Not sure if this was discussed already and my apologizes if it has been.
College Football News is projecting Toledo to win the MAC and playing Michigan in the Motor City Bowl. Bowling Green is projected to go to the Poinsettia Bowl playing Utah.
NIU is shown as being considered for the GMAC Bowl (CFN Projects UAB vs Boise State in this one)
and for the Poinsettia Bowl.
Unless we win the MAC (not just our division) we could get shut out again this year. Bottom line we need to run the table and control our own destiny.
NIUBro Wrote:Not sure if this was discussed already and my apologizes if it has been.
College Football News is projecting Toledo to win the MAC and playing Michigan in the Motor City Bowl. Bowling Green is projected to go to the Poinsettia Bowl playing Utah.
NIU is shown as being considered for the GMAC Bowl (CFN Projects UAB vs Boise State in this one)
and for the Poinsettia Bowl.
Unless we win the MAC (not just our division) we could get shut out again this year. Bottom line we need to run the table and control our own destiny.
Every year, we're under consideration for a possible bowl. Unless we win the MAC West, don't count on it
Pointsettia Bowl? We better beat Toledo and play in the Motor City Bowl. Then we can beat Toledo and a Big Ten team in the same season!
It is looking doubtful that an at-large bowl bid will be granted to the MAC in 2005. People need to keep in mind that 2004 was perhaps the strangest year ever for college football, where there was a pronounced shortage of "eligible" teams for 56 bowl slots. Examination of all the major conference performance to date shows the world of college football has returned back to "normal."
The recipe for NIU is as simple and blunt as it gets...if we want to get to a bowl, then win every single game here on out. There is zero margin for error.
niu85alum Wrote:It is looking doubtful that an at-large bowl bid will be granted to the MAC in 2005. People need to keep in mind that 2004 was perhaps the strangest year ever for college football, where there was a pronounced shortage of "eligible" teams for 56 bowl slots. Examination of all the major conference performance to date shows the world of college football has returned back to "normal."
The recipe for NIU is as simple and blunt as it gets...if we want to get to a bowl, then win every single game here on out. There is zero margin for error.
85:
I think the bowl picture gets clarified - a lot - after this weekend. Right now, I'd agree with you that an at-large bid is questionable for the MAC.
In regard to CFN's predictions, I really,
really doubt that Michigan would ever agree to play in the MCB. I've posted elsewhere that I've had conversations with big O$U boosters and they've said that if it were a choice between playing in the MCB and not playing in a bowl at all, they'd choose the latter. I'd wager that Michigan feels the same way.
niu85alum Wrote:It is looking doubtful that an at-large bowl bid will be granted to the MAC in 2005. People need to keep in mind that 2004 was perhaps the strangest year ever for college football, where there was a pronounced shortage of "eligible" teams for 56 bowl slots. Examination of all the major conference performance to date shows the world of college football has returned back to "normal."
The recipe for NIU is as simple and blunt as it gets...if we want to get to a bowl, then win every single game here on out. There is zero margin for error.
I personally think we are going to Idaho for a bowl game again this year! So are you making the trip again this year?
Michigan is having a dreadful season. Still, I can tell you with certainly that Lloyd Carr and the Michigan administration will never turn down a bowl bid, no matter how lowly in their estimation. You can say what you want about Big 10 programs, but one thing they are not is disrespectful a-holes who would thumb their nose at a bowl invitation. I happen to believe Michigan will get a superior bowl slot versus the Motor City. If I had to guess right now, I'd say either Minnesota or Northwestern has the inside track for the Motor City versus either Toledo or Bowling Green.
As you mentioned, it IS still too early to going making bowl projections. Things will clarify themselves in two and a half weeks.
niu85alum Wrote:Michigan is having a dreadful season. Still, I can tell you with certainly that Lloyd Carr and the Michigan administration will never turn down a bowl bid, no matter how lowly in their estimation. You can say what you want about Big 10 programs, but one thing they are not is disrespectful a-holes who would thumb their nose at a bowl invitation. I happen to believe Michigan will get a superior bowl slot versus the Motor City.
I don't expect Michigan at the MCB either. Those Big 10 slots mean little when it comes to certain teams. Novak tells the story about Michigan jumping up over Indiana in a year Indiana was seated to go to a new years day bowl. Despite beating Michigan and finishing higher than them in the standings, Michigan was picked for hte NY day bowl, while Indiana had to take the less "prestigious" bowl.
Unless Michigan continues to slip up and playing a game in Detroit becomes a draw for them, I don't see it happening.
Quote:I'd say either Minnesota or Northwestern has the inside track for the Motor City versus either Toledo or Bowling Green.
love the confidence you have in us.
85:
dynovinyl pretty much summed it up. Michigan certainly wouldn't publicly say no to an MCB invitation. But you can be darn sure they'd be pressuring the Big Tenleven office to shuffle the bowl invites and get Big Blue to a bowl with a "bigger" name.
Look for Indiana, N'western or Michigan State to play in Detroit.
Putting a large number of points on the board would be very helpfull to achieving an at large Bowl Bid.
We are ranked 6th in Offensive yardage and only 22nd(behing BGSU and Toledo in points scored by offense).
BGSU scores alot more points than we do, hence got a beter Bowl bid last year than us.
It is about Dollars as much as about winning records.
Having a loyal fan base will help NIU in this regard.
Having both Phil Horvath and GW ranked in the top 10 will help us as well.
If we do not win the next 7 games a Bowl bid is unlikely.
Lets try take it one game at a time and enjoy atleast 4-5 wins here.
I am sure both CMU and EMU believe they can do well against us.
We need to focus on improving the football team one game at a time.
Any measureable objective might be fun to discuss.
