Last Week: NIU Wins MAC Championship, Sat. Afternoon Band, Stucky's, Karaoke, Bears Lose...Again, Another Legion

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4

Watched NIU defeat Kent State for the MAC Championship game, one of the rare times Northern actually dominated an opponent.  (And earlier this season Kent State had just barely beaten us.)  Sadly, I couldn't get it on the radio as I enjoy listening to Bill Baker call the Huskies as he's been doing it since the 1980s.  He IS the "Voice" of the Huskies.

Went to the Fox Lake American Legion for their monthly first Saturday afternoon band and saw an excellent two-piece group but can't remember their name.

Then to Stucky's in Johnsburg for dinner, $1 draft pints and karaoke.  A whole bunch of Sunnysiders came in.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5

Watched and listened to the Bears lose another game at home (now 4-8).  I always enjoy listening to the Bear announcers on the radio as they are real fans.

Then to the McHenry American Legion for the $2.50 Adequate Bloody Marys and $1 off Happy Hour prices.

--RoadDog

JSIS: Stupid-Looking Hair Coming Out of Helmets-- Conference Championship Games-- NIU Football

JSIS--  Just Some Interesting Stuff

1.  STUPID-LOOKING HAIR COMING OUT OF HELMETS--  A couple weeks ago Liz and I saw the annual Army-Navy football game at the American Legion.  Sure was nice to see that no member of either team had hair coming out below their helmets.  I'm sorry, but that just looks stupid.  

Anytime you watch a college or NFL game it seems you see more and more of that long, funny-looking hair on both Blacks and whites.  I don't like it on any person.  Then, there is the guy on the Titans we all call Old Turd Hair.

2.  CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES--  Well, one thing nice about all the college conference championship games this year is the size of the crowds.  NIU is in the MAC and our championship games draw maybe 5,000 to 8,000 fans (but then again, who wants to go to Detroit).  Then the Power 5 games are standing room only.  This year, they are all essentially empty.  Wonder why?

3.  NIU FOOTBALL--  A sad year for Northern Illinois University football with an 0-6 record.  But, this really wasn't a real year anyway.  Too weird and strange with you-know-what.  But, the second year Joe Novak was our coach, we were 0-12 and then by the fourth year, it was all up from there as we were able to somehow keep him despite his success and the Big 10, 11,12,13,14 grabbing MAC coaches all the time.

Maybe This Is a Sign of Good Times to Come?  --RoadWin

In case you're wondering what the name of the group was that beat out the Beatles in their audition, scroll down to this months Music Deaths for David Munden.

Doing That Ol' Coronavirus Thing: Sturgis-- Schools-- MAC-- Pam's-- Indy 500

Seems to be the thing these days:

1.  STURGIS--  Well, we'll be seeing what impact having a huge number of people congregating in one area has on the spread of the cv.  250,000 folks and probably not much in the way of masks or social distancing.

2.  SCHOOLS--  Chicago has put off opening schools for awhile.  All schools should do that and don't open until a vaccine is found or the cv has run its course.

3.  MAC--  The Mid American Conference canceled all fall sports, including football, until spring.  Good move.  All college football teams should follow suit.  (Just a moment ago I saw that the Big 10,11,12,13,14 had also put off fall til spring.)

4.  PAM'S--  Saturday we went to Pam's house in Johnsburg and got together with friends who had move to New Mexico.  We social distanced.

5.  INDY 500--  The Indy 500 did the right thing and won't allow people to see the race August 23.  The friends from New Mexico and I have seen the last eight Indys.

No Indy for Us This Year.  --RoadLess

MAC and NIU Stinking Up Bowl Games Again

It is getting to the point that I would just as soon that my school, Northern Illinois, didn't go to any more college bowl games.  It is embarrassing.  We have now reached six straight bowl losses and most of them have been by blowout scores.

And, the same goes for our whole football conference, the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

Gone are the days when the MAC only got one bowl invitation.  Back in 2003, NIU had a 10-2 record and beat five Power Conference foes, two of whom were ranked when we played them.  But, we lost a game to Toledo (of course) and they went and we sat home.

