North Central College football playoff game vs Wabash
North Central College running back Ethan Greenfield looks for room to run in the playoff game against Wabash College (Ind.) Saturday.
Harbison rushing bright spot for NIU Huskies football team
By Woodrow Carroll First-year Northern Illinois University head football coach Thomas Hammock’s season did not go as planned. A Northern Illinois University product, Hammock saw the defending MAC champion Huskies falter badly at times, especially, when so much was expected. Last week’s 45-17 loss at home to Eastern Michigan ended
Northern Illinois does not go down easily in bowl bid
By Woodrow Carroll Northern Illinois University’s football team was thrown a lifeline by the Toledo Rockets last week. The lifeline was in the form of a 31-28 road victory over the Rockets that kept Northern Illinois’ slim bowl hopes alive. Home games with Eastern Michigan Tuesday, Nov. 19 and Western
Illinois, Gophers, lead Big 10 surge
By Woodrow Carroll It can be fun to be obnoxious, for some fans, especially, when their teams, or their teams’ conferences, or their neck of the woods, are doing well. With that in mind, the Big Ten Conference football serves as an example. Although the Southeastern Conference (SEC) has three
Aurora University defeats Benedictine University to take first place
Aurora University’s Connor Olson (Woodridge/Downers Grove South High School) looks for room against Benedictine University Saturday.
Illinois defense soars, Huskies, Wildcats sore
By Woodrow Carroll The offense often receives the lion’s share of attention in football. In Saturday’s Illinois-Rutgers’ Big Ten Conference game in Champaign, it was the host Illinois defense that stood out in the 38-10 victory. Rutgers was a three-touchdown underdog, however, the Scarlet Knights forged a 10-all tie at
Northern Illinois, Illini, victories revive hopes
By Woodrow Carroll Northern Illinois University played its third home football game of the season Saturday, and, for the third time this season it rained on the Huskies’ parade. It mattered little because Northern Illinois defeated the hapless Akron Zips, 49-0, in a (Mid-American Conference (MAC) game. Northern Illinois, 3-5
Illinois, Donny Navarro, provide hope; NIU seeks a rebound
By Woodrow Carroll – Take nothing away from the University of Illinois kicker, James McCourt, whose 39-yard field goal when time expired gave the host Fighting Illini a 24-23 upset victory over heavily-favored Wisconsin Saturday. Yet, a tip of the hat is in order for Neuqua Valley High School product
Northern Illinois University escapes in football, not Illini; Fleck fine at 6-0
By Woodrow Carroll When a team falls behind 28-0, which is what the University of Illinois football team did against Michigan Saturday in Champaign, a comeback victory is asking a great deal. The Fighting Illini did stage a spirited rally to close to within three points, but Michigan settled down
Northern Illinois, University of Illinois, Northwestern, football fortunes faltering
By Woodrow Carroll Northern Illinois University has been a regular participant in football bowl games in recent years. Despite a tough non-conference schedule to include Nebraska, Iowa, and Utah among others along the way, Northern Illinois took comfort knowing that victories over Mid-American Conference foes Ball State and Eastern Michigan
Northern Illinois football team takes a break from Power Five
By Woodrow Carroll Northern Illinois University, 1-3, will play host to Ball State,1-3, at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) football opener for the each team. The game will give Northern Illinois opportunities to get back on track after losses to three Power Five teams, Utah, Nebraska, and
University of Illinois football team stumbles continue
By Woodrow Carroll For a long time Saturday it looked as though University of Illinois head coach Lovie Smith was going to pick up his fifth Big Ten Conference victory in his fourth season. Instead, Nebraska’s comeback saddled Smith with Conference defeat No. 24. Nebraska won, 42-38, in a game
Illini bowl thoughts knocked over
By Woodrow Carroll Each week various sports journals predict and project match-ups for the approximately 40 college bowl games. It is an inexact science for sure, but, a fun challenge. Victorious in its first two games, the University of Illinois had merited a mention as a bowl prospect to a
Mid-American Conference football teams fall short
By Woodrow Carroll Two weeks into the college football season, the Mid-American Conference (MAC) combined record was 10-13. Each of the 12 MAC members had played two games with the exception of Toledo, which had a bye. At first glance, a record of 10-13 doesn’t look bad, however, a closer