illini vs wildcats wrigley field Archives

ESPN Gameday, Media Circus has Now Left Town

There was something surreal Friday about watching the lead story on the ESPN sports shouting shows (I’d refer to them as sports talk shows, but they’re actually just SHOUTING MATCHES) from the very exact location where the lead story originates. I’m speaking of course, about the Wrigleyville Classic, “Wallgate” and the afternoon hours I spent in the waiting room of the Chicago Cubs front office at WrigleyField.

Joining me was Northwestern student media, the School’s Information Department, and the NU Student Ambassador to ESPN Gameday. (I’m assuming he’s granted diplomatic immunity on trips to Champaign) We, the second city’s college football liaisons, watched our hometown get verbally blasted by PTI and Around the Horn as we waited to interview the College Gameday personalities, including the Queen of all Sports Media, Erin Andrews.

The actual circus, Barnum and Bailey to be exact, is still in town (Just ask the Bulls and Blackhawks about what’s forcing them on crazy long road trips), but the media circus is now long gone.

By Paul M. Banks

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Northwestern Football Past, Present and Future with Leading Rusher Damien Anderson

Former Northwestern running back Damien Anderson will host an interactive Q&A session with fans at the Allstate Tailgate Tour before the Wildcats take on the Fighting Illini in the Allstate Wrigleyville Classic at Wrigley Field on Saturday, Nov. 20.

Anderson, who played for Northwestern from 1998 to 2001 and is the school’s all-time leading rusher, will be signing autographs and fielding fan questions from 1 – 2 p.m. at the Allstate Tailgate Tour, located at Wildcat Way at the intersection of Addison and Sheffield. The Allstate Tailgate Tour will be open from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Saturday.

On the eve of the big game, I had an exclusive with Anderson where we discussed all things college football, and the incredible journey that has been his life.

By Paul M. Banks

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Wrigleyville Classic Illinois-Northwestern: Brutally Honest Game Preview

It will certainly will be a bowl game type environment when the Northwestern Wildcats host the Illinois Fighting Illini, their bitter instate rival, in the Allstate Wrigleyville Classic at Wrigley Field. The Friendly Confines, home of Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs, last hosted a football game on Dec. 13, 1970. Kickoff is set for 2:35 p.m. CT this Saturday with ESPNU televising to a national cable audience.

In order to feature the world famous Wrigley marquee in the set’s backdrop, ESPN’s College GameDay will be originating its Saturday broadcast from the corner of Clark and Addison. Meaning yes, Erin Andrews, Queen of all Sports Media will indeed be here in Chicago. GameDay usually selects one “novelty game” a season, and this year it’s right here in Chicago’s Lakeview East neighborhood.

The atmosphere will be further enhanced when NU moves it’s usual, traditional “Wildcat Alley” set of gameday activities down to Wrigleyville.

For Illinois, it’s essentially a “play-in” game as their postseason lives hang in the balance. You can sense the bowl game tension in Ron Zook’s voice in this video.

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Bowl Atmosphere coming to Wrigley Field for Illinois-Northwestern

A bowl game in Chicago?

Well, it certainly will be a bowl game type environment when the Northwestern Wildcats host the Illinois Fighting Illini, their bitter instate rival, in the Allstate Wrigleyville Classic at Wrigley Field. The Friendly Confines, home of Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs, last hosted a football game on Dec. 13, 1970. Kickoff is set for 2:35 p.m. CT this Saturday with ESPNU televising to a national cable audience.

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