Wisconsin Pictures

70-21

The Daily Herald: For NIU, injuries piling up faster than losses

-- Ten Huskies are out for the year, including three opening-day starters and two others who likely would have started if healthy.

-- When true freshman linebacker Kyle Skarb (Lake Zurich) suffered a high ankle sprain that knocked him out for at least the Toledo game, he became the 26th Huskie on the two-deep to miss at least one contest.

-- Even if game-day decisions allow quarterback Dan Nicholson, wide receiver Britt Davis and tight end Reed Cunningham to play against Toledo, NIU will have lost a total of 97 man-games to injury.

-- At Thursday's practice, nine players needed crutches to hobble out to Huskie Stadium's east sideline to support their teammates. Seven other Huskies wore yellow jerseys signifying their unavailability due to injury.

The Aurora Beacon: Difficult scheduling has led to trying seasons for MAC teams

With the expansion of schedules to 12 games in college football, Novak thinks MAC coaches and administrators need to be careful with their scheduling of multiple opponents from Bowl Championship Series conferences.

"I hate to see Central Michigan getting beat 70-14 by Clemson at this point in the season and (Central is) winning our (division)," said Novak.

"As a league, we are going to have a hard time getting teams eligible for bowls," said Novak, "we're killing ourselves a little bit here. I told our (league) athletic directors in May, all we're gonna do is turn coaches over every five years (scheduling like this)."

NORTHERN ILLINOIS(1-7) at TOLEDO (3-5)

When: Saturday, Oct 27 @ 6:00 p.m. CT

TV: No TV

Radio: WCKG-FM 105.9 and WLBK-AM 1360

NIU Live: Wednesday at 10pm - WSCR-AM 670

Inside Huskie Sports: Thursday at 5pm - CSN Chicago

GAMEDAY:

Toledo, OH Weather

Northern Illinois Weekly Release and Depth Chart

Toledo Weekly Release and Depth Chart

NORTHERN ILLINOIS FACTS:

Location: DeKalb, IL

Founded: 1895

Enrollment: 25,208

Nickname: Huskies

Colors: Cardinal and Black

Conference: Mid-American Conference

Stadium: Huskie Stadium (1965)

Capacity: 24,000

First Year of Football: 1899

All Time Football Record: 487-440-50

All Time vs Toledo: 7-27

Last meeting (2006 at NIU): Toledo 17-13

Coach: Joe Novak (62-73 at NIU)

TOLEDO FACTS:

Location: Toledo, OH

Founded: 1872

Enrollment: 19,374

Nickname: Rockets

Colors: Blue and Gold

Conference: Mid-American Conference

Stadium: Glass Bowl (1937)

Capacity: 26,248

First Year of Football: 1917

All Time Football Record: 455-374-24

Coach: Tom Amstutz (53-30 at Toledo)

TOLEDO LINKS:

Football Website

Roster

Schedule/Results

Season Statistics

The Chicago Tribune: Badgers get well fast at Huskies' expense
- NIU will suffer 1st losing season since '99

It took just six seconds, however, for the start of a major rewrite. That's when Huskies backup freshman running back Ricky Crider stayed down on the field after Wisconsin received the opening kickoff. He was taken away via ambulance with a broken leg, the latest in a mind-numbing series of NIU injuries.

He's (Nicholson) one of about a dozen starters who have missed at least one game this season, and the NIU defensive line is so decimated it ended Saturday's game playing 220-pound freshman defensive end Mike Lepper and Dan Keller, an offensive lineman a month ago, at defensive tackle.

"It has been unusual," Novak said of the injuries.

The Chicago Tribune: NIU 2-minute drill

Getting offensive: NIU really was offensive, rushing for minus-13 yards, partly because of 24 yards in sacks. Matt Simon's 86 yards on four receptions furnished the bulk of the Huskies' yardage.

On the defense: A rare bright spot for Northern Illinois was linebacker Cory Hanson's late-first-half interception, which came after defensive end Larry English forced the Badgers' Tyler Donovan to hurry a pass.

The number: 1. Number of Wisconsin punts.

They're still talking about: P.J. Hill's first-quarter 72-yard touchdown run. The burly 227-pound running back almost fell down after making a spin move but regained his balance.

Sick bay: NIU running back Ricky Crider broke his leg.

Audible: Wisconsin fullback Chris Pressley, who had carried the ball one time this season, ran five times for 31 yards and got his first career touchdown.

Looking ahead: Northern Illinois plays Saturday at Toledo.

The Rockford Register Star: Huskies licking wounds after worst loss in 9 years

Justin Anderson, the nation’s ninth leading rusher with five straight 100-yard games for the Huskies, had 14 yards on 13 carries. Wisconsin gained 331 yards on 55 carries, compared to minus 13 yards on 18 carries for Northern Illinois.

The Huskies also lost running back Ricky Crider on the game’s first play when he broke his left leg covering the kickoff and was taken off in an ambulance. Northern Illinois has had 13 starters and 20 players on the depth chart miss at least one game due to injury. Eight of those are out for the season.

