By Bobby Narang The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) made headlines, again. Monday, Aug. 24, after the Fall season started in many sports, the IHSA Board of directors held a virtual meeting which led to an approval of a modified postseason State series for boys and girls cross country, boys
By Bobby Narang The Northern Illinois University football team will have a longer wait than expected to start the season. The Mid-American Conference August 8 became the first Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conference to postpone the 2020 football season. Two days later, the Mountain West Conference followed in the MAC’s
By Bobby Narang The high school football season last week was pushed back nearly six months. The boys and girls basketball seasons are shortened, and the Spring sports took the heaviest cut in the length of their respective seasons. Those were among the many eye-opening, but badly-needed, changes to the
By Bobby Narang The Northern Illinois University (NIU) football team was dealt another blow for the Fall season last week. The Huskies were scheduled to open the season against Rhode Island September 5 at Huskie Stadium, but the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) announced it was suspending all league football games
By Bobby Narang Mike Dunn is in the next chapter in his coaching career. His next stop won’t require an introduction. Dunn stepped down from his position as Yorkville High School’s boys basketball coach July 14 to accept the head boys basketball coaching job at York High School in Elmhurst.
By Bobby Narang The Northern Illinois University (NIU) football team took a pair of losses before the season even reached August. The Huskies suffered a heavy financial loss and had two of their non-conference games dropped last week when the Big Ten Conference announced it was limiting all Fall sports
By Bobby Narang Late last week, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) released its guidelines for Phase 4 of Illinois’ reopening plans. Called the Return to Play guidelines, the IHSA allowed contact days to begin Monday. The return to play guideline is a major step for high schools throughout the
By Bobby Narang Matthew Weerts is heading out west to find his mojo. Technically, the Batavia High School soon-to-be-senior linebacker found his football mojo a long time ago. Weerts, whose nickname is “Mojo,” committed to the University of Arizona in late June. The 6-4 and 224-pounder had many offers, including
By Bobby Narang The boys basketball high school State tournament will return to Champaign. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) board of directors voted to accept the Champaign-Urbana bid to be the host for the State basketball tournament beginning with the 2020-2021 season all the way through the 2022-2023 season
By Bobby Narang The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) revealed last week the Stage 1 plan to restart sports in the Summer. Since the coronavirus pandemic led to the immediate stoppage of all high school sports in early March, right before the opening of the Class 1A and 2A state
By Bobby Narang Two-plus months after the end of the high school girls basketball season, Jason Nichols made a surprise decision that sent shock waves in the Chicago area scene. Nichols announced last week that he was stepping down from his position as head girls basketball coach at Montini Catholic
By Bobby Narang Nazareth Academy High School quarterback J.J. McCarthy made a big splash Monday. After leading the Roadrunners to a Class 7A State championship and two State second-place finish in his first three seasons, McCarthy changed course and announced Monday he was transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.,
By Bobby Narang Luke Juriga is not afraid of long odds. He was a two-star prospect coming out of Marmion Academy in Aurora, despite a solid build and National Football League (NFL) lineage. Juriga was named the 2014 Chicago Catholic League co-Offensive Player of the Year, then made redshirt his
By Bobby Narang Broc Rutter is set to prove any doubters wrong, again. After a dominating performance in leading North Central College, based in Naperville, to the Division III national championship last Fall, Rutter signed a free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers last week. “They are such a
By Bobby Narang In a way, Jordan Glasgow’s future was all mapped out for him. After all, when your two older brothers, Graham and Ryan, play standout roles at Marmion Academy in Aurora, then attend the University of Michigan as walk-on players, eventually earn scholarships, and become starters for the
By Bobby Narang Former Northern Illinois University men’s head basketball coach, Rob Judson, continues to add to an impressive coaching career. Judson completed his third season on the Marquette University staff in Milwaukee. A member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as a player at both Zion-Benton
By Bobby Narang Aurora University is taking a step forward at a time when some colleges are choosing to take a step back in athletics. In late March, the Aurora University athletic department announced it would add men’s and women’s wrestling to increase the department to 24 collegiate sports. It
By Bobby Narang Northern Illinois University head football coach Thomas Hammock is accustomed to handling tough challenges. The former Northern Illinois star running back had his stellar career cut short by a heart condition just one game into his senior season. He finished with 2,432 yards and just one of
By Bobby Narang In a two-year span, Nate Shockey established himself as one of the best players in York High School basketball history. All Shockey did was win games in his final two seasons and played a leading role on two of the best teams in program history. That’s why
By Bobby Narang Just minutes before the tipoff of Hinsdale South High School’s boys Class 3A sectional semifinal home game against Benet Academy March 12, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) canceled the rest of the basketball season due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus epidemic). Hinsdale South senior guard Billy Durkin,
