[NU Sports] (no subject) (fwd)

[Mike Nolan]

> However do we really want to go to a lousy bowl game if we are 2-6 or 3-5 in 
> BT play because we beat up on 3 or 4 patsies, and we get picked because we are 
> "bowl eligible" and the bowl committee figures we bring the Chicago TV market 
> ?  I don't.

Unless we win the conference outright, we'll get the least favorable bowl
choice available anyway, in part because we have a small fan base (though
one that I think travels well), and in part because we don't have the 'rep'.  

A win against a respectable non-conference opponent would help our case.

Kansas State got left out of a shot for the national title a few years back
in large measure because of their weak non-conference schedule.  So far I 
have been quite unimpressed with the quality of the 12th opponent for most 
schools, including Northwestern.  (We should have scheduled Colorado
instead of New Hampshire!)

We can play all the Compass Point State schools we want, it won't help
much when bowl selection time comes around, even if we go 4-0, and it 
won't help prepare for the Big 10 schedule, either.  

I hope that Fitz has two medium-term plans for Northwestern:

1.  Take us to a bowl game.
2.  WIN THAT GAME!

This year, I see both of these as long shots, but I thought that was true
before Coach Walker died, too.

Of course, the longer term plan should be:  TAKE THE PURPLE BACK TO PASADENA!
--
Mike Nolan