Northern Illinois Football is BACK
by Mike Breese on Nov 10, 2010 10:50 AM CST
in Football
Email
Print
I became an NIU fan in 2002.
I became a Huskie in 2005.
I started this blog in 2007.
I have never been prouder of this team.
Last night was just a culmination. It wasn't so much the game, but what surrounded it. The Blackout by the 18,472 fortunate fans that attended. The 1983 MAC championship team not only putting an ad in the newspaper, but also showing up in force to support this team. Garrett Wolfe attending at halftime to be honored as a Huskie legend. Being nationally televised on ESPN2.
The Toledo "curse" is over.
The team that I saw out there last night in Huskie Stadium was the team I envisioned seeing Northern Illinois become one day. It took a really long time, but the Huskies are finally over that enormous hump. Judging from what fans have witnessed this season, there is nothing that will stand in the way of the Huskies winning the MAC Championship this year. 3+ years writing this blog and my dreams have started to come true.
People want to compare this season to 2004, but it makes a lot more sense to compare it to the 2002 season.
Let's face it, the students today have no recollection of how good we were earlier in the past decade. We haven't even had a bowl win since 2004, nary a MAC Championship appearance since 2005. The 2002 season set a base for the 2003 season where we went 10-2 and beat two ranked teams.
It may not have been the same stature of a game, but last night was reminiscent of when the Huskies beat a ranked Urban Meyer-led Bowling Green team in HS. NIU looked to be the best team in the conference that year until the damn Rockets beat us in the season finale. It was more remarkable to have success back the Huskies had basically ZERO history in major college football.
Now the football team looks like it is creeping back up there with some of the great teams that have played here before. The Huskies still have an opportunity to win the MAC Championship game and be ranked at the end of the season for the first time ever. The fans have been burned multiple times with false hope, but it seems like things are starting to turn around.
GO HUSKIES!!!
21 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I WANT THAT MAC TITLE!
P.S. – I’m jealous of those who got to attend the game. The atmosphere felt electric and was loud on TV.
by NIUHuskies#1Fan on Nov 10, 2010 10:55 AM CST reply actions
It was AWESOME!
Haven’t seen all the TV coverage yet… but from the stands it appeared we got reffed (big time) and we still kicked their butts. Toledo was throwing punches, grabbing facemasks, blocks in the back, HOLDING on almost every kick off and no calls. How ’bout the false start on us that got called about 10 seconds into the play? But, to their credit our guys kept their emotions in check. What was the personal fowl for on the final extra point for Toledo? Kill was going crazy on that one.
A lot of the fans stayed to the VERY end on a school nite when the outcome was pretty clear. I thought it looked like Hopkins gave us a pretty good preview of NEXT year. Where can we get authentic NIU jerseys???!!
by niu_huskie_fan on Nov 10, 2010 11:30 AM CST up reply actions
A great article from pre-snap read
http://www.presnapread.com/get-to-know-northern-illinois/
This is normally the stuff only Huskies fans write on the message boards. My favorite part:“If you don’t know N.I.U., it’s about time to get on board. This team is for real: good enough to stand toe-to-toe with countless B.C.S. conference teams from across the nation, the Huskies are the best team in the MAC.”
thanks for the article
“N.I.U. will await the winner of Temple-Ohio — who meet on Nov. 16 "
hope that game is televised. and, will someone with a tv camera please go to Muncie on 11/20.
by niu_huskie_fan on Nov 10, 2010 12:47 PM CST up reply actions
Yes and no
Here are the current East scenarios to win the Division.
Temple is in if they win out.
Ohio is in if they win out .
Miami OH is in if they win out and…
Ohio is defeated by Temple or Kent St.
by frigganjoyce on Nov 10, 2010 5:09 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks to Mike Breese for running this blog. This is an exciting time for Huskie football, and this blog is a great thing.
by MiamiHuskie on Nov 10, 2010 1:48 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
+1
Keep up the great work man! This site is awesome!….thanks for taking so much time week-in-week-out to post about NIU sports and keeping many informed!
