New coach Kill brings change
March 24, 2008
By RICK ARMSTRONG RARMSTRONG@SCN1.COM
DEKALB -- Welcome to Northern Illinois.
Jerry Kill is anxious to get started but late last week wasn't pleased to see a weekend weather forecast calling for more snow.
The former Southern Illinois Univeristy football coach who took the reins from retiring Joe Novak in December, holds his first official practice at Huskie Stadium this morning at 7:30 when the NIU football team begins spring drills.
And, yes, more snow flurries are expected then, too.
"It's been different for us being indoors (for winter conditioning)," Kill said of his staff, most of which followed him from Carbondale. "We never went indoors, but they had nine inches of rain and flood warnings down there not too long ago, so their weather has been miserable, too.
"It's why we need that indoor (practice) facility)."
Full Article:
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaco...S1.article
Quote:New coach Kill brings change
But is it chage we can believe in?
Does less change with Kill vs more change with a new hire other than Kill make for any smoother a transition & increase the likelihood of greater success sooner than later ?
Is this but a pipedream & me grabbing for straws come 2008 in Minneapolis? Anyone recall instances when a first year coach turned around a d-1 football team as much as many here may expect for 2008?
My family made arrangements this weekend with outlaws in MN for Labor Day weekend.....I don't wanna be embarrassed by a sloppy performance.
Wonder how soon TBA will be replaced by a confirmed game time ? This will determine our travel plans by air or auto? No summer airfare deals foreseen and gasoline expected to be very expensive, so pick your poison.
Also wonder if SIU fans were tested by fans at away games regarding signs or chants of RoadKill?
http://www.GopherHole.com/
BTW: Did you know the state of Mn, a very left leaning state going way back , will pay 48% of the 290 million dollars to build the new stadium now underconstruction on campus?
cyberdawg Wrote:Does less change with Kill vs more change with a new hire other than Kill make for any smoother a transition & increase the likelihood of greater success sooner than later ?
Is this but a pipedream & me grabbing for straws come 2008 in Minneapolis? Anyone recall instances when a first year coach turned around a d-1 football team as much as many here may expect for 2008?
My family made arrangements this weekend with outlaws in MN for Labor Day weekend.....I don't wanna be embarrassed by a sloppy performance.
Wonder how soon TBA will be replaced by a confirmed game time ? This will determine our travel plans by air or auto? No summer airfare deals foreseen and gasoline expected to be very expensive, so pick your poison.
Also wonder if SIU fans were tested by fans at away games regarding signs or chants of RoadKill?
http://www.GopherHole.com/
http://thehole84398.yuku.com/topic/2975/...edule.html
Scroll halfway down the above thread and there is someone who says our Minny games will likely be at nite. I wouldn't mind- it's in a dome -might as well tailgate outside in the afternoon and stagger indoors when the sun goes down.
Gopherjay says:
Expect several night games again. Heard from a big birdie in the know that night games would return for next year. Indiana, Michigan at night, possibly Iowa. For non con, Northern illy and Florida Atlantic. If it means something, Michigan at 2:30.
cyberdawg Wrote:Does less change with Kill vs more change with a new hire other than Kill make for any smoother a transition & increase the likelihood of greater success sooner than later ?
Is this but a pipedream & me grabbing for straws come 2008 in Minneapolis? Anyone recall instances when a first year coach turned around a d-1 football team as much as many here may expect for 2008?
My family made arrangements this weekend with outlaws in MN for Labor Day weekend.....I don't wanna be embarrassed by a sloppy performance.
Wonder how soon TBA will be replaced by a confirmed game time ? This will determine our travel plans by air or auto? No summer airfare deals foreseen and gasoline expected to be very expensive, so pick your poison.
Also wonder if SIU fans were tested by fans at away games regarding signs or chants of RoadKill?
http://www.GopherHole.com/
Do people not understand what happened last year with the injuries? A winning football season in 08 is NOTHING like turning around a program which Coach Novak did. This is already an outstanding program that lost half its team to INJURY last year. If NIU does not win 7 or 8 games it will be HIGHLY disappointing because of how much talent is loaded on this team. Only things that could hold back this team is if noone returns from injury. People talk about this season as if a winning season would be a dramatic turnaround, on paper maybe yes, but realistic expectations should be 8 wins this season, that is what the talent would suggest.
sun may not set until 9pm upnorth.
cyberdawg Wrote:Does less change with Kill vs more change with a new hire other than Kill make for any smoother a transition & increase the likelihood of greater success sooner than later ?
Is this but a pipedream & me grabbing for straws come 2008 in Minneapolis? Anyone recall instances when a first year coach turned around a d-1 football team as much as many here may expect for 2008?
