OT: Only one endzone to be used for NU/UI
November 19th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
Look at all of the coverage surrounding this game (articles, GameDay), when if they played in Evanston, nobody would care.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:19 PM ^
The Game Day part is the best part, in my opinion. Not only is this a disaster, it's a disaster that's receiving a ton of attention.
November 19th, 2010 at 9:05 PM ^
in the "At what time do Kirk & Chris switch places" pool
November 20th, 2010 at 2:34 AM ^
November 19th, 2010 at 11:44 AM ^
With all the time NW had to plan this game, how do you mess it up?
November 19th, 2010 at 12:14 PM ^
The Illinois team is probably saying WTF?
November 19th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^
how do you mess this up?
November 19th, 2010 at 12:55 PM ^
....i didn't go to northwestern for architecture school, like i almost did.
has anyone ever taken a tape measure to dyche field, to see if it's actually 100 yards long?
November 19th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
"If you run past the trash can and the light pole you're out of bounds"
November 19th, 2010 at 11:59 AM ^
Milk and cookies and Nate's house at halftime. Maybe some video games is Nate's Mom isn't there.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
Upcoming press release from ESPN: "College Gameday to air3 1/2 hour feature on poor planning Saturday at 3:30 ET."
November 19th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
There is a way to fit a full field into Wrigley. It's been done. On many occasions. Yet they decided to try to jam the field in on this orientation instead. Awesome. At least it's becoming must see TV with these bizarre decisions on layout and rules.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:20 PM ^
There is a way to fit a full field into Wrigley. It's been done. On many occasions.
No, there isn't.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:43 PM ^
I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Wrigley has added seats and moved the stands in closer to the foul line since the last time they hosted a football game. So yeah, Wrigley used to be able to fit a football field, but it's obviously too small now.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^
You are correct.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:48 AM ^
I still think it's a cool idea to play at Wrigley field. Yes, it's lame that they have to change sides of the field with each change of possession, but whatever. It's better that than to have a player injured by RUNNING INTO A WALL. (Remember that Houston player who broke his leg on the cart positioned too close to the field? Wall > cart.) It's much, much better that they are being safe, and if I were a player I'd be perfectly fine only playing offense one way if I had a chance to play in a unique environment like Wrigley field.
And yes, for people who are asking how it will work, they are going to have teams change sides of the field for each change of possession:
All offensive plays will head toward the west end zone, including all extra points and all overtime possessions.
So wow, everyone relax and just enjoy the game for what it is - a fun game in a unique setting, where people are trying to keep the kids safe.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:48 AM ^
There is no way this can work. What do they do if a fumble or INT is going to be taken for a score?
November 19th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
The returner won't be going full speed or getting hit out of the back in the endzone, so there's no risk of injury there.
November 19th, 2010 at 1:46 PM ^
I never really noticed it before, but Tecmo Bowl and Ninja Gaiden clearly used the same musical composer.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:48 AM ^
'Make it,take it" will also be in full effect
November 19th, 2010 at 11:56 AM ^
from the Big Ten:
November 19th, 2010 at 11:56 AM ^
"Ok guys, we'll use the big Oak tree as that endzone and how about the storm drain for this endzone. Safety on ball!"
November 19th, 2010 at 12:02 PM ^
at least they are doing something in the interest of the players for once
November 19th, 2010 at 12:04 PM ^
honestly, did no one look at a blue print or a layout of the field until they put it in place?
i can't believe anyone approved that in the first place
November 19th, 2010 at 12:04 PM ^
November 19th, 2010 at 12:09 PM ^
It has been proven beyond a doubt that we are smarter than Northwestern.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:10 PM ^
flag football or 7 on 7 and get it over with.
What a joke....that, or like others have said: make the field 10-15% smaller.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:10 PM ^
Rest in peace, Harry Carey.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:13 PM ^
The game should have been Minnesota-Indiana and then they would only need zero endzones.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:16 PM ^
ROASTED!
November 19th, 2010 at 12:17 PM ^
...just tear down the damn wall. Players don't get hurt and the promoters can sell off the rubble as souvenirs.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^
The only thing that would make this more of a disaster (read: even more hilarious) would be if it rained on Saturday and they had to deal with a mud pit on an uncrowned field.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:32 PM ^
I hadn't seen this one commented on, but it raises an interesting problem:
• All offensive plays will head toward the west end zone, including all extra points and all overtime possessions.
So, yeah. On a defensive touchdown, they will have to go all the way to the other end of the field just to kick the extra point.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:38 PM ^
• All kickoffs will be kicked toward the east end zone.
Losers walk!
November 19th, 2010 at 1:05 PM ^
This is bad news. I was really looking forward to watching players fly into the padded wall, Arena Football (or American Gladiators) style.
November 19th, 2010 at 1:45 PM ^
I can't wait to watch this game and all the hilarity that is sure to ensue. Great planning.They really thought this one out for sure.
November 19th, 2010 at 1:45 PM ^
Every year I run into the same issues as the folks that set up Wrigley Field. In my backyard I'm a little short in yardage as well, so I just go straight from the 20-yard line to the 50. No big deal, and really , few people even notice because they're mesmerized by the lights. Having attended many, many games over the years, without question there are plenty of people attending the game tomorrow that wouldn't even notice if the 30 and the 40 yard lines were missing.
For the math wizards, its 1/2-scale. **Note: with 40-yards "removed" from the middle of the field, of course.
And yes, this was before the block M was painted on. My neighbors here in OH love me.
November 20th, 2010 at 11:48 AM ^
phenomenal set-up. I am seething with jealousy.
November 19th, 2010 at 1:48 PM ^
I'm now a lot more interested in watching this game than I was before. Seriously. (It would kind of suck to have tickets in the "no-offense" endzone, though.)
November 19th, 2010 at 1:53 PM ^
If I were in the east endzone, I'd be trying to trade up on my tickets.
November 19th, 2010 at 1:55 PM ^
That's pretty embarrassing.
November 19th, 2010 at 2:43 PM ^
To be honest, I thought the subject line of this post meant that in overtime ("OT"), they would use only one endzone -- that is, they wouldn't switch sides.
Just read the ESPN article though for the correct reading. This is really, really strange. But it has to be the right choice given the safety concerns. Although, I wonder how much it would have cost for the single game to change the physical infrastructure enough to give some space behind the end zone?
And, as others have pointed out, it's not like the endzone they are using is actually so safe...
November 19th, 2010 at 3:22 PM ^
I would hate to be the people who sit in the endzone that is blocked off. The action will be going away from them the whole game.
November 19th, 2010 at 4:01 PM ^
Looks safe to me.
Love,
Brian Kelly
November 19th, 2010 at 4:04 PM ^
By the way, what I really love about this game is that it has totally obscured Notre Dame's game at Yankee Stadium tomorrow. That game has been completely forgotten by most people.
November 19th, 2010 at 6:15 PM ^
I think part of that is due to the fact that Wrigley is historic and Yankee Stadium is not. The other part is that Notre Dame sucks.
November 19th, 2010 at 4:15 PM ^
The decision to play only one direction really pisses me off. I was planning to watch this game just because I thought the wall of death would add an interesting strategic element. Now it is just another boring game that I will ignore. Shame on whoever planned this and then chickened out. It's not like this wasn't understood from the beginning. The stadium did not shrink. Pussies.
November 19th, 2010 at 4:20 PM ^
Actually, the playing surface has shrunk since the last time football was played at Wrigley. The bleachers now extend forward further than they used to - which is what created the whole problem.