Just read Mark Shlabach's latest article on the OB...>>> LINK <<<

Not sure if he is qualifying NIU or trying to complain about their inclusion. I can tell you that it seems that ESPN has changed the tone. Watching the current bowl coverage and most analysts and announcers are not criticizing NIU as much as they are FSU. Not sure if they got word from the Sales and Marketing department to tune down the Herbstreit rhetoric since that is not what the advertisers want in regards to promoting the bowl game.

I wish they would just focus on the fact it is 2 conference champions playing, and while there is a big line for the game, who knows what will happen. Interesting that when Butler made it to the Final Four...there wasn't talk about Duke laying an egg, or Butler didn't deserve to be there. Just the fact the best 4 teams were left.

Well said.

Playing up the "Cinderella story" tends to attract more of the non-partisan viewers.

just another reason Kirk is a idiot, way to bash your own game on ESPN. He is a total D-B

The process is over, it's been analyzed and criticized to death. TALK ABOUT THE GAME.

(12-30-2012 06:55 PM)PiKappNoleATL Wrote:  Just read Mark Shlabach's latest article on the OB...>>> LINK <<<

Not sure if he is qualifying NIU or trying to complain about their inclusion. I can tell you that it seems that ESPN has changed the tone. Watching the current bowl coverage and most analysts and announcers are not criticizing NIU as much as they are FSU. Not sure if they got word from the Sales and Marketing department to tune down the Herbstreit rhetoric since that is not what the advertisers want in regards to promoting the bowl game.

I wish they would just focus on the fact it is 2 conference champions playing, and while there is a big line for the game, who knows what will happen. Interesting that when Butler made it to the Final Four...there wasn't talk about Duke laying an egg, or Butler didn't deserve to be there. Just the fact the best 4 teams were left.

Exactly. Let's play the game, and have some fun.

(12-30-2012 06:55 PM)PiKappNoleATL Wrote:  Just read Mark Shlabach's latest article on the OB...>>> LINK <<<

Not sure if he is qualifying NIU or trying to complain about their inclusion. I can tell you that it seems that ESPN has changed the tone. Watching the current bowl coverage and most analysts and announcers are not criticizing NIU as much as they are FSU. Not sure if they got word from the Sales and Marketing department to tune down the Herbstreit rhetoric since that is not what the advertisers want in regards to promoting the bowl game.

I wish they would just focus on the fact it is 2 conference champions playing, and while there is a big line for the game, who knows what will happen. Interesting that when Butler made it to the Final Four...there wasn't talk about Duke laying an egg, or Butler didn't deserve to be there. Just the fact the best 4 teams were left.

I would imagine that the FSU coaches, AD & administration would have wished that ESPN and other national sports media hadn't labeled NIU "a joke" and "Not belonging in a BCS Bowl" or "Receiving a Christmas Gift they didn't deserve" . Having the media feed your opponent bulletin board material doesn't help FSU.

(12-30-2012 10:40 PM)onlinepole Wrote:  

(12-30-2012 06:55 PM)PiKappNoleATL Wrote:  Just read Mark Shlabach's latest article on the OB...>>> LINK <<<

Not sure if he is qualifying NIU or trying to complain about their inclusion. I can tell you that it seems that ESPN has changed the tone. Watching the current bowl coverage and most analysts and announcers are not criticizing NIU as much as they are FSU. Not sure if they got word from the Sales and Marketing department to tune down the Herbstreit rhetoric since that is not what the advertisers want in regards to promoting the bowl game.

I wish they would just focus on the fact it is 2 conference champions playing, and while there is a big line for the game, who knows what will happen. Interesting that when Butler made it to the Final Four...there wasn't talk about Duke laying an egg, or Butler didn't deserve to be there. Just the fact the best 4 teams were left.

I would imagine that the FSU coaches, AD & administration would have wished that ESPN and other national sports media hadn't labeled NIU "a joke" and "Not belonging in a BCS Bowl" or "Receiving a Christmas Gift they didn't deserve" . Having the media feed your opponent bulletin board material doesn't help FSU.

The whole discussion was an embarrassment to NIU, FSU, and college football in general. The ESPN geeks should be ashamed of themselves, but they don't really know how. They're too arrogant.
But who cares? We're in the Orange Bowl, so let's play and enjoy. Let's have a good game with no injuries.

(12-30-2012 10:40 PM)onlinepole Wrote:  

(12-30-2012 06:55 PM)PiKappNoleATL Wrote:  Just read Mark Shlabach's latest article on the OB...>>> LINK <<<

Not sure if he is qualifying NIU or trying to complain about their inclusion. I can tell you that it seems that ESPN has changed the tone. Watching the current bowl coverage and most analysts and announcers are not criticizing NIU as much as they are FSU. Not sure if they got word from the Sales and Marketing department to tune down the Herbstreit rhetoric since that is not what the advertisers want in regards to promoting the bowl game.

I wish they would just focus on the fact it is 2 conference champions playing, and while there is a big line for the game, who knows what will happen. Interesting that when Butler made it to the Final Four...there wasn't talk about Duke laying an egg, or Butler didn't deserve to be there. Just the fact the best 4 teams were left.

I would imagine that the FSU coaches, AD & administration would have wished that ESPN and other national sports media hadn't labeled NIU "a joke" and "Not belonging in a BCS Bowl" or "Receiving a Christmas Gift they didn't deserve" . Having the media feed your opponent bulletin board material doesn't help FSU.

I don't think it hurts or helps FSU. FSU coaches and players should be motivated for a BCS game regardless of the opponent. If not, than the reverse would be true where the current ESPN comments regarding FSU "playing down to opponent", or "laying an egg" and JL comments that the media overhyped, would be something NIU wishes did not happen.

I think both teams do not need anything extra and the media circus around the game is not really getting into anyone's head.

I cant wait wait to see how the a holes from Espn say after we win. F them!