(09-12-2013 12:14 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 12:10 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 11:34 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  I would have been okay with it for this year only. NIU has a pretty beast offense and after last year's controversy it would have been awesome to beat three B1G teams on the road and make a huge statement.

That is the problem though, there is no way in advance to know what type of teams you are getting with those 3. I think it cannot be argued though, if you play 3 tough road games in the non-conference your chance of making it through conference play without a mass of injuries is pretty low.

Last year when this NU opener opportunity came up we knew that this team was going to be good. It was a great opportunity that Compher turned down and took the easy out.

Why prostitute your season just to create a few extra in the stands at Ryan Field? Scheduling Iowa, Purdue, and Northwestern all on the road would not have been fair to the student-athletes. The only way it would have made sense is if NU was willing to come to DeKalb in a 2 for 1 deal.

(09-12-2013 12:16 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 12:14 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 12:10 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 11:34 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  I would have been okay with it for this year only. NIU has a pretty beast offense and after last year's controversy it would have been awesome to beat three B1G teams on the road and make a huge statement.

That is the problem though, there is no way in advance to know what type of teams you are getting with those 3. I think it cannot be argued though, if you play 3 tough road games in the non-conference your chance of making it through conference play without a mass of injuries is pretty low.

Last year when this NU opener opportunity came up we knew that this team was going to be good. It was a great opportunity that Compher turned down and took the easy out.

Why prostitute your season just to create a few extra in the stands at Ryan Field? Scheduling Iowa, Purdue, and Northwestern all on the road would not have been fair to the student-athletes. The only way it would have made sense is if NU was willing to come to DeKalb in a 2 for 1 deal. O

They would have loved the challenge and it would have ment some great CHICAGO press on the game.

Why prostitute ourselves to Idaho?

(09-12-2013 12:18 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 12:16 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 12:14 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 12:10 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 11:34 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  I would have been okay with it for this year only. NIU has a pretty beast offense and after last year's controversy it would have been awesome to beat three B1G teams on the road and make a huge statement.

That is the problem though, there is no way in advance to know what type of teams you are getting with those 3. I think it cannot be argued though, if you play 3 tough road games in the non-conference your chance of making it through conference play without a mass of injuries is pretty low.

Last year when this NU opener opportunity came up we knew that this team was going to be good. It was a great opportunity that Compher turned down and took the easy out.

Why prostitute your season just to create a few extra in the stands at Ryan Field? Scheduling Iowa, Purdue, and Northwestern all on the road would not have been fair to the student-athletes. The only way it would have made sense is if NU was willing to come to DeKalb in a 2 for 1 deal. O

They would have loved the challenge and it would have ment some great CHICAGO press on the game.

Chicago press and college sports, those two go about as hand in hand as Obama and Putin. Chicago press when it comes to college sports is meaningless.

(09-12-2013 11:29 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 11:25 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 11:06 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 10:59 AM)Max Power Wrote:  NW wouldn't have replaced the home FCS game. It would've replaced @Idaho. It would be NIU playing at Ryan Field this Saturday instead of WMU.

In that case there is no way I would ever think playing 3 road games at Big 10 stadiums is a good idea, never ever. Sure the money is good but that is too much to ask of any team, it would be a tall order for Big 10 teams with better depth to play 3 consecutive road games. You are putting your team behind the 8 ball to start the season, and its hard to justify that.

We would have had a bye week to prep for NU after Iowa and had the EIU game before Purdue.

Even so, 3 BCS road games should never ever be scheduled in the non-conference. I understand the need for money but that just isn't fair to the players and has a great shot at jepordizing the conference season. The UT template should be followed in getting some of these games at home.

If the MAC is on par with the Big 10 as you have stated before, then why would playing three Big 10 teams on the road be a burden to us? You make it sound like we are travelling across the country to a hostile environment. Its an hour bus ride to Evanston, and the loudest fans in the stadium would be NIU fans.

(09-12-2013 12:26 PM)niu79 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 11:29 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 11:25 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 11:06 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 10:59 AM)Max Power Wrote:  NW wouldn't have replaced the home FCS game. It would've replaced @Idaho. It would be NIU playing at Ryan Field this Saturday instead of WMU.

In that case there is no way I would ever think playing 3 road games at Big 10 stadiums is a good idea, never ever. Sure the money is good but that is too much to ask of any team, it would be a tall order for Big 10 teams with better depth to play 3 consecutive road games. You are putting your team behind the 8 ball to start the season, and its hard to justify that.

We would have had a bye week to prep for NU after Iowa and had the EIU game before Purdue.

Even so, 3 BCS road games should never ever be scheduled in the non-conference. I understand the need for money but that just isn't fair to the players and has a great shot at jepordizing the conference season. The UT template should be followed in getting some of these games at home.

If the MAC is on par with the Big 10 as you have stated before, then why would playing three Big 10 teams on the road be a burden to us? You make it sound like we are travelling across the country to a hostile environment. Its an hour bus ride to Evanston, and the loudest fans in the stadium would be NIU fans.

