[Husker] 2006 Div 1-AA opponents

[Pat Gaule]

Mark J Norris wrote:

>NU could have TWO 1-AA games next year. Pencil in Nicholls State as one of them
>
>http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=38&u_sid=2070606&u_rnd=2481392
>  
>
Are we going to play 11 or 12 regular season games next year?  
Supposedly, teams will be able to add a 12th game to their schedule 
starting next year, but I don't think it's mandatory.  Two 1-AA 
opponents + USC + the conference schedule  = 11 regular season games.

Here's another thought...If we lose to Colorado on Friday, we'll be 
forced to count our victory over 1-AA Maine toward bowl eligbility.  It 
used to be that  you could only do this once every four seasons.  If we 
schedule *two* 1-AA opponents next year, then I don't think either one 
of those victories will count toward bowl eligibility.  That would 
indicate that NU needs to go 7-4 in 2006 just to become bowl eligible!  
(Removing the two 1-AA victories would put us at 5-4, the minimum for a 
winning record).  With games against USC, Texas, Colorado, @Iowa State, 
@Texas A&M, that might be easier said than done!

If Stevey is padding the schedule to inflate our record, he might want 
to add a low-rung 1-A team instead.  I have no idea how up-to-date this 
website is, but the following teams still appear to have open slots for 
non-conference opponents:

Western Michigan
http://www.inside99.net/NCAA/future_schedules/westernmichigan_future.htm

Louisiana Tech
http://www.inside99.net/NCAA/future_schedules/louisianatech_future.htm 
(maybe September 9th would work?)

Akron
http://www.inside99.net/NCAA/future_schedules/akron_future.htm  
(September 16th?)

Some of them might demand a home-and-home rather than just a one-game 
deal, but I hope those avenues have at least been explored.  I wonder if 
any other team has yet to officially schedule more than one 
non-conference game?