NIU bowl bid tinged with 'disappointment, shock' over Kill's departure
For the first time, all three Illinois schools living in the Football Bowl Subdivision possess bowl bids at the same time.
It's not quite as much of a landmark occasion as everyone might hope.
Illinois and Northwestern are relegated to the Big Ten's last two affiliations the Texas and TicketCity bowls, respectively while Northern Illinois heads to the Humanitarian Bowl after losing the MAC title game Friday and its coach Sunday.
Jerry Kill informed his players after Sunday night's team banquet that he's leaving for Minnesota.
“It's still a feeling that I really can't comprehend right now,” said NIU quarterback Chandler Harnish. “Disappointment. Shock. But we're moving on.”
Kill earned his promotion to the Big Ten, in part, by being the first coach to lead NIU to three consecutive bowl bids. The Huskies (10-3) face Fresno State (8-4) on Dec. 18 in Boise, Idaho.
“This is the game the players wanted to go to, so they're excited about it,” said NIU athletic director Jeff Compher, who could name an interim coach as soon as Monday night once Kill settles on his staff at Minnesota.
“They love the matchup. There's certainly some things we've got to work through, but I'm glad this is the bowl game we're going to be playing.”
Coincidentally, Northwestern also celebrates three straight bowl bids for the first time. The Wildcats (7-5) play on New Year's Day for the second year in a row this time against Texas Tech (7-5) at fabled Cotton Bowl Stadium.
They're still in pursuit of the program's first postseason win since the 1949 Rose Bowl.
“We get the first game of college football of 2011,” said NU coach Pat Fitzgerald. “If history has anything to do with it, the last Jan. 1 game that we were in was pretty exciting.
“We've already had a couple of practices already this week. We're getting healthier. There's no question our team is hungry for another opportunity to compete and play.”
Northwestern faces the nation's No. 8 passing attack. Texas Tech senior Tayler Potts threw for 3,357 yards and 31 TDs.
While Northwestern heads into its bowl on a two-game losing streak, Illinois (6-6) enters its Texas Bowl matchup with Baylor having lost three of its last four. Those 3 losses were by a combined 8 points.
“We're on the verge,” said Illinois coach Ron Zook. “Like I told (the players), how close are we to being 9-3? We're very, very close to being 9-3.”
While Illinois makes its fourth bowl appearance in 16 seasons, Baylor plays its first bowl game in 16 seasons.
The Bears rank 12th nationally in total offense with 478.5 yards per game. Redshirt sophomore QB Robert Griffin III ranks seventh in total offense with 315.5 yards per game.
After missing the postseason in Charlie Weis' final season, Notre Dame (7-5) earned a bowl bid in Brian Kelly's first year. The Fighting Irish meet Miami in El Paso, Texas, on New Year's Eve.