(08-31-2012 10:34 AM)niuaccy1976 Wrote:  I think a large part of the Ball State rivalry was because it is the closest MAC school to DeKalb. We're stuck way out here on the western frontier and they are not in Ohio or Michigan as with the bulk of the conference schools.

"After discussions between the schools and in honor of one of the Huskies' and Cardinals' oldest, and closest, league rivalries, the teams will vie for "The Bronze Stalk" starting with the 2008 contest. The schools will seek a corporate sponsor for the rivalry and the trophy will go to the winner of the football game each year."

http://www.niuhuskies.com/sports/m-footb...07aaa.html

http://www.cfpmessageboard.com/viewtopic...55&p=72062

WMU is closer to DeKalb than Ball St is.

Illinois and Northwestern are rivals to NIU in a way. They are not true rivals of NIU where we play a game every year but we are indirect rivals. When the Chicago Tribune names the best college football team in Illinos every year and they name NIU, both Illinois and Northwestern (especially their fans) seem to be really pissed off. Its good bragging rights for NIU and our Big 10 indirect rivals seem to care.

Also if we get AP or coaches poll votes and beat them they do not seem happy. Of course I always remind by Big 10 alum co-workers that NIU beat them in the polls.

(08-31-2012 10:33 AM)Doeren Identity Wrote:  Northwestern. We travel HUGE to Evanston. Hopefully they would come to DeKalb.

The 05 game was great. That
s one that needs ot be on the schedule/

Northwestern will never risk playing a game in DeKalb. Just won't happen. Not unless NIU football turns crappy or they get a lot better than they currently are.

(08-31-2012 07:10 PM)WhiskeyDick Wrote:  You will not find a single BCS conference school in America who will agree to forge a rivalry with a mid major. For the love of God I hope you people aren't that **** stupid naive.

I know im extremely late on this and forgot i even made this topic... ive been sitting here reading all of this. as soon as you put this one reply, the 1st schools i thought of were Utah (which is technically BCS in the Pac 12) and Weber State (which is some unknown D1AA in Utah). If im correct this school technically participates in the Beehive Boot rivalry that is in that state (Utah, BYU, Weber, Utah State, and Southern Utah). Yeah Weber might not be on Utah's schedule any time soon since they made the jump to Pac 12, but I just wanted to let it be known haha.....

So after stating all the previous pages of things mentioned, it's pretty reasonable to make a state wide rivalry. Usually when in-state schools play each other, there's hatred anyways. Yeah it might not really benefit U of I or NU, but it'll definitely be something worth watching every year (or every other year). If U of I and NU are so confident, it shouldn't be an issue to add NIU or SIU on to their OOC schedule, usually these schools choose a MAC and D1AA school to play for "easy" wins anyways. If they are as good as they think, then do it for in state recruiting. I'd love to see DD boast to a native Illinois recruit that he beat U of I and NU in the same season. If Utah and BYU can stoop down and play some unknowns, then I'm sure U of I and NU can play an actual team with a good reputation yearly.