'Game of Thrones' Creator Will Be Honored at Northwestern Football Game

Halloween may have come and gone, but fans at Northwestern University’s football game against Penn State Saturday at Ryan Field in Evanston may still show up to root on the Wildcats in full costume.

That’s because the university plans on honoring George R.R. Martin - creator of the popular HBO fantasy Game of Thrones series - during the game. Martin, a 1970 graduate of Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism and a best-selling author whose novel “A Song of Ice and Fire” inspired the start of the series, will be recognized on the field four days after receiving the Medill Hall of Achievement Alumni award.

As the legend is in the building, Northwestern officials are aware the game might draw an audience that isn’t at your typical Big Ten football matchup.

“We do feel like people who might not normally attend the game will show up,” said Allyssa Pollard, who works in media relations at Northwestern and is a big fan of the show herself. “I’m sure some will come in costume, in fantasy attire.”

To add to the fun, Northwestern’s Wildcat Marching Band will perform selections from Game of Thrones during a special halftime show while students who arrive early will receive a limited-edition giveaway shirt.

It’s been a Game of Thrones-style week at Northwestern, since Martin was first honored on Wednesday with an invite-only ceremony and Q&A session at Medill followed by a larger reception open to the public.

During the Wednesday ceremony, Martin was “very thoughtful,” “funny” and “surprisingly frank,” according to Pollard.

“Both the Medill event and community event were full,” she said. “It was very exciting to have him here.”

Beth Moellers, a consultant at Medill, said Martin was selected by a panel who decided the winner of the Hall of Achievement Award each year. Moellers says the excitement this week has come from “all corners of the University.”

“There’s a tremendous amount of enthusiasm,” she said. “I’ve talked to students who have experienced his work from all around the world. They’ve read his books and watched the show in their home countries, and were thrilled to meet him on campus.”

Martin is co-executive producer of Game of Thrones and has scripted one episode for the first four seasons of the show. The show has won numerous Emmy Awards, including Best Drama Series in 2015. Martin has won Hugo, Bram Stoker, Nebula and World Fantasy awards.

According to the Evanston Review, Martin’s next book in the series, “The Winds of War” will be out soon, but he has not provided fans with a specific release date.