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

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

>I remember that when the NCAA first went to the 12 game rule in designated
>years, the PR flacks were saying how it would lead to more games between
>top teams.  Never happened!

Well, for that one year it kind of did (it allowed Florida and Miami to
schedule a game for example) ... but what really kills the intent here is
the I-AA rule being good for EVERY year. That's a little ridiculous by the
NCAA (clearly made in hopes that teams would be 7-5 and not having .500
bowl teams) and will just encourage more 77-0 games in the Swamp,
Horseshoe, etc. The big boys will get at least seven home games and if
you're in a tough league to begin with, why push yourself - schedule Podunk
U. for the easy win toward bowl eligibility.

It's just more ridiculous doublespeak from the NCAA. By taking away SOS
from the BCS formula and now adding the I-AA Slaughter Rule, we're going to
see more years of 2, 3 maybe even 4 unbeaten teams as someone runs the
table and doesn't get a BCS title shot.

Obviously there are some games the schools can't back out of (FSU-Florida,
ND-Michigan, etc.) for alumni-sake, but overall this is gonna really make
for some woodshed Septembers. Too bad.

>I think NCAA rules already define 6-6 as 'bowl-eligible' in a season
>where all teams can schedule 12 games.

And even if they say that 7-5 is "preferable," there isn't a bowl on earth
that would take a 10-2 Bowling Green over a 6-6 Notre Dame or Michigan
State or Alabama.

One interesting thing that hasn't come up yet ... with 12 games now OK'd,
will the Big Ten move to a true full schedule? Five home, five away, two
non conference games? If we can't get to 12 teams and have 2 divisions, it
might be at least interesting to have everyone actually play each other.
The Big Ten probably won't do it, but I'm surprised it hasn't at least been
mentioned by coaches.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT


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