Well I'm certainly disappointed

[ricko6543211]

Pros:
- Nashville is a great city and should be fun - not as warm as SD and no beach access, but probably a more fun city even though I do quite like San Diego
- Location is a bit more convenient for more fans (I will be coming from Chi post Christmas, so that leg of the journey is easier than SD)
- Will be cheaper than SD

Cons:
- We pretty much got screwed in terms of the bowl allocation... I suppose they switched it up to send MSU to Holiday so then theoretically the Outback "had" to take Mich since we'd just been there
- We play a pretty lame opponent in Kentucky (sorry to UK fans I'm sure you are very nice people, just a bit of a letdown when we were expecting to get a short at a top 20 team and now we get a 7-5 opponent, I would have felt the same about Arizona if that had happened in Holiday)
- Gotta be a bit de-motivating for the players I would think, after winning 7 straight we don't even get the chance to cap the season off with a marquee win over another ranked opponent

So there are reasons to be happy, but overall I'm quite disappointing. I hope Phillips gives Delaney a piece of his mind, this is a pretty crappy outcome. I'm excited about the chance to go to Nashville, but I'm not really excited about this matchup / the game itself. Even if we win it doesn't really add much to our overall resume for the season.

Oh well though, we can make the most of it and stretch the win streak to 8 I guess. Just would have liked to send our seniors out with a better matchup.

Go Cats

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

Pros:
- Nashville is a great city and should be fun - not as warm as SD and no beach access, but probably a more fun city even though I do quite like San Diego
- Location is a bit more convenient for more fans (I will be coming from Chi post Christmas, so that leg of the journey is easier than SD)
- Will be cheaper than SD

Cons:
- We pretty much got screwed in terms of the bowl allocation... I suppose they switched it up to send MSU to Holiday so then theoretically the Outback "had" to take Mich since we'd just been there
- We play a pretty lame opponent in Kentucky (sorry to UK fans I'm sure you are very nice people, just a bit of a letdown when we were expecting to get a short at a top 20 team and now we get a 7-5 opponent, I would have felt the same about Arizona if that had happened in Holiday
- Gotta be a bit de-motivating for the players I would think, after winning 7 straight we don't even get the chance to cap the season off with a marquee win over another ranked opponent

So there are reasons to be happy, but overall I'm quite disappointing. I hope Phillips gives Delaney a piece of his mind, this is a pretty crappy outcome. I'm excited about the chance to go to Nashville, but I'm not really excited about this matchup / the game itself. Even if we win it doesn't really add much to our overall resume for the season.

Oh well though, we can make the most of it and stretch the win streak to 8 I guess. Just would have liked to send our seniors out with a better matchup.

Go Cats

Best thing is to send seniors out with a win. This matchup gives us the best opportunity to do that.

 

[kaTNap]

Pros:
I hope Phillips gives Delaney a piece of his mind, this is a pretty crappy outcome.

As I pointed out in another thread, Delany's options were limited once the Orange Bowl claimed Wisconsin and the B1G had to give up the Citrus. If Auburn had played Georgia close, we're Citrus or Holiday.

 

[ricko6543211]

As I pointed out in another thread, Delany's options were limited once the Orange Bowl claimed Wisconsin and the B1G had to give up the Citrus. If Auburn had played Georgia close, we're Citrus or Holiday.

He had a very clear and easy option that was the most fair - MSU to Outback, NU to Holiday. This was not complicated. They chose to make it complicated to find a way to get Michigan into a higher bowl. Which sucks. But it is what it is. Nashville will still be a good time.

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

Seems to me that the last several times we played middlin' SEC teams, we went 1-3. ICR the records of aTm (then Big12) Auburn, MSU and Tennessee, but if any had 8 wins, it would have been MSU.

We are not so great that we can look down our noses at any P5 bowl opponent, particularly if they have a blue jersey...

