Comments on: Oklahoma football: More on Northern Illinois

By: Todd

Todd — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:30:52 +0000

People should realize that NIU going to the bowl didn’t snub OU out. NIU was an Automatic-Qualifier as a conference champ because they’re ranked HIGHER than not just one, but two AQ conference champs (Louisville & Wisconsin).

Bringing in NIU brings a HIGHER RANKED team, not a lower ranked team. Problem is, they don’t REPLACE Wisconsin or Louisville, so that takes away an invite. However, if they replaced Wisconsin or Louisville, the concept of an AQ conference would be conditional — and not so automatic.

If you want to throw a flag due to lower ranked teams not belonging in the BCS bowls — why not go after Wisconsin or Louisville? They’re ranked LOWER than NIU and going!

And if it’s all about “earned/better” teams, notably by ranking, then the BCS would take the Top 10 teams, and OU is #11 and would still be snubbed out. #12 Florida State wouldn’t go either.

It’s about being conference champs + ranking. And NIU’s ranked higher than 2 other teams from “big conferences”. So them going is more fair than Wisconsin going or Louisville going.

By: Panhandle

Panhandle — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:37:48 +0000

The BCS has been quite generous to OU down through the years. e.g. Lose big to KSate in conf. championship game, and still play for MNC). So let’s go play the Aggies and shut up about being screwed by NIU.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 22:02:44 +0000

Heck, I say invite them and SMU, New Mexico State, and LA Monroe and La. Tech. Bound to have a NC somewhere in there. Or the pollsters could just continue to downgrade the big 12.

By: Sue

Sue — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:53:32 +0000

Big 12 should invite NIU and BYU into the conference and return to a league championship game.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:19:23 +0000

One last comment? Why #12? Average the poll rankings and computer rankings (12+19) and guess what pops up…15.5….NIU is now the Gonzaga of college football. 4 incredible victories in Nov/Dec didn’t even move OU into the top 10. May all those voters who stepped on the efforts of a fine group of young men who also did everything it was supposed to do in Nov/Dec live with being the chumps of college football. This was not a great OU team by OU’s standards, but it was a team that that found a way to win…all road games and quality opponents…and managed to lose a couple of games in the last 5 minutes. OU was punished more for their 2 losses than rewarded for their 10 wins. For the voters who cited “all of the yards” given up by the defense against WVU, BU, OSU…may your team have to play those guys soon! Last time I checked a one point win was still a win….same as it is for all other teams that get caught in close games.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:04:56 +0000

NIU would have been gassed by teams like BU, WVU, TT, OU, and OSU. I personally don’t think outside of KU that they would be anywhere near competitive. It’s not NIU’s fault and FSU better beware…especially since Mark Stoops has left. Another big stage for a David…the question is will Goliath learn? In MOST of these kinds of match ups since OU-Boise State, the little guy has been hammered in bowl games. No one wants to be the team that has to watch ESPN run clips of the Statue of Liberty over and over again.

Good luck to NIU. They aren’t guilty of a thing. According to the rules they earned their way by being a Champ. Congrats to them. On the other hand, there is nothing honorable about why some polls voted NIU as high as #12. That represents the smoke filled room of the greatest sport in athletics….no different that the old corrupt political machines of Tammany Hall and Richard Daley. In the end, that just brings a “discredit and injustice for all. “

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 20:14:28 +0000

NIU probably could have won the Big (L)East. And competed in the (litle)BI0.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 20:10:50 +0000

I’v never had a problem with NIU in the BCS. My problem is with a sorry, not legit conference champion(the 2 best teams weren’t even allowed to play for it), 5-loss Wisconsin, and a sorry Louisville (which lost twice in the peewee league).

By: Galileo, Houston

Galileo, Houston — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:24:08 +0000

Aww, isn’t that special Berry. A feel-good story about poor little old Northern Illinois. For the bleeding heart liberal in all of us.

By: kent whitwerth

kent whitwerth — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 18:57:21 +0000

So actually it wasn’t OU – Boise State -that caused NIU to screw the Sooners – It was NIU beating Bama in ’03 that set the footwork !
Thanks for clarifying !!