Wrigley Field prepared for Wildcat-Illini game

Posted November 14, 2010 10:00 pm

Associated Press

The pitcher's mound and home plate are gone, and the infield and warning tracks are covered in a thick layer of turf as Wrigley Field is readied for its first a college football game in decades.

A sellout crowd of around 40,000 is expected as Northwestern hosts Big Ten rival Illinois in Saturday's inaugural Allstate Wrigleyville Classic.

Northwestern and Cubs officials showed off preparations Monday, which included a ceremonial repainting of the Cubs' external marquee in Wildcat purple.

Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips says fans attending the game will experience "one of the terrific events in the sporting world in a bowl game-like atmosphere."

College football teams from DePaul and St. Louis -- schools that no longer have football teams -- clashed at Wrigley Field in 1938. Illinois and Northwestern last met at Wrigley Field in 1923.

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