We barely beat a bunch of mediocre teams. I love these guys (and despise Mich), but... please

 

[NJCat]

Seems to me that the last several times we played middlin' SEC teams, we went 1-3. ICR the records of aTm (then Big12) Auburn, MSU and Tennessee, but if any had 8 wins, it would have been MSU.

We are not so great that we can look down our noses at any P5 bowl opponent, particularly if they have a blue jersey...

We barely beat a bunch of mediocre teams. I love these guys (and despise Mich), but... please

All true. NU will be in for a battle against UK.

 

[Seattle_Cat]

All true. NU will be in for a battle against UK.

Ftiz and staff usually come up with really good game plans for our bowl games. I expect the same will happen for this game.

Go Cats!

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

Ftiz and staff usually come up with really good game plans for our bowl games. I expect the same will happen for this game!

Alviti?
/S

 

[Sheffielder]

Seems to me that the last several times we played middlin' SEC teams, we went 1-3. ICR the records of aTm (then Big12) Auburn, MSU and Tennessee, but if any had 8 wins, it would have been MSU.

We are not so great that we can look down our noses at any P5 bowl opponent, particularly if they have a blue jersey...

We barely beat a bunch of mediocre teams. I love these guys (and despise Mich), but... please

Exactly this, and anyone who thinks we're a shoo-in to win this game apparently is a new fan who knows nothing about the Northwestern of the past...20-25 years.

I'm personally confused as to why Sparty stayed ranked ahead of us after losing to us head-to-head and getting pummeled by Ohio State...because of a field goal win over PSU after a weird three-hour lightning delay? Regardless...they were ranked ahead of us in every poll and Michigan is Michigan...for the belly-achers...welcome to the world where life isn't always "fair."

 

[ricko6543211]

All true. NU will be in for a battle against UK.

not saying this game is an automatic win at all. in fact just the opposite, i'm worried about our players being de-motivated, as i mentioned. it's just a no upside game unfortunately. even if we do win it doesn't mean much. oh well, at least Nashville will be fun regardless.

 

[Figrating]

No disrespect to KY - they have some good wins (SC) and NU nearly always plays everybody close. The game will be close.

But there's plenty of unfair going on here and no fair to anybody after that. Any NU fan not feeling some resentment could be already dead.

 

[hdhntr1]

Pros:
- Nashville is a great city and should be fun - not as warm as SD and no beach access, but probably a more fun city even though I do quite like San Diego
- Location is a bit more convenient for more fans (I will be coming from Chi post Christmas, so that leg of the journey is easier than SD)
- Will be cheaper than SD

Cons:
- We pretty much got screwed in terms of the bowl allocation... I suppose they switched it up to send MSU to Holiday so then theoretically the Outback "had" to take Mich since we'd just been there
- We play a pretty lame opponent in Kentucky (sorry to UK fans I'm sure you are very nice people, just a bit of a letdown when we were expecting to get a short at a top 20 team and now we get a 7-5 opponent, I would have felt the same about Arizona if that had happened in Holiday)
- Gotta be a bit de-motivating for the players I would think, after winning 7 straight we don't even get the chance to cap the season off with a marquee win over another ranked opponent

So there are reasons to be happy, but overall I'm quite disappointing. I hope Phillips gives Delaney a piece of his mind, this is a pretty crappy outcome. I'm excited about the chance to go to Nashville, but I'm not really excited about this matchup / the game itself. Even if we win it doesn't really add much to our overall resume for the season.

Oh well though, we can make the most of it and stretch the win streak to 8 I guess. Just would have liked to send our seniors out with a better matchup.

Go Cats

Afterwards, you will only remember whether we won or lost. We were only 6-6 when we played Pitt last year. Think Pitt feels now we were a lame opponent? The players will be fine. Get over it. And as far as locations, it is the only one a lot of fans can get to and it is a whole lot cheaper to attend than most locations. Also it is one of the only ones where we might see typical fall FB weather and a pretty unique town.