Even if the MAC were on par with the Big 10, when you play exclusive road games you tip the scales dramatically in one direction. Would that excitement of a slightly louder Ryan Field for one Saturday afternoon be worth possibly jepordizing a season injury-wise and BCS-run possibility. I'm sure no other BCS buster candidate would be playing on the road vs 3 AQ teams. It is time to reshape the scheduling philosophy, money is important but its not everything. If you do not have any fans left to support the program, what is it all for? 3 road games should never be scheduled to begin with, AQ or non-AQ.

(09-12-2013 12:30 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 12:26 PM)niu79 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 11:29 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 11:25 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 11:06 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  In that case there is no way I would ever think playing 3 road games at Big 10 stadiums is a good idea, never ever. Sure the money is good but that is too much to ask of any team, it would be a tall order for Big 10 teams with better depth to play 3 consecutive road games. You are putting your team behind the 8 ball to start the season, and its hard to justify that.

We would have had a bye week to prep for NU after Iowa and had the EIU game before Purdue.

Even so, 3 BCS road games should never ever be scheduled in the non-conference. I understand the need for money but that just isn't fair to the players and has a great shot at jepordizing the conference season. The UT template should be followed in getting some of these games at home.

If the MAC is on par with the Big 10 as you have stated before, then why would playing three Big 10 teams on the road be a burden to us? You make it sound like we are travelling across the country to a hostile environment. Its an hour bus ride to Evanston, and the loudest fans in the stadium would be NIU fans.

Even if the MAC were on par with the Big 10, when you play exclusive road games you tip the scales dramatically in one direction. Would that excitement of a slightly louder Ryan Field for one Saturday afternoon be worth possibly jepordizing a season injury-wise and BCS-run possibility. I'm sure no other BCS buster candidate would be playing on the road vs 3 AQ teams. It is time to reshape the scheduling philosophy, money is important but its not everything. If you do not have any fans left to support the program, what is it all for? 3 road games should never be scheduled to begin with, AQ or non-AQ.

I think we would have been fine playing the 3 Big 10 teams on the road. It would be tough to win all 3, but we would be ok physically. I do agree we need to change our home schedule and model after Toledo. Do they lose a lot of money playing these BCS teams at home? How do they keep getting 1-1's or even 2-1's?

(09-12-2013 12:43 PM)NIU17 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 12:30 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 12:26 PM)niu79 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 11:29 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-12-2013 11:25 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  We would have had a bye week to prep for NU after Iowa and had the EIU game before Purdue.

Even so, 3 BCS road games should never ever be scheduled in the non-conference. I understand the need for money but that just isn't fair to the players and has a great shot at jepordizing the conference season. The UT template should be followed in getting some of these games at home.

If the MAC is on par with the Big 10 as you have stated before, then why would playing three Big 10 teams on the road be a burden to us? You make it sound like we are travelling across the country to a hostile environment. Its an hour bus ride to Evanston, and the loudest fans in the stadium would be NIU fans.

Even if the MAC were on par with the Big 10, when you play exclusive road games you tip the scales dramatically in one direction. Would that excitement of a slightly louder Ryan Field for one Saturday afternoon be worth possibly jepordizing a season injury-wise and BCS-run possibility. I'm sure no other BCS buster candidate would be playing on the road vs 3 AQ teams. It is time to reshape the scheduling philosophy, money is important but its not everything. If you do not have any fans left to support the program, what is it all for? 3 road games should never be scheduled to begin with, AQ or non-AQ.

I think we would have been fine playing the 3 Big 10 teams on the road. It would be tough to win all 3, but we would be ok physically. I do agree we need to change our home schedule and model after Toledo. Do they lose a lot of money playing these BCS teams at home? How do they keep getting 1-1's or even 2-1's?

Step 1: They pick up the phone and dial numbers. Until we get to step 1, we can only dream.

(09-11-2013 07:44 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  http://cfn.scout.com/2/557866.html

Huskies projected to face the Hoosiers.

How do they figure IU will be bowl eligible? I looked at their schedule and despite having 8 home games (how does that happen?), I don't see them better than 5-7 this year.

^^^^ I agree to an extent. You don't exactly know how good the B1G teams will be when you play them, when scheduled 3 years in advance. Illinois could be great in 3 years. Maybe Iowa. Maybe not!

But if both were near-equal, yes, playing road games gives a disadvantage. However, an NIU playing @Purdue? That would be like UM or OSU playing @Purdue. Not a problem.

If that's going to "ruin" a potential BCS entry with a potential loss, then both conferences are not near equal.

I would say instead of lining up Ohio State or Michigan in the non-conf schedule -- doing what NIU's doing now is great. 1 B1G team that's not a push-over but should be beaten (Iowa). 1 should-be easy B1G team (Purdue). 1 easy mid-major (Idaho). And 1 D1AA. Of course, if I am BCS-hunting, I'd try to line up an easy CONF-USA team like UAB or something instead of the D1AA -- saying "we went D1AA-less". Much easier argument to squeeze into BCS Bowl.

