Future Ti-Cat Going (BCS) Bowlin'

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats selected a number of futures with their 2012 draft picks. Of those futures, two went to NCAA schools: Northern Illinois safety Courtney Stephen and Boise State defensive lineman Michael Atkinson. Both of those teams will participate in bowl games this season, but only one will play.

Atkinson's Boise State Broncos will take on the Washington Huskies in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 22. But fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the future Ti-Cat will be unable to since Atkinson was lost for the year with an ACL injury a month ago.

But people who want to see Stephen play will get to do so and get to watch him play in one of the big bowls. Stephen's Northern Illinois Huskies will take on the Florida State Seminoles in the Orange Bowl in Miami on January 1.

For those that aren't aware, the Orange Bowl is one of the big BCS (Bowl Championship Series) bowls and NIU playing in it is a big deal. The Huskies won the MAC (Mid-American Conference) championship on Friday night in double overtime over the Kent State Golden Flashes. Northern Illinois, which finished their season at 12-1, is the first MAC team to play in a BCS bowl.

Stephen is expected to be in Tiger-Cat training camp next year, so if you want to see what a future Tiger-Cat looks like, tune in to the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.