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Wrigley Field is ready for Saturday’s Big Ten game

Kevin L. Smith

By Kevin L. Smith

Published:

The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field is set to host a gridiron clash this weekend.

Northwestern (4-4) is geared to face Iowa (6-2) in a Big Ten showdown on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the second-oldest ballpark in the United States.

Known as the Wildcat Classic, the team last played at Wrigley Field during the 2021 season against Purdue. Before that, the Wildcats hadn’t played at Wrigley since the 2010 campaign against Illinois.

“I’m grateful to play here. It’s an awesome place to be,” said senior linebacker Xavier Mueller.

Mueller, along with senior tailback Jake Arthurs, are both lifelong Chicago Cubs fans and natives of the area. Both noted the good amount of Cubs games they attended with their families.

“I grew up a huge stats fan. I used to keep stats,” Mueller said.

Arthurs said when he’s on the field, he feels like an outfielder being able to see all of the fans. The senior even recalled former Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood’s last outing before he retired in May 2012.

Mueller mentioned the “cool experience” of going through the Cubs’ dugouts. The Wildcats will get to do that again this Saturday.

“Chicago, in general, is a pretty gritty city,” Arthurs said. “It’s about wearing hard hat and going to work. I kind of think that’s what we embody here. We have guys that go to work every single day. We all have a common goal.”

Arthurs praised the Northwestern fanbase, noting he expects a sea of purple this weekend at Wrigley Field.

“They show up and show out. We appreciate that,” Arthurs said.

 

Kevin L. Smith