My family made arrangements this weekend with outlaws in MN for Labor Day weekend.....I don't wanna be embarrassed by a sloppy performance.
Wonder how soon TBA will be replaced by a confirmed game time ? This will determine our travel plans by air or auto? No summer airfare deals foreseen and gasoline expected to be very expensive, so pick your poison.
Also wonder if SIU fans were tested by fans at away games regarding signs or chants of RoadKill?
http://www.GopherHole.com/
BTW: Did you know the state of Mn, a very left leaning state going way back , will pay 48% of the 290 million dollars to build the new stadium now underconstruction on campus?
Of course they have only 1 program in a state of 5.5M that plays either FCS or FBS level football.
The cities of Grand Forks and Fargo each raised their sales tax to pay for new stadiums/convention centers for UND & NDST to the tune of $136M large undertaking for a state with 650K. Having a Vegas casino owner as an alumnus (Ralph Englstad) who donates $111M to your program (UND) is a rare commodity also. NDST also shares their baseball stadium with the Fargo Morehead Northern League baseball team. The rent they get paid for a 4.5K facility.
MaddDawgz02 Wrote:cyberdawg Wrote:http://www.GopherHole.com/
Do people not understand what happened last year with the injuries? A winning football season in 08 is NOTHING like turning around a program which Coach Novak did. This is already an outstanding program that lost half its team to INJURY last year. If NIU does not win 7 or 8 games it will be HIGHLY disappointing because of how much talent is loaded on this team. Only things that could hold back this team is if noone returns from injury. People talk about this season as if a winning season would be a dramatic turnaround, on paper maybe yes, but realistic expectations should be 8 wins this season, that is what the talent would suggest.
The rest of the division has improved significantly the past 2 years which you aren't factoring in. BSU didnt' lose a single all conference performer. CMU still has the best QB in the division. Plus as has been mentioned, the Huskies have only 1 home game in the first 6 weeks of the season (1 bye) which will make it tougher to get early momentum.
onlinepole Wrote:cyberdawg Wrote:Does less change with Kill vs more change with a new hire other than Kill make for any smoother a transition & increase the likelihood of greater success sooner than later ?
Is this but a pipedream & me grabbing for straws come 2008 in Minneapolis? Anyone recall instances when a first year coach turned around a d-1 football team as much as many here may expect for 2008?
My family made arrangements this weekend with outlaws in MN for Labor Day weekend.....I don't wanna be embarrassed by a sloppy performance.
Wonder how soon TBA will be replaced by a confirmed game time ? This will determine our travel plans by air or auto? No summer airfare deals foreseen and gasoline expected to be very expensive, so pick your poison.
Also wonder if SIU fans were tested by fans at away games regarding signs or chants of RoadKill?
http://www.GopherHole.com/
BTW: Did you know the state of Mn, a very left leaning state going way back , will pay 48% of the 290 million dollars to build the new stadium now underconstruction on campus?
Of course they have only 1 program in a state of 5.5M that plays either FCS or FBS level football.
The cities of Grand Forks and Fargo each raised their sales tax to pay for new stadiums/convention centers for UND & NDST to the tune of $136M large undertaking for a state with 650K. Having a Vegas casino owner as an alumnus (Ralph Englstad) who donates $111M to your program (UND) is a rare commodity also. NDST also shares their baseball stadium with the Fargo Morehead Northern League baseball team. The rent they get paid for a 4.5K facility.
This is a little OT, but a minor league team was looking at starting up in Champaign, adding 2,000 more seats to Illinois Field and injecting $10 million into the Illini's field.
It's become somewhat common to have a minor league team and college team share a stadium.
onlinepole Wrote:MaddDawgz02 Wrote:cyberdawg Wrote:http://www.GopherHole.com/
Do people not understand what happened last year with the injuries? A winning football season in 08 is NOTHING like turning around a program which Coach Novak did. This is already an outstanding program that lost half its team to INJURY last year. If NIU does not win 7 or 8 games it will be HIGHLY disappointing because of how much talent is loaded on this team. Only things that could hold back this team is if noone returns from injury. People talk about this season as if a winning season would be a dramatic turnaround, on paper maybe yes, but realistic expectations should be 8 wins this season, that is what the talent would suggest.
The rest of the division has improved significantly the past 2 years which you aren't factoring in. BSU didnt' lose a single all conference performer. CMU still has the best QB in the division. Plus as has been mentioned, the Huskies have only 1 home game in the first 6 weeks of the season (1 bye) which will make it tougher to get early momentum.
Yes but a completely decimated Huskie team went nearly punch for punch with what many regard to be the best team in the MAC this year, Ball State. That has to bode really well when the dozens of injuries return this year.
