First of all, lets lay some things on the table.

NIU was playing Florida State in Florida and WMU was playing Wisconsin in Texas. NIU's Orange Bowl appearance was played on New Years Day in primetime, and WMU's Cotton Bowl appearance was at noon on January 2nd.

With that being said...

NIU/Florida State drew 72,073 fans, the second highest total for the OB since 2009. Only was bested by OSU/Clemson the following year (by 7 entire people). The game drew a 10.6 overnight rating, up from 7.2 the year before.

Wisconsin/WMU drew 59,615 fans, the lowest number since the game moved to Jerry World and the lowest Cotton Bowl total since 1998. It drew a 3.2 overnight TV rating, by far the lowest of the New Years 6 games.

For all of the people who thought the controversy or "lack of respect" for NIU leading up to the Orange Bowl, in every way, shape, or form NIU's trip to the OB drew way more interest than WMU in the Cotton Bowl.

Yet we are stuck in the trash MAC.

(01-03-2017 03:31 PM)7 Wrote:  First of all, lets lay some things on the table.

NIU was playing Florida State in Florida and WMU was playing Wisconsin in Texas. NIU's Orange Bowl appearance was played on New Years Day in primetime, and WMU's Cotton Bowl appearance was at noon on January 2nd.

With that being said...

NIU/Florida State drew 72,073 fans, the second highest total for the OB since 2009. Only was bested by OSU/Clemson the following year (by 7 entire people). The game drew a 10.6 overnight rating, up from 7.2 the year before.

Wisconsin/WMU drew 59,615 fans, the lowest number since the game moved to Jerry World and the lowest Cotton Bowl total since 1998. It drew a 3.2 overnight TV rating, by far the lowest of the New Years 6 games.

For all of the people who thought the controversy or "lack of respect" for NIU leading up to the Orange Bowl, in every way, shape, or form NIU's trip to the OB drew way more interest than WMU in the Cotton Bowl.

I think the 2 teams did equally well. I still think FSU's defense was more athletic, but just my opinion. The Orange Bowl was in Florida so it makes sense that FSU would bring a lot of people. Most could probably drive to that game.

I think the Orange Bowl attendance was tickets sold, not butts in seats. There were a fair amount of empty seats in the upper deck in Miami that day. The Orange Bowl crowd definitely benefited from having a home state school playing in the game. If it were a Big 10 team vs. NIU that night, attendance would have been much worse.

(01-03-2017 04:33 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(01-03-2017 03:31 PM)7 Wrote:  First of all, lets lay some things on the table.

NIU was playing Florida State in Florida and WMU was playing Wisconsin in Texas. NIU's Orange Bowl appearance was played on New Years Day in primetime, and WMU's Cotton Bowl appearance was at noon on January 2nd.

With that being said...

NIU/Florida State drew 72,073 fans, the second highest total for the OB since 2009. Only was bested by OSU/Clemson the following year (by 7 entire people). The game drew a 10.6 overnight rating, up from 7.2 the year before.

Wisconsin/WMU drew 59,615 fans, the lowest number since the game moved to Jerry World and the lowest Cotton Bowl total since 1998. It drew a 3.2 overnight TV rating, by far the lowest of the New Years 6 games.

For all of the people who thought the controversy or "lack of respect" for NIU leading up to the Orange Bowl, in every way, shape, or form NIU's trip to the OB drew way more interest than WMU in the Cotton Bowl.

The Orange Bowl was in Florida so it makes sense that FSU would bring a lot of people. Most could probably drive to that game.

The Outback Bowl is in Tampa and there were a ton of open seats even with Florida playing in the game.

(01-03-2017 03:31 PM)7 Wrote:  First of all, lets lay some things on the table.

NIU was playing Florida State in Florida and WMU was playing Wisconsin in Texas. NIU's Orange Bowl appearance was played on New Years Day in primetime, and WMU's Cotton Bowl appearance was at noon on January 2nd.

With that being said...

NIU/Florida State drew 72,073 fans, the second highest total for the OB since 2009. Only was bested by OSU/Clemson the following year (by 7 entire people). The game drew a 10.6 overnight rating, up from 7.2 the year before.

Wisconsin/WMU drew 59,615 fans, the lowest number since the game moved to Jerry World and the lowest Cotton Bowl total since 1998. It drew a 3.2 overnight TV rating, by far the lowest of the New Years 6 games.

For all of the people who thought the controversy or "lack of respect" for NIU leading up to the Orange Bowl, in every way, shape, or form NIU's trip to the OB drew way more interest than WMU in the Cotton Bowl.

I was at the Orange Bowl and although ANNOUNCED attendance was 72K, there was no way there was even close to that many people being in that stadium. Full seating capacity (not including standing room) was 75K.

Regardless, that was a fun time and probably the proudest I have ever been as a NIU fan.

