I see the value of having an FCS team on your schedule if you are a fringe bowl team needing that 6th win on your record. NIU was there a few years ago but now, I would hope, expectations are greater. I think NIU is at a place where scheduling an FCS does the program more harm than good. I would prefer not playing any FCS teams. Strength of schedule is low enough.

NIU should be scheduling C-USA and MWC teams because they are the two non-AQ conferences that are perceived to be better than the MAC. So the next time someone writes something about C-USA this or MWC that, NIU could elbow itself into the conversation with its body of work against these conferences. Beating the teams at the top of these conferences would give NIU exposure and credibility, and even beating up on the Conference bottom-dwellers helps pad NIU's record against these "superior" non-AQ conferences.

Also, the way that the computer rankings work, games against these two conferences (win or loss) would serve us better than FCS or WAC or SunBelt games.

No more Army or other non-conventional offensive teams, the time spent preparing for these unconventional offenses takes away from time that could be used to develop the Defense for real offenses (2 wins against option teams this year and 2 humiliating losses to real offenses).

When it can, NIU should schedule semi-local teams to try to develop actual rivalries.

Ideally, 4 OoC games would include:

2 non-AQ games against C-USA and MWC, and

2 winnable (semi-local) AQ games
- Big 12 (Iowa State, Kansas State, Kansas, Missouri)
- Big Ten (Northwestern, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, Iowa)
- Big East (Louisville, Cincinnati)
- SEC (Vanderbilt, Kentucky)

All contracts should be 1:1, no more kowtowing to BCS teams.

If BCS teams won't give NIU the 1:1 then go to all 4 C-USA/MWC games. And if/when NIU gets questioned about not playing BCS conference teams explain how they won't give us 1:1's.

Indiana, Illinois, Northwestern are not good enough, nor do they draw well enough, to demand more than a 1:1 at Huskie Stadium. If they want to play at a neutral site in Chicago, we can do it as their home game and the next year they can drive out to DeKalb.

You can hate Toledo all you want, but they do a better job with their OoC schedule than NIU. I think NIU is behind a few MAC teams in terms of OoC scheduling.

What do you think about the job NIU does with its OoC Schedule?

Ideally, 4 OoC games would include:

2 non-AQ games against C-USA and MWC, and

2 winnable (semi-local) AQ games
- Big 12 (Iowa State, Kansas State, Kansas, Missouri)
- Big Ten (Northwestern, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, Iowa)
- Big East (Louisville, Cincinnati)
- SEC (Vanderbilt, Kentucky)

Great recommendations !

No more Cal Poly ..
I could not even talk my kids, who went to NIU, into going to that game ..
even though I was going to buy the tickets and bring all the beers !

While it's easier said than done...I find a few of your points interesting:

- not scheduling teams with unusual schemes, like an Army option- I like the idea of this, because it does take a lot of extra time to prepare, and that prep doesn't carry over to facing a Kansas team. However, this is somewhat hard to do when you're scheduling 4 - 5 years out, with coaching changes and such.

- Only 1 and 1's- I don't completely agree here, I would take a 2 for 1 with U of I or Northwestern, because we still have a pretty darn good chance to win when we visit them.

I agree with most everything you said also, except the 1-1.

2-1 would be completely ok in my book. The only FCS opponent I am ok with playing is another state school, like SIU, ISU, WIU. At least those draw and its fun for the fans because the majority of us know friends who went there.

ENOUGH with the indiana states, cal polys, tenn tech, etc. No one cares or wants to see them.

(09-30-2011 01:37 AM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  I agree with most everything you said also, except the 1-1.

2-1 would be completely ok in my book. The only FCS opponent I am ok with playing is another state school, like SIU, ISU, WIU. At least those draw and its fun for the fans because the majority of us know friends who went there.

ENOUGH with the indiana states, cal polys, tenn tech, etc. No one cares or wants to see them.

I generally agree, although Cal Poly is a little different, that is basically an FBS school for all purposes. That is a pretty advanced program that offers a high level of competition.

