Christmas break is over. Some students replenished their bank accounts while others caught up on some much needed sleep.

Unless you avoided campus the last three weeks of the semester, this was no ordinary Christmas. Huskie fans had a reason to watch this year’s bowl season.

Although the trip to the Silicon Valley Football Classic was a momentous occasion for NIU, one big question was raised: Were the Huskies really one of the nation’s darlings last year?

NIU had seen the coverage of a major conference school as well as a public outcry over the Huskies not receiving a bowl bid in 2003. Yet, when vindication came just one year later, the national media was, at best, lackluster in their coverage.

NIU’s game against Troy was ranked the third worst bowl matchup by colegefootballnews.com., despite the game featuring the nation’s fourth best running duo in Garrett Wolfe and A.J. Harris against the nation’s seventh best rush defense.

Another reason for such a low ranking could have been the game’s late kick-off. Game time was set for 8 p.m. in San Jose, Calif.

This meant coverage wouldn’t begin until 10 p.m. in Illinois. Even as late as 11 p.m. in Troy’s home, Alabama.

This scheduling mishap was, at best, a mistake. A decent portion of each schools’ alumni probably weren’t even able to stay awake past the first quarter.

Not even Mother Nature wanted to watch this Silicon Valley Classic – evident after the storm the citizens of San Jose experienced.

The storm knocked out power earlier that afternoon, and also struck deep into the hearts of the football fans.

No severe damage was caused except to an ESPN2 truck covering the game. All power was lost, forcing a replacement generator and an even later start to the game.

Just when it seemed things were worked out and the feed was returned, NIU fans were able to see Troy march down and score. ESPN2 then experienced more technical difficulties while the Huskies offense took the field.

Coverage came back for good just in time for NIU to punt and Troy to score again.

As if this wasn’t bad enough for Huskie fans, ESPN2 sent out their B team of analysts. During the entire game, Pam Ward and Mike Tomzack pronounced players’ names differently.

Even Rece Davis, in ESPN’s Game Break Bowl Update studio, had his pronunciation problems – forgetting to include the “L” in DeKalb.

Perhaps this is just a case of the Huskies paying their dues; One final step toward becoming a mid-major giant.