By Woodrow Carroll
By halftime in the University Illinois’ 47-14 victory over visiting Northwestern University (NU) in Champaign Saturday, Nov. 27, the Illini already had scored more points than in any game this season.
Illinois led Northwestern 37-7 at halftime. Prior to the game, the top Illinois total by Illinois this season was 30 points, scored twice, in a 30-22 victory against Nebraska to open the season and in a 37-30 loss to Texas-San Antonio in game two.
Illinois, 5-7 overall and 4-5 in the Big Ten Conference, harbored thoughts of a bowl invitation. Sadly, from the Illini standpoint, there were enough six-victory teams to fill all the bowl slots.
Playing in their finals seasons for Illinois were seniors Doug Kramer, from Hinsdale Central, and Kendall Smith, from Bolingbrook.
Kramer, the center, 6-2 and 305 pounds, will be in line for postseason honors. He played in 48 games in four years. Smith, 6-1 and 200 pounds, received honors for special teams.
Illinois ended a six-game losing streak against Northwestern. Four field goals by Illinois’ James McCourt, three at the end of the second quarter and one early in the third quarter, made the score 40-7 and effectively wrapped up an Illinois victory.
Northwestern, 3-9, and 1-8, will enter next season on a six-game losing streak. The Wildcats were defending Big Ten West champions. Rather quickly this season it became obvious the Wildcats would not defend their divisional championship.
First-year Illinois head coach Bret Bielema still has his work cut out.
The crowd for the Northwestern game was 27,624 and, the nice finish to this season notwithstanding, attracting good numbers at the gate in the future will be a challenge.
• If there is such a thing as a painless defeat Northern Illinois suffered it last week.
Playing host to Western Michigan, the Northern Illinois Huskies dropped a 42-21 decision to the Broncos in the MAC (Mid-American Conference). Already assured a berth in the 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 MAC championship game in Detroit, the Huskies trailed 28-7 at halftime and never recovered.
Western Michigan’s roster was loaded with Illinois products, 23 players for the Broncos from Illinois hometowns. It is not surprising, given Western Michigan’s recent history.
Tim Lester is in his fourth season as Broncos’ head coach. He played at Wheaton Warrenville South before going on to play quarterback for Western Michigan.
Prior to Lester as head coach, it was P.J. Fleck who called the shots for the Broncos. A Kaneland and Northern Illinois product, Fleck coached Western Michigan four years before moving on as head coach at the University of Minnesota.
Northern Illinois will play Kent State in the MAC championship game. Kent State defeated Miami of Ohio, 48-47, in overtime Saturday, to qualify for the championship game.
Kent State defeated Northern Illinois, 52-47, during the regular season.
• Kill is in! Carey is out! In recent days, the college football scene included that former Northern Illinois head coach Jerry Kill will be the-head coach at New Mexico State. Nearly at the same time Kill was hired, former Northern Illinois head coach Rod Carey was fired by Temple.
Kill, 60, will have his work cut out for him in Las Cruces. The Aggies have struggled for many years. Health issues have plagued Kill who took the Minnesota job after leaving Northern Illinois.
Kill and present University of Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck recently exchanged barbs over the direction Minnesota football has taken. The two will meet on the field next season when Minnesota plays host to New Mexico State September 1, 2022.
Carey lasted three seasons at Temple and with a 12-20 record.
Carey’s final game at Northern Illinois was memorable! In the 2018 MAC championship game the Huskies pulled out a dramatic 30-29 comeback victory over Buffalo thanks to three late Marcus Childers’ touchdown passes to help the Huskies come back from a 29-10 deficit.