(11-04-2015 03:39 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Geesh I feel like NIU just ran over a beloved neighborhood dog. Did people feel this sorry for NIU when BG won the MACC against NIU to ruin another BCS bowl for the Huskies and the conference? I must have missed that, or was it because NIU was not located in Ohio and did not matter as much? As it turns out, Toledo even letting NIU hang around for officiating to even matter when missing a star receiver in Lewis and their starting QB (replaced by a 3rd stringer) proves Toledo was not Access Bowl worthy anyway. I thought they were, but tonight proved otherwise. Be mad at Toledo, not NIU.

I feel bad whenever any MAC team which a chance for a BCS bowl game loses, esp. in the MACC.

I can also remember UB beating an undefeated BSU team which promptly went into a funk.

Last night was great for NIU, but bad for the MAC and ESPN and college FB (IMO).

With a Toledo win, each Toledo game from yesterday forward would be heightened interest across the national college FB scene because of their chances for the Access Bowl against a few AAC schools.

Anything which pits undefeated teams from two G5 conferences in a battle for a CFP game is great for the game.

We'd have the spectacle of Toledo competing against Memphis, Houston, and Temple in something which has more drama than the World Series. AAC fans would be watching their drama as well as the drama in the MAC.

From my angle on the couch, I don't think coaching or referees were the reason UT lost. Players didn't make plays, over and over again. That the game was as close as it was and NIU had a chance to steal it in the 4th quarter to me was because NIU's players were just better last night. That and Toledo just wasn't as good a team as they probably imagined themselves to be and NIU wasn't as inferior as some thought they would be.

It's just too easy to blame coaches and schemes and refs. Players play. UT's players weren't good enough last night. Guys had lots of opportunities to step up and decide the game.

The only bad thing is I wish we could shut up the AAC fans. They're as bad as P5 fans and even more delusional.

(11-04-2015 11:43 AM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  "Those refs should be suspended for that BS call on the NIU FG that gave them a "gift" 1st down and allowed them to continue their drive and get a TD....one of the worst calls I've ever seen from the perspective that it greatly affected the outcome and also was completely fabricated in the mind of the official that threw the flag."


As a football official and a Rocket fan I will provide an honest and objective reply to this statement.

(1) yes the call for "leaping" was incorrect and ultimately led to a NIU TD...after the auto-1st down the Rocket defense did nothing to stop them so don't put all of the blame on the calling official
(2) yes there was a miss for pretty obvious OPI (offensive pass interference) on a push off that led to a 1st down and ultimately final/winning TD for the Huskies...but how does NIU complete a 4th down and forever on two occasions where the Rocket's pass D was nonexistent - don't blame the refs if they missed a call

Final thoughts:
(1) Credit NIU for winning the game without their best WR (and noted Toledo killer) and without their starting QB; you got to tip your hat to the Huskie players and coaching staff for staying in the game and then making the plays when they needed (including the final INT with 1:45 remaining) while Toledo did not. This is why NIU is a championship program and has been for a few years...congrats guys, you are the gold standard of MAC football right now
(2) Toledo missed a huge opportunity to win the game (injuries to the best NIU players) and has no to blame but themselves even with those missed calls noted above...some horrible play calling in the 2nd quarter and terrible QB play all night doomed the Rockets before the 'D' folded like a cheap tent in the second half

This is MACMadness people, expect more upsets to follow throughout November.

Were you at the game or are you making these assessments from your living room?

I think people underestimated NIU a little because of the CMU loss, and the fact that NIU had 3 losses. But it was unlikely we'd see a repeat of Hare fumbling the ball several times like he did against CMU in the rain.

One of the big reasons why NIU won last night, at least to me, was that Phillip Ely did not play well enough to lead Toledo to a win. He's a decent QB, but if you need him to win a game on his own, I don't think he's good enough to do it. He's maybe the 5th best QB in the conference at the moment, easily behind Johnson, possibly behind guys like Rush, Terrell, and possibly even Hare.

Quite simply, he's a prototype Alabama QB: typically good game-manager with a decent arm, but not quite good enough to win a game on his own if need be.

