[NU Sports] B-C-Mess! B-C-Mess! And bowl picks! B-C-MESS!!!B-C-MESS!!!

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> I would like to say I believe it is eminently possible the
> Wildcats could go to Tampa for the Outback experience. 
> 
> We are a solid 9-3. Yes, Mich St is 9-3, too, and beat us.

I don't think we have much of a case for Tampa over MSU.

However, we do have a big case for Tampa over Iowa - not only did we give Iowa a LOSS in THEIR STADIUM, we gave the Hawks their biggest loss of the year (their other three were by 1, 3 and 3).

But Bumblebees and RVs ... sigh.

> But Sparty goes into bowl season a 49-18 loser on the big
> stage. We go in with two wins and a great story -- the
> resurrection of the program under the former star
> linebacker.  

Yeah, but Sparty beat us. And while this has been a great 9-win season, we don't have that storybook win like ND/UM/PSU '95 or UM '00 to get the national attention with the story. It's a great story with Fitz, just not known outside of Evanston. Hopefully a big bowl win changes that.

> For me, anywhere but San Antonio would be fine. Even SA
> would be ok, I guess, but I confess I just would rather go
> someplace else. 

Never thought I'd have to stick up for Texas, but I guess ... :)

Outside of the dome, I thought San Antonio was a great place for a bowl. Beautiful setting downtown with everything within walking distance, beautiful city and weather. None of the humidity or weather issues of Florida. And it's not like the Citrus Bowl is the Taj Mahal of stadiums.

> Poll Query: which team will be ranked higher after
> today's action, Wildcats or Sparty? (I invite your

It should be and will be MSU. But we BETTER be ranked! And given the ACC's inability to have a team win following a week where it's ranked, we should be around #20 by the time the bowl rolls around.

I actually think Iowa should be ranked, too. The "experts" just hear too much of John Saunders yapping every week about the league being overrated to take us seriously (and c'mon, we're easily ahead of the Big East, ACC and Pac 10 this year and it's not like the SEC is having a great year either). Gotta go show 'em in bowl season.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT