While simultaneously gearing up for and trying not to think about the potential carnage of this afternoon’s BGSU-Ohio State game in Columbus, I’ve got me another roundtable to fire off, courtesy the fine (or that’s what their mothers say) folks at CrossCyed, an Iowa State blog:

1. We’re about halfway through the season at this point. Have you gotten a gauge on your team’s chances this year to make noise in conference play, or is the team still a total freaking mystery?

I have no idea what BG is capable of. They seemed to hang with Wisconsin, and despite losing by 21, they also had some bad (and freshman) special teams mistakes give Wisconsin one score and set up another. A late game drive stalled on downs deep in Wisconsin territory which could have made it a seven point game with about a quarter left. Then, despite more special teams mistakes, they dug deep and pulled one out against Buffalo in 3OT, something that shouldn’t have to happen, much like the close win at FIU. The demolition at the hands of (an actually quite decent) Kent State team looked like the beginning of the end, but the defense tore Ohio U. a new one and we’re back on track. (Incidentally, OU is like the MAC’s Notre Dame… though their “return to glory” is about 45 years coming.)

So in a nutshell, this team is capable of shutting about anyone down in the MAC, but is also quite capable of not showing up at all and having an 0-for-November stretch. (Not really, because Miami(OH) is down right pathetic this season.)

2. Many of the bigger conferences such as the Big 12 and the Big 10 use a rotating schedule to determine conference games each year. What are your feelings on the current system used in your conference? Does a rotating schedule work? Has your team always caught a break?

I believe the MAC uses some kind of similar rotating schedule, though I don’t know how much rhyme or reason there is to it, since BG has switched divisions three times in eight or so years, so inter-divisional patterns haven’t had time to sort themselves out. Where BG gets screwed (much like Michigan and Ohio State) is that their “rivalry game” that makes the schedule every year is against Toledo, who is consistently in the upper edges of the conference. So they really never catch a break, and in 2004, had to play both Toledo and Northern Illinois, while I’m sure another MAC East team got a full slate of directional Michigans. But all told, I don’t think there’s any other way to do it, BG and Toledo have to be on each other’s schedules.

3. In an effort to get to know more about college football, both nationally and regionally, what have you done to expand your college football horizons? Have you caught yourself watching games from other conferences, or taking an interest in games that show up on ESPNU or Fox Sports?

I pay closer attention to some of the games I may have glossed over, especially the Fox Sports Midwest Big XII game in the afternoon, the late Pac-10 game, and whatever Big 10 fumble-rooskie ESPN2 throws on at noon on Saturday. That and I’ve caught myself reading a lot more into some of the Blogpollers sites for teams I never really thought much of before. And hell, even as a Michigan fan, MGoBlog throws out more than I ever thought I needed to know about the Wolverines!

4. What would you change about the current exposure your team gets, either on the radio, television, print, or on the internet?

The major thing I’d like to see BG and/or the MAC do is work a deal with satellite radio (Sirius, please). BG has built a decent network across Ohio, compared to how it used to be, but I live in Indianapolis and that just doesn’t cut it. I don’t need every game, but if a few could be picked up for now on satellite, that would be great. I think a lot of great strides have been made online as well, and even with whoring themselves out to play at 10pm on a Tuesday (or whatever) for ESPN2, the TV exposure has increased, too. With a bit of a better, more consistent product on the field, I think a whole lot more people would know about BG. We witnessed the start of this in ’03, I just wish the Falcons and the rest of the MAC could have kept it up.

Regardless, a miracle win in the ‘Shoe today would get them a little exposure, too, I think.

5. During last Saturday’s game against I-AA Northern Iowa, Iowa State trailed 21-7 at the half. The Cyclone Marching Band played a variety of songs from animated shows, including selections from South Park titled “Blame Canada” and “What Would Brian Boitano Do?” Needless to say, the Cyclones outscored the Panthers 21-6 in the second half. If you had to pick one song for your favorite team to rally to, what would it be? Because we all know what they did for the 2005 White Sox, Journey and “Don’t Stop Believing” are not to be considered.

I’m not enough of a big time music fan, and my brain’s locking up, too… though I hear a number of guys on the current football team recently wrote a song “Welcome to the Doyt”, which I have yet to hear, but seems like it works well enough for me!