Here is how I'd like to see it

1 top-tier FBS school (Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Alabama, etc.) - we need the money
2 lower tier FBS school or 1 could be MWC/WAC/C-USA/Ind - games are winnable when we have a good team
1 local FCS school ... SIU, EIU, WIU, ISU, Indiana State, others

I think the schedule is good this year and next
This year: 1 top-tier FBS, 1 lower tier FBS, 1 independent, 1 FBS
Next year: the same

We need to get a tougher schedule if we want to get our name out!!

(09-30-2011 12:30 AM)17Huskies Wrote:  While it's easier said than done...I find a few of your points interesting:

- not scheduling teams with unusual schemes, like an Army option- I like the idea of this, because it does take a lot of extra time to prepare, and that prep doesn't carry over to facing a Kansas team. However, this is somewhat hard to do when you're scheduling 4 - 5 years out, with coaching changes and such.

- Only 1 and 1's- I don't completely agree here, I would take a 2 for 1 with U of I or Northwestern, because we still have a pretty darn good chance to win when we visit them.

Thanks for chiming in.

- You're right that sometimes this can be difficult but in the case of Army, they've been an option team forever. And even Cal Poly I think has been option for quite some time. Although, playing Army was cool because they are Army (USA!, USA!), I just don't want it to become habit and definitely don't schedule multiple option teams.

- Admittedly, the hard stance against anything but a 1:1 may be a bit of wishful thinking at this point, but I stand by my assertion that Illinois, Northwestern, Indiana (and teams of their ilk) are not in a position to DEMAND more than a home-and-home. But given the way things work, I understand that they can and therefore they will make such demands. Maybe a compromise could be to acquiesce to a 2:1, with 2 games at the Big Ten venue and a 3rd game at Huskie Stadium (not neutral site) with an option for a 4th game at Huskie Stadium (in the future) if NIU wins (at least) 2 of the first 3. Again, I know this would be difficult with the way that the scheduling is done, but it can be done.

(09-29-2011 11:51 PM)NIUDAD Wrote:  Ideally, 4 OoC games would include:

2 non-AQ games against C-USA and MWC, and

2 winnable (semi-local) AQ games
- Big 12 (Iowa State, Kansas State, Kansas, Missouri)
- Big Ten (Northwestern, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, Iowa)
- Big East (Louisville, Cincinnati)
- SEC (Vanderbilt, Kentucky)

Great recommendations !

No more Cal Poly ..
I could not even talk my kids, who went to NIU, into going to that game ..
even though I was going to buy the tickets and bring all the beers !

Can you please tell this story to AD Compher!

IMO, we would be better off playing a typical lower level FBS non-AQ team than FCS teams like Cal Poly, UT Martin, Tenn Tech & North Dakota.

"- You're right that sometimes this can be difficult but in the case of Army, they've been an option team forever. And even Cal Poly I think has been option for quite some time. Although, playing Army was cool because they are Army (USA!, USA!), I just don't want it to become habit and definitely don't schedule multiple option teams.
[/quote]

I think playing the service academies is a great idea
good national exposure
home & home
rotate them

We should try and get them on a regular basis

(09-29-2011 11:35 PM)Howl-n-Prowl Wrote:  I see the value of having an FCS team on your schedule if you are a fringe bowl team needing that 6th win on your record. NIU was there a few years ago but now, I would hope, expectations are greater. I think NIU is at a place where scheduling an FCS does the program more harm than good. I would prefer not playing any FCS teams. Strength of schedule is low enough.

NIU should be scheduling C-USA and MWC teams because they are the two non-AQ conferences that are perceived to be better than the MAC. So the next time someone writes something about C-USA this or MWC that, NIU could elbow itself into the conversation with its body of work against these conferences. Beating the teams at the top of these conferences would give NIU exposure and credibility, and even beating up on the Conference bottom-dwellers helps pad NIU's record against these "superior" non-AQ conferences.

Also, the way that the computer rankings work, games against these two conferences (win or loss) would serve us better than FCS or WAC or SunBelt games.

No more Army or other non-conventional offensive teams, the time spent preparing for these unconventional offenses takes away from time that could be used to develop the Defense for real offenses (2 wins against option teams this year and 2 humiliating losses to real offenses).

When it can, NIU should schedule semi-local teams to try to develop actual rivalries.

