As we all know, there were a lot of close games in 2011 Huskie football. Most of those we came out on top. Why? Senior QB leadership? Overall seniors? Attitude of coaches in a close game?
It's a combination of all of those. Harnish was a great leader, and Doeren was able to adapt and take what he had on defense and make it work. Other than the Wisconsin game, last year's team played each game like it was their last. And after the whole CMU accident, it was pretty much win or go home.
The biggest difference between last year's team and this year's team will be how much determination they have. It's easy to call someone a playmaker, but it will be interesting to see who steps up. Hopefully someone or even multiple players will.
I'm optimistic about the team this year. There are some big shoes to be filled, but I think Doeren can get this team ready for a big year.
We were also VERY LUCKY last year. I have seldom seen everything break NIU's way as it did so many times last year. A week or so ago I watched the video of the MACC game again, once again I came away with the feeling that we did not win that game so much as Ohio lost the game.
I suppose that also means that the Huskies were mentally tougher than the Bobcats.
(05-12-2012 06:01 AM)bikechuck Wrote: [ -> ]We were also VERY LUCKY last year. I have seldom seen everything break NIU's way as it did so many times last year. A week or so ago I watched the video of the MACC game again, once again I came away with the feeling that we did not win that game so much as Ohio lost the game.
I suppose that also means that the Huskies were mentally tougher than the Bobcats.
+1 on both assessments.
We were 4 negative plays away from going 5-7 BUT AlSO were 2 more positive plays from going 13-1.
And then there was the MACC finish.
I can't find this picture or I would post but.....
The next day in one of the local papers, there was a photo from the sideline ground level of Sims kick. Basically, it showed an Ohio lineman with his hand at a level that if Sims hadn't pulled the kick just inside the left post.....it would have probably been blocked.
Senior leadership and coaching were the main factors. The outstanding senior class of Novak recruits simply had a huge will to win. As far as coaching, DD has proven himself as a coach that can bring his team back in close games against strong opponents (Toledo, Ball State and Ohio). On the other hand, not once in the three-year tenure of HWSNBN did we come back to beat a good team. There were several games we lost to strong opponents where we were in position to win and couldn't complete a comeback.
2008 - Minnesota, WMU, CMU and LaTech
2009 - Idaho, Toledo and Ohio
2010 - Illinois and Miami
(05-12-2012 01:09 AM)NIU007 Wrote: [ -> ]As we all know, there were a lot of close games in 2011 Huskie football. Most of those we came out on top. Why? Senior QB leadership? Overall seniors? Attitude of coaches in a close game?
I would say it just depends on what game you are talking about. With the Buffalo game and BSU game I attribute it to luck, with Toledo it as all Chandler, with Ohio I think Coach Doeren won us that game, and with EMU the team defensive effort was the reason. I agree you need all of the above for a season like last year, but good teams seem to find a way to make most of these happen. And for the games we got lucky in you can easily point to 2 games NIU should have won in CMU and Kansas. We played good enough to win both those games but came out on the wrong side.
(05-12-2012 06:01 AM)bikechuck Wrote: [ -> ]We were also VERY LUCKY last year. I have seldom seen everything break NIU's way as it did so many times last year. A week or so ago I watched the video of the MACC game again, once again I came away with the feeling that we did not win that game so much as Ohio lost the game.
I suppose that also means that the Huskies were mentally tougher than the Bobcats.
I look at the MACC very differently. We tried to give away the game in the first half with more mistakes than usual. In that case it wasn't lucky we came back to win it. The Ball State and Buffalo games had much more element of luck, IMO.
I always feel luck can give you a 10 point swing. Very rarely more than that. After that it comes down to talent, mistakes, coaching, and desire.
Yes, there were some elements of luck it both the Buffalo and Ball State games, but at the same time we were housing Buffalo 31-10, and we outgained Ball Stated 710(!!)-398.
Don't forget the EMU game, where an Eagles receiver dropped a wide-open TD pass. Whew! Yeah, we got lucky, but so what? With all the bad luck we'd had over the years, it's about time luck was on our side.
Two examples of Dame Fortune not smiling on us?
2002 showdown with Toledo. Third down late in the game, Josh Haldi's throw toward a wide-open tight end is batted down by a UT lineman. If the pass is completed, the Huskies get a first down and a chance to milk the clock more and deny Toledo the final possession. Probably would've locked up a MAC West title.
