This week saw Northwestern University launch their Department of Athletics and Recreation (NUDAR) “Together We Win” campaign, with the purpose of raising awareness for the department’s commitment to create a diverse and inclusive community.

Their stated aims are to create a program that fosters belonging and celebrates authenticity. Each one of Northwestern’s 19 varsity programs, this academic year, will feature one “Together We Win” game, in which their campaign to advance the culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion, will be spotlighted. 

Together We Win focuses on doing the right things off the field, which transcends wins and losses on it. Right now, things are not looking up for the two Northwestern revenue sports. The odds are sharply against the men’s basketball team making the NCAA Tournament this upcoming season. If you’re doing college basketball betting at a Live casino in Canada you would see the Wildcats backed about +17500 to win the NCAA tourney. And of course, taking your business overseas would conform to one of the themes of this campaign- internationalism and multiculturalism. 

NU men’s basketball gets their season started with their lone preseason exhibition on Thursday. As for football, yesterday was their Together We Win game, which resulted in a 41-14 loss to the visiting Minnesota Golden Gophers. 

However, as Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck put it: “the score doesn’t match how hard of a game it was,” saying of his team, which is now first in the Big Ten West “they’re fun to coach because they don’t care who gets the credit.” 

The game featured multiple promotions of the Together We Win campaign, including videos airing on the Ryan Field jumbotron. Northwestern football fell to 3-5 on the season, 1-4 in Big Ten play yesterday. They opened the year as +3500 to win the Big Ten, but obviously their league title hopes are shot now. They are 9 point underdogs next week, for their final Ryan Field home game, against Iowa next week. 

But again, character matters much more than winning percentage in life. What makes somebody tough?” Fleck asked in his post game presser before answering “authenticity, identity. Showing what you can do and doing it.”

He’s right. Fleck and what he’s done at Minnesota represent that fully. As does NU’s new campaign for better social justice and equality. 

“Northwestern Athletics and Recreation is built upon a foundation intent on making every Wildcat feel safe, supported and capable of pursuing their goals,” said Northwestern Athletic Director Derrick Gragg.

“Collectively, we will continue to activate our community members in this pursuit because this is not the work of one but the responsibility of all. ‘Together We Win’ is a mantra that has been used to represent our department inclusion statement, written by student-athletes, staff and campus partners. This statement hangs in all 19 locker rooms and will continue to serve as our compass as we remain focused on our journey to enhance our culture.”

Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Bank (TheSportsBank.Net) and author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” as well as “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”

He has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune, and co-hosts the After Extra Time podcast. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.