By Woodrow Carroll September 7, Northern Illinois shocked Notre Dame with a 16-14 victory, in a game that made national news. At the time, the Fighting Irish were ranked No. 5 in the polls. As you might imagine, Notre Dame took a beating in the polls after that upset loss....
Aurora University’s (AU) football Spartans are headed to the NCAA Division III football championship playoffs for the ninth time in program history and fifth consecutive season the NCAA has held a playoff. During the NCAA D-3 selection show Sunday, the Spartans received a Pool A berth as they finished the...
By Woodrow Carroll Northern Illinois’ 42-28 victory at Western Michigan last week certainly won’t be remembered to the extent of their victory over Notre Dame, earlier in the season. Yet, the victory in Kalamazoo was ever so vital to a football program that has floundered since that meeting with the...
By Woodrow Carroll Going into last Saturday’s Minnesota at Illinois’ football game, Illinois head coach, Brett Bielema, had a 10-0 lifetime record against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Seven of those victories were from when Bielema was the Wisconsin coach and the final three were a product of Bielema’s last three...
Aurora University defensive back, Quintarius Davis, runs 45 yards for a touchdown after a first-quarter interception against Benedictine University Saturday, Nov. 2.
By Woodrow Carroll The University of Illinois may belong in the Top 25 of the various collegiate football polls. What Oregon proved last Saturday, was that the Illini are not worthy of inclusion in the Top 10, of any of the polls. Oregon defeated visiting Illinois, 38-9, in what was...
Aurora University wide receiver Ty Pruett (6) and Ta'vion Geanes (3) celebrate Pruett's first-quarter touchdown against Rockford University Saturday, Oct. 19.
By Woodrow Carroll Illinois’ three major college football programs, Illinois, Northwestern and Northern Illinois, all showed a decided lack of offensive punch last Saturday. Combined the three teams scored only 30 points. Fortunately, Illinois had 21 of those points and, along with a stout defense, the Fighting Illini came away...
By Woodrow Carroll It was a rare weekend for the state of Illinois’ major college football programs when Northwestern, Northern Illinois, and Illinois each recorded victories last Friday and Saturday. And for a bonus the Chicago Bears won. What is going on? The Northwestern Wildcats (3-3 and 1-2) got things...
By Woodrow Carroll Trailing the Massachusetts Minutemen, 13-7, at halftime Saturday, Oct. 5, the Northern Illinois football team was up against it. The luster surrounding the Huskies’ upset of Notre Dame had long since faded. A shocking loss to MAC rival Buffalo was followed by a tough loss at North...
Aurora University quarterback Tyler Adkins (17) carries against Concordia Chicago defenders in Saturday, Sept. 28.
Wheaton College’s Ben Bonga (15) makes a catch under heavy defense from an Augustana defender Saturday, Sept. 21.
Aurora University quarterback Tyler Adkins (17) passes under pressure from a St. Norbert College defender Saturday, Sept. 21 in Montgomery.
By Woodrow Carroll After suffering a shocking upset at the hands of Northern Illinois University, there was a feeling that Notre Dame would be fired up when they played Purdue last Saturday at Purdue. It was true! Notre Dame (2-1) won, 66-7, and were up 42-0 at halftime. Historical note!...
Aurora University quarterback (17) looks for a receiver against North Central College Saturday, Sept. 14.
By Bobby Narang Twenty-one years after winning at Alabama, the Northern Illinois football team made national headlines again last Saturday. The Huskies, who were picked to finish in the middle of the Mid-American Conference West Division by several national publications, pulled off a shocking 16-14 win over No. 5-ranked Notre...
By Woodrow Carroll Due to a bye week, the Northern Illinois football program will have an extra week to savor their 16-14 monster upset of Notre Dame last Saturday in South Bend. The next game for Northern Illinois will be at home Saturday, Sept. 21 against Buffalo, a Mid-American Conference...
Aurora University opened football practice last week on Vago Field.
By Woodrow Carroll Last season was a good one for the Northern Illinois University football program. It finish strong and fans likely will remember the team fondly. Ten games into the 2023 schedule, Northern Illinois was 4-6 and struggling after opening the campaign with a big road victory at Boston...
By Woodrow Carroll At the conclusion of the Saturday, Dec. 23 Camellia Bowl game, you might have heard Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” emanating from the Northern Illinois University (NIU) side. Well, probably not, however, that memorable number would have fit right in given the location. The NIU Huskies defeated...