2005 MAC title game. Again, late in the game, on third and seven, either Nicholson completes a five-yard pass or Wolfe gains five yards (can't remember which). Two more yards and the Huskies wouldn't have had to punt away the ball, giving possession to Akron and the worst possible ending.
Won't mention the end of the 2010 MACC. still trying to forget it. Greatest regret about that is players such as Spann and Coffman deserved to hoist that title trophy.
Don't muse over the "what ifs." Yes, the Ohio game was far from perfect, but it ended the way we wanted.
It's often said football is a game of inches and seconds....and the Force was indeed with NIU in 2012...maybe they all equalized the sum totals of alot of bad breaks (oops edit of brakes) in prior seasons .... and we also served up several perfect storms to our opponents and made many of our own breaks.
2012 will be a true test of our Hard Way character and resilience now that we are the hunted & not so much the hunter.
It will shirley be a challenge to stoke the same hunger, day in - day out in practice and on every play in games.
(05-12-2012 02:53 PM)niucyberdawg Wrote: [ -> ]It's often said football is a game of inches and seconds....and the Force was indeed with NIU in 2012...maybe they all equalized the sum totals of alot of bad brakes in prior seasons .... and we also served up several perfect storms to our opponents and made many of our own breaks.
2012 will be a true test of our Hard Way character and resilience now that we are the hunted & not so much the hunter.
It will shirley be a challenge to stoke the same hunger, day in - day out in practice and on every play in games.
I agree Cybes, and don't call me Shirley! I've had bad brakes as well - I own a Kia Sedona-LOL
Yes indeed football - more than many other sports - is more of a game of controlled emotion and poise under fire.
Can we pull it out again from the deepest parts of our hearts and guts?
It's a whole alot easier said than done.
Perhaps you prefer Laverne ?
just messin with ya...
(05-12-2012 03:01 PM)baltimorehuskie Wrote: [ -> ] (05-12-2012 02:53 PM)niucyberdawg Wrote: [ -> ]It's often said football is a game of inches and seconds....and the Force was indeed with NIU in 2012...maybe they all equalized the sum totals of alot of bad brakes in prior seasons .... and we also served up several perfect storms to our opponents and made many of our own breaks.
2012 will be a true test of our Hard Way character and resilience now that we are the hunted & not so much the hunter.
It will shirley be a challenge to stoke the same hunger, day in - day out in practice and on every play in games.
I agree Cybes, and don't call me Shirley! I've had bad brakes as well - I own a Kia Sedona-LOL
(05-12-2012 03:14 PM)niucyberdawg Wrote: [ -> ]Perhaps you prefer Laverne ?
just messin with ya...
(05-12-2012 03:01 PM)baltimorehuskie Wrote: [ -> ] (05-12-2012 02:53 PM)niucyberdawg Wrote: [ -> ]It's often said football is a game of inches and seconds....and the Force was indeed with NIU in 2012...maybe they all equalized the sum totals of alot of bad brakes in prior seasons .... and we also served up several perfect storms to our opponents and made many of our own breaks.
2012 will be a true test of our Hard Way character and resilience now that we are the hunted & not so much the hunter.
It will shirley be a challenge to stoke the same hunger, day in - day out in practice and on every play in games.
I agree Cybes, and don't call me Shirley! I've had bad brakes as well - I own a Kia Sedona-LOL
i attribute the Buffalo game to a new coach who took his foot off the accelerator too early...even he admitted to that and said he would not do that again....yes we were lucky at the end, but why we were there was on DD and that rookie mistake i do not expect we will see in his tenure here again.
As I explained to pretty much anyone who made eye contact with me this fall: "if we get every d*mn break for the next two decades, then we'll be about even. Until that time, we still have more coming."
(05-13-2012 06:09 PM)cawoo22 Wrote: [ -> ]As I explained to pretty much anyone who made eye contact with me this fall: "if we get every d*mn break for the next two decades, then we'll be about even. Until that time, we still have more coming."
LOL sounds good to me.
(05-12-2012 04:32 PM)houstonhuskie Wrote: [ -> ]i attribute the Buffalo game to a new coach who took his foot off the accelerator too early...even he admitted to that and said he would not do that again....yes we were lucky at the end, but why we were there was on DD and that rookie mistake i do not expect we will see in his tenure here again.
Probably a good call here.