Within the sights and sounds of Ohio State vs. Northwestern football at Wrigley Field

On By Littum

CHICAGO — A new tune was introduced to the Wrigley Field soundtrack on Saturday.

In a ballpark known for its seventh-inning stretch and victory chant, “Go Cubs Go,” Ohio State football fans echoed a new sound.

“OH”

From the concourse lines of the concourse to the packed streets of Wrigleyville, the popular response could be heard.

“IO”

With Northwestern’s Ryan Field under construction, the Wildcats took homecoming to the city’s north ballpark.

It provided a backdrop for a flood of Ohio State fans to take over one of the nation’s largest cities and one of MLB’s oldest ballparks.

Scarlet and gray fill Wrigleyville

Wrigley Field’s hand-controlled scoreboard at center field has been updated to reflect the sport taking place on Saturday.

Its out-of-town scores are labeled to represent quarters instead of innings, with the Big Ten’s Week 12 slate shown.

Behind the scoreboard, at the intersection of Sheffield Ave. and Waveland Ave., popular bar Murphy’s Bleachers filled up early for a local kickoff at 11 a.m.

Its terrace was awash with scarlet and gray.

But despite a small contingent of Northwestern fans, Ohio State fans were trolled just a few buildings down from Murphy’s Bleachers.

A fan wearing an Oregon shirt stood in a window — similar to a mannequin in a store on Michigan Ave.

He carried a sign that read, “Ohio St hasn’t beaten Michigan in 1,813 days.”

There are still signs of baseball at Wrigley Field

The infield was covered with turf, which ensured that no play was played on top of soil. But small patches of the warning track provide a reminder that Wrigley Field is still a baseball stadium.

Fans in right field also had the opportunity to experience a baseball-centric moment during warmups.

The Allstate-sponsored netting that prevents kicks from going into the stands is not in place in the east end zone.

As kickers practiced before the game, field goals in that direction came into the right field like a home run.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day said, at the end of the day, the game is about 100 yards of grass and not what surrounds it.

But for those in the stands, Saturday provided an experience unlike many in college football.