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<p>Since the '95 season, NU FB has been more successful than Stanford or Duke FB and over the past few seasons, NU BB has been more successful than Stanford or ND BB.</p>
<p>Of the academic schools in the BCS conferences, NU is the only one where both the FB and men’s BB programs have made the postseason for the past 3 years in a row, and likely, 4th year in a row (barring an absolute collapse, the BB team will at least make the NIT).</p>
<p>Didn’t expect the win this year b/c Persa was not the Persa before his achilles injury and the D was suspect all year, esp. the secondary (didn’t help that NU’s best and most experienced corner went down w/ an injury at the end of the season).</p>
<p>Also didn’t help that due to the efforts of AD Phillips, NU jumped some teams in the bowl selection.</p>
<p>TAMU is a team filled w/ talent which just underperformed at times over the season; if the 'Cats had faced UCLA in SF like what Illinois ended up doing, it would have been a win for the 'Cats.</p>
<p>Next season should be another 6 win or so season since the D will still have problems.</p>
<p>Look for the gridiron 'Cats to make some noise in '13 and make a run at the Leaders division in '14.</p>
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<p>It stinks, but that’s what happens when NU gets slotted up and/or faces top tier teams like Mizzou and Auburn.</p>
<p>Rather see the 'Cats go to a good bowl game and lose in a shootout (the bowl games against Mizzou and Auburn were among the best bowl games for their years) then go to the Pizza bowl and beat some 3rd place MAC team.</p>
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<p>Students nowadays should feel lucky; the FB and BB teams are competitive and will continue to get better (esp. since there are plans in place to do a serious upgrade of the sports facilities).</p>
<p>It wasn’t that long ago when the FB or BB team when 0-fer in conf. play.</p>