This is likely the result of not getting a BIG team in the CFP while SEC got two in. The only dissing was the typical crap that Outback does.

 

[ricko6543211]

Afterwards, they will only remember whether we won or lost. We were only 6-6 when we played Pitt last year. Get over it.

incorrect, afterward no one that's not a Northwestern fan will remember this game, regardless of whether we win or lose... this matchup isn't worth caring about for casual college football fans.

i'm still going obviously and excited overall, but that doesn't change the fact that the matchup is a disappointment.

 

[NJCat]

in fact just the opposite, i'm worried about our players being de-motivated.

Not me.

But if you think KY isn't at least as good as Iowa you're not paying attention. If I recall correctly, it took NU OT to beat the Hawks.....

 

[nucatsbacker]

I think the Big Ten must have gotten some pretty big push-back from the bowls regarding the "tier" system. From what I can tell, the tiers no longer exist, if they ever did in the first place. The Big Ten bowl selection procedures haven't mentioned tiers in the past two years, at least. The limit of the Big Ten's influence now is just assuring that each team gets a different bowl/location each year, rather than trying to assure that teams with better records are selected first.

It seems that the Outback Bowl decided they wanted Michigan over Michigan State (and Northwestern), the Holiday Bowl decided they wanted Michigan State over Northwestern, and the Big Ten respected their decisions. They probably would have even respected the Music City Bowl's decision if they had wanted Iowa or Purdue over Northwestern, so I think the Music City Bowl did decide on their own to take Northwestern.

In the end, it really is the bowl/host city's bottom line on the line as far as the decision of which teams they take (the Big Ten and member universities share the bowl revenue essentially equally). If a bowl committee can confidently conclude that choosing one team over another will significantly impact their bottom line, that's the way they're going to choose.

 

[ricko6543211]

Not me.

But if you think KY isn't at least as good as Iowa you're not paying attention. If I recall correctly, it took NU OT to beat the Hawks.....

I would take Iowa narrowly over KY this year. Though it depends on which version of this year's Iowa team shows up I suppose, they have been bizarrely inconsistent and quite all over the place. And I would take us over Iowa. I would also take us over Kentucky, but maybe something like 7.5-8 times out of 10. I think they are probably narrowly better than Purdue, narrowly worse than Iowa. But on a neutral field (or actually probably favors them) on any given Saturday any one of those teams (Iowa, Kentucky, Purdue) could certainly beat us, no question.

I would not be a better of NU -10.5, I think that line is too high for this game...

 

[docrugby1]

Afterwards, you will only remember whether we won or lost. We were only 6-6 when we played Pitt last year. Think Pitt feels now we were a lame opponent? The players will be fine. Get over it. And as far as locations, it is the only one a lot of fans can get to and it is a whole lot cheaper to attend than most locations. Also it is one of the only ones where we might see typical fall FB weather and a pretty unique town.

This is likely the result of not getting a BIG team in the CFP while SEC got two in. The only dissing was the typical crap that Outback does.

I am friends with Bob Basham, CEO of Outback. He could not have been more generous in his praise of Coach Fitzgerald, AD Phillips and the players but the lack of fan support of the team was disappointing to him

I would suggest rounding up 6-8 of your friends and heading to Nashville to remove the stigma associated with NU football

 

[Hungry Jack]

I find it hard to get too worked up over our bowl slotting. So much of it is beyond our control, and our fan base is small (though very supportive IMO). So we are not going to be the benefit of much doubt. I just want to see us matched up vs. a P5 team in a good destination. I love Nashville, but regrettably cannot go because we will be in Santa Barbara that week (was very much contemplating driving down to SD if we ended up at the Holiday Bowl).

Hopefully someday soon we force the issue by winning the B1G and getting a playoff slot. Then we cannot be passed over!

 

[hdhntr1]

He had a very clear and easy option that was the most fair - MSU to Outback, NU to Holiday. This was not complicated. They chose to make it complicated to find a way to get Michigan into a higher bowl. Which sucks. But it is what it is. Nashville will still be a good time.