You guys rock
Seriously, this blog would be nothing without the fans. I like how the success of the team can bring us all together!
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
by Mike Breese on Nov 11, 2010 12:12 PM CST up reply actions
Take care of business
We still have to take care of business at Ball State on the 20th.
This is a trophy game too!
Anyone that can go please do!
Great Win for a program that is on the move
The Rockets had no answer for our offense…..and you have to be excited about the young talent on this team: Kareem Daniels is exciting, Jordan Lynch looks like he’s ready to step in at QB, and we have a group of receivers that seems to get better and better each week
But, and I don’t want to be negative here, but the attendance figure was 18,500?? I expected to see 22,000. If you want to step up as a program and aid the recruiting effort, you need “more butts in the seats”…..someone help me out here, what’s the problem? I’ve said it before, this team deserves a stronger turnout
You're right
I don’t care about the argument that it was a weeknight game. We have thousands-upon-thousands of alumni in the Chicagoland area. I know that many couldn’t make it because of work and other obligations, and many simply aren’t interested in sports period. Problem is many students and alumni seem to be confused what school they go/went to and which one to root for.
Either way good showing given the circumstances. It is what it is. Lets just keep winning games and we’ll inevitably win some more support
You're right too
week night game is not much of an excuse. the schedule is posted at the beginning of the season. plenty of notice for most employers. People still make it to weekday Cubs games from DeKalb…
by niu_huskie_fan on Nov 10, 2010 7:41 PM CST up reply actions
And another thing...
Look at the roster. These players are for the most part from northern illinois. As the letter from the 1983 football team pointed out, 3 guys on the team are from Dekalb county (1 is a starter). I mean, really, why root for the Bears, with players from all over the country when kids from your own backyard are playing awesome ball in Dekalb? Elburn, St Charles, Batavia, Geneva, Roscoe, Cary, Rockford… all easy driving distance. I pay as much for season tickets for 5 home games as I have paid to see the Bears ONCE!
yes, the Bears have beer… but I couldn’t afford it after tickets and parking. Part of me doesn’t want the world to discover this secret… because the ticket prices will go up. :-)
But, um, the Trib posted the coaches salaries in Illinois last weekend… and Zook makes alot more than Jerry (4x)… so, maybe it was a good thing we DIDN’T beat the Illini… remember how we got our current coach… it was right after SIU beat us. Every body send Jerry a card. Better get that attendance up… or we’re gonna loose that coach.
A Fan's secret
http://www.partycity.com/product/giant+plastic+horn+14+3-4in.do?sortby=ourPicks&size=all&from=Search
LOL i bought 4 of these and handed them out at the game. These little suckers are LOUD! I watched the replay and u can totally hear these bad boys.
oh and they’re available in red ;)
I heard you
was walking past the Yordin center about 5:15…didn’t hear you at the game though, will listen on TV
by niu_huskie_fan on Nov 10, 2010 10:12 PM CST up reply actions
Vote for Jake Coffman
The story is on HuskieWire but here’s the link to vote for Jake!!
http://www.seniorclassaward.com/vote/football_2010/
N-I-Who? You F***ing heard me.
I'm really proud too
That game was really special. I believe in these kids. They will win the MAC.
And the Big 10 will definitely have a bowl eligible team in the Pizza Bowl this year.
That’s awesome. And I tell you all what, NIU can take whatever 6-6 Big 10 team they send us. But I know, cart before the horse. Let’s take care of biz first.
Oh, I imagine NIU will handle a 6-6 Big Ten squad this year
or any opponent in the postseason, for that matter.
Beat Northwestern, Michigan, and Indiana, THEN I'll talk Wisconsin in the BCS. But not until that happens.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Nov 12, 2010 5:19 PM CST up reply actions
Love that Photo
Those poor Silverettes. How many kicks did they do?
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
