NIU's year to get shafted was 2003 after wins at home against Iowa State and a ranked Maryland (10-3) team, and road win against Alabama, going 10-2. Only losses were to Bowling Green (11-3), and Toledo (8-4). No bowl game.

(12-05-2019 02:21 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  Most Bowl games lose money for G5 schools. So who doesn't go could surprise you

Presumably, they pay off in other ways (e.g., exposure, recruiting, etc.). Otherwise the bowls wouldn't exist.

(12-01-2019 08:57 PM)whittx Wrote:  EMU, since Liberty will buy their way into a bowl.

That off the cuff comment may be true. One could see JFJr., Prez of LU, upping the anti guaranteeing to ticket quotes and busing LU students to the game.

(12-01-2019 09:01 PM)Mav Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 08:33 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  Liberty or Toledo.

Liberty beat a TON of 2-win teams, Toledo at the bottom of the MAC West won't look good.

Toledo also has a decent brand with previous wins over P5 teams and consistent success. In bowl selection, perception matters more than reality. They're in.

I believe fans may want to believe perceptions plays the big part, but in reality it's money that carries the big stick. These small bowls need to generate funds to assure their continued success. Liberty likely has the most unappealing, weakest record (wins), plus playing NewMexicoStateUniv (two of their 2019 wins) twice in 2018 and 2019. But lots of LU fannies in the seats and the draw/controversy/appeal of HC Freeze would generate interest few programs could match, with being the 78th pick.

(12-05-2019 09:23 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(12-04-2019 12:46 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Wyoming and Army both got shafted in the 90s as well.

What do you guys mean by "shafted"?

If in 1998 a 7-5 Ole Miss team went to a bowl because the SEC had a contract with the bowl while a 10-2 Tulane team stayed home because they didn't, that's not getting shafted.

NIU 2003 went 10-2 with wins over Alabama, Iowa State, & top-20 Maryland. No bowl. That’s getting shafted.

(12-05-2019 06:49 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(12-05-2019 09:23 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(12-04-2019 12:46 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Wyoming and Army both got shafted in the 90s as well.

What do you guys mean by "shafted"?

If in 1998 a 7-5 Ole Miss team went to a bowl because the SEC had a contract with the bowl while a 10-2 Tulane team stayed home because they didn't, that's not getting shafted.

NIU 2003 went 10-2 with wins over Alabama, Iowa State, & top-20 Maryland. No bowl. That’s getting shafted.

That year, there were 28 bowl games, so 56 teams went to bowls.

Sadly for the MAC, while six teams met the 6-win criterion, only two teams went to bowls, the champions of the two divisions, Miami-O and Bowling Green. They were the two most deserving MAC teams to go, but today's situation, where more than two MAC teams can play in bowls, is better.

That's basically what the expansion from 56 to 78 bowl teams has done, created more space for the lower-end G5 teams to play in bowls.

It hasn't really changed anything for the powerful leagues. E.g., in 2003, the twelve-school SEC had seven teams that were bowl eligible, and all seven played in bowl games.

(12-05-2019 07:56 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(12-05-2019 06:49 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(12-05-2019 09:23 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(12-04-2019 12:46 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Wyoming and Army both got shafted in the 90s as well.

What do you guys mean by "shafted"?

If in 1998 a 7-5 Ole Miss team went to a bowl because the SEC had a contract with the bowl while a 10-2 Tulane team stayed home because they didn't, that's not getting shafted.

NIU 2003 went 10-2 with wins over Alabama, Iowa State, & top-20 Maryland. No bowl. That’s getting shafted.

That year, there were 28 bowl games, so 56 teams went to bowls.

Sadly for the MAC, while six teams met the 6-win criterion, only two teams went to bowls, the champions of the two divisions, Miami-O and Bowling Green. They were the two most deserving MAC teams to go, but today's situation, where more than two MAC teams can play in bowls, is better.

That's basically what the expansion from 56 to 78 bowl teams has done, created more space for the lower-end G5 teams to play in bowls.

It hasn't really changed anything for the powerful leagues. E.g., in 2003, the twelve-school SEC had seven teams that were bowl eligible, and all seven played in bowl games.

It hasn't changed the fact that mediocre 6-6 P5 teams still go to bowls. The difference is that G5 teams that are better now go to bowls also.

(12-05-2019 10:22 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(12-05-2019 07:56 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(12-05-2019 06:49 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(12-05-2019 09:23 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(12-04-2019 12:46 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Wyoming and Army both got shafted in the 90s as well.

What do you guys mean by "shafted"?

If in 1998 a 7-5 Ole Miss team went to a bowl because the SEC had a contract with the bowl while a 10-2 Tulane team stayed home because they didn't, that's not getting shafted.