It will be an irony if this team goes bowling considering that our 2003 team did not.
Lets enjoy the season and route for some great memories ahead.
Our Offensive yardage record per season might be broken.
Maybe we will see 50 or 60 points put on by an offense. (Remember the 70 pointsd against Fresno State)
Maybe Phil will break 500 yards or 7TD's in a game.
Maybe GW will go for > 300 yards in a game. (What is the RB rushing yards record in an NIU game? )
Lets route for a new facility!
Lets route for more media coverage!
Lets expand our loyal fan base.
Talk of Bowl games this early in the season is crazy, especially for Northern. I remember a nice 9-2 season we put together in the Pettibone days. A slightly above average team by the name of Louisiana Tech came along and completely crushed our dream. What our team needs to do is concentrate on Eastern Michigan, then Kent State, etc…. One game at a time people. Nobody loves this team more than I do, I know we belong in bowl games, unfortunately others outside our realm don't share this opinion. So as stated in other posts, WIN EVERY GAME!!!! BEAT TOLEDO! The last time we beat Toledo, Pettibone was coach! I honestly believe the curse ends this year.
God Speed!
Northern 42
Eastern Michigan 14
sterling1man Wrote:Putting a large number of points on the board would be very helpfull to achieving an at large Bowl Bid.
We are ranked 6th in Offensive yardage and only 22nd(behing BGSU and Toledo in points scored by offense).
BGSU scores alot more points than we do, hence got a beter Bowl bid last year than us.
It is about Dollars as much as about winning records.
Having a loyal fan base will help NIU in this regard.
Having both Phil Horvath and GW ranked in the top 10 will help us as well.
If we do not win the next 7 games a Bowl bid is unlikely.
Lets try take it one game at a time and enjoy atleast 4-5 wins here.
I am sure both CMU and EMU believe they can do well against us.
We need to focus on improving the football team one game at a time.
Any measureable objective might be fun to discuss.
It will be an irony if this team goes bowling considering that our 2003 team did not.
Lets enjoy the season and route for some great memories ahead.
Our Offensive yardage record per season might be broken.
Maybe we will see 50 or 60 points put on by an offense. (Remember the 70 pointsd against Fresno State)
Maybe Phil will break 500 yards or 7TD's in a game.
Maybe GW will go for > 300 yards in a game. (What is the RB rushing yards record in an NIU game? )
Lets route for a new facility!
Lets route for more media coverage!
Lets expand our loyal fan base.
Right now, the "math" simply isn't promising for the MAC to receive an at-large bowl bid. It is a tragic shame that Rick Chryst has yet to secure a 3rd bowl for the MAC. Some of the "mid-bowls" have had their existing deals expire, and still nothing for the MAC accept the potential of the friggin Canadian Bowl concept which I happen to believe will be a colossal failure.
We do have a chance to end the Toledo curse soon.
This year at Toledo against Gradkowski the great would be unbelievable.
Next year at home, both GW and Phil and without Gradkowski is possible.
Remember in BB when Dick Bennet would always beat NIU!
Then we suddenly ended his winning streak in DeKalb,
when he coached the badgers to the final 4 that year.
Maybe this year is our turn against Toledo, if not like the CUBs there is always next year!
I love this football program!
niu85alum Wrote:It is looking doubtful that an at-large bowl bid will be granted to the MAC in 2005. People need to keep in mind that 2004 was perhaps the strangest year ever for college football, where there was a pronounced shortage of "eligible" teams for 56 bowl slots. Examination of all the major conference performance to date shows the world of college football has returned back to "normal."
Agree 100%.
After all, didn't the craziness happen last year when So. Carolina and another school (Clemson?) got into the brawl and both teams opted out of post season bowl games?
The other thing is that the Big Ten is very, very deep this year. Will probably qualify 8 or even 9 teams so they have one or two teams to fill if another conference can't meet their quota.
UofM isn't going to MCB. Some bowl would pass over a 7 - 4 Big Ten team for a 6 - 5 UofM team.
Minnesota, Northwestern, etc. don't travel. UofM - they'll travel to anywhere where it is warm.
Does the Pointsettia Bowl have a MAC tie in? And if so does the GMAC still have a MAC tie in?
G-FORCE Wrote:Does the Pointsettia Bowl have a MAC tie in? And if so does the GMAC still have a MAC tie in?
Pointsettia = No MAC tie-in
GMAC = MAC tie-in
BGSUalum1987 Wrote:G-FORCE Wrote:Does the Pointsettia Bowl have a MAC tie in? And if so does the GMAC still have a MAC tie in?
Pointsettia = No MAC tie-in
GMAC = MAC tie-in
Thank you, thats what i thought.
Quote: It is a tragic shame that Rick Chryst has yet to secure a 3rd bowl for the MAC.
It was not that long ago when the MAC could only send one team to a bowl game (2000 and earlier).
Its too early of course, but I wouldn't expect to get anything unless we win the MACC, unless a crapload of teams go ineligable like last year. Last year Akron was the only eligable team not invited to a bowl.
I don't think they'd allow a rematch with Michigan if we went to the MCB. I wonder which one of us would get bumped? We would have played in Shreveport last year if it wouldn't have meant a rematch with Iowa.
G-FORCE Wrote:Does the Pointsettia Bowl have a MAC tie in? And if so does the GMAC still have a MAC tie in?
According to CFN the Poinsettia Bowl is MWC vs. At-Large
The GMAC Bowl is C USA No. 2 vs. MAC or WAC.
What bugs me is all of the tie ins CUSA has.
GMAC; Wyndham New Orleans; Fort Worth;
MAC has ONE tie in and CUSA has FOUR!!!