EVANSTON, Ill. – One of the hallowed traditions of college football summer camp is a gluttonous feast upon its conclusion. Players for generations have replaced the calories shed under the beating sun and celebrated the nearing of kickoff.
At Northwestern, star center Sam Gerak and his teammates are planning some over-indulgence at Portillo’s, the iconic local hot dog restaurant. Gerak rattled off the order he planned on putting in at the close of camp – a double cheeseburger, fries, chili dog and chocolate malt.
While the pandemic disrupted this Northwestern tradition for Gerak and his teammates last season, the excursion in 2021 is befitting of the caution being shown by college football programs as they attempt to regain some semblance of normalcy while respecting the threat of the COVID-19 Delta variant.