Even though we had three losses we were competitive and they were close losses all on the road. Its not like we had lost by a lot and looked uncompetitive.

But Toledo had plenty of opportunities to win. The same will be afforded to our future opponents with us missing our QB and a top receiver.

NIU has figured out Toledo unlike other MAC teams. They come prepared for this game. I think Toledo could have won easily, but several big miscues allowed NIU to stay in the game and ultimately steal the W.

But, there's no guarantee they can still win the MAC West as easily as they have in years past, and I hope they lose them all.

(11-04-2015 12:35 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Even though we had three losses we were competitive and they were close losses all on the road. Its not like we had lost by a lot and looked uncompetitive.

But Toledo had plenty of opportunities to win. The same will be afforded to our future opponents with us missing our QB and a top receiver.

(11-04-2015 12:33 PM)BarsemaBone2 Wrote:  One of the big reasons why NIU won last night, at least to me, was that Phillip Ely did not play well enough to lead Toledo to a win. He's a decent QB, but if you need him to win a game on his own, I don't think he's good enough to do it. He's maybe the 5th best QB in the conference at the moment, easily behind Johnson, possibly behind guys like Rush, Terrell, and possibly even Hare.

Quite simply, he's a prototype Alabama QB: typically good game-manager with a decent arm, but not quite good enough to win a game on his own if need be.

No question on those you mention!

He's behind Frohnapfel and Licata as well.

He can't run...he's not all that accurate either. I think he's benefited mostly so far because his line has kept him from being pressured so much. That's likely to change going forward as the schedule stiffens.

Quote:Did people feel this sorry for NIU when BG won the MACC against NIU to ruin another BCS bowl for the Huskies and the conference?

I did -- because NIU was headed to a BCS Bowl again. Toledo though, I knew was not going to go undefeated this year. They'd have to play Rival BGSU *twice* to do so -- and never at home. BGSU with Matt Johnson, the best QB in the MAC now AND then that beat NIU w/ Lynch. Plus they'd have to play NIU & WMU (and CMU who's no cakewalk for anyone).

I figured with Hare & TLL gone, at home, Toledo had that game, but Ely sucked. I figured he'd get the ball rolling in 4th, but nope. The guy threw for under 50%. You can't blame that on receivers this late in the season. Toledo's just a running team that can sometimes pass well, but many times not.

(11-04-2015 12:28 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  The only bad thing is I wish we could shut up the AAC fans. They're as bad as P5 fans and even more delusional.

Delusional like the MAC fans who think an undefeated Toledo would've gotten the Access slot over an undefeated Temple, Memphis, or Houston?

About like that, or like Temple fans who still refer to themselves as undefeated.

(11-04-2015 01:56 PM)axeme Wrote:  About like that, or like Temple fans who still refer to themselves as undefeated.

I'm obviously referring to the comments that were being made before we lost to Notre Dame, but hey Notre Dame is a better loss than N. Illinois when it comes down to it. 1-loss Temple gets in over 1-loss Toledo.

The true spirit of the G5: parsing out the losses.

(11-04-2015 11:43 AM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  "Those refs should be suspended for that BS call on the NIU FG that gave them a "gift" 1st down and allowed them to continue their drive and get a TD....one of the worst calls I've ever seen from the perspective that it greatly affected the outcome and also was completely fabricated in the mind of the official that threw the flag."


As a football official and a Rocket fan I will provide an honest and objective reply to this statement.

(1) yes the call for "leaping" was incorrect and ultimately led to a NIU TD...after the auto-1st down the Rocket defense did nothing to stop them so don't put all of the blame on the calling official
(2) yes there was a miss for pretty obvious OPI (offensive pass interference) on a push off that led to a 1st down and ultimately final/winning TD for the Huskies...but how does NIU complete a 4th down and forever on two occasions where the Rocket's pass D was nonexistent - don't blame the refs if they missed a call

Final thoughts:
(1) Credit NIU for winning the game without their best WR (and noted Toledo killer) and without their starting QB; you got to tip your hat to the Huskie players and coaching staff for staying in the game and then making the plays when they needed (including the final INT with 1:45 remaining) while Toledo did not. This is why NIU is a championship program and has been for a few years...congrats guys, you are the gold standard of MAC football right now
(2) Toledo missed a huge opportunity to win the game (injuries to the best NIU players) and has no to blame but themselves even with those missed calls noted above...some horrible play calling in the 2nd quarter and terrible QB play all night doomed the Rockets before the 'D' folded like a cheap tent in the second half

This is MACMadness people, expect more upsets to follow throughout November.