BUT, Eastern Illinois is #16 right now in D1AA, so that will be better than playing UAB (this year).

I will say this though... a road game against Idaho is not a bad idea. It keeps the NIU team on their toes, and it's a gimmie-game. Idaho's knowingly going D1AA soon, and the WAC is dead. But it counts as a "real" game, and being on the road gives a sense of challenge so the team doesn't lull to sleep, and is prepared. However, it would have been good to have the Eastern Illinois game before Idaho, and after Idaho, walking into Purdue, having a bye.

BG has Indiana and Mississippi State on their schedule so they have a chance to make some noise.

(09-12-2013 12:45 PM)HuskieBowWow Wrote:  

(09-11-2013 07:44 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  http://cfn.scout.com/2/557866.html

Huskies projected to face the Hoosiers.

How do they figure IU will be bowl eligible? I looked at their schedule and despite having 8 home games (how does that happen?), I don't see them better than 5-7 this year.

Ball st will take care of that projection.

If we don't go to a BCS game I would love to play Boise St in the Poinsettia Bowl.

(09-12-2013 12:54 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  If we don't go to a BCS game I would love to play Boise St in the Poinsettia Bowl.

That would be awesome, anything but Sun Belt and I would happy

(09-12-2013 12:46 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  ^^^^ I agree to an extent. You don't exactly know how good the B1G teams will be when you play them, when scheduled 3 years in advance. Illinois could be great in 3 years. Maybe Iowa. Maybe not!

But if both were near-equal, yes, playing road games gives a disadvantage. However, an NIU playing @Purdue? That would be like UM or OSU playing @Purdue. Not a problem.

If that's going to "ruin" a potential BCS entry with a potential loss, then both conferences are not near equal.

I would say instead of lining up Ohio State or Michigan in the non-conf schedule -- doing what NIU's doing now is great. 1 B1G team that's not a push-over but should be beaten (Iowa). 1 should-be easy B1G team (Purdue). 1 easy mid-major (Idaho). And 1 D1AA. Of course, if I am BCS-hunting, I'd try to line up an easy CONF-USA team like UAB or something instead of the D1AA -- saying "we went D1AA-less". Much easier argument to squeeze into BCS Bowl.

BUT, Eastern Illinois is #16 right now in D1AA, so that will be better than playing UAB (this year).

I will say this though... a road game against Idaho is not a bad idea. It keeps the NIU team on their toes, and it's a gimmie-game. Idaho's knowingly going D1AA soon, and the WAC is dead. But it counts as a "real" game, and being on the road gives a sense of challenge so the team doesn't lull to sleep, and is prepared. However, it would have been good to have the Eastern Illinois game before Idaho, and after Idaho, walking into Purdue, having a bye.

You nailed it. The bye is kind of crappy, but it is what it is. I love that you compared us to Michigan and Ohio State! This NIU team is playing against themselves not Idaho, someone said on gameday when you play bad teams, you play against perfection not them.

The Idaho trip keeps them focused. It's nearly 2,000 miles away, a long flight, a hotel 2 hours away. This will test them mentally and physically as opposed to the Vandals.

Having 7 road games sucks, but it is what it is now. As for the BG team. I think IU and Miss State are going to have rough years, so it's similar to Iowa and Purdue, maybe slightly better. Plus, they don't play any of their tough MAC opponents on the road.

As for IU going bowling, simply not going to happen. Looking ahead, and that's not counting their current record, I see 5 losses for sure (Ohio St, Wisconsin, Penn, Michigan St, and Michigan). With their current loss that puts them with 6 losses. They will beat Purdue, and the other four opponents are toss ups. Are they going to sweep BG, Mizzou, Minnesota, and Illinois? Unlikely, even though they have all 4 at home.

I'm mindful of the injury risk borne by playing so many AQ teams, but these aren't the bullies of the Big Ten we're talking about. I could be horribly wrong but Northwestern in terms of size and strength is probably closer to the MAC than the Wisconsins and Iowas. It's more like another elite MAC team in that they emphasize speed and agility and spreading the field, so I don't think the injury risk in playing them is that all that greater than it will be vs Idaho.

(09-12-2013 01:19 PM)Max Power Wrote:  I'm mindful of the injury risk borne by playing so many AQ teams, but these aren't the bullies of the Big Ten we're talking about. I could be horribly wrong but Northwestern in terms of size and strength is probably closer to the MAC than the Wisconsins and Iowas. It's more like another elite MAC team in that they emphasize speed and agility and spreading the field, so I don't think the injury risk in playing them is that all that greater than it will be vs Idaho.

If one of the 3 games is at home, I don't have a problem with it, having 3 of them all on the road, it crosses the line of being fair to the players just as it would be tough for UW or Illinois or OSU to play 3 tough non-conf games on the road.