Bowls are in it to make money and sell tickets. Sorry, but MIch has a lot more alums and fans and no matter how many we bring, we will never bring as many as they do. We got screwed by Outback which was entirely predictable because it is what those greedy b******s do. No one else moved above us in pecking order. And it doesn't suck. It gives us a winnable game.

 

[hdhntr1]

Exactly this, and anyone who thinks we're a shoo-in to win this game apparently is a new fan who knows nothing about the Northwestern of the past...20-25 years.

I'm personally confused as to why Sparty stayed ranked ahead of us after losing to us head-to-head and getting pummeled by Ohio State...because of a field goal win over PSU after a weird three-hour lightning delay? Regardless...they were ranked ahead of us in every poll and Michigan is Michigan...for the belly-achers...welcome to the world where life isn't always "fair."

Which is still a lot better than more than 25 years ago.

 

[hdhntr1]

Exactly this, and anyone who thinks we're a shoo-in to win this game apparently is a new fan who knows nothing about the Northwestern of the past...20-25 years.

I'm personally confused as to why Sparty stayed ranked ahead of us after losing to us head-to-head and getting pummeled by Ohio State...because of a field goal win over PSU after a weird three-hour lightning delay? Regardless...they were ranked ahead of us in every poll and Michigan is Michigan...for the belly-achers...welcome to the world where life isn't always "fair."

Why is it a surprise? It took OT at home to beat them and they beat both Mich and PSU (who we lost big to)

 

[hdhntr1]

not saying this game is an automatic win at all. in fact just the opposite, i'm worried about our players being de-motivated, as i mentioned. it's just a no upside game unfortunately. even if we do win it doesn't mean much. oh well, at least Nashville will be fun regardless.

It means a ton. Win the game and we finish the season top 20, have 10 wins and a bowl winning streak. And winning is a whole lot better than losing.

 

[NJCat]

And winning is a whole lot better than losing.

It is just as simple as these 9 words.

 

[willycat]

incorrect, afterward no one that's not a Northwestern fan will remember this game, regardless of whether we win or lose... this matchup isn't worth caring about for casual college football fans.

i'm still going obviously and excited overall, but that doesn't change the fact that the matchup is a disappointment.

Please stop. The people who will remember this game are first the players, who I'm sure will have a great time, especially if they bring home a win. Secondly, it will be important to future recruits, since making to a bowl is high up on a high school kids to do list. Finally NU fans will remember it because it could be the first time in modern history that the Cats have won two bowl games, back to back. So stop the whining and stop giving UK bulletin board material.

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

incorrect, afterward no one that's not a Northwestern fan will remember this game, regardless of whether we win or lose... this matchup isn't worth caring about for casual college football fans.
.

As opposed to the hordes (sic) that would have remembered a Holiday Bowl?

 

[ricko6543211]

As opposed to the hordes (sic) that would have remembered a Holiday Bowl?

Hard to say with confidence, but given the date/ time and teams involved, I would guess that TV viewership for a Northwestern Washington St matchup of ranked teams in the Holiday Bowl would be approximately 2x that of Northwestern Kentucky in the Music City Bowl.

 

[mickbula]

It means a ton. Win the game and we finish the season top 20, have 10 wins and a bowl winning streak. And winning is a whole lot better than losing.

I can empathize a little bit with other posters with regards to our bowl selection this year. But I tell you what- I am very happy and excited to see the game too. I wanted Stanford or ND, but we play them both in the reg season over the next year or two- so we will get our chance to be victorious over them. What the hell though- Kentucky is a team like MSU was when we beat them in the bowl game! This is a great opportunity for us to get to double digits in wins for the season! That is quite a feat after the dingy 2-3 start we had. Let's hope it doesn't turn out to be like playing Tenn two years ago. I really think this is going to be a great game! I am totally psyched! I just need to rearrange a few things over the holidays to see that I can be at the game. Hope to see all of you there!

