[NU Sports] Why Root for Big Ten Losses?

[JHCCLARK at aol.com]

Why would Big Ten losses in non-conference games be a good thing for Northwestern?  For instance, how does a hypothetical Iowa loss to Iowa State help Northwestern?  As you put it, how does that help Northwestern in the Big Ten race?

I understand the visceral joy of an Iowa loss, but that is PERSONAL joy and does not help Northwestern.  An Iowa loss to Iowa State lowers Northwestern's strength of schedule  and brings the conference's prestige down.  Lowered Big Ten prestige translates into TV revenue losses and diminished Big Ten/BCS Bowl desirability, which leads to diminished bowl revenue and the possible loss of an eighth bowl team, which could be Northwestern.  

Of course this is all academic, as "wishing" for Big Ten losses doesn't make it so.

In a message dated 9/8/2007 5:56:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Abrahamson, Alan" <Alan.Abrahamson at nbcsports.com> writes:

Just a thought or two in response to the esteemed Mr. Truog's final paragraph, and here I want to stress that I am speaking personally, not as a sportswriter:

As a Northwestern fan, I am personally happy to see Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan State lose anytime, anywhere. In that spirit, you can bet I was rooting for Akron today, and Appalachian State last week, and so on.

Why?

Because, one, it's good for Northwestern in the Big Ten race if these other teams lose....