[NU Sports] NU vs. Michigan under the lights (fwd)

[Mike Nolan]

> What that will do is encourage any new bowl game to get conference tie-ins, 
> which I really dislike in the lower-tier bowl games.  I think that when 
> you're trying to get people to travel to Detroit, Boise, or even Memphis or 
> Nashville, you need to be able to select the best available teams, for at 
> least one side of the ball.

I agree completely, but that's not the way college administrators think.
To them, a bird in the Boise hand is better than one in the 'best available
teams' bush.

Here's what the NCAA website says about the 6-6 issue:

     The Board also discussed, but did not reach a decision on how 
     the 12-game season affects bowl eligibility. Board members 
     did indicate their support for preserving the current legislation 
     that defines bowl eligibility as a team with a winning record. 
     During the 12-game seasons in 2002 and 2003, temporary legislation 
     was passed to allow teams with a 6-6 record to be bowl-eligible, 
     but that legislation has sunset.

In other words, it ain't over yet, folks.  This will wind up as another
struggle between the haves and the have-nots, and we all know who wins
that one!  I'd hate to see a repeat of 2003 when a 10 win team from the 
MAC stayed home.  Last year's bowl season was interesting because the
small conferences/schools had a chance to make their case on the field,
with somewhat mixed results.
--
Mike Nolan