 

[montana_cat]

I am friends with Bob Basham, CEO of Outback. He could not have been more generous in his praise of Coach Fitzgerald, AD Phillips and the players but the lack of fan support of the team was disappointing to him

I would suggest rounding up 6-8 of your friends and heading to Nashville to remove the stigma associated with NU football

Just a tiny segment of the NU alum base here, but the problem that separates some number of us from other Big 10 schools is that we are a true national school with a widely dispersed base.

Example here: I'm a native Montanan. Made a good career first in journalism, then in sales support for a couple software companies in the Treasure State. Not rich by any stretch of the imagination. And I live in a place where the *only* budget airline available is Allegiant. Economy fares to Phoenix and Las Vegas. That's it.

Also now retired and living on a fixed income, so watching my expenses closely. Nashville? I'd love to go there, but the cost of airfare, lodging, tickets, meals would be exorbitant. So, the rest of you alums who have a lot better air connections and likely are more affluent are gonna have to carry the load. I'll be watching on TV, cheering and hoping that we land a bowl date in the future either in Arizona, or maybe Southern Cal where I might be able to wrangle a flight to Vegas, a rental car ride to the game site and accommodations at a cousin's house.

 

[ricko6543211]

I can empathize a little bit with other posters with regards to our bowl selection this year. But I tell you what- I am very happy and excited to see the game too. I wanted Stanford or ND, but we play them both in the reg season over the next year or two- so we will get our chance to be victorious over them. What the hell though- Kentucky is a team like MSU was when we beat them in the bowl game! This is a great opportunity for us to get to double digits in wins for the season! That is quite a feat after the dingy 2-3 start we had. Let's hope it doesn't turn out to be like playing Tenn two years ago. I really think this is going to be a great game! I am totally psyched! I just need to rearrange a few things over the holidays to see that I can be at the game. Hope to see all of you there!

yeah fair enough. i'm psyched for the trip too. I just wanted to play another ranked team so that we could draw more attention and get a chance to show the rest of the country our 7 game win streak wasn't just because we played weak competition during that stretch (which frankly is what I feel the narrative is right now - even among other Big Ten fans). I think beating Wazzu could have gotten a fair amount of attention and popped us up to 14-15 or so in the postseason rankings. While beating Kentucky will just get us to 17-19 or so. Which really shouldn't matter that much but it does feel like a difference.

 

[hdhntr1]

incorrect, afterward no one that's not a Northwestern fan will remember this game, regardless of whether we win or lose... this matchup isn't worth caring about for casual college football fans.

i'm still going obviously and excited overall, but that doesn't change the fact that the matchup is a disappointment.

I would suggest that other than NU fans (and maybe some Pitt fans) no one remembers last years matchup either. But who won is saved for eternity. It is at a time without a lot of other game competition so the casual fans will watch.

 

[hdhntr1]

Just a tiny segment of the NU alum base here, but the problem that separates some number of us from other Big 10 schools is that we are a true national school with a widely dispersed base.

Example here: I'm a native Montanan. Made a good career first in journalism, then in sales support for a couple software companies in the Treasure State. Not rich by any stretch of the imagination. And I live in a place where the *only* budget airline available is Allegiant. Economy fares to Phoenix and Las Vegas. That's it.

Also now retired and living on a fixed income, so watching my expenses closely. Nashville? I'd love to go there, but the cost of airfare, lodging, tickets, meals would be exorbitant. So, the rest of you alums who have a lot better air connections and likely are more affluent are gonna have to carry the load. I'll be watching on TV, cheering and hoping that we land a bowl date in the future either in Arizona, or maybe Southern Cal where I might be able to wrangle a flight to Vegas, a rental car ride to the game site and accommodations at a cousin's house.