This year, the MAC had six teams in minor bowl games.  So far the MAC record is 1-4, with just one game remaining, Buffalo vs. Troy in Mobile later tonight.

MAC teams shown in caps.

Georgia Southern 23  EASTERN MICHIGAN 21
University of Alabama-Birmingham 37  NIU 13
OHIO  27  San Diego State University
Florida International University 35  TOLEDO 32
Brigham Young University  49  WESTERN MICHIGAN  18

Please, Santa, No More MAC or NIU Bowl Games!!!  --RoadLoss

POLITICALLY INCORRECT CHRISTMAS SONGS:  "Do You Hear What I Hear"  Blatant disregard for the hearing impaired.

Dec. 23:  Final score in the Buffalo-Troy game:  Troy 42  BUFFALO 32.  So, the MAC went 1-5 in bowl games.  Please, no more bowl games for the MAC!!

And, I see they are adding one more bowl game for the MAC in 2019 in Myrtle Beach.  Last thing we need.

And, For That Matter, Please No More MAC Bowl Games

And, as bad as NIU is at bowl games, the whole Mid-American Conference is fairly futile in bowl games.  Northern's sad effort this past week ended the MAC at 1-4 in bowl games.  That was one more win than in 2016 when teams went a combined 0-6.

2016 Bowl Games

Well, at least the scores were mostly close.

Camelia Bowl  Toledo lost to Appalachian State 31-28
Miami Beach Bowl--  Central Michigan lost 55-10
Dollar General Bowl--  Ohio lost 28-23

Bahamas Bowl--  Eastern Michigan lost 24-20
St. Petersburg Bowl--  Miami lost 17-16 to Mississippi State
Cotton Bowl--  Western Michigan lost to Wisconsin 24-16

2017 Bowl Games

Boca Raton Bowl--  Akron lost to FAU 50-3
Famous Potato Bowl--  Central Michigan lost to Wyoming 37-14
Dollar General Bowl--  Toledo lost to Appalachian State 34-0

Bahamas Bowl--  Ohio lost to UAB 41-6
Quick Lube Bowl--  Northern lost to Duke 36-14

A Record of Futility.  --RoadSad

JSS: Cold-- Snow-- NIU Women's Basketball-- March Madness Begins

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  COLD--  After all that warmth we had here while we were gone, it sure turned cold this weekend.  Kind of took away from the enjoyment of the St. Patrick's Day parades this past weekend.  It is not supposed to get above freezing before Thursday.

2.  SNOW--  And, we had between 3-4 inches of snow to boot.  Again, why didn't they have this winter stuff here when we were in Florida.

3.  NIU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL--  Sadly, our ladies lost to Toledo in the MAC Conference championship so there will be no NCAA Tournament for them.  Boy, that Toledo sure takes the cake.

4.  MARCH MADNESS BEGINS--  And, speaking of sports.  The best sporting event of the year.  I have my favorites, but won't say who for fear of bad luck.  But, I can tell you that I ALWAYS pull for the underdogs (unless it is Toledo), even if they are playing one of "my" big time teams.

Squeak Those Floors.  --RoadDog

JSS: Sad Bears Over-- Cotton Bowl-- Rose Bowl

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  SAD BEARS OVER--  The 2016 Chicago Bears season mercifully came to an end Saturday with a 38-10 blowout by Minnesota.  Season record 3-13.  But, at least we get the third round draft choice which hopefully is a quarterback.

Now the problem is whether or not the Bears can pick a good one.  And that is highly questionable.

As Ralphie's Old Man said, "More like the Chipmunks of the Midway."

2.  COTTON BOWL--  Yesterday we watched the Hawks hockey game and this game at Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg, Illinois.  Normally, I would have been pulling for Wisconsin, one of my favorite college teams.  But, not when they were playing MAC school, Western Michigan.

Unfortunately, despite playing a great game, the Mustangs lost by a touchdown.  Even sadder, I imagine it won't be long before WMU is looking for a new coach.  Whenever I coach has success in the MAC, the next thing you know, one of the Power 5 conferences gets him.

