(12-27-2014 01:29 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  My expectations are to compete for and hopefully win a MAC title. Those expectations have been realized. I also expect a bowl win against teams we should beat. That expectation has not been realized. It's hard for some to accept that NIU, with all its wins year after year, is an average team outside the MAC.

Which of the last three bowl games were games NIU "should" win? I'm not saying they couldn't beat those teams, but honestly, I don't think any of the games were ones you looked at and said "oh yeah, this is a no doubter" and NIU came up short.

They should have beat Utah State, but I don't think anybody on that team wanted to play that game after the MAC Championship.

(12-27-2014 12:59 PM)PrideinthePack Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 10:04 AM)Big_Man Wrote:  There are a lot of bowl games. Too many to count. No one is going to remember that we lost the Rat Mouth Bowl to Marshall. Hell I can't even tell you would played in last year's Orange bowl. Don't be a psychopath.

We as NIU fans are going to remember and that's the only thing that matters, why does what other people think even matter?

In a couple years most people won't remember who even won the MAC in 2014, I guess that's meaningless too.

People around here love to downplay the meaning of bowl games after NIU loses. They are a big deal. The bowl game day threads are some of the most popular threads around here year in and out. There's real disappointment and excitement from the players who win or lose. Take a look at the post game interviews from any bowl game and tell me they don't matter. The Louisiana Tech QB was nearly in tears yesterday he was so happy. Getting to these games are sometimes the difference in keeping your job and getting fired for some coaches. Fans spend hundreds of dollars to go to these games. They matter.

I think on a national level, more people were interested in us playing Marshall than us playing BG for the MACC. So to say people will forget who we lost to this meaningless bowl season is laughable. If thats the case, they definitely dont give a crap about who won the MACC that some of you relish.

It seems pretty clear to those of us reality based fans that many posters here would be much, much happier cheering for the Yankees, the Patriots, and Florida State than NIU. It's so comfortable and warm, with all the resources, winning all the games, perfect coaches, multiple all-stars, facilities, and a Wal-Mart fan base.

If all you are looking for is 13-0 perfection, Nick Saban as coach, a P5 conference and 100,000 fans in the seats on a Saturday afternoon there are other places more welcoming of your immaturity and irrationality, because being a fan of NIU is not for you.

Start here: Disney.com.

Idiots.

(12-27-2014 02:13 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  It seems pretty clear to those of us reality based fans that many posters here would be much, much happier cheering for the Yankees, the Patriots, and Florida State than NIU. It's so comfortable and warm, with all the resources, winning all the games, perfect coaches, multiple all-stars, facilities, and a Wal-Mart fan base.

If all you are looking for is 13-0 perfection, Nick Saban as coach, a P5 conference and 100,000 fans in the seats on a Saturday afternoon there are other places more welcoming of your immaturity and irrationality, because being a fan of NIU is not for you.

Start here: Disney.com.

Idiots.

!!!!

(12-27-2014 01:43 PM)7 Wrote:  They should have beat Utah State, but I don't think anybody on that team wanted to play that game after the MAC Championship.

That's fine that you have that opinion, but Utah State was favored (it was one point, so not a heavy favorite). So it's not like NIU rolled in a 2 touchdown favorite and just filled the diaper.

(12-27-2014 03:07 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 01:43 PM)7 Wrote:  They should have beat Utah State, but I don't think anybody on that team wanted to play that game after the MAC Championship.

That's fine that you have that opinion, but Utah State was favored (it was one point, so not a heavy favorite). So it's not like NIU rolled in a 2 touchdown favorite and just filled the diaper.

We should beat a team like Utah State if we want to move to that "next level" that so many people expect.

(12-27-2014 03:32 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 03:07 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 01:43 PM)7 Wrote:  They should have beat Utah State, but I don't think anybody on that team wanted to play that game after the MAC Championship.

