Illini find Wrigley's friendly confines a good fit
CHICAGO - Mikel Leshoure ran for a school-record 330 yards and two touchdowns, and Illinois beat Northwestern 48-27 yesterday in a game played under unusual circumstances at the "Friendly Confines" of Wrigley Field.
The Wildcats and Fighting Illini were looking for publicity when they scheduled the first football game in 40 years at the old ballpark. Anyone who wasn't aware of this one certainly knew about it after the Big Ten announced on Friday that the schools had implemented several rules changes because of safety concerns. The most notable: offensive plays ran only toward the west end zone near the third-base dugout. The east end zone in rightfield came within a foot or so of a heavily padded brick wall. So after every change of possession, the ball was repositioned.
All but one touchdown, an interception return by Northwestern, was scored in the west end zone.
Still, fans seemed to love the overall circus atmosphere. Not since the Bears left for Soldier Field following the 1970 season had football been played at Wrigley and it had been even longer since the last college game (DePaul vs. St. Louis, 1938).
The controversy surrounding the late rules changes and the novelty of playing in the Chicago Cubs' beloved home overshadowed the fact that Illinois (6-5, 4-4) was trying to become bowl-eligible and Northwestern (7-4, 3-4) was going with a freshman quarterback.
Leshoure's 330 yards were the most in the nation this season and included 4-yard and 1-yard touchdown runs on the first two possessions plus a 70-yard run in the first quarter. Illinois totaled 559 yards - 519 coming on the ground.
For Northwestern, it was a rough afternoon for quarterback Evan Watkins. Making his first start after Dan Persa ruptured his Achilles' against Iowa last week, he was 10 for 20 with an interception and 135 yards.
Northwestern and Illinois last played at Wrigley in 1923. and when officials saw the plans for this game, they thought there would be just enough room between the back of the rightfield end zone and the wall. But when they actually saw the field, they had second thoughts and the result was something straight out of a backyard game.
The goalpost mounted on the rightfield wall served as nothing more than a hood ornament, with all kicks going the other way. There was no mound, no home plate and Turf covered the infield and much of the warning track.
The stands were a mix of Wildcats purple and Illini orange as were the streets, bars and rooftops surrounding the ballpark. The famed marquee above the main entrance was painted purple, and panels along the stadium's facade showed past and present Northwestern players instead of Cubs stars.
