I thought this was pretty funny. And actually fairly accurate (well, at least in the intention of NU's AD). But the biggest, meanest competition is That School in South Bend (TSISB) in the town of Chicago, not Illinois.

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chillini/2010/04/illini-vs-nwestern-at-wrigley-how-to-trick-a-team-out-of-a-home-game.html

It was reported yesterday that the highly anticipated football game between Northwestern and Illinois at Wrigley Field this upcoming season (Nov. 20) will most likely happen.

How dumb could Northwestern be? They're giving up a home game to play the state's most recognizable football program at a Chicago landmark on national TV. What gives, nerds?

I mean, it's not like the Wildcats are going to be beating up on some team that went 3-9 last season and is in desperate need of replacing its playmakers while also trying to adjust to new coaches.

Wait a minute.

Although the specifics of the deal have not been revealed, the face value of this event seems to suggest Northwestern is forfeiting a conference home game for a neutral site match that will without a doubt favor the Illini.

It appears the Wildcats are admitting a game on national TV is better than any home contest at a half-filled Ryan Field on the Big Ten Network.

Best of all, it's rumored the Illini will not be required to reciprocate in the future by giving up a home game against Northwestern to play at Wrigley.

Sounds like a good deal for Illinois, right?

Wrong.

Once again athletic director Ron Guenther is setting up the University of Illinois to look like a fool.

What's actually happening is that Northwestern is making a power play for the role of the top college football program in the state.

It's like those prison movies where the new guy finds the biggest, meanest inmate around and beats the holy hell out of him for all to see. That's how you make someone your bitch.

In this case, the state of Illinois (with all its recruits) is the prison, Northwestern is the new guy, and Illinois is about to become the bitch.

The Wildcats have steadily built one of the better programs in the Big Ten but they haven't been able to assert their dominance over Illinois to the college football world. The Illini are still the most recognizable team from this state and that has a lot of pull in recruiting...until Nov. 20.

I realize Northwestern probably isn't much better than the Illini at football since they also lost their biggest playmakers from a year ago, but those NU coaches know how to read a newspaper. They know Zook doesn't have a quarterback and they know the defense is a joke in its current state. They know big time recruits have been decommitting and they know current players have been transferring. Most importantly, they know a game of this magnitude can get Ron Zook fired and they know it can turn Pat Fitzgerald into a national recruiting threat.

Northwestern has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Damn my public education for not helping me realize this sooner.

If only there was something that could be done...like the Illini winning the game. Nah.

lolwut

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Fire Phil Emery

They need to read some other newspapers.

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You know me like that.

Who knew beating Illinois was the key to dominant nationwide recruiting?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I don't think anything can get Ron Zook fired at this point.

He's like the Lumbergh of Illini Football.

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You know me like that.

Is this some weird reverse motivation? I don't think there are that many people with any knowledge of college football that would claim Illinois is currently a better in-state program than Northwestern. Beating them at Wrigley won't matter much.

I'm just looking forward to being able to drink a beer while watchin' my Cats.

The whole Wrigley idea is to sell more NU season tickets...the Wrigley game is a NU home game.

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There goes one over the fence..Tru Link Fence..Beauty, Privacy Security....Call Tru Link.
Murph's Union 76 Truck Stop....A great Thanksgiving Tradition!!!!

WOO LIFE!!!!

There, that's fixed.

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

That's the one part I laughed at....Unfortunately to be a national recruiting threat, you need to admit kids with an 18 ACT, not just those above 28.

I didn't write that... it was the blogger. And while I think that is an extreme statement, I think the buzz from this game is pretty compelling. Recruits dig this kinda stuff. I think it is marketing genius. It can't hurt recruiting, unless we lose to what looks to be a pretty weak Illini squad. No offense, Illini. We're not gonna be great either, but your ship looks slightly more leaky than ours.

Perfect.