern are known as some of the best in the world. The Wildcats are one of the few Big Ten schools that truly prioritize academics, with far more CEOs than professional athletes, but many special moments have come out of their facilities. Their basketball stadium, Welsh-Ryan Arena, has been the site of many Northwestern upsets versus the Boilermakers, including their first loss of the 2023-2024 season. This makes the arena a fan favorite among many and provides a tough atmosphere for Big Ten basketball teams to play in. Their football stadium is currently a work in progress, but when done, it will become one of the top places to play in college sports. The 800 million dollar budget ensures a quality facility for fans and players alike. The windy winter weather always causes disruption for offenses’ pass games in the winter months, and many quality upsets can occur. With the campus being in Chicago’s backyard, downtown is minutes away. The many events Chicago offers will ensure that students will never have a dull moment. The Chicago food scene is unmatched but if someone wants food close to home they should check out Union Pizzeria or Mustard’s Last Stand for a taste of the “Chi-town”. With a gorgeous lake lookout and the city of Chicago on the horizon, Northwestern is the perfect place for a city lover looking for a quality degree.
As Gibson headed north along Lake Michigan’s west coast, he entered the Dairy State, home of the Marquette Golden Eagles. Gibson was not here to visit the beautiful city of Milwaukee, however, he entered the city of Madison, home of the University of Wisconsin. The Badgers’ campus is nestled between two lakes and also suits Wisconsin as the state capital. The floral-filled streets help bloom up the constant renovations that occur on site. With the compact-sized city, the campus is all bunched together, which is perfect for small-town students getting used to university life. The sports facilities are included in this as well, with both football and basketball stadiums being right in downtown Madison. Starting with their basketball stadium, the Kohl’s Center is one of the hardest to play in no matter the skill. Their basketball program is full of many greats, with their dominance being in the early 2010s, with a loss in the national championship game in 2015. No matter their roster, they always seem to make it to March but never make a longer run than their big brother, Marquette. Their football is their powerhouse, however, with a national championship under their belt in 1942. “Running Back University” is a name they earned by their powerful offensive lines, year after year, which helps their backfield dominate on the gridiron. Camp Randall Stadium is large, rowdy, and a problem for opposing teams. The large number of Badgers around the campus help remind their students that they sadly are not Golden Eagles, but show the true edge of their fanbase. For Madison’s small size, their food packs a punch, with places like Forage Kitchen and Short Stack Eatery to help students from getting hungry on those cold winter days. The beautiful campus is a key draw for those enrolled and is the perfect safety school for Marquette prospective students if they sadly need it. “On Wisconsin” might be their fight song, but to truly understand the Badger loyalty, people have to explore what’s IN Wisconsin.
As Gibson crossed the Great Lakes states, he ran into many intriguing institutions that provided their own flare to the campus lifestyle. From the big city life of Northwestern and Michigan to the tight-knit community of Wisconsin or Michigan State, there is something for everyone in the Big Ten. These four schools further the idea of the different landscapes of the conference and create an environment for everyone. This series is far from over, with Gibson trekking across the plains of Wisconsin to the twin cities in Minnesota. Gibson’s trip continues, and there is so much more for him to explore.
