[NU Sports] Big Ten bias ...

[Eric West]

SjT (Stephen J. Truog) wrote:
> This is why NU and other Big Ten fans need to get behind the idea of cheering for our league in non-conference games. The league now has less respect than the Big East, ACC or Notre friggin' Dame in the eyes of the national pollsters and it's a load of BS since the polls are 2/3 of the B(C)S. It hurts us in BCS revenue and hurts teams like NU and Indiana, who might be left out of a bowl if we can't get two BCS teams.
>   
Two facts stand in the way of this assertion.

Firstly, historically we have never been "hurt" as far as the BCS is 
concerned. Iowa and Penn State will make it in just fine, as long as 
they don't lose within the conference (which has nothing to do with 
non-conference games). Even OSU could make it in if they win out, 
despite the loss to USC. Plus, getting two BCS teams always results in 
tougher bowl matchups and worse results for the Big Ten, which has been 
the cause of the allegedly bad reputation in the first place. Maybe only 
one BCS team would be a blessing in disguise, reputation-wise?

Secondly, if we're really worried about a 6-6 NU team getting chosen for 
a bowl or not, that's all the more reason for us to root against other 
Big Ten teams in non-conference games. If enough of them finish 5-7 or 
worse, we're a lock for a bowl even at 6-6. The shoe fits on both feet, 
you see.

So all things being equal, the fact remains: the worse other Big Ten 
teams do, the fewer recruits they might get, and the better NU does 
against them in the future, which means we get even better recruits and 
they get even fewer, and so on and so on. I'll take that over being at 
the rock bottom of a "prestigious league" any day. Just ask Vanderbilt.


Eric West
e-west at northwestern.edu