In an effort to boost the profile and interest of both programs in the Chicago area, Illini football and Northwestern football will meet three times in the next four years at Soldier Field.
The series commences this fall.
In 2015, Illinois will play Northwestern at Soldier Field on Nov. 28, in a game originally scheduled for Memorial Stadium in Champaign. In addition to the 2015 date, the Fighting Illini will play the Wildcats at Soldier Field in 2017 and 2019.
Illinois hosted Washington at Soldier Field in 2013, and the attendance was ok; it was solid.
Prior to that game, Illini football had not played at on the lakefront since 1994 when they lost to Washington State 10-9.
“I’m pleased that the Fighting Illini will be returning to Chicago, providing an opportunity for players, coaches, students, fans and Chicago alumni to gather in the country’s greatest and most-spirited sports city,” said a statement on behalf of Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
“From the NFL draft to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship tournament, Chicago is solidifying its position as a first-class sports and tourism destination.”
The 2016 and 2018 NU vs Illini football games will continue to be held in their already scheduled destinations. This series will provide the perfect opportunity to put to rest the two much maligned (and deservedly so) marketing slogans that have served as punching bags for local media in recent years.
Northwestern introduced the well-meaning but inaccurate “Chicago’s Big Ten Team” marketing mantra a few years ago. Illinois then countered with the catchy, but obviously defensive and reactionary “Our State. Our Team.” the following year.
Both of these laughable catch-phrases need to be retired yesterday.
The most recent polls publicized in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times show that Illini football is the most visible team in the state of Illinois, as it tops the list of both most popular and the most hated in the Land of Lincoln.
For just the city of Chicago, the five most popular college football teams are:
1. Notre Dame
2. Illinois
3. Michigan
4. Ohio State
5. Northwestern
Said a statement from the office of Illinois A.D. and essentially the de facto CEO of Illini football Mike Thomas:
“Recruits want to experience greatness, and this is the latest in a long line of connections between the dominant football brands in our state that start with the earliest days of the NFL with Halas and Grange, and stretch through Butkus, Caroline, and many other former Illini through the decades.”
The two teams last met in a neutral site game in Chicago in 2010.
It was the infamous “everyone has to drive towards the same end zone” game. It was technically a Northwestern home game played at Wrigley Field and the ESPN College Gameday location that week. Despite the result, and a record rushing performance by Illinois, the contest is still best remembered for the poor logistical planning (very little space between the end zone and the field wall) that dominated headlines leading into it all week.
But hey, at least it wasn’t the Hockey City Classic. Which was sponsored by a company called Coyote Logistics, thereby giving us the perfect definition of irony.
This series however, should be fine.
Soldier Field is a facility made for football, not baseball or outdoor hockey. This is a great idea!
Now that Illini football and NU football are settling it on the field in Chicago, let’s also get the two basketball teams to meet at the United Center. Here’s a way to spice that up.
Also, expect a very thin-skinned, defensive reaction from NIU’s fan base in reaction to this news.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital, eBay, Google News and CBS Interactive. You can read Banks’ feature stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye newspaper and listen to him on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)