Williams Blog: NIU opener deserves TV attention

[Clonegrad07]

Well, at least Towson and Indiana will be on. I'll have to set the DVR for that dynamic matchup.

The odd thing is that this might also be one of the more "competitive" games of the night... the problem is... no one gives a damn.

People who go to Indiana don't cheer for IU football. I live in Indiana and am blown away how you're either a purdue everything fan... OR you're a IU basketball fan and Notre Dame football fan. I have yet to find an IU football fan. There are people who cheer for them for lack of better things to do, but no one... and I mean NO ONE cares about them.

[Clonegrad07]

Also, it's a tragedy if we're not on TV that night. We should be. and you're god damned right I'm biased. I love the Iowa State Cyclones!!

[3GenClone]

The odd thing is that this might also be one of the more "competitive" games of the night... the problem is... no one gives a damn.

People who go to Indiana don't cheer for IU football. I live in Indiana and am blown away how you're either a purdue everything fan... OR you're a IU basketball fan and Notre Dame football fan. I have yet to find an IU football fan. There are people who cheer for them for lack of better things to do, but no one... and I mean NO ONE cares about them.

I have to believe there's at least one guy who shows up to every game wearing an Antwaan Randle El jersey...

[Tedcyclone]

i was trying to point out the irony in the point, not defending those two schools.

nationally there's not a lot of interest in any of the 4 schools

agree with you on that.

[Tedcyclone]

They return 10 out of 11 on defense from a team that went to a bowl last year. When did we get so good that we look past a team that will win the MAC? Did I sleep through ISU turning into a national powerhouse

all anyone would have to do is look at our history... we do not blow out very many d1 teams ever... we play army its close, it doesnt matter who it is.

[Cyclonestate78]

Why? Northern Illinois could easily be the champions of the MAC next year. They are a good football team. Iowa State has all sorts of question marks on defense. There is no legitimate reason to think that Iowa State will blow this team out.

ISU is going to blow this team out. End of story.

FWIW... the fan base that should be screaming bloody murder about this game not being on tv is the NIU fan base. They are the sexy pick by just about everyone nationally to win the MAC and they are opening the season on the road against a 7 win Big XII team that was the Insight Bowl Champions and they don't get on tv somewhere? If I was an NIU fan I would be irate. That being said on Sept. 3rd they will be thankful this game wasn't picked up after they get humiliated in Jack Trice Stadium.

[cyclones500]

Did you read the blog?

I fully admitted to that. I have nothing to hide there.

I agree with Chris, it makes at least as much sense as Minnesota@MTSU. (I predict Middle Tenn. will pull an upset. You heard it here first — unless you heard it elsewhere already).

Anyway, the Ohio State-Marshall game would probably draw the widest audience, because it's Ohio State, and Marshall "used to be really good." Pitt-Utah and SC-So Miss would have some broad appeal. USC-Hawaii is late start.

Towson vs. Indiana. That sounds like a 2-15 MBB tournament first-round matchup, ca. 1993.

[isuno1fan]

Not on TV = More butts at JTS for a Thursday night.

[hawkeyescott]

The odd thing is that this might also be one of the more "competitive" games of the night... the problem is... no one gives a damn.

People who go to Indiana don't cheer for IU football. I live in Indiana and am blown away how you're either a purdue everything fan... OR you're a IU basketball fan and Notre Dame football fan. I have yet to find an IU football fan. There are people who cheer for them for lack of better things to do, but no one... and I mean NO ONE cares about them except the Big Ten Network.

I fixed it for you.

[ChrisMWilliams]

Not on TV = More butts at JTS for a Thursday night.

Maybe true but being on TV holds more value for Iowa State.

[Cyclonestate78]

I agree with Chris, it makes at least as much sense as Minnesota@MTSU. (I predict Middle Tenn. will pull an upset. You heard it here first — unless you heard it elsewhere already).

Anyway, the Ohio State-Marshall game would probably draw the widest audience, because it's Ohio State, and Marshall "used to be really good." Pitt-Utah and SC-So Miss would have some broad appeal. USC-Hawaii is late start.

Towson vs. Indiana. That sounds like a 2-15 MBB tournament first-round matchup, ca. 1993.

I will tune in to watch Indiana but only if Towson is handing them a beatdown. That would be too funny to avoid watching.

For those about to flame me.... I am leaving town around 4:30 am on the 3rd so I may be unable to attend the ISU game. There is my disclaimer. Thanks.

[theshadow]

Not on TV = More butts at JTS for a Thursday night.

Which is why any TV announcement needs to be made as late as possible, preferably only a week ahead of time.

[cyclones500]

I will tune in to watch Indiana but only if Towson is handing them a beatdown. That would be too funny to avoid watching.

That would be worth seeing

Go Towson!

[tejasclone]

Maybe true but being on TV holds more value for Iowa State.

And for out-of-state alumni who can't make the 1000-mile drive for a Thursday night game.

[CycloneNC2015]

While we all love to think nobody cares about Indiana, Minnesota, or even MTSU, the reality is there are probably more viewers interested in those teams than ISU vs NIU. Its all about advertising dollars and all of those schools have much larger population bases, while they may not all be fans, it means advertisers will be getting their commercials run in cities like Minneapolis, Indianapolis, and Memphis. Sorry to rain on anybody's parade but its likely there are more people living in those cities than there are ISU fans total. Des Moines is not a market that can compete with any of those on any level.