Wrigley Field rightfield wall makes football game one-way street
A general view as the Northwestern Wildcats practice for a game against the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday November 20 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Nov. 18, 2010) Credit: Getty
CHICAGO - The Big Ten announced Friday that Illinois and Northwestern, citing injury concerns, had agreed to some unusual changes for Saturday's football game at Wrigley Field, including running all offensive plays toward one end zone.
The east end zone nearly abuts the rightfield wall, which has been heavily padded. It is the first football game at Wrigley Field since the Bears left for Soldier Field in 1970.
The Illini and Wildcats will run their offenses toward the dugout on the third-base side. All kickoffs will go the other way and after a change in possession, referees will reposition the ball to point offenses to the west. The only time a player would end up in the east end zone would be after a turnover, a punt or a safety.
The Illini (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) need a win against Northwestern (7-3, 3-3) or next week against Fresno State to become eligible for a bowl game. The game will air at 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
"Maybe the most unique game in college football ever," Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "It's going to be a 100-yard field. It's going to be played with the same rules as it would be; we're just heading west. So you recover a fumble, you pick off a ball, you go score in the east end zone - we're going to celebrate in that east end zone. Then we're going to kick the extra point the other way."- AP
