[NU Sports] Football Scheduling

[Michael Vance]

Stepping stones.  If and when the program gets to the point where we are 
consistently beating those teams home and away, then we can take the 
next step and work on scheduling non-con games with more of the BCS 
conference state schools.  I think that at this point, the best mix of 
games for our non-con schedule is:

-One Div I-AA, but only if we have to.  I don't like it, but if everyone 
else is chalking up a win here and getting to count it every year, we 
need to, also.  Always at home, but someone with a strong local draw 
like SIU or Northern Iowa to increase ticket revenue would be ideal.
-One against another "Brain Bowl" school.  Home-and-home against those 
in the BCS conferences, 2-for-1 against Rice or other non-BCS conference 
schools.
-One against a MAC school or some other Div I-A with a strong local draw 
to increase the gate receipts. All at home or 2-for-1.
-One against another non-power BCS conference school.  Of course, these 
are scheduled so far in advance that it's possible that a "non-power" 
school will have a strong year when we play them, but that's the risk.  
Home-and-home, probably.

Other ideas?

-Michael

Evans Schoeman wrote:
> Rivals has an interesting piece on scheduling at
>
> http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=900048.
>
> In it, the case is made that having "quality" non-conference opponents
> enhances the chances of getting to the championship game.  Cal, Arizona
> State, and tOSU are given as examples.
>
> Fitz is quoted in the article as saying:
>
> "It's in our best interest to play schools that are academically similar to
> us," Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "Those games give us the
> opportunity to compete. And we want to have as many home games as possible."
>
>
> That's reasonable. But soft non-conference schedules could cost the
> Wildcats, or any other team with a similar approach to scheduling, to miss a
> shot at the national championship. 
>
> "At the end of the day, if you have a Big Ten championship I believe you'll
> be in a great game," Fitzgerald said. 
>
> Good news for our future schedules, as we're seeing the likes of Rice,
> Vandy, Stanford, and BC return.
>
>  
>
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