BOWL-ELIGIBLE. Friday night is supposed to be for high school football, but around the Mid-American it's an opportunity for teams to get a bit of exposure on ESPN-U. It has nothing to do with money. The traveling circus and ratings grab came to DeKalb this evening, for Mid-American West Division winner Central Michigan to officially oust last year's West Division champion. The Huskies, however, had the incentive to pick up a sixth win so as to become bowl-eligible. Yes, bowls are looking at also-rans in the mid-majors. It has nothing to do with money. The local favorites did win the game, 31-10, and yes, the radio announcers were speculating about Christmas week bowl possibilities.

The athletic department used the game as an opportunity to thank donors Jeffrey and Kimberly Yordon for $2.5 million to complete the computer lab atop the locker room, which will hereafter be known as the Jeffrey and Kimberly Yordon Academic and Athletic Performance Center. (Northern Illinois is therefore not in the position of holding a mortgage on an athletic facility that might turn into a New Haven Railroad bond, which is desirable in light of the overhang of deferred maintenance on the buildings it has mortgaged against state revenue bonds.)