Northwestern University Athletics
Murphy's Mark: 'Cats Are Bowl Eligible!
11/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | General
Nov. 7, 2005
Bowl Eligible!
With our football team's exciting come-from-behind win over Iowa on Saturday, we are now eligible to play in a bowl game this year. With two weeks remaining in the Big Ten schedule, and with other games played through the weekend of December 3, it will be quite a while before we find out where we will play. Please check our web site at NUsports.com for updates on our bowl situation. In terms of where things stand now within the conference, six teams are now bowl eligible -- Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Northwestern and Minnesota -- and three additional teams could become eligible (both Iowa and Michigan State need one more win, while Indiana must win both remaining games). The Big Ten has affiliations with seven bowls. In order of selection, these bowls are the Rose, Capital One, Outback, Alamo, Sun, Music City and Motor City.
In selecting schools from the Big Ten, a bowl only considers a team's overall record (not the record or finish in the conference) and can select a team with one less overall win, but not two less wins. Since the Rose Bowl is hosting the national championship game this year (and it is unlikely that the Big Ten champion will be in this game), our champion will most likely play in either the Fiesta or Orange Bowl. If Penn State beats Michigan State in their one remaining game, they will represent the Big Ten in a BCS bowl. Looking ahead, a number of things will impact the bowl picture. Obviously, if we can win both games we will have a better chance to go to a higher ranked bowl. If the Big Ten places two teams in BCS bowls (Ohio State is the team most likely to have a chance to earn a BCS at-large bid), this would also move teams up to higher ranked bowls. Finally, if eight or more Big Ten teams become bowl eligible, this will also impact the bowl situation, and a Big Ten team could participate in a bowl not affiliated with the Big Ten.
Big Ten Men's Soccer Championship
We are hosting the Big Ten men's soccer tournament this weekend. It should be an exciting weekend of soccer -- Indiana has won two consecutive NCAA championships, but Penn State won the Big Ten regular season championship this year. Games will be held Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Our team will play Thursday at 2:30 p.m. against Ohio State. Associate Athletic Director Noreen Morris has done an excellent job planning and organizing this tournament.
Basketball Openers
Both our men's and women's basketball teams open play this weekend. Coach Bill Carmody has his deepest and most experienced team this year. He will most likely start four seniors, including All-Big Ten performer Vedran Vukusic, and has a solid rotation of 9 to 10 players. The team starts the season with a game against Lehigh in the BCA Invitational at the University of Wyoming. Our women's team starts play this Friday night with an exhibition game against the Chicago Challengers. Coach Beth Combs will have a young team (only one junior and one senior) but is hopeful that their hard work and young talent this year will make them a surprise team in the Big Ten. Senior Ifeoma Okonkwo has looked good in the preseason and, along with sophomore Sara Stutz, should be a leader of the team.
