I said before the game I thought it would be a poor decision not to play all the starters for at least a portion of the game. There was so little positive or momentum gained out of this game it doesn't help us going into the Championship game to have called such a conservative game and watch the team down 21-7 halfway in the 2nd qtr and 35-7 early in the 2nd half.

There was so little to be positive about that I don't see how this helped us for our most important game of the season on Dec. 4. Somebody tell me how this helped us.

Your starting QB will be healthier for the most important game of the season. The game isn’t for 10 days, what kind of momentum are you going to be riding? NIU lost by 50 against Michigan earlier in the year and won 5 in a row right after. The last time they won the MAC, they lost the last two regular season games of the year.

Ham has two weeks to coach these guys up. The Dogs will be ready to go.

We need everybody there. Let’s go Huskie Nation. Time to turn up.

(11-23-2021 10:47 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  I said before the game I thought it would be a poor decision not to play all the starters for at least a portion of the game. There was so little positive or momentum gained out of this game it doesn't help us going into the Championship game to have called such a conservative game and watch the team down 21-7 halfway in the 2nd qtr and 35-7 early in the 2nd half.

There was so little to be positive about that I don't see how this helped us for our most important game of the season on Dec. 4. Somebody tell me how this helped us.

This was the only game I could get to this year in person, so I was disappointed that the starters didn’t play. BUT it also gives a huge edge that the other team won’t have come the championship so I’m also 100% fine with the call. This game meant nothing. Next week is for all the marbles. It was a strategic no brainer. We’re not deep. So when they take those starters out, we get housed. But I would rather get housed in this game than the MACC.

Excellent logic. Good luck to the PigDogs in Detroit!

Normally momentum is over rated. But the crutch we have used all season - “every one on this team is a freshman who weighs 150lbs and has never played football before” might be the one time a bad performance could carry over. If this team is as young as people said when it was a convenient excuse, it may matter.

Huskies I am sure exceeded all our expectations. In Rocky and Hammock I trust. Last MACC game I was at was vs Kent St with Lynch on the Orange Bowl ream. Hoping this cardiac team bring their best. I feel they need that “Edge”to compete.

What does the RB depth chart look like heading into the title game?

I saw Richie on the sidelines without crutches. Anyone hear anything about him for the MACC?

(11-24-2021 09:07 AM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  I saw Richie on the sidelines without crutches. Anyone hear anything about him for the MACC?

I thought he was using crutches when they introduced the seniors?

It sucks we lost. Who knows what would have happened but for that fumble on the first Huskie drive.

That, essentially, was the first pre-season game of the 2022 season. And I have no problem with that. I think a lot of guys played, and coach "got a lot of film" on guys which will help greatly in planning your recruiting.

Now we can focus back on this season and winning the MAC Championship.

I hope the guys who got hurt last night -- hope none were serious and they can heal up. I saw Lippe go down once, and also Cox. That concerns me. But, as I said, hope it was nothing serious and they can come back near full strength.

(11-24-2021 09:15 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-24-2021 09:07 AM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  I saw Richie on the sidelines without crutches. Anyone hear anything about him for the MACC?

I thought he was using crutches when they introduced the seniors?

Ritchie was definitely on crutches when he was introduced before the game for Senior Night

Didn’t make it in the stadium in time for that. So not looking good for Detroit for him. Hope he can get healed up before whatever bowl we play in and can finish out his career here on the field.

(11-24-2021 09:38 AM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  

(11-24-2021 09:15 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-24-2021 09:07 AM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  I saw Richie on the sidelines without crutches. Anyone hear anything about him for the MACC?

I thought he was using crutches when they introduced the seniors?

Ritchie was definitely on crutches when he was introduced before the game for Senior Night

The crutches were a prop for our MAC East opponent to see.
Don’t tell anyone.

(11-24-2021 09:55 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(11-24-2021 09:38 AM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  

(11-24-2021 09:15 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-24-2021 09:07 AM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  I saw Richie on the sidelines without crutches. Anyone hear anything about him for the MACC?

I thought he was using crutches when they introduced the seniors?

Ritchie was definitely on crutches when he was introduced before the game for Senior Night

The crutches were a prop for our MAC East opponent to see.
Don’t tell anyone.

lol

A. Brown looked good again.

Ference can be a weapon if needed.

More players got a chance to play and show their strengths and weaknesses.

Agreed that Hammock was super conservative. Example: Midfield just under 2 minutes before half and he calls 2 runs means he just wanted to protect the freshman QB.

We decided to leave at that point and go watch in warm bar. Just felt like it wasn't a real meaningful game. (Sorry seniors)


Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

while last night was disappointing I agree with resting Rocky... if he would've gotten hurt we would have no chance in Detroit. While the defense was disappointing and a couple key guys appeared to get injured, I still like our chances in the championship. It will most likely be a shootout as our defense just isn't there yet.

(11-24-2021 09:46 AM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  Didn’t make it in the stadium in time for that. So not looking good for Detroit for him. Hope he can get healed up before whatever bowl we play in and can finish out his career here on the field.

He wasn't only on crutches, he was also in a big cast. This happened over three weeks ago---what about the visual---from the moment he came back out of the locker room in a cast to last night doesn't scream broken ankle???

His college career is done.

These kids don’t need much to get motivated. Hammock was coaching just as hard last night as he has all season. All year people have said we aren’t getting experience for the back up qb. Now he has a game under his belt. Would have been nice to win and beat WMU but they’ll be ready for Miami or Kent st.

Quote:I said before the game I thought it would be a poor decision not to play all the starters for at least a portion of the game.

If your true frosh+skinny QB was out-of-the-gates good (like some can be, albeit mistakes) -- what they did was OK.

But they obviously knew he wasn't set. If Rocky's arm/hand was off, fine -- play conservatively. I thought they'd put him in since he wasn't in a suit and tie on the sidelines.

Play them, put the other in on a series, feel him out, etc. That kinda stuff. NIU had to know WMU was going to go Full-Hog on them due to not beating anyone in the West yet, and due for it + it being a good sweet one in DeKalb (unless NIU was having a horrible year). Add to that, NIU never won a game outside UofM+FCS in double-digits (nor lost prior) -- so your HC had to know that ANY sacrifice would tip it the other way at least (unless playing BG; or Akron non-mid-season with new QB good; or Ohio early season).

Overall, hey, it motivates you guys to beat Miami or Kent (revenge) -- I can see that POV. You guys would rather lose to Us (which kinda was knocking on the door due to our under-performances VS you guys squeezing out so many wins in the opposite direction) than to Kent/Miami.

But still, shoulda played Rocky managing the general game, playing it cautiously -- and putting the frosh in here and there.