NIU 2003 went 10-2 with wins over Alabama, Iowa State, & top-20 Maryland. No bowl. That’s getting shafted.

That year, there were 28 bowl games, so 56 teams went to bowls.

Sadly for the MAC, while six teams met the 6-win criterion, only two teams went to bowls, the champions of the two divisions, Miami-O and Bowling Green. They were the two most deserving MAC teams to go, but today's situation, where more than two MAC teams can play in bowls, is better.

That's basically what the expansion from 56 to 78 bowl teams has done, created more space for the lower-end G5 teams to play in bowls.

It hasn't really changed anything for the powerful leagues. E.g., in 2003, the twelve-school SEC had seven teams that were bowl eligible, and all seven played in bowl games.

It hasn't changed the fact that mediocre 6-6 P5 teams still go to bowls. The difference is that G5 teams that are better now go to bowls also.

Remember, a P5 team at 6-6 may not be mediocre by G5 standards. E.g., in the computers, 6-6 Michigan State is #42, while 9-3 UAB is #76.

Also, it's not just mediocre 6-6 P5 that benefit. Truly bad G5 6-6 teams do too. For example, this year there are six 6-6 G5 teams, and five of them will play in a bowl.

(12-05-2019 05:09 PM)NewTimes Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 08:57 PM)whittx Wrote:  EMU, since Liberty will buy their way into a bowl.

That off the cuff comment may be true. One could see JFJr., Prez of LU, upping the anti guaranteeing to ticket quotes and busing LU students to the game.

Not really off the cuff since they can use the bowl money as a marketing expense for LU and LU Online.

Well, looks like most of the schools in the poll are already out of the running, including the current top 3 in votes.

(Ordered by number of votes in poll as of 12/8/19, 4 PM ET)
20: Eastern Michigan (Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit, MI)
16: Liberty (Cure Bowl in Orlando, FL)
15: Kent State (Frisco Bowl in Frisco, TX)
5: Toledo
2: FIU (Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, AL)
2: Wyoming (Arizona Bowl in Tucson, AZ)
1: Southern Miss
0: Nevada (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, ID)
0: Ohio (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, ID)
0: Utah State (Frisco Bowl in Frisco, TX)

Just down to Toledo and Southern Miss.

Toledo is out.

(12-08-2019 04:27 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  Toledo is out.

I would assume so, but where's Southern Miss playing?

(12-08-2019 04:32 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(12-08-2019 04:27 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  Toledo is out.

I would assume so, but where's Southern Miss playing?

Armed Forces Bowl against Tulane.

With Southern Miss going bowling, that leaves just Toledo without a chair. Poor Toledo. Only received 5 votes in this poll, coming in 4th place.

Thanks for playing folks!

(12-08-2019 04:34 PM)TampaTom Wrote:  

(12-08-2019 04:32 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(12-08-2019 04:27 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  Toledo is out.

I would assume so, but where's Southern Miss playing?

Armed Forces Bowl against Tulane.

I am glad USM got a bowl bid.

Toledo has the largest MAC fan base. Shocker.

(12-08-2019 04:47 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Toledo has the largest MAC fan base. Shocker.

Maybe need more Ohio-based bowls.

Honestly shocked that EMU got picked over Toledo, given Toledo’s head-to-head victory. Both teams 6-6 overall, both teams 3-5 MAC, both teams 5 FBS wins and 1 FCS win. There has to be an explanation.

(12-08-2019 05:35 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  Honestly shocked that EMU got picked over Toledo, given Toledo’s head-to-head victory. Both teams 6-6 overall, both teams 3-5 MAC, both teams 5 FBS wins and 1 FCS win. There has to be an explanation.

Can it really be a shock when one bottom grubber 6-6 is left out for another?

The computers say these are the #100 and #104 teams, really putrid.

Quote:Honestly shocked that EMU got picked over Toledo, given Toledo’s head-to-head victory. Both teams 6-6 overall, both teams 3-5 MAC, both teams 5 FBS wins and 1 FCS win. There has to be an explanation.

I think Toledo was going in a downward spiral. Looked good early in the season -- crumbled, later.

That said, it'd be easier to say EMU gets into the Detroit Bowl because it's close to home. Thing is, it's not much closer than Toledo.

Personally I'm pissed that EMU got that bowl and not WMU. But EMU beat WMU. EMU/WMU/CMU/Toledo -- all would love to go to that bowl. Low cost (bus ride), close to home, tons of fans.

But EMU beat WMU so I could see why they'd get the nod above WMU. But WMU has a better record and has more fans -- although EMU is closer to it, so maybe they figured it'd be about even or better?