(10-17-2013 02:30 PM)7 Wrote:  You don't think Bielema voting NIU that high last year was throwing Doeren a bone? You don't think Novak voting NIU 12th was him trying to help?

I have no doubt people play games with there votes on occasion to try to help somebody else. That doesn't mean there is going to be a huge uprising to keep NIU out.

I am not saying its a personal vendetta against NIU, Im sure Stoops doesn't hate the Huskies personally, but they are one of the two teams threatening to cost them millions of dollars and the Big 12 coaches will do their part to make it not happen. I don't even know how that can even be contested at this point. What sucks is that we don't get the same kickback in the MAC, arsehats like Lembo cant stand to see a MAC school get ahead.

But that's not what you were saying earlier. You were saying people accidentally voted NIU into the BCS and it won't happen again.

(10-17-2013 12:43 PM)zdsmith Wrote:  Three words:

Beat Central Michigan. :)

This ^

(10-17-2013 02:33 PM)7 Wrote:  But that's not what you were saying earlier. You were saying people accidentally voted NIU into the BCS and it won't happen again.

Last year I think the effort to keep NIU out was pretty localized to the Big 12 coaches because it was clear they would be most affected, my fear is that all the negative publicity from last year with Herbstreit saying NIU destroyed college football will carry over to more than just the Big 12 coaches.

(10-17-2013 02:30 PM)7 Wrote:  You don't think Bielema voting NIU that high last year was throwing Doeren a bone? You don't think Novak voting NIU 12th was him trying to help?

I have no doubt people play games with there votes on occasion to try to help somebody else. That doesn't mean there is going to be a huge uprising to keep NIU out.

NM my comment had already been made numerous times.

(10-17-2013 02:27 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-17-2013 02:26 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(10-17-2013 02:09 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-17-2013 02:06 PM)7 Wrote:  I REALLY doubt NIU would finish 15th (the same spot they were last year with a loss).

Let me close this discussion by asking one last question, if that did happen, would you concede something has changed?

It all depends on who is ahead of them. It's only possible for 10 teams to go undefeated from here on out. So let's just say they all go undefeated and NIU is ranked at 15, then so be it. If only five teams are undefeated and NIU is one of them and is ranked at 15, then I might think that people don't believe NIU is really that good this year.

But the thought Stoops and the rest of the Big 12 coaches are trying to assure an extra BCS bid would never cross your mind?

Yes, I know they would try to vote for things in their favor, but Stoops and the Big 12 don't control college football. Is it really that insane to think that an undefeated NIU really only is the 15th best team in the country?

Texas Tech and NIU had very similar weekends against similar opponents, NIU stayed put and Texas Tech jumped 7 spots.

(10-17-2013 02:35 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-17-2013 02:33 PM)7 Wrote:  But that's not what you were saying earlier. You were saying people accidentally voted NIU into the BCS and it won't happen again.

Last year I think the effort to keep NIU out was pretty localized to the Big 12 coaches because it was clear they would be most affected, my fear is that all the negative publicity from last year with Herbstreit saying NIU destroyed college football will carry over to more than just the Big 12 coaches.

My memory may be hazy (or incorrect) but I seem to remember being the Pride of the MAC, American's (2012) Non-AQ darling, and that a lot lot lot of people rallied behind us after Herbstreit's rave.

I really have a hard time believing that there is gonna be more negative press out there because Herbstreit lost his top.

Texas Tech is an undefeated Big 12 team. They're going to be ranked higher, and get more respected than NIU.

You're focusing way to much on polls right now. These teams are all going to lose. Many of them will lose multiple times.

(10-17-2013 02:37 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Texas Tech and NIU had very similar weekends against similar opponents, NIU stayed put and Texas Tech jumped 7 spots.

Texas Tech has beaten a top 25 team.

Didn't Texas Tech beat Iowa State last week? Not a top 25 team lol.

(10-17-2013 02:41 PM)7 Wrote:  Didn't Texas Tech beat Iowa State last week? Not a top 25 team lol.

Don't worry I caught myself.

(10-17-2013 02:40 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(10-17-2013 02:37 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Texas Tech and NIU had very similar weekends against similar opponents, NIU stayed put and Texas Tech jumped 7 spots.

Texas Tech has beaten a top 25 team.

And that team has proven to be a major flop TCU. My point is there is no way to justify the difference in poll changes based on last week's results of NIU and TT, and that is just a peak I fear of what we are going to see

(10-17-2013 02:43 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-17-2013 02:40 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(10-17-2013 02:37 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Texas Tech and NIU had very similar weekends against similar opponents, NIU stayed put and Texas Tech jumped 7 spots.

Texas Tech has beaten a top 25 team.

And that team has proven to be a major flop TCU. My point is there is no way to justify the difference in poll changes based on last week's results of NIU and TT, and that is just a peak I fear of what we are going to see

You've convinced me. I wouldn't be surprised if NIU starts going down in the rankings.

Goodness gracious I give up

(10-17-2013 02:54 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Goodness gracious I give up

Alright, I'll play fair...

I get what you're saying, but you are arguing for things that have not happened yet nor have ever happened. In the BCS era no team who has gone 13-0 has ever been ranked lower than #12. So until we see it happen, you are going to be viewed as an insane man spouting nonsense.

I believe some of MD's concerns regarding conference biases are valid, but not enough to truly be worrying about 6 games into the year. We overcame them last year, so why wouldn't we again? Just take care of business. Like others have pointed out, if we keep winning, it's extremely unlikely we aren't lingering around the top 12. As we get into the meat of conference play these next few weeks, teams are going to lose. It's really that simple. If we got in with 1 loss, we'll get in with 0 losses.

And the argument that NIU losing by 21 last year diminishes our chances this year holds no merit. There were several BCS games with bigger victory margins than ours, including the ****ing National Championship game.

SBNation dropped a similar article today:

http://www.mwcconnection.com/2013/10/17/...is-mwc-mac

Quote:2. Northern Illinois Huskies, MAC (6-0) (2-0) (Last: 2): At one point, NIU had the best shot of getting in despite a loss once again -- provided they fell to the right team of course. With two Big Ten wins already on the resume, the Huskies look as if they could grab a late surge in the rankings. Their remaining MAC slate is a joke though, and they won't be expected to drop a game a prior to the mid-November matchup with Ball State. Lose that one and they're toast, since it'll likely cost them the East Division, too.

To be fair, there's no way NIU wins the East this year.

(10-17-2013 03:30 PM)7 Wrote:  To be fair, there's no way NIU wins the East this year.

Train of thought there?