(01-03-2017 04:52 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(01-03-2017 04:33 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(01-03-2017 03:31 PM)7 Wrote:  First of all, lets lay some things on the table.

NIU was playing Florida State in Florida and WMU was playing Wisconsin in Texas. NIU's Orange Bowl appearance was played on New Years Day in primetime, and WMU's Cotton Bowl appearance was at noon on January 2nd.

With that being said...

NIU/Florida State drew 72,073 fans, the second highest total for the OB since 2009. Only was bested by OSU/Clemson the following year (by 7 entire people). The game drew a 10.6 overnight rating, up from 7.2 the year before.

Wisconsin/WMU drew 59,615 fans, the lowest number since the game moved to Jerry World and the lowest Cotton Bowl total since 1998. It drew a 3.2 overnight TV rating, by far the lowest of the New Years 6 games.

For all of the people who thought the controversy or "lack of respect" for NIU leading up to the Orange Bowl, in every way, shape, or form NIU's trip to the OB drew way more interest than WMU in the Cotton Bowl.

The Orange Bowl was in Florida so it makes sense that FSU would bring a lot of people. Most could probably drive to that game.

The Outback Bowl is in Tampa and there were a ton of open seats even with Florida playing in the game.

True but if you're just comparing NIU's OB game and WMU's Cotton Bowl, that is kind of immaterial. And the Outback isn't an Access Bowl.

I'm curious what the ratio of NIU to FSU fans were, saw a comment a while back saying NIU had trouble getting rid of their tickets.

Also, NIU OB unis > WMU CB unis

I don't know about the fan ratio in the Orange Bowl but I do know we were really loud. I got chills when the N-I-U and Let's Go Huskies chants went up, an incredible exerience.

Just watching them come out of the tunnel was a thrill for me. We played a LOADED team with 3, 4 1st rounders and about 20 picks off that FSU roster

Being at the OB was eaisly one of the most fun times I've had watching NIU. When they ran out onto the field, I had goosebumps. But man, FSU was VERY good. It's no wonder only a year later they would win the National Title.

Has NIU ever beaten Wisconsin?

Come within eight points of Badgers?

(01-04-2017 05:16 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Has NIU ever beaten Wisconsin?

Come within eight points of Badgers?

Come within 8? Yep almost beat a ranked badger team in camp Randall in 2002

(01-04-2017 05:16 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Has NIU ever beaten Wisconsin?

Come within eight points of Badgers?

Beat them once and got a letter saying we're sorry from the officials for another one that still chaps my ass.

(01-04-2017 05:30 PM)niuco90 Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 05:16 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Has NIU ever beaten Wisconsin?

Come within eight points of Badgers?

Beat them once and got a letter saying we're sorry from the officials for another one that still chaps my ass.

We physically beat them down this game. We had like 11 sacks and yet still managed to lose. Due to:

1) Sheldon fumbling a sure TD on about the 5 yard line
2) Big Ten officials calling 3 penalties on their final series which allowed them to march down the field and score. Included was I believe an illegal procedure on our punt plus at least 2 pass interference calls.

(01-04-2017 05:49 PM)golf4501 Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 05:30 PM)niuco90 Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 05:16 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Has NIU ever beaten Wisconsin?

Come within eight points of Badgers?

Beat them once and got a letter saying we're sorry from the officials for another one that still chaps my ass.

We physically beat them down this game. We had like 11 sacks and yet still managed to lose. Due to:

1) Sheldon fumbling a sure TD on about the 5 yard line
2) Big Ten officials calling 3 penalties on their final series which allowed them to march down the field and score. Included was I believe an illegal procedure on our punt plus at least 2 pass interference calls.

ESPN even called the Big 10 out for that fiasco. Still those 02 and 03 teams are my all time favorites. Gosh, I loved those teams.

(01-04-2017 05:16 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Has NIU ever beaten Wisconsin?

Come within eight points of Badgers?

They lost by 8 in Camp Randall in 2009 you dolt

(01-03-2017 04:54 PM)pgreen822 Wrote:  Regardless, that was a fun time and probably the proudest I have ever been as a NIU fan.

Same for me in Arlington this week. Seems like comparable experiences.

(01-04-2017 05:16 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Has NIU ever beaten Wisconsin?

Come within eight points of Badgers?

Beat them in 1988 and got screwed in 1992 when the WI QB clearly did not get the 2 point conversion to win the game by 1.

(01-05-2017 11:24 AM)Snap96 Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 05:16 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Has NIU ever beaten Wisconsin?

Come within eight points of Badgers?

Beat them in 1988 and got screwed in 1992 when the WI QB clearly did not get the 2 point conversion to win the game by 1.

Yep, I was there in 92. The paper showed a picture of the qb body being over, the ball not. I saw video too, not sure where. News or ESPN. That game was stolen back in the era where home team conference refs had zero accountability and it was much easier to screw over the visitor, especially the little guy.