Western Michigan Pictures

NORTHERN ILLINOIS (1-6) at WISCONSIN (5-2)

When: Saturday, Oct 20 @ 11:00 a.m. CT

Where: Camp Randall Stadium

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: WSCR-AM 670 and WLBK-AM 1360

NIU Live: Wednesday at 10pm - WSCR-AM 670

Inside Huskie Sports: Thursday at 5pm - CSN Chicago

TICKETS:

We have some tickets available ($40 each). Let me know if you know of anyone that is interested.

GAMEDAY:

Parking Information: Single game parking for football is available for purchase from lots with availability on a first come, first served basis on the day of the game only. Patrons will pay the lot attendant as they enter the lot. These lots will be determined once the season begins, however, there usually is availability in lot 34 ($10 – Porter Boathouse area), lot 29 ($15 – ramp at the northeast corner of Park St. and Regent St.), and lot 60 ($2 – near UW Hospital on Walnut, $4 roundtrip shuttle service provided as well).

Parking Map

Directions from DeKalb

Seating Chart

Camp Randall Stadium

Madison, WI Weather

Northern Illinois Weekly Release and Depth Chart

Wisconsin Weekly Release and Depth Chart

TAILGATING:

Fatty's Ulitmate Tailgate at Wisconsin. It is $40 per person.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS FACTS:

Location: DeKalb, IL

Founded: 1895

Enrollment: 25,208

Nickname: Huskies

Colors: Cardinal and Black

Conference: Mid-American Conference

Stadium: Huskie Stadium (1965)

Capacity: 24,000

First Year of Football: 1899

All Time Football Record: 487-438-50

All Time vs Wisconsin: 1-9

Last meeting (2002 at Wisconsin): Wisconsin 24-21

Coach: Joe Novak (62-71 at NIU)

WISCONSIN FACTS:

Location: Madison, WI

Founded: 1849

Enrollment: 41,480

Nickname: Badgers

Colors: Cardinal and White

Conference: Big Ten

Stadium: Camp Randall Stadium (1917)

Capacity: 80,321

First Year of Football: 1889

All Time Football Record: 593-453-53

Coach: Bret Bielema (17-2 at Wisconsin)

WISCONSIN LINKS:

Football Website

Roster

Schedule/Results

Season Statistics

The Chicago Tribune: NIU resourceful —but remorseful
- Huskies pull out all stops, to no avail

The Chicago Tribune: NIU 2-minute drill

Getting offensive: Justin Anderson's 129 net yards gave him five straight 100-yard games, and receiver Matt Simon's 160 gave him three 100-yard games in the last four.

On the defense: Defensive end Larry English had 1 1/2 sacks to give him 8 1/2 for the season. His 21 1/2 sacks are two behind school record-holder Scott Kellar.

The number: 1. Third-down conversions out of 13 chances

They're still talking about: Coaches opening up the playbook for direct snaps to the tailback, fake punts, end-arounds, flanker-option passes, a semi-Statue of Liberty and a hook-and-ladder.

Sick bay: The list of injured starters is nearing double digits. Center Eddie Adamski, who had not missed a snap all season, missed the second half with a shoulder injury.

Audible: Pooch punts by Western Michigan kicker Mike Jones twice in the second half buried Northern Illinois inside its 10-yard line.

Looking ahead: Wisconsin will be the fourth road game in a stretch of five of six away from home, and the Badgers will be surly after consecutive losses at the hands of Illinois and Penn State.

The Rockford Register Star: NIU still winless in conference play

“We’ve been awful in the red zone. It’s been ridiculous this year,” Huskies head coach Joe Novak said. “That’s been the story of the season — not making plays when we need to.”

HOMECOMING...

WESTERN MICHIGAN (2-4) at NORTHERN ILLINOIS (1-5)

When: Saturday, Oct 13 @ 3:00 p.m. CT

Where: Huskie Stadium

TV: Comcast SportsNet Chicago

Radio: WSCR-AM 670 and WLBK-AM 1360

NIU Live: Wednesday at 10pm - WSCR-AM 670

Inside Huskie Sports: Thursday at 5pm - CSN Chicago

GAMEDAY:

DeKalb Weather

Northern Illinois Weekly Release and Depth Chart

Western Michigan Weekly Release and Depth Chart

TAILGATING:

Tailgating (Cardinal) Lot opens at 10:00 a.m.
General lots open at 11:30 a.m.
We're meeting at Fatty's by 9:45. Fatty's will have breakfast starting at 8:00 in case anyone wants to meet earlier.
If you're not meeting us at Fatty's, use the Parking Map and find us in the Cardinal Lot.

