Illinois 41, Northwestern 27

Huge college football developments took place Saturday, including the first college football game played at Wrigley Field since the 1930's.

In a much anticipated battle between in-state rivals at Wrigley Field on Saturday, the Illini started strong. When it appeard NU was coming back, the Illini shut the door and established themselves as "Chicago's Big Ten Team" and gave themselves state bragging rights, which come along with the Land of Lincoln Trophy the two schools play for each year. Illinois running back Mikel Leshoure ran for 330 yards and carried the Illini victory.

As you know, I have been talking about this game for a long time. I saw this game as Northwestern trying to establish themselves as Chicago's team, I saw it as a direct shot at the Illini. I saw it as a way for them to get positive publicity and finally establish themselves in the area. While they definitely increased publicity, most off all their efforts were ruined by the Illini victory, a victory that has given Illinois bowl eligibility. Illinois is the best team in the state, and is Chicago's team.

Moving forward, I could see and would like to seethis develop into a great rivalry. It would be excellent if Illinois and Northwestern could set up, like the Trib suggested, playing their annual meeting at Soldier Field each year and making this into an intense, fun rivalry every year like it was this year. It was great to see these two teams get together in a historic stadium in a game that benefeited both programs. Of course, I wouldn't reccomend doing a yearly meeting at Wrigley. It was a fun event, but too difficult to do each year.

The Illini are now bowl eligible. They'll go into Fresno next weekend to try and solidify chances at a bowl oppourtunity/increase the prestige of their bowl game. For now, however, the Illini shouldn't be thinking about next weekend. It's time to soak in a win that feels so good because of NU's marketing jabs at the Illini in the past year and because the Illini have finally won their sixth game to become bowl eligible.

WCS's other college team, Notre Dame, beat Army Saturday night in Yankee Stadium, also giving them bowl eligibility. It was a satisfactory day in Chicago sports, and hopefully the Fighting Irish and Illini can continue to make improvements in their programs, two programs that are definitely looking up.

So, let NU fans know that they played a great game, that it was a lot of fun, and that the Illinois Fighting Illini are Chicago's Big Ten team. Oh, it feels so good to say!