(09-23-2018 10:07 AM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(09-23-2018 07:52 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(09-22-2018 11:58 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Why should NIU fans expect more? FSU’s talent composite is #5, Utah #39, and iowa #49. NIU’s is #90. They won vs CMU who is #89. So far it adds up. Please tell me why you expect more. Be specific, not just because you think so. Don’t be a homer, be an analyst and use solid football rationale.

:Toledo
How do you think that lowly MAC team, Toledo, would have done against FSU yesterday?

We probably would have been drilled like we were against Miami. ACC teams like the Seminoles/Canes rise up to the occasion when they play teams like NIU/Toledo, knowing that it won’t be a walk in the park...

I would like Toledo's chances against FSU. Miami is a much better team than FSU. I think we will see that when they play later this year.

(09-23-2018 10:23 AM)badmoonrising13 Wrote:  When you have a coaching staff that fails to utilize its best players and a quarterback who is not accurate, you're not going to win a lot of the winnable games. Even though the defense got you FOUR turnovers, you can't get back in the game? That's pathetic. Childers showed spark in the second half but it totally fizzled. That fourth down throw to a wide-open DJ Brown was pitiful. Unless Childers finds some consistency (I don't see it happening) or the coaches learn to better utilize Harbison and Nettles (if he doesn't fumble), I doubt we get a bowl game. Childers is what he is -- an inaccurate passer who can't lead us to a victory by the strength of his arm. I believe we have the ground forces to help him but the coaches aren't creative enough, smart enough, or open-minded enough to get Childers the help he needs. You abandon the run because you're down 14-0 and then go on to go three-and-out on four consecutive drives? That is asinine. Childers only started completing passes when he had nothing to lose. As soon as we started thinking "we have a chance'' (thanks to the defense creating turnovers) he went back to his old inaccurate self and the offense fizzled again. Unless we unleash Harbison next week we will lose to EMU. Get Harbison atttacking the D from multiple angles and do what it takes to get him to the open field. He will have a field day. Get the play action going to hit on the big plays. Yes, we will miss a few, but hopefully we can connect on a couple to get us the win. EMU will be chomping at the bit to get some revenge on us. The defense will obviously be up to the task. I hope our offensive coaches will be as well...

I have no idea why the coaches are so stubborn about not getting Harbison the ball. He gets chunks plays. How many 10+ yards has he had this season on limited carries? Get him the dang ball! I predicted 7 carries against FSU and he only had four...

(09-23-2018 10:27 AM)142niu Wrote:  Next week will tell us a lot about what time of season we are going to have. EMU is a tough MAC team and it will be a challenge.

This seasons OOC schedule is the toughest in NIU history. Add in the Illinois financial debacle. I'm impressed the Huskies can even be competitive against these 3 and 4 star loaded teams. With a decent coach we could of won one or two of these games.

A big shout out to this team for playing this schedule. At the end of the day they are just kids that the Iowas, Utahs, Florida States, and other P5's had no interest in. Hold your heads up and do it for each other.

Rod Carey is absolute Trash!

Well said. The players on this team must be as frustrated as the fans.

we could be 4-0 we were in every game we have no offense . we dont get going till late in game dont know if they are putting in second string later in game and we are scoring off them or its taking that long to figure them out . we havent been able to drive the field and score yea we score when our defense which is great gets a turn over deep in their territory and we get 10 or 20 yards . something has to change any other team would have made a change by now . whats scary is maybe there is no change to make the best might be out there ?

Yup we are Tua Tagliovmovalovavio away from being 4-0.

I don't think the fans (including us here) are apathetic. I think we have mostly come to expect being mediocre under Carey and are not surprised when that is exactly what we get. Unless he and the OC do something about the O in a big hurry I don't even think we will be mediocre this year! Carey is a cancer on our program! I can think of many negatives to say about Carey, but there is no reason to repeat what I and many others have been saying. What I find sad is I have a hard time coming up with positives to say about and I cannot think of a single legitimate reason why his contract should be extended! IMO that is why we no longer hear much from the Carey apologists.

At least our players have not given up. They fought back and showed composure and heart against FSU IMO. How would you like to be a Nebraska fan and read that your players gave up after the first series, which is exactly what some Michigan players said!

Carey and the OC need to go. We need someone dynamic and hungry. He is suppose to know football, so let's hope STF sees what is patently obvious!

Its going to get worse, because of the dire need for revenue, NIU only has five home games this year. And you only have five home games next year too. That schedule is terrible and will only create more apathy. Basically you wont have a home game until October after playing ISU 8/31. The team is going to be exhausted from being on the road the entire month of September. You will have two Saturday home games in October against the MAC and then two week night games in November against the MAC including a road game at Toledo. That will certainly create apathy when the season tickets only include three Saturday games.

08/31 - Illinois State
09/07 - at Utah
09/14 - at Nebraska
09/27 - at Vanderbilt

(09-23-2018 12:20 PM)stpeterocketfan Wrote:  Its going to get worse, because of the dire need for revenue, NIU only has five home games this year. And you only have five home games next year too. That schedule is terrible and will only create more apathy. Basically you wont have a home game until October after playing ISU 8/31. The team is going to be exhausted from being on the road the entire month of September. You will have two Saturday home games in October against the MAC and then two week night games in November against the MAC including a road game at Toledo. That will certainly create apathy when the season tickets only include three Saturday games.

08/31 - Illinois State
09/07 - at Utah
09/14 - at Nebraska
09/27 - at Vanderbilt

Absolutely true. And the 3 Saturday games are the norm for us. So when you add benefit packages (which do not go down in price) to seat premiums (which do not go down in price) and season ticket costs, you could end up paying quite a fortune to attend those 3 games.