And for us in the Chicago area, this is one or a lot of other areas, Nashville is the one bowl of the group that would not be extremely expensive to go to. Driving distance. You likely have to miss all the FL and TX bowls as well.

 

[Wildcatfootball12]

Ftiz and staff usually come up with really good game plans for our bowl games. I expect the same will happen for this game.

Go Cats!

Wait, really?

We've won two bowl games, and everyone should be reminded that while the pinstripe win certainly was lovely, we knocked out Peterman pretty early and their starting RB was hurt too. Thorson was mediocre at best in that game. JJTBC carried us on his back and we capitalized on a bad backup QB

 

[DaCat]

Wait, really?

We've won two bowl games, and everyone should be reminded that while the pinstripe win certainly was lovely, we knocked out Peterman pretty early and their starting RB was hurt too. Thorson was mediocre at best in that game. JJTBC carried us on his back and we capitalized on a bad backup QB

Well boo-hoo let's cancel the win then. How dare we hurt their boys.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Wait, really?

We've won two bowl games, and everyone should be reminded that while the pinstripe win certainly was lovely, we knocked out Peterman pretty early and their starting RB was hurt too. Thorson was mediocre at best in that game. JJTBC carried us on his back and we capitalized on a bad backup QB

Peterman went out in Q4, right?

 

[docrugby1]

Wait, really?

We've won two bowl games, and everyone should be reminded that while the pinstripe win certainly was lovely, we knocked out Peterman pretty early and their starting RB was hurt too. Thorson was mediocre at best in that game. JJTBC carried us on his back and we capitalized on a bad backup QB

After the game I was worried that CT had injured his shoulder because of the "dead ducks" he was throwing. No signs of that problem this year but throwing 40 yard outs with a dead arm was alarming in the Pinstripe Bowl

 

[montana_cat]

And for us in the Chicago area, this is one or a lot of other areas, Nashville is the one bowl of the group that would not be extremely expensive to go to. Driving distance. You likely have to miss all the FL and TX bowls as well.

Go for it! Holler for the Cats for me.

Yes, Florida and Texas bowls are pretty much out of the question unless my ship comes in, and I think a sub got it out at sea. However ... one of the advantages of being at this stage in life is that the only boss I answer to is my wife, also retired (school teacher). And we have a pretty decent pickup and travel trailer. With that combo, the open road beckons next year. In fact, a trip through Texas is in the planning stage.

Now, if we didn’t have winter and winter roads to deal with. And I ain’t no new-to-Montana wimp. Born and raised here and probably have close to 1 million road miles, mostly here, under my belt. Enough to know when to stay off the roads and watch a game on TV.

 

[Skolcat]

Please stop. The people who will remember this game are first the players, who I'm sure will have a great time, especially if they bring home a win. Secondly, it will be important to future recruits, since making to a bowl is high up on a high school kids to do list. Finally NU fans will remember it because it could be the first time in modern history that the Cats have won two bowl games, back to back. So stop the whining and stop giving UK bulletin board material.

“NU fans will remember it because it could be the first time in modern history that the Cats have won two bowl games back to back..”

First time in recorded history?

 

[Wildcatfootball12]

Well boo-hoo let's cancel the win then. How dare we hurt their boys.

No, but every NU fan with a pulse will tell you we could have kept up with wisconsin and beaten texas A&M if persa had not gone down

 

[ColumbusCatFan1_rivals]

I am friends with Bob Basham, CEO of Outback...but the lack of fan support of the team was disappointing to him.

As someone who went to the games in 2010 (thought the turnout was good that year) & 2016 (Tennessee's take over was predictable given their "bowl drought") I must say the bowl that his company sponsors and their obvious pandering to Michigan (and Iowa) over the years (at NU's expense) is disappointing to me.

Tampa is a fun town. Love Cigar City. Bummer the Outback isn't more friendly to non-blue bloods in the selection process.

 

[ColumbusCatFan1_rivals]

So stop the whining...

This makes me chuckle.