Illinois to Host Washington at Soldier Field
The stage has been set for Illinois and their game against Pac-12 Washington in 2013, and the game is going to be played at Solider Field in Chicago.
This is a great choice in location for starters. Not just because I’m a resident of the city, but because it’s a great experience for both teams and their fans. The game is scheduled for September 14, 2014, with the Illini making their way out west the following year to play the Huskies at their stadium.
Tim Beckman has to be thrilled about this opportunity for him and his players. It will be his second year under the helm and his players will have the chance to play a program that is on the rise in the Pac-12.
These two teams have not played each other since 1972 and it somewhat still holds the scheduling alliance between the two conferences that is no more. We will still see plenty of match-ups over the next few years between the Big Ten and Pac-12.
This will be the Illini’s second game ever being played at Solider Field. They last played there against Washington State in 1994. Kind of ironic their second game being played there will be the other Pac-12 team from Washington. It somehow makes the game a little more exciting.
In 2010, the Illini beat Northwestern at Wrigley Field 48-27. Everyone should remember that game, they were only aloud to use one end zone because the other was too close to the outfield wall.
They’ll have plenty of space at Solider Field however. They need to keep taking advantage of that in the future.
Will Wilson is a writer for Rant Sports covering College Football and the Big Ten Conference.
Follow Will on Twitter and friend him on Facebook.
