Nonrivals to the fans, but a big hurdle for our players and coaches. This is a game we have lost in the past few years... NIU, CMU, EMU in 2021, WMU and Ball State in 2020.

Head 28-24 Rockets (Rocky L. plays, OR we miss fgs and turn it over a bunch).
Heart 42-17 Rockets (No Rocky L., with a fast start).

I wouldn’t call them non-rivals. They have thumped us regularly the past decade or so, and won championships. We should think of them as serious rivals. Who cares about bg. The wood county losers aren’t much of a challenge anymore.

No prediction from me. Game is a toss up. Whoever wants it most wins.

NIU 27-21

We score with 3 min left in the game only to have NIU drive the length of the field for a touchdown

UT 30
NIU 34

Last week was a tale of two halves for the Rockets. The first half was filled with everything Toledo fans have wanted to see. The second half was filled with everything Toledo fans have grown accustomed to seeing, when Toledo almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. But it was an improvement. I like Toledo in this one. NIU, at least defensively, looks similar to CMU, stingy against the run and absent against the pass. If Finn is healthy and on the field, Toledo wins 30-24.

UT 41
NIU 21

Rockets build on last week and excitement for the season creeps back in. NIU defense struggles and our D should continue to do its thing. IF we can keep penalties and TOs to a minimum and special teams clean things up........BIG IFS......I feel pretty good.

(10-06-2022 04:55 PM)rockytop Wrote:  I wouldn’t call them non-rivals. They have thumped us regularly the past decade or so, and won championships. We should think of them as serious rivals. Who cares about bg. The wood county losers aren’t much of a challenge anymore.

No prediction from me. Game is a toss up. Whoever wants it most wins.

I’ve been saying the same thing, ever since those puppy dogs started to call this a rivalry. They get really pumped for this game. We come out flat almost every year.

Their home field means a lot to them when it comes to Toledo. If the Rocket D shows up, NIU will be contained.

Weather should be ideal. Unless the D collapses for some reason I think I like the Rockets in this one. No idea what the score could be.

I call them the non rivals as a playful remark that they care about us more than them. Its obviously a rivalry without a name. So the non rivalry I think is a uniquely fun term.

Some schools have more than one rival. I think of ND or Michigan. Outside of the 80/90 interstate quirrel... we dont have a ton in common. This game is a 2 decade bout which has decided the West many times. And its probably the two biggest fb brands in the league since TV has come along.

This is why those clowns are kicking our tails more often than not!!!
http://eblade.toledoblade.com//.pf/shows...21005097/1

In my opinion, a football rival is defined as the team that stands in your way of reaching your goal of a Championship. NIU has been this road block for Toledo more than any other team over the last 15 years. Hopefully, the coaches and players are smarter than our fans and treat this game as the most important game on the schedule.

Interesting how their approach to the whole thing seems to be very similar to the OSU approach to their rivals in AA. That seems to be working for the most time for them.

I hope we can come home with the W! No time to take one for granted even with the positive performance last weekend.

Keep our heads down and our mouths shut! Go Rockets!

(10-08-2022 07:50 AM)rocket 51 Wrote:  Interesting how their approach to the whole thing seems to be very similar to the OSU approach to their rivals in AA. That seems to be working for the most time for them.

I hope we can come home with the W! No time to take one for granted even with the positive performance last weekend.

Keep our heads down and our mouths shut! Go Rockets!

What is even scarier to me would be an NIU team that plays other teams like they play us, man they would dominate. They certainly elevate their game for us but for some reason they de-elevate for many bigger games like MACC or Bowl games more often then not.