Ideally, 4 OoC games would include:

2 non-AQ games against C-USA and MWC, and

2 winnable (semi-local) AQ games
- Big 12 (Iowa State, Kansas State, Kansas, Missouri)
- Big Ten (Northwestern, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, Iowa)
- Big East (Louisville, Cincinnati)
- SEC (Vanderbilt, Kentucky)

All contracts should be 1:1, no more kowtowing to BCS teams.

If BCS teams won't give NIU the 1:1 then go to all 4 C-USA/MWC games. And if/when NIU gets questioned about not playing BCS conference teams explain how they won't give us 1:1's.

Indiana, Illinois, Northwestern are not good enough, nor do they draw well enough, to demand more than a 1:1 at Huskie Stadium. If they want to play at a neutral site in Chicago, we can do it as their home game and the next year they can drive out to DeKalb.

You can hate Toledo all you want, but they do a better job with their OoC schedule than NIU. I think NIU is behind a few MAC teams in terms of OoC scheduling.

What do you think about the job NIU does with its OoC Schedule?

what do you think of the Illini strategy this season? Three relative lite weights for a BT team and EIGHT * yes * 8 home games ?

wisky sked was not all that much better.

ADs and HCs want some assurance of six or more wins should the home team be subpar.

(09-30-2011 02:08 PM)niucyberdawg Wrote:  

(09-29-2011 11:35 PM)Howl-n-Prowl Wrote:  I see the value of having an FCS team on your schedule if you are a fringe bowl team needing that 6th win on your record. NIU was there a few years ago but now, I would hope, expectations are greater. I think NIU is at a place where scheduling an FCS does the program more harm than good. I would prefer not playing any FCS teams. Strength of schedule is low enough.

NIU should be scheduling C-USA and MWC teams because they are the two non-AQ conferences that are perceived to be better than the MAC. So the next time someone writes something about C-USA this or MWC that, NIU could elbow itself into the conversation with its body of work against these conferences. Beating the teams at the top of these conferences would give NIU exposure and credibility, and even beating up on the Conference bottom-dwellers helps pad NIU's record against these "superior" non-AQ conferences.

Also, the way that the computer rankings work, games against these two conferences (win or loss) would serve us better than FCS or WAC or SunBelt games.

No more Army or other non-conventional offensive teams, the time spent preparing for these unconventional offenses takes away from time that could be used to develop the Defense for real offenses (2 wins against option teams this year and 2 humiliating losses to real offenses).

When it can, NIU should schedule semi-local teams to try to develop actual rivalries.

Ideally, 4 OoC games would include:

2 non-AQ games against C-USA and MWC, and

2 winnable (semi-local) AQ games
- Big 12 (Iowa State, Kansas State, Kansas, Missouri)
- Big Ten (Northwestern, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, Iowa)
- Big East (Louisville, Cincinnati)
- SEC (Vanderbilt, Kentucky)

All contracts should be 1:1, no more kowtowing to BCS teams.

If BCS teams won't give NIU the 1:1 then go to all 4 C-USA/MWC games. And if/when NIU gets questioned about not playing BCS conference teams explain how they won't give us 1:1's.

Indiana, Illinois, Northwestern are not good enough, nor do they draw well enough, to demand more than a 1:1 at Huskie Stadium. If they want to play at a neutral site in Chicago, we can do it as their home game and the next year they can drive out to DeKalb.

You can hate Toledo all you want, but they do a better job with their OoC schedule than NIU. I think NIU is behind a few MAC teams in terms of OoC scheduling.

What do you think about the job NIU does with its OoC Schedule?

what do you think of the Illini strategy this season? Three relative lite weights for a BT team and EIGHT * yes * 8 home games ?

wisky sked was not all that much better.

ADs and HCs want some assurance of six or more wins should the home team be subpar.

Illini = Eunuch

I think Huskie Joe hit the nail on the head for me (2 BCS, 1 top tier 1 bottom tier, 1 non-AQ, 1 local FCS). The variations I would see are switching between the bottom tier BCS and the non-AQ. Also, it has been discussed often on this board, but I really think scheduling FCS in-state schools is a good idea for the following reasons: 1) There is usually a bump in Huskie Stadium attendance (albeit they are usually home openers which tend to be higher anyway), 2) the money stays in-state, 3) slight (and I do mean slight) bump in local media interest as it would be greater than the sum of its parts, 4) easy win (unless they run a reverse against us like Western did in 2002).

