Unique Game For Fans In More Way Than One
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Saturday's Illinois-Northwestern football game at Wrigley Field was a historic experience for fans of both teams, in more ways than one.
As CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports, the rivalry between the Fighting Illini and the Wildcats hadn't been seen at Wrigley since 1938.
Long before the game started, there was celebrating along "Wildcat Way." Sheffield Avenue between Addison and Waveland was transformed for Northwestern fans to cheer on the team, during their historic game at Wrigley Field against the Fighting Ilini.
"Very exciting to be down here today, to bring college football back after so many years," Northwestern fan Jim Smith said.
He said the game had added significance, because he also watched Chicago Bears games there before the Bears moved to Soldier Field.
"Season ticket holders of the Bears games for many years. Sat in the temporary bleachers that they set up when the field actually ran a different way than it's running today," Smith said. When football games were originally played at Wrigley, the field ran north-south, rather than east-west.
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During Satuday's game, players were running a different way for safety reasons. All plays on offense went toward the west end zone. The Big Ten determined the padded brick outfield wall in the east end zone was too close to the field to be safe.
Illini fan Monica Allain said, "The scalpers charged us two to three times more than the tickets and then we ended up in the east end zone, so we're even worse off than when we started. But you've got two PHD's from Illinois, so we're very happy, so go Illini!"
It was also a very happy day for all the vendors, from those selling merchandise and food to those providing parking. They were busy making money at a time of year that Wrigley Field is normally empty.