That's fine that you have that opinion, but Utah State was favored (it was one point, so not a heavy favorite). So it's not like NIU rolled in a 2 touchdown favorite and just filled the diaper.

We should beat a team like Utah State if we want to move to that "next level" that so many people expect.

The only thing stopping NIU from being next level is fan support.

(12-27-2014 04:36 PM)7 Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 03:32 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 03:07 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 01:43 PM)7 Wrote:  They should have beat Utah State, but I don't think anybody on that team wanted to play that game after the MAC Championship.

That's fine that you have that opinion, but Utah State was favored (it was one point, so not a heavy favorite). So it's not like NIU rolled in a 2 touchdown favorite and just filled the diaper.

We should beat a team like Utah State if we want to move to that "next level" that so many people expect.

The only thing stopping NIU from being next level is fan support.

That really is it. Perceptions of NIU football wouldn't be any different if the outcomes of the last 2 bowl games were different. Those games don't matter in that way. NIU's done all it can from a sustained winning standpoint.

(12-27-2014 04:42 PM)DogTracks Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 04:36 PM)7 Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 03:32 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 03:07 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 01:43 PM)7 Wrote:  They should have beat Utah State, but I don't think anybody on that team wanted to play that game after the MAC Championship.

That's fine that you have that opinion, but Utah State was favored (it was one point, so not a heavy favorite). So it's not like NIU rolled in a 2 touchdown favorite and just filled the diaper.

We should beat a team like Utah State if we want to move to that "next level" that so many people expect.

The only thing stopping NIU from being next level is fan support.

That really is it. Perceptions of NIU football wouldn't be any different if the outcomes of the last 2 bowl games were different. Those games don't matter in that way. NIU's done all it can from a sustained winning standpoint.

Ask 95% of college football fans what NIU did in their bowl game last year, and they'll have no idea. Ask them in about a month what they did this year, and they'll have no idea.

(12-27-2014 04:43 PM)7 Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 04:42 PM)DogTracks Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 04:36 PM)7 Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 03:32 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 03:07 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  That's fine that you have that opinion, but Utah State was favored (it was one point, so not a heavy favorite). So it's not like NIU rolled in a 2 touchdown favorite and just filled the diaper.

We should beat a team like Utah State if we want to move to that "next level" that so many people expect.

The only thing stopping NIU from being next level is fan support.

That really is it. Perceptions of NIU football wouldn't be any different if the outcomes of the last 2 bowl games were different. Those games don't matter in that way. NIU's done all it can from a sustained winning standpoint.

Ask 95% of college football fans what NIU did in their bowl game last year, and they'll have no idea. Ask them in about a month what they did this year, and they'll have no idea.

Yup.

I root for NIU (bowl) victories because I'm a NIU football fan. I personally don't give a damn what the average college football fan thinks about my team. I root for my enjoyment, not to please someone else.

(12-27-2014 04:59 PM)PrideinthePack Wrote:  I root for NIU (bowl) victories because I'm a NIU football fan. I personally don't give a damn what the average college football fan thinks about my team. I root for my enjoyment, not to please someone else.

That's fine, but don't act like them losing a bowl game makes them a laughing stock or anybody cares, because they don't.

And before you come unhinged, I'm not saying you said that, but the first post in this thread does.

(12-27-2014 05:00 PM)7 Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 04:59 PM)PrideinthePack Wrote:  I root for NIU (bowl) victories because I'm a NIU football fan. I personally don't give a damn what the average college football fan thinks about my team. I root for my enjoyment, not to please someone else.

That's fine, but don't act like them losing a bowl game makes them a laughing stock or anybody cares, because they don't.

And before you come unhinged, I'm not saying you said that, but the first post in this thread does.

So are you also saying no one cares about the MACC or will remember who won that?

(12-27-2014 05:25 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 05:00 PM)7 Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 04:59 PM)PrideinthePack Wrote:  I root for NIU (bowl) victories because I'm a NIU football fan. I personally don't give a damn what the average college football fan thinks about my team. I root for my enjoyment, not to please someone else.