MaddDawgz02 Wrote:onlinepole Wrote:MaddDawgz02 Wrote:cyberdawg Wrote:http://www.GopherHole.com/
Do people not understand what happened last year with the injuries? A winning football season in 08 is NOTHING like turning around a program which Coach Novak did. This is already an outstanding program that lost half its team to INJURY last year. If NIU does not win 7 or 8 games it will be HIGHLY disappointing because of how much talent is loaded on this team. Only things that could hold back this team is if noone returns from injury. People talk about this season as if a winning season would be a dramatic turnaround, on paper maybe yes, but realistic expectations should be 8 wins this season, that is what the talent would suggest.
The rest of the division has improved significantly the past 2 years which you aren't factoring in. BSU didnt' lose a single all conference performer. CMU still has the best QB in the division. Plus as has been mentioned, the Huskies have only 1 home game in the first 6 weeks of the season (1 bye) which will make it tougher to get early momentum.
Yes but a completely decimated Huskie team went nearly punch for punch with what many regard to be the best team in the MAC this year, Ball State. That has to bode really well when the dozens of injuries return this year.
I would say the two time defending MAC Champs are the best team in the MAC, and we got wang slapped by them.
This team still has a black hole called the offense that is a HUGE ?
Cause for angst: NIU lacks a true difference maker / game breaker at any skill position & the better competition doesn't.
cyberdawg Wrote:Cause for angst: NIU lacks a true difference maker / game breaker at any skill position & the better competition doesn't.
No statement could be more wrong and inaccurate.
On defense English and Mccarthy can both be difference makers. On offense Justin Anderson and Britt Davis have that potential. And even Nicholson if healthy, is one of the better QB's in the conference. In fact, I'd honestly say NIU has more potential difference makers than any other team in the MAC, with possible excpetion of BSU that has just as many.
Well, if Britt Davis wants to be a difference maker in a positive way he first need to learn how to catch a football. The man has hands of stone.
02,
Defensive end and linebacker are not classified as skill positions in my playbook.
I was responding to post #13 regarding black hole on O.
Justin A is very good but no Turner nor Wolfe. We have not had a go to difference maker at WR since Hurd & Fleck.
A healthy Nicholson is okay but no Haldi & still IMO sadly several notches below the talents of LeFevour, N Davis and T Hiller of WMU who ranks second on WMU yards in a season list , 2nd on completion % , has thrown 40 TD passes thus far and went 20 of 29 vs NIU last year.
The NIU D will need to win games if the season is to be any success.
cyberdawg Wrote:02,
Defensive end and linebacker are not classified as skill positions in my playbook.
I was responding to post #13 regarding black hole on O.
Justin A is very good but no Turner nor Wolfe. We have not had a difference maker at WR since Hurd & Fleck.
A healthy Nicholson is okay but no Haldi & still IMO sadly several notches below the talents of LeFevour, N Davis and T Hiller of WMU who ranks second on WMU yards in a season list , 2nd on completion % , has thrown 40 TD passes thus far and went 20 of 29 vs NIU last year.
The NIU D will need to win games if the season is to be any success.
You are correct Anderson is no Turner or Wolfe but luckily there are no Turner of Wolfes in the MAC conference this year. As far as the names you mentioned, Lefevour is highly highly highly overrated, Davis I'll give you is special, but Hiller is nothing great. NIU is on par offensively with any other team in the MAC (if healthy of course), with the possible exception of Ball State, but then again NIU will have a better defense than Ball State. The NIU/BSU battle for the West will sure be entertaining, but right now you might have to get BSU the edge due to 1)remaining injury questions for NIU 2) the game being played at Muncie. CMU is another team which may be in the mix, but I think CMU is actually going to struggle this year and be a big disappointment.
MaddDawgz02 Wrote:You are correct Anderson is no Turner or Wolfe but luckily there are no Turner of Wolfes in the MAC conference this year.
I wouldn't go that far. KSU's little RB Eugene Jarvis is good. He was the #6 leading rusher in the nation with 1,669 yards. He'll only be a junior this coming season, like Anderson. Now that Kalvin McRae has graduated i'd say Anderson is the second best back in the conference right now until proven otherwise.
MaddDawgz02 Wrote:Lefevour is highly highly highly overrated..
That's absurd. He threw 27 TDs against only 13 INTs and had over 3,600 yards passing last year. He had a 65% completion rate. He also ran for over 1,100 yards and 19 TDs.
In case you didn't notice, that is 46 (FORTY SIX!!!) combined touchdowns that he accounted for. The entire NIU TEAM scored 28.
Think about that for a minute.