The Daily Herald: NIU in a 'must-win' conference battle

It's still September. That's right, September. But Joe Novak already has pulled out the "must-win" card.

He believes Northern Illinois must win today's game at preseason Mid-American Conference favorite Central Michigan or fall out of West division contention.

"If we want to be in the MAC race, it's bigger for us than them," Novak said. "I don't see anybody winning it with 2 (losses)."

The Naperville Sun: NIU facing LeFevour, Central Michigan
- Benet grad can run as well as pass

"He was the real key to their football team last year," Novak said of the 6-foot-3-inch, 226-pounder. "He certainly can throw it but the thing that scares you is he runs well, too. The biggest play we gave up last year (in a 31-10 win) was to him scrambling out of the pocket."

Central Michigan Life: Huskies hold edge over CMU
- Northern Illinois brings nine-game win streak to Kelly/Shorts

"We've been lucky," said NIU coach Joe Novak, who boasts a 9-1 record against CMU. "Every game in Mount Pleasant, even when we've been able to come out a winner, has been a battle and a real close football game."

CMU has not beaten the Huskies since the first game of the 1997 season, when Dick Flynn's team won 44-10 at home.

The Chicago Sun-Times: Enroll call for Jones: He's at Cincinnati

NIU coach Joe Novak said he wasn't surprised when he learned the Cincinnati Enquirer was reporting Thursday that Jones had walked into the office of Bearcats coach Brian Kelly and told him he wanted to play there.

''It's an interesting story,'' Novak said of the saga involving the former Morgan Park star that has unfolded over the last two weeks. ''I was on the outside looking in.''

''Cincinnati is definitely a good fit for Jones,'' Novak said. ''They run the spread [offense], and Brian is a good coach.''