Only one end zone to be used at Wrigley game

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald dropped a clue Friday morning that the gridiron layout for Saturday’s game at Wrigley Field would not work.

During an interview on the “Dan Patrick Show,” Fitzgerald said player safety was “our No. 1 concern. It continues to be our No. 1 concern and it’s always being evaluated.”

Always being evaluated.

Less than an hour later, the Big Ten announced changes to what promises to be the last football game played at Wrigley Field.

In response to the fact that the back-middle of the east end zone was just a foot from a thickly padded wall, the Big Ten has decided not to use that end zone for any offensive plays:

1. All offensive plays will head toward the West end zone, including all extra points and all overtime possessions.

2. All kickoffs will be kicked toward the East end zone.

3. After every change of possession, the ball will be repositioned for the offense to head toward the West end zone.

4. As a result of a coin toss held by the conference office Friday morning, Illinois will occupy the West team bench in the first half and Northwestern will occupy the West team bench in the second half and for all overtime periods.

“The health and safety of our student-athletes is of the utmost importance,” Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said in a statement. “Both Illinois and Northwestern did significant due diligence over the past 18 months, but after seeing the actual layout of the field, all parties felt that it was appropriate to adjust the rules to further enhance the safety of our student-athletes.”

Before Friday, Fitzgerald acknowledged that Northwestern would have two different red-zone offenses - depending on which side of the field his team was headed.

Now he can scrap that.

Both Fitzgerald and NU athletic director Jim Phillips will comment at a luncheon at 11:30 a.m.