The leveraging penalty is not only for leaping, it also says you cannot push a teammate. If you watch a replay of the replay (not the live play), I think it's pretty obvious #23 pushed the butt of #91 towards the kicker (#91's momentum from that push had him ending up behind the kicker)

(11-04-2015 01:38 PM)TforTempleU Wrote:  

(11-04-2015 12:28 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  The only bad thing is I wish we could shut up the AAC fans. They're as bad as P5 fans and even more delusional.

Delusional like the MAC fans who think an undefeated Toledo would've gotten the Access slot over an undefeated Temple, Memphis, or Houston?

I was thinking more along the lines of AAC fans thinking they're basically P5 and so much better than the MAC, at a whole 'nother level. A few years ago the MAC was 4-3 or 4-4 vs. the AAC (when NIU went to the Orange Bowl, but didn't play any AAC teams), and last year the CUSA did better than the AAC. This year UCF looks as bad as the worst teams in the MAC.

(11-04-2015 01:56 PM)axeme Wrote:  About like that, or like Temple fans who still refer to themselves as undefeated.

LMAO!!!

Quote:The only bad thing is I wish we could shut up the AAC fans. They're as bad as P5 fans and even more delusional.

Because they THINK they're P5. They're basically CUSA moved to another conference -- not the Big East. P5 took the best teams, and left the rest, which left some good ones -- but they're not a P5 conference.

(11-04-2015 02:16 PM)Field Turf Wrote:  

(11-04-2015 11:43 AM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  "Those refs should be suspended for that BS call on the NIU FG that gave them a "gift" 1st down and allowed them to continue their drive and get a TD....one of the worst calls I've ever seen from the perspective that it greatly affected the outcome and also was completely fabricated in the mind of the official that threw the flag."


As a football official and a Rocket fan I will provide an honest and objective reply to this statement.

(1) yes the call for "leaping" was incorrect and ultimately led to a NIU TD...after the auto-1st down the Rocket defense did nothing to stop them so don't put all of the blame on the calling official
(2) yes there was a miss for pretty obvious OPI (offensive pass interference) on a push off that led to a 1st down and ultimately final/winning TD for the Huskies...but how does NIU complete a 4th down and forever on two occasions where the Rocket's pass D was nonexistent - don't blame the refs if they missed a call

Final thoughts:
(1) Credit NIU for winning the game without their best WR (and noted Toledo killer) and without their starting QB; you got to tip your hat to the Huskie players and coaching staff for staying in the game and then making the plays when they needed (including the final INT with 1:45 remaining) while Toledo did not. This is why NIU is a championship program and has been for a few years...congrats guys, you are the gold standard of MAC football right now
(2) Toledo missed a huge opportunity to win the game (injuries to the best NIU players) and has no to blame but themselves even with those missed calls noted above...some horrible play calling in the 2nd quarter and terrible QB play all night doomed the Rockets before the 'D' folded like a cheap tent in the second half

This is MACMadness people, expect more upsets to follow throughout November.

The leveraging penalty is not only for leaping, it also says you cannot push a teammate. If you watch a replay of the replay (not the live play), I think it's pretty obvious #23 pushed the butt of #91 towards the kicker (#91's momentum from that push had him ending up behind the kicker)

This. I thought it was plain as day on the replay. It was the right call.

All this coulda shoulda woulda about penalties, missed Toledo opportunies etc...

Fine, I can play this game as well. At least three of the NIU field goals, if not four, should have been touchdowns punched in by the offense. If so, NIU wins by 21.