This does not detract from the fact that getting a BCS team to Huskie Stadium would be ideal. But getting these local games going would at least help to get butts in the seats more than Tennessee-Martin would.

I wish the doorknobs and drool monkeys who obsess 24/7 about NIU's out of conference schedule would suck on the exhaust pipe of a car for awhile. Give it a ******* rest. What matters is winning MAC conference games, period. You who obsess about who NIU plays at home during the OOC schedule are a small minority of idiots.

(09-30-2011 03:25 PM)WhiskeyDick Wrote:  I wish the doorknobs and drool monkeys who obsess 24/7 about NIU's out of conference schedule would suck on the exhaust pipe of a car for awhile. Give it a ******* rest. What matters is winning MAC conference games, period. You who obsess about who NIU plays at home during the OOC schedule are a small minority of idiots.

Yes the MAC schedule is all that matters for the players.

However, if we want to get new season ticket holders and grow our fair weather fan base we need to have a carrot dangled in front of them to get them to bite and buy tickets.

The 2012 Kansas game next year will cause season ticket sales to go up even though we will likely have a .500 team including a few rare losses at HS.

The 2013 season will have ticket sales go down 10% even though the team could be back on top of the MAC West. Our biggest carrot that year will be against some MAC team that we will likely play on a weeknight in November. On the bright side I expect for my season ticket location to greatly improve from the 2012 to 2014 seasons.

I dont mind the EIU/WIU/SIU/Tenn Tech/Cal Poly on the schedule once a year as long as it is balanced out by 1 home game against 1 team (any team) from one of the following conferences (Pac-10, Big 12, Big 10, SEC, Big East, C-USA). As a fan I dont think that is too much to ask? It generates fan interest and keeps the program in growth mode, instead of decay mode.

(09-30-2011 05:03 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I dont mind the EIU/WIU/SIU/Tenn Tech/Cal Poly on the schedule once a year as long as it is balanced out by 1 home game against 1 team (any team) from one of the following conferences (Pac-10, Big 12, Big 10, SEC, Big East, C-USA). As a fan I dont think that is too much to ask? It generates fan interest and keeps the program in growth mode, instead of decay mode.

Fine by that except not against CUSA - UAB, UTEP or Rice.

Not sure even the good (not top) CUSA teams would generate excitement in the fair weather fan base unless they were ranked.

(09-30-2011 05:12 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(09-30-2011 05:03 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I dont mind the EIU/WIU/SIU/Tenn Tech/Cal Poly on the schedule once a year as long as it is balanced out by 1 home game against 1 team (any team) from one of the following conferences (Pac-10, Big 12, Big 10, SEC, Big East, C-USA). As a fan I dont think that is too much to ask? It generates fan interest and keeps the program in growth mode, instead of decay mode.

Fine by that except not against CUSA - UAB, UTEP or Rice.

Not sure even the good (not top) CUSA teams would generate excitement in the fair weather fan base unless they were ranked.

CUSA would even be a huge upgrade to what we have seen though, at least its respectable football. I'd be happy with Big 10 bottom dwellars like Minnesota or Northwestern or Purdue into Huskie Stadium, or the bottom dwellars of any of those other conferences.

(09-30-2011 03:25 PM)WhiskeyDick Wrote:  I wish the doorknobs and drool monkeys who obsess 24/7 about NIU's out of conference schedule would suck on the exhaust pipe of a car for awhile. Give it a ******* rest. What matters is winning MAC conference games, period. You who obsess about who NIU plays at home during the OOC schedule are a small minority of idiots.

Wrong. Period. End o' subject.

(09-30-2011 03:25 PM)WhiskeyDick Wrote:  I wish the doorknobs and drool monkeys who obsess 24/7 about NIU's out of conference schedule would suck on the exhaust pipe of a car for awhile. Give it a ******* rest. What matters is winning MAC conference games, period. You who obsess about who NIU plays at home during the OOC schedule are a small minority of idiots.

WD, you should be telling us the OOC schedule is about making money for NIU, and that NIU should play as many big time BCS schools as possible to maximize revenue!