Oh Canada: NIU Headed to International Bowl

by Jerry Burnes on Dec 6, 2009 6:45 PM CST in Football

In a non-surprise selection NIU will be headed across the border to the International Bowl in Toronto, Canada.

The Huskies (7-5, 5-3 MAC) will face South Florida (7-4, 3-4 Big East) out of the Big East, so they will draw a BCS conference school. If you plan on going, might want to expedite your passport.

In other MAC Bowls:

GMAC - Jan. 6, Mobile, Ala.- 7 p.m. ESPN

No. 25 Central Michigan (11-2, 8-0 MAC) vs. Troy (9-3, 8-0 Sun Belt)

Roady's Humanitarian Bowl - Dec. 30, Boise, Ida.- 4:30 p.m. ESPN

Bowling Green (7-5, 6-2 MAC) vs. Idaho (7-5, 4-4 WAC)

Eagle Bank Bowl - Dec. 29, Washington D.C. - 4:30 p.m. ESPN

Temple (9-3, 7-1 MAC) vs. UCLA* (6-6, 3-6 Pac-10)

*If Army defeats Navy they will get their tie-in for the Eagle Bank Bowl and replace UCLA.

Little Ceasars Pizza Bowl - Dec. 26, Detroit, Mich. - 1 p.m. ESPN

Ohio (9-4, 7-1 MAC) vs. Marshall (6-6, 4-4, C-USA).

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We got the best MAC bowl

Which is a great reward. We get BCS school South Florida and CMU gets Troy. What an opportunity. Bowl rules and behind the scenes negotiations prevail. The Huskies need perfect practices to prepare for this one. The Bulls are a very formidable opponent.

by teejay73 on Dec 6, 2009 7:12 PM CST reply actions

do we have information on traveling up there?

"This one means 'Kill Kirk!!!!'... And also, 'hallelujah'... Depending on the context."

by trippingandy on Dec 6, 2009 7:15 PM CST reply actions

Awesome

I love it! NIU vs a BCS team on Jan 2nd on ESPN 2! Go Huskies!

by NIUDOG on Dec 6, 2009 7:42 PM CST reply actions

I'm surprised

that NIU gets to face a Big East opponent….. didn’t expect this one
The Bulls started the season at 5-0 with some weak early games….. but this is a school that faced Pitt, Cincinnati, Rutgers, Fla St and Rutgers….. and almost pulled it out against U Conn in bad weather…… a tough challenge for the Huskies
CMU plays Troy = a real surprise here given the fact that the Chips were sniffing top 25 iist most of the yr.

by BigDHuskie on Dec 6, 2009 8:07 PM CST reply actions

I think it played out like Mike predicted

GMAC Bowl got first MAC dibs this year, so they took CMU. I thought the Sun Belt champ went to the New Orleans Bowl, but apparently not. Then the Pizza Bowl took Ohio with the 2nd pick, and had to take a non-MAC at-large team since the Big 10 couldn’t represent again, and they didn’t want a MAC vs. MAC matchup. Temple was next, and could have had the International Bowl, but likely passed because they wanted the Eagle Bank Bowl to accommodate their traveling fans. That left the Humanitarian Bowl with an at-large spot to fill, and the MAC spot vs. the Big East in the International Bowl still on the board. The Humanitarian Bowl didn’t want an NIU rematch, and so they opted for Bowling Green. So NIU ended up with the prime opponent in the International Bowl. I’m pumped, this is a big opponent for us. CMU was definitely deserving of a better matchup, but bowl rules dictated otherwise.

by teejay73 on Dec 6, 2009 10:25 PM CST reply actions

Tough Game

This is a very, very tough game as SF has played some formidable opponents. Last year’s Independence Bowl loss still stings, let’s hope we can get healthy and take them. Go Huskies!!

by sox71 on Dec 7, 2009 6:52 PM CST reply actions