Sept. 19, 2002
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- The University of Illinois, The University of Minnesota and Northwestern University -- in consultation with the Big Ten Conference office -- have agreed to move Minnesota's Oct. 5 and Oct. 12 home football games against those two opponents due to Minnesota's lease at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which will prevent college football from being played on those days.
The compromise arrived at by the three Conference institutions is as follows: 1.) The Illinois at Minnesota game, originally scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 5, 2002, will now be played at 7 p.m. CDT on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2002. 2.) The Northwestern at Minnesota game, originally scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002, will now be played at 7 p.m. CDT on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2002.
The Twins' participation in Major League Baseball's Divisional Series and League Championship Series precludes college football games from being played in the Metrodome on Oct. 5 and Oct. 12.
Even if the Metrodome were to become available on Oct. 12, the parties agreed that confirming Northwestern's travel arrangements (air charter) and hotel accommodations on either a five-, six- or seven-day notice would not be possible.
All potential rescheduling alternatives were explored, including moving games to Sunday or to the end of the season (Nov. 30), and changing sites. After considerable consultation with the University leaders, faculty representatives and the Directors of Athletics at Illinois, Minnesota and Northwestern, it was agreed that the rescheduled Thursday, Oct. 3 and 10 dates represented the most collegial resolution to a difficult and complex situation.
--BIG TEN--