[NU Sports] 12th game blues

[Brad Wilson]

> 1) Six wins still gets you into a bowl game
> (assuming there are conference tie-in bowls to be
> filled, which in our league, is usually the case),

As long as you avoid 13th games at Hawaii (I know, the
circumstances weren't quite the same then) ... but
correct, a BT team with 6 wins is going bowling.

> 2) 12 games means 4 non-conference foes, which means
> four teams like Duke, Northeastern, Nevada and
> Eastern Michigan.  We ought to be able to beat these
> kind of teams, and bully most of them into granting
> us more home games than they get.

Well, in theory yes, we should beat them, but then New
Hampshire, Miami-Ohio, Bowling Green, Wake Forest
(surely I am missing some dreadful non-con loss,
though I try and forget them as soon as possible) come
to my mind ... yuck. The home games part is surely
true; I would never play at a MAC school. Ever. I
suppose Randy Walker was doing the old haunt a favor
with last year's  opener, but I would not repeat it.

> Heck, I'd argue for a 14-game schedule, if it meant
> 6 non-conference pushovers, and one conference win
> got you to a bowl.

At some point don't we run out of pushovers(smile)?

> Maybe someday, when we are a USC-type powerhouse, I
> will want an awesome n-c slate.  But until we get
> there, I will stick with the weak n-c schedule.

I agree with this completely given the benefits of
bowling, as Chuck notes. I have defended NU's
scheduling against Badger and Nittany Lion fans who
rip us for playing patsies (glass houses, guys); after
all, if they can play I-AA teams so can we (they beat
theirs, though). 

I guess I just wish it was different.

bw


"Happy are those who see beauty in the modest spots where others see nothing." -- Camille Pissaro

"Quis ipsos custodes custodiet?" -- Juvenal


       
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