I still remember waking up in my Bobb dorm room to the voices of the ESPN “College GameDay” crew on the morning of the Penn State game last year. The JoePa faithful that flocked to Evanston had set up a massive TV screen in the SPAC parking lot.
With Northwestern set to play host in college football’s triumphant return to Wrigley Field, the GameDay crew will actually shine its national spotlight on NU.
Winning on Saturday won’t mean the same as ending the 61-year bowl drought, but it’s imperative the Wildcats take care of business in what will be a bowl-like atmosphere.
On this week’s episode of “The Pat Fitzgerald Show,” Fitzgerald said his players need to block out the anticipation and hype if they want to bring the Land of Lincoln Trophy up the Purple Line to Evanston.
It’s fair to consider the Allstate Wrigleyville Classic a tune-up for wherever the Cats may play in late December or on New Year’s Day.
After NU escaped Bloomington with a 20-17 win on Halloween eve, Fitzgerald said his team was in position to have a third-straight significant November.
The second-half collapse at Penn State derailed NU’s chances of another undefeated November, but the Wildcats salvaged this season and guaranteed another bowl appearance with a signature upset of the Squawkeyes.
That win also eliminated any chance of GameDay making the trip to Iowa City for when the Hawkeyes host Ohio State on Saturday.
NU needs to win Saturday to prove to skeptics that Dan Persa’s torn Achilles tendon isn’t really Wildcat kryptonite.
Fitzgerald has talked all week about how the unfortunate end to Persa’s season creates a unique opportunity for Chicago-area native Evan Watkins to step up. But in reality, the entire team is presented with a chance to showcase their talents while their stud quarterback is on the shelf.
A win against Illinois boosts the attractiveness of NU’s bowl destination by clinching another eight-win season. I’m not saying the Cats can’t knock off Big Ten leader Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium, but the Badgers did just score 83 points without their best offensive player, running back John Clay.
An NU victory will also put more pressure on the Fighting Illini in their final game of the season because they’d need a win to secure a trip to the postseason.
From a marketing standpoint, the festivities in Wrigleyville on Saturday will highlight the success of the “Chicago’s Big Ten Team” campaign that has attracted new fans, boosted Ryan Field attendance and helped NU garner more local attention.
Beyond the Windy City, the buzz surrounding the Wrigley game and GameDay’s visit can do wonders for NU’s national reputation.
The showcase of the purple taking over one of the most storied venues in all of sports could be a factor when a bowl game’s representatives may be forced to choose between NU and traditional fan powerhouses such as Michigan and Penn State.
So even if you were snubbed of a ticket or didn’t realize they’d sell out so quickly, take the El down to Wrigleyville on Saturday morning to be part of something special.
Justin Schecker is a Medill junior. He can be reached at [email protected]
