Glen Krupica is a 1982 graduate of NIU. He also happens to be the executive director of the Independence Bowl held in Shreveport, La.

On Wednesday, the MAC and the Independence Bowl announced a one-year agreement, giving the conference a fifth guaranteed bowl. On Wednesday, Krupica took some time out of his busy day to talk about the workings of selecting a team.

Northern Star: Has the MAC signed a one-year deal with your bowl?

Glen Krupica: Yes, for this year’s game. It will be a MAC team and Big 12 team.

NS: Has NIU Athletics Director Jim Phillips been spearheading this project with MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst?

GK: Jim has been very aggressive. The MAC has a lot of good teams. They have a lot to offer in terms of good competition. There’s an outstanding tradition at these schools, and they’ve showed they can play in the last couple of years. We know the MAC participant will be a formidable opponent.

NS: What is more attractive about NIU to bowl committees this year as opposed to last year?

GK: Last year, NIU was the odd guy out in the numbers game with a 10-2 record. The system wasn’t right to them.

NS: What makes a team attractive to your bowl committee?

GK: We want a school that is eager to come and enjoy the experience. Schools who have an enthusiastic program and provide the most competition in our match-up are what we want. Close games mean good TV ratings. How teams finish out their season is also a factor.

NS: When it comes down to it, who would you rather have: NIU, Toledo or Miami-Ohio?

GK: Individually, Toledo and NIU have an advantage in player talent. However, NIU is a bigger market to the media, and we’ll take that into consideration.

The Silicon Valley Bowl

When: Tuesday, Dec. 28

Where: San Jose, California

Distance from DeKalb: 2,108 miles; 32.5 hours

2004 conference ties: MAC vs. WAC

Bowl History: The Silicon Valley Football Classic really isn’t much of a classic. The inaugural game was in 2000 in which Air Force beat Fresno State. That first game has set the precedent for close games in this bowl. All four games in its history have resulted in a win of no more than nine points by a team. Fresno State has played in all four contests, winning two of the four. Many college football experts have Fresno playing in the bowl for a fifth consecutive year.

The Independence Bowl

When: Tuesday, Dec. 28

Where: Shreveport, Louisiana

Distance from DeKalb: 891 miles; 14 hours

2004 conference ties: MAC vs. Big 12

Bowl History: The Independence Bowl played its first game on Dec. 13, 1976. The bowl was named in honor of the 200th anniversary of the United States and to the men and women who had fought for the country’s freedom. In 1981 the first Division-1A teams competed in the bowl. That game pitted two storied rivals in Texas A&M and Oklahoma State.