What goes into playing a college football game in a professional baseball facility?

Probably more than you think. 

When the idea of playing a football game at what has been newly-christened "Guaranteed Rate Field," home of the Chicago White Sox, more than a year ago, Northern Illinois University Athletics officials were intrigued, but had questions.   

Returning to Chicago, where the Huskies had played games versus Big Ten opponents in 2007, 2011 and 2012, was certainly enticing.  Those games had been played in front of NIU record crowds in September, at Soldier Field. This was different. 

First, the game would have to be played after the latest possible date on the Major League Baseball calendar.  That put any possible game at the ballpark on the south side of Chicago straight in the middle of #MACtion, making it a November weeknight game versus a conference opponent.  A few quick calls and both the Mid-American Conference and ESPN were on board.  The White Sox and Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (ISFA), pledged their complete support for the effort, delaying many traditional end-of-season activities at the stadium. Even legendary White Sox groundskeeper Roger Bossard was up for the challenge of turning the dirt infield, pitcher's mound and warning track into one smooth grass football field.

There was still a big hurdle to clear in the minds of NIU Associate Vice-President Sean T. Frazier and Senior Associate Athletic Director for Facilities and Operations John Cheney – would the football field fit?  

"We had to make sure it was as traditional as possible with teams on both sidelines, direction of play, and safety of the players, all those considerations had to be right to make it work," Cheney said. "Initially we looked at going straight out to centerfield to use both sides of the stadium a little bit more, but the distances and corners of the end zones ended up in the dugouts based on that layout so we shifted to work straight down the first base line. The field lays out very well with good safety boundaries around the corners."

After all field concerns were allayed, a date (November 9, 2016) and opponent (Toledo) were finalized, it wasn't long before contracts were signed, the game announcement was made and the Huskie Chi-Town Showdown was born.  

Then the real work began. Cheney, with the help of Dan Polvere, a consultant hired by the ISFA to facilitate the arrangements of playing the first football game in the history of the ballpark, and many NIU and White Sox staff, began working on the logistics and the timeline of making the game a reality.

"There was a lot of consideration, a lot of man hours, many trips to Chicago, conference calls, meetings and walk-throughs over the last 18 months or so," Cheney said. "It was a great collaborative effort and I can't say enough about Jerry Reinsdorf, Terry Savarise, Brooks Boyer and the staff of the White Sox, and Lou Bertuca and everyone at the ISFA to make it happen."

There were the obvious considerations like removing the pitcher's mound and putting down sod over the infield and warning track areas. That job was left in the capable hands of Bossard and his ground crew.  Field markings were designed and stencils made.  Goal posts and play clocks were purchased and installed – yes, there is a place to shop for goal posts.  

"We're blessed that Roger Bossard was part of the team," Cheney said.  "He's an internationally known groundskeeper, he's consulted on other conversions.  He had a great idea of what he needed to do. We wanted to cover the infield and all of that was resodded immediately at the end of the season.  They took out the pitching mound, leveled that. We have been lucky to have great weather the past couple of weeks, the final painting will be done this weekend and will be ready to go by Sunday." 

Other important areas are not as apparent to fans.  The scoreboard, new this year for the White Sox, was not programmed for football so programs had to be purchased.  A location for the television booth along what would become the sideline – as close to the 50-yard line as possible per ESPN – had to be carved out of the press box.  For baseball, the television booth is located behind home plate.  A pair of suites were turned into coaches' booths. Importantly, the coaches communication system "CoachComm" had to be configured and wired.  Clubhouses built to accommodate 40 professional baseball players were rearranged for the 70-80 football student-athletes who will be in the stadium Wednesday. 

Some items did not have to be purchased or designed, but will be transported from DeKalb to Chicago by NIU Football Equipment Manager Paige Shinberg and her staff.  Those include team benches, goal post covers, pylons, first down markers and chains.  The equipment staff will make multiple trips to Guaranteed Rate Field this week to make sure nothing important is left behind. 

Of course the teams, the field and television were not the only considerations.  NIU will re-create some of its Huskie Stadium hospitality areas, including the Huskie Athletic Fund pregame tent, the End Zone Club, the Coaches' Club and the Skybox, in areas of Guaranteed Rate Field.

"We looked at what we do on game day for our fans and donors, and what our options were at the stadium," Cheney said.  "There were areas there that could correspond to each of our spots so it really works out well.  The only thing we decided not to try to duplicate was The Yard. The amenities of Guaranteed Rate Field are very different and our fans will have a chance to enjoy those at this game."

On Wednesday night, NIU Athletics adminstrators Frazier, Debra Boughton, Cheney, and ISFA Board members and NIU alums Manny Sanchez and Jeff Yordon, who first brought NIU, the White Sox and the ISFA together, will see that initial idea become a reality when the Huskies and Rockets run onto the field. 

"The plan has been exceptional by all parties – our staff, the IFSA, the White Sox organization, the independent contractors, ESPN, the league office. Everyone has worked very hard," Frazier said.

"For NIU, it's tremendous to have the ability to have a first-rate facility like Guaranteed Rate Field, and an organization like the White Sox host our alumni and fans, our student-athletes and our coaches. To do that in the third-largest media market in the country is a phenomenal way to expose the program on a national level.  It's basically almost like a bowl game, midweek in November in Chicago.  This is a good time, this is one of the largest visibility opportunities we're going to have outside of a bowl game or a MAC Championship game."

-- NIU –