Football returns to Wrigley Field this weekend. Yes, I said football. The particulars: Northwestern and Illinois will square off in the Allstate Wrigleyville Classic. Kickoff will be at 2:30 p.m. CT.
It will be the first college football game on the Cubs' home turf since 1938, when DePaul University played its home games there. It will be the first football game of any kind at Wrigley since December 1970, which was the Bears' last season at the Friendly Confines.
It will be a tight fit, as it was for the Bears. The NFL field stretched from the first-base dugout to the left-field wall. Bronko Nagurski once ran full-speed into the brick outfield wall. On Saturday, the field will run east-west from the third-base dugout to right field.
The Bears had the home-field advantage at Wrigley. They won eight titles in five decades of football at the ballpark, including four title game victories in 1933, '41, '43 and '63.
In the book, "Wrigley Field: A Celebration of the Friendly Confines," running back Gale Sayers confesses he preferred the Cubs' home park. Sayers showed it. On Dec. 12, 1965, he scored an NFL record six touchdowns in a game there against the 49ers.
Illinois and Northwestern have met at Wrigley Field before. On Oct. 27, 1923, the Wildcats and Illini squared off at then Cubs Park in front of 32,000 fans, and sophomore Red Grange was the star of the game. This year's contest will mark the 104th meeting between the Big Ten Conference rivals.
Built in 1914 and the Cubs' home since 1916, Wrigley Field regularly hosted football games from 1916-70, including about 370 NFL games. The Bears called it home from 1921-70.
It's great to see the rich and storied tradition of football continue at Wrigley in 2010.