That's fine, but don't act like them losing a bowl game makes them a laughing stock or anybody cares, because they don't.

And before you come unhinged, I'm not saying you said that, but the first post in this thread does.

So are you also saying no one cares about the MACC or will remember who won that?

The specific game? Likely not, but it's less about the individual game and more about the sustained success of the program. Anybody can win the MAC (Buffalo did...lol) but the sustained success is what its all about.

(12-27-2014 04:59 PM)PrideinthePack Wrote:  I root for NIU (bowl) victories because I'm a NIU football fan. I personally don't give a damn what the average college football fan thinks about my team. I root for my enjoyment, not to please someone else.

This is where I'm at. I'm done worrying about attendance, bowl games to impress the naysayers, moving to the next level etc..

I'm happy so long as I can continue to go out to games, and the Huskies win regularly.

(12-27-2014 04:36 PM)7 Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 03:32 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 03:07 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 01:43 PM)7 Wrote:  They should have beat Utah State, but I don't think anybody on that team wanted to play that game after the MAC Championship.

That's fine that you have that opinion, but Utah State was favored (it was one point, so not a heavy favorite). So it's not like NIU rolled in a 2 touchdown favorite and just filled the diaper.

We should beat a team like Utah State if we want to move to that "next level" that so many people expect.

The only thing stopping NIU from being next level is fan support.

Do you believe its possible a big win in a bowl game would increase fan support? For example if NIU had somehow pulled the upset in the Orange Bowl, do you think we would have seen an increase in season tickets, attendance, donations etc..?

The number of bowl games where winning can matter is pretty small. Winning the Orange Bowl would have been a big deal, but I think simply being in that game still has a positive effect on how the program is seen.

But Orange Bowl is kind of the exception that proves the rule. That opportunity stands out because bowls are almost all just these weird games removed from the flow and reality of the season. NIU vs. Utah State or Marshall in September would be games that matter- they'd shape the narrative of season. But a December made for TV event against a random good team on some random neutral field, 3 weeks after the last game that matters, after the teams have to spend a couple days doing promotional events and getting their gift bags, just isn't going to mean as much. The story of the season people will talk about when next season kicks off was already set before the bowl game kicked off.

(12-27-2014 03:32 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 03:07 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 01:43 PM)7 Wrote:  They should have beat Utah State, but I don't think anybody on that team wanted to play that game after the MAC Championship.

That's fine that you have that opinion, but Utah State was favored (it was one point, so not a heavy favorite). So it's not like NIU rolled in a 2 touchdown favorite and just filled the diaper.

We should beat a team like Utah State if we want to move to that "next level" that so many people expect.

Why do people still insist on thinking one win (or a few) in football has anything to do with "moving up"? This isn't a relegation league. It's about money. NIU doesn't make enough of it.

(12-27-2014 05:39 PM)Flying Corn Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 04:36 PM)7 Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 03:32 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 03:07 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 01:43 PM)7 Wrote:  They should have beat Utah State, but I don't think anybody on that team wanted to play that game after the MAC Championship.

That's fine that you have that opinion, but Utah State was favored (it was one point, so not a heavy favorite). So it's not like NIU rolled in a 2 touchdown favorite and just filled the diaper.

We should beat a team like Utah State if we want to move to that "next level" that so many people expect.

The only thing stopping NIU from being next level is fan support.

Do you believe its possible a big win in a bowl game would increase fan support? For example if NIU had somehow pulled the upset in the Orange Bowl, do you think we would have seen an increase in season tickets, attendance, donations etc..?

I think it would've been a one year bump, personally. But it's hard to pin down exactly. Building a fan base takes a long time. I think the first game of the year would've sold out to celebrate the win but I'm not sure it would've translated to a full season of sellouts. I think projecting that would be optimistic.