10:34PM EST December 2. 2012 - On ESPN's BCS selection special Sunday night, analyst Kirk Herbstreit called Northern Illinois' Orange Bowl berth "a sad state for college football." Herbstreit then called the Huskies' inclusion in the BCS a "joke." NIU lost to Iowa, Herbstreit said, and Iowa's the worst team in the Big Ten.
"I love MAC football, but to put them in the BCS is an absolute joke to the rest of those teams that are more deserving," Herbstreit said. "I can't believe we're even having this discussion."
In response, and as caught on an ESPN camera set up at the Huskies' watch party, an NIU player – quarterback Jordan Lynch – threw an orange at the television.
It hit the mark, just like every other throw Lynch has made over the Huskies' 12-game winning streak.
MAC TO THE BCS: Northern Illinois becomes first MAC team to earn BCS bid
"The fact that Northern Illinois is in the BCS in 2012 is really a sad state for college football and where we are in the current system," Herbstreit said. "Thank goodness we're moving toward a new system in 2014.
"They don't deserve to be in the BCS this year. Are you kidding me with Northern Illinois playing in the BCS? Northern Illinois, no one knew they were playing until the Toledo game a few weeks ago. You're going to leave Oklahoma out to put Northern Illinois into a BCS bowl game? Are you kidding me?"
Herbstreit's comments on NIU have been echoed by those who feel that adding an at-large team at the expense of a team like Oklahoma makes a mockery of the current postseason system. This just in: The BCS itself is the mockery, not the team that earned a BCS berth by finishing in the top 16 of the final standings. There's a reason why the BCS is getting tossed aside in favor of a four-team playoff.
Asked about Herbstreit's comments, new NIU coach Rod Carey said, "That's the great thing about college football and the way the system we're in right now works: Everybody gets an opinion. And every opinion deserves its time. And that's fine. I think we're in the opinion business right now.
"All I know is we're really excited to be in this game, in such a tradition-rich bowl. And against Florida State, what an unbelievable program. Great exposure for our university."
Asked if his team might have a chip on its shoulder, Carey said, "You're in the MAC, every kid in his conference plays with a chip on his shoulder because they were told that they weren't good enough. That's consistent."
Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2012/12/02/herbstreit-espn-northern-illinois-bcs/1741751/