CHICAGO -- Hey folks, Matt Fortuna here to wish you a Happy Halloween from the Windy City, where Penn State will take on Northwestern about three and a half hours from now. Nate Mink and myself will have you covered with all of the action following a flight to Midway Airport that was anything but smooth. We learned exactly why this place is called "The Windy City." Our small little plane swerved back and forth like a theme-park ride much of the time and, to top it off, another plane was in the spot where we were supposed to land, so we had to remain in the air until that plane left.

Our late arrival made it an early night for us, as we crashed at my aunt's apartment on Michigan Ave. This morning we woke up to my grandmother's lovely pancake breakfast, where I did my best offensive lineman impression in taking down about a dozen or so. (OK, so they were minis.) Not even a late night phone call from the Patriot-News' Dave Jones urging us to come play basketball could keep us from this serving.

We were also joined by my other aunt and 10-year-old cousin, who went from a Packers fan to a Bears fan to a Vikings fan and from a Bulls fan to a Lakers fan. I think he'd get along well with Collegian Icers reporter Tom Copain, whose heart is torn during this Yankee-Phillie World Series, among other matchups.

Well, my stomach is full about now after that meal. Time to get ready and head to Ryan Field.

-Fortuna