Ron Zook said today he is completely behind the idea of Illinois playing Northwestern at Wrigley Field next year, a football game that would be the first at the storied stadium since 1970, when the Bears made it their home.

Zook and an Illinois associate athletics director met Sunday night with Chicago Cubs chairman Crane Kenney and Northwestern officials to discuss the possibility, the Chicago Tribune reported. The 2010 meeting between the Illini and Wildcats is now scheduled for Northwestern.

Apparently, any safety issues about the stadium were cleared up, and Zook gave an enthusiastic “Absolutely” when asked if he is prepared to play at Wrigley.

“To me, I guess, it’s experiences I’ve had,” he said. “It’s a great venue and with the mystique of playing there I think it would be a neat thing. I remember watching the Bears play there. I enjoy going to Wrigley Field.”

The meeting was spent discussing many issues, including the stadium’s tight quarters and how the field could be laid out to assure safety for players. Zook didn’t seem to think it would be a problem.

Although Zook is clearly in favor of the plan, he conceded, “I’m a very small pawn in this whole deal.”

He said no deadline was set to determine if the game would be played at Wrigley, home of the Bears from 1921 to 1970.