[NU Sports] Philips proposes Cats to play Illinois at Wrigley

[Jonathan Hodges]

I agree that this is a good idea for a one-time event - given NU's home
attendance problems after one time or two Wrigley will likely follow the
same fate.  While there is the lack of a tailgate environment, the
Wrigleyville bars more than make up for that -as a one time event I think it
will be a neat event.

In terms of an opponent, Illinois is the most logical choice, although NU
will likely have to give up a home game.  I think it's worth it - the
capacity is smaller than Dyche and the excitement for the game should allow
it to fill up.  In terms of a series going forward, I don't think it will
happen given the reasons others have mentioned.

And I don't see NU reeling in another nonconference opponent soon given that
even NU's schedule is pretty well set for the next 2-3 years with other
opponents scheduled beyond that.  It will be very difficult to bring in a
specific school in such a short amount of time.  [And for those wanting a
deal done with ND, sorry to tell you, but it ain't going to happen, at least
not in the forseeable future - NU is striving to get 7 home games a season,
and ND's insistance on games in South Bend or neutral sites to fill up with
their own fans; i.e. their game against Washington State in San Antonio next
year.]

Jonathan

On Sat, Jan 17, 2009 at 3:26 PM, SjT (Stephen J. Truog)
<sjtruog at yahoo.com>wrote:

> I'm not wild about the idea for a couple reasons ...
>
> - Wrigley would be an awful place for a college football game. It would be
> more of a nightmare for people to get to than Dyche by a mile. Parking would
> be a mess. And cachet would soon wear off. This wouldn't be a one-time
> hockey event, it would be a regular football game.
>
> - The excitement would die quickly. Football games belong on the college
> campus with the college environment. The Red River and Cocktail games are
> the rare exceptions and involve border wars where the tickets are split
> equally between bitter rivals with huge support on each side. I doubt we
> would have a 50-50 split with the Illini every year, nor would we fill the
> stadium every year. From the NU side, with most of our students
> unable/unwilling to make it, it would be like the early September games with
> a lot of empty seats. And unless the Ill-whine-I are doing well, the Chicago
> bandwagoners wouldn't show either.
>
> It just sounds too gimmicky to me. I don't really see many Big Ten games
> able to do this (maybe OSU-PSU in Pittsburgh/Cleveland, but that would suck
> compared to the annual White Out or 'Shoe classics of recent years).
> Illinois-Mizzou is starting to build their tradition because St. Louis is a
> natural meeting point and it's a pretty even split (they still need some
> rivalry and fire, though, and consistent success).
>
> A Wrigley game would be neat for one year, then start to lose luster at a
> rapid rate. Soldier Field would probably hold on longer with a better
> environment for football, but even then it would be a half-empty spaceship
> some years.
>
> Besides, Illinois doesn't really seem to consider us their rival. And we've
> had more rivalry-like games with Wisky and Iowa in recent years than the
> Illini - though it is fun to hate the Orange.:)
>
> Now a Badger-Wildcat game in Milwaukee (the "Bub Bowl" for those who know
> me:) ) ... or a Purdue-NU game in Comiskey Park ... nah!:)
>
> GO CATS!!!
> -SjT
>
> * * * * * * * * *
> STEPHEN J. TRUOG
> sjtruog at yahoo.com
> GO CATS!!!
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Jonathan W. Hodges
1237 Emerson St Apt 2
Evanston, IL  60201-3577
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