NIU's last two coaches, Jerry Kill and Dave Doreen, went to Minnesota and North Carolina State respectively after winning seasons.  And, the coach of WMU, P.J. Fleck, was a stand-out receiver at NIU.

3.  ROSE BOWL--  Anyone think this was not one of the greatest games ever?  I was pulling for Penn State, but, WOW!!  Losses aren't easy, but, again, what a game with USC winning 52-49.

JSS.  --RoadDog

WE THE PEOPLE ARE OFFENDED:  I am offended by anyone who messes with the American Flag.  Symbol or not.  You don't like it -- there's the border.

Just One Loss After Another: Bears Lose, then the Pack and Then the MAC Goes 0-5 in Bowls

It's been a rough week in football for us. First, Da Bears lost to Da Pack and yesterday, Da Pack lost to the 49ers. Saturday, the Chiefs lost to the Colts. //// Last night, Ball State lost to Arkansas State in the Go-Daddy Bowl. That makes the Mid American Conference 0-5 for bowls this season (Buffalo, Ohio, Bowling Green and NIU also lost). At one time, the MAC had a hard time getting even one bowl. If they continue this dismal effort, we'll be back to one bowl again (maybe). Back in December I had proudly headlined an entry "MAC Goes A-Bowlin'." //// Reckon It'd Have Been Better If the MAC Had Just Stayed at Home. --RoadDog

JSIS: No Cell Phone Talking in Car-- Dominick's Commercials Still-- MAC 0-4-- Gas

JSIS-- Just Some Interesting Stuff.

1. NO CELL PHONE TALKING IN CAR--  As of tomorrow, you drive anywhere and talk on the cell phone, it's a ticket for you. Be forewarned. Still waiting for them to declare driving and texting just as bad as driving drunk. It is perhaps even worse.

2. DOMINICK'S COMMERCIALS STILL--Kind of strange, but WXRT-FM in Chicago was still running commercials for grocery store Dominick's on Sunday although they all closed down for good on Saturday

3. MAC 0-4-- It's been a bad bowl season for my Mid-American Conference which now stands at 0-4 after Buffalo, Ohio, Bowling Green and NIU lost. Last chance for a win is the Go-Daddy Bowl on Jan. 5th with Ball State.

4. GAS-- Dropped all the way to $3.40 here in northeastern Illinois. It had jumped from $3.16 to $3.47 in one minute.

Sure Drops Slow, Though. --RoadDog

The MAC Goes a-Bowlin'

We've definitely come a long way since 2003, when Northern Illinois finished 10-2, with wins over Big Guys Maryland, Iowa State and Alabama...and DIDN'T GO TO A BOWL.

Five MAC teams are in bowl games this year:

FAMOUS IDAHO-- Buffalo

BEEF O'BRADY-- Ohio

LITTLE CAESAR'S-- Bowling Green

POINSETTIA-- Northern Illinois

GO-DADDY-- Ball State.

Northern plays Utah State in the Poinsettia Bowl, but I would have rather seen them play in the Beef O'Brady Bowl in St. Petersburg, Florida, against East Carolina, one of my all-time favorite teams. I also would have preferred the Go-Daddy Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, where we played Arkansas State two years ago. Arkansas State is back at the Go-Daddy.

Oh, Well. --RoadDog

NC Bound Fall 2013: September 7th-- Part 2: Athens and the Deer

Drove I-70 to US-33 and took that to Athens, Ohio. It is four lane and limited access much of the way other than a short stretch through downtown Nelsonville. That too will soon be bypassed.

Took a ride through Athens, a very hilly town and home of MAC member Ohio University. There was going to be a football game later, but it being just 10:00, decided not to stick around.

Crossed over ointo West Virginia near Ripley and got on I-77 for the rest of today's driving. Paid my $6 (three $2 tolls) to drive the turnpike and was somewhat scared when the vehicle that had just passed me struck a deer. Stopped at Tamarack with all that neat stuff.

--RoadDog