POST GAME:

Fatty's will have Trippin Billies (Dave Matthews Tribute Band) performing at their Outdoor Tent Party after the game.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS FACTS:

Location: DeKalb, IL

Founded: 1895

Enrollment: 25,208

Nickname: Huskies

Colors: Cardinal and Black

Conference: Mid-American Conference

Stadium: Huskie Stadium (1965)

Capacity: 24,000

First Year of Football: 1899

All Time Football Record: 487-438-50

All Time vs Western Michigan: 11-21

Last meeting (2006 at WMU): WMU 16-14

Coach: Joe Novak (62-71 at NIU)

WESTERN MICHIGAN FACTS:

Location: Kalamazoo, MI

Founded: 1903

Enrollment: 24,481

Nickname: Broncos

Colors: Brown and Gold

Conference: Mid-American Conference

First Year of Football: 1905

All Time Football Record: 494-386-24

Coach: Bill Cubit (17-13 at Western Michigan)

WESTERN MICHIGAN LINKS:

Football Website

Roster

Schedule/Results

Season Statistics

News

The Rockford Register Star: NIU mines Public League “pipeline”

“The Public League is like a family,” said Phil Brown, an NIU linebacker from Chicago Morgan Park. “We are underfunded. We don’t have a lot of facilities. We attend all camps together. Therefore, we form an alliance.”

It’s all-for-one and one-for-all in the Chicago Public League. That’s bad for Illinois basketball. And good for NIU football, which gets a hearty thumb’s up from Public Leaguers.

CAN IT GET ANY WORSE?

The Chicago Sun-Times: It's Temple of gloom for NIU

Temple snapped an eight-game losing streak and picked up its first-ever Mid-American Conference victory by slipping past Northern Illinois 16-15 on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Chicago Tribune: Late field goal beats struggling Huskies
-Missed extra points costly as NIU stays winless in league

With backup quarterback Ryan Morris in the game for injured starter Dan Nicholson, Anderson gained 68 of his 163 rushing yards on the Huskies seven-play, 95-yard drive that put NIU ahead for the first time in the second half. But after the score, NIU kicker Chris Nendick missed his second extra point of the game, and Northern Illinois' lead was just two.

The Chicago Tribune: Huskies 2-minute drill

Getting offensive: Justin Anderson has rushed for more than 150 yards in four straight games.

On the defense: Junior Chase Carter recorded his second interception and is the only Huskie with interception-return yards with 120.

The number: 2. Number of missed extra points by Chris Nendick, which allowed Temple to post its one-point victory.

They're still talking about: The fact that the Owls, who had been 4-47 since 2003, were able to snap an eight-game losing streak.

Sick bay: Quarterback Dan Nicholson left the game with an injury.

Audible: Northern Illinois did not allow a first-quarter score for the fourth time this season.

Looking ahead: Next Saturday is a Mid-American West matchup at home at 3 p.m. against Western Michigan.

The Chicago Tribune: Owls vow to give extra effort vs. NIU

The real opponent for the Huskies, however, simply may be themselves. Turnovers continue to dictate outcomes of games and Northern Illinois has not been able to force turnovers to offset the giveaways.

The Chicago Sun-Times: Wolfe understudy Anderson emerges as the next run in line

The more things change for the Northern Illinois coach, the more they stay the same.

Since junior Montel Clanton went down with a season-ending knee injury in the Huskies' second game, sophomore Justin Anderson has stepped up and shouldered the load. He appears more than capable of extending the program's streak of 1,000-yard rushers to nine.

Anderson has rushed for 168, 167 and 157 yards the last three weeks and leads the team with 573. That projects to 1,375 yards for the season. He also leads the Huskies in scoring (five touchdowns) and all-purpose yards (748) and is tied for the lead with 23 catches.

Rockford Register Star: Huskies searching for rhythm, second win

“We are not angry as a team. We know that we are better than 1-4. We just know that we need to make some corrections,” cornerback Chase Carter said. “Once we put everything together, we will be on track for our next win.”

NORTHERN ILLINOIS(1-4) at TEMPLE (0-5)

When: Saturday, Oct 6 @ 12:00 a.m. CT

TV: No TV

Radio: WSCR-AM 670 and WLBK-AM 1360

NIU Live: Wednesday at 10pm - WSCR-AM 670

Inside Huskie Sports: Thursday at 5pm - CSN Chicago

GAMEDAY:

Philadelphia, PA Weather

Northern Illinois Weekly Release and Depth Chart

Temple Weekly Release and Depth Chart

NORTHERN ILLINOIS FACTS:

Location: DeKalb, IL

Founded: 1895

Enrollment: 25,208

Nickname: Huskies

Colors: Cardinal and Black

Conference: Mid-American Conference

Stadium: Huskie Stadium (1965)

Capacity: 24,000

First Year of Football: 1899

All Time Football Record: 487-437-50

All Time vs Temple: 2-0

Last meeting (2006 at NIU): NIU 43-21

Coach: Joe Novak (62-70 at NIU)

TEMPLE FACTS:

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Founded: 1884

Enrollment: 34,000

Nickname: Owls

Colors: Cherry and White

Conference: Mid-American Conference (Football Only)

Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field (2003)

Capacity: 68,532

First Year of Football: 1894

All Time Football Record: 388-522-52

Coach: Al Golden (1-11 at Temple)

TEMPLE LINKS:

Football Website

Roster

Schedule/Results

Season Statistics