(09-23-2018 12:55 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(09-23-2018 12:20 PM)stpeterocketfan Wrote:  Its going to get worse, because of the dire need for revenue, NIU only has five home games this year. And you only have five home games next year too. That schedule is terrible and will only create more apathy. Basically you wont have a home game until October after playing ISU 8/31. The team is going to be exhausted from being on the road the entire month of September. You will have two Saturday home games in October against the MAC and then two week night games in November against the MAC including a road game at Toledo. That will certainly create apathy when the season tickets only include three Saturday games.

08/31 - Illinois State
09/07 - at Utah
09/14 - at Nebraska
09/27 - at Vanderbilt

Absolutely true. And the 3 Saturday games are the norm for us. So when you add benefit packages (which do not go down in price) to seat premiums (which do not go down in price) and season ticket costs, you could end up paying quite a fortune to attend those 3 games.

I buy season tickets and do 1, maybe 2 games a year. It's a contribution to the program, which is sorely needed right now.

(09-23-2018 01:17 PM)MiamiHuskie Wrote:  

(09-23-2018 12:55 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(09-23-2018 12:20 PM)stpeterocketfan Wrote:  Its going to get worse, because of the dire need for revenue, NIU only has five home games this year. And you only have five home games next year too. That schedule is terrible and will only create more apathy. Basically you wont have a home game until October after playing ISU 8/31. The team is going to be exhausted from being on the road the entire month of September. You will have two Saturday home games in October against the MAC and then two week night games in November against the MAC including a road game at Toledo. That will certainly create apathy when the season tickets only include three Saturday games.

08/31 - Illinois State
09/07 - at Utah
09/14 - at Nebraska
09/27 - at Vanderbilt

Absolutely true. And the 3 Saturday games are the norm for us. So when you add benefit packages (which do not go down in price) to seat premiums (which do not go down in price) and season ticket costs, you could end up paying quite a fortune to attend those 3 games.

I buy season tickets and do 1, maybe 2 games a year. It's a contribution to the program, which is sorely needed right now.

Season ticket costs are a drop in the bucket. If you have benefits, add those costs in and you will be paying quite a bit to attend only 3 games. The answer, of course, would be to drop the benefits (unless you have money to burn).

We have a chance to beat every MAC team on our schedule. Our defense is that good but we are going to need the offense and the coaches to step up. Our stupid coaches have to get Childers help. The coaches have to be able to utilize Harbison to his full potential. Set up some big plays for him. Use him as a jab with inside runs then bust him to the perimeter with crack blocks or an option pitch. For God's sake throw a lot of play action passes. The stupid passes to the flats would have more room if we establish Harbs and use the play action to hold the LBs and clear the secondary. Our coaches are moronically stubborn and that's why we have the worst offense in the country.

(09-22-2018 11:58 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Why should NIU fans expect more? FSU’s talent composite is #5, Utah #39, and iowa #49. NIU’s is #90. They won vs CMU who is #89. So far it adds up. Please tell me why you expect more. Be specific, not just because you think so. Don’t be a homer, be an analyst and use solid football rationale.

For the record that "talent composite" is woefully incomplete at the mid major level. It looks like NIU is relatively accounted for but Miami would be towards the top of the MAC and 247 is somehow accounting for only 7 of their scholarship players. Even WMU is only showing 50 and there are numerous glaring omissions if you look at their roster that's posted (the blacked out players are for some reason not being counted).

Doesn't counter your point re: FSU but its very flawed.

(09-23-2018 01:23 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(09-23-2018 01:17 PM)MiamiHuskie Wrote:  

(09-23-2018 12:55 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(09-23-2018 12:20 PM)stpeterocketfan Wrote:  Its going to get worse, because of the dire need for revenue, NIU only has five home games this year. And you only have five home games next year too. That schedule is terrible and will only create more apathy. Basically you wont have a home game until October after playing ISU 8/31. The team is going to be exhausted from being on the road the entire month of September. You will have two Saturday home games in October against the MAC and then two week night games in November against the MAC including a road game at Toledo. That will certainly create apathy when the season tickets only include three Saturday games.

08/31 - Illinois State
09/07 - at Utah
09/14 - at Nebraska
09/27 - at Vanderbilt

Absolutely true. And the 3 Saturday games are the norm for us. So when you add benefit packages (which do not go down in price) to seat premiums (which do not go down in price) and season ticket costs, you could end up paying quite a fortune to attend those 3 games.

I buy season tickets and do 1, maybe 2 games a year. It's a contribution to the program, which is sorely needed right now.

Season ticket costs are a drop in the bucket. If you have benefits, add those costs in and you will be paying quite a bit to attend only 3 games. The answer, of course, would be to drop the benefits (unless you have money to burn).

Friends with benefits.....ah, the old days.

Yep, I sure am apathetic. I'm looking for the little improvements now. It's what I have to look forward to.

The best part of the FSU game was when Childers needed to throw and made alot of attempts. Some plays looked horrible with passes way off, or easy catches just dropped. But, for every 3 bad plays, 1 clicked. And that's enough to plant the seeds of confidence in some players. I'm hopeful the offense learned much from this game. That's the type of stuff I look for now.

I can't explain the play calling oddities, or player selection sometimes. I've stopped trying to get in the coaches heads for those concepts.

In the end it's a group of 18-22 year olds, some care alot and some not so much, some have higher end football talent, some not. I'm trying not to be so critical of young dudes.

But given the financial situation at NIU, and the changing demographics shifting attention and attendance away from football and sports in general, I'm resigned that this is very close to the best NIU can do. They were 8-5 last year, and will probably end up about 6-6 or 7-5 this year. And they are preseason MAC favorites.

Unfortunately, if I'm the new university president, I would think 'how can I spend less on sports in general?..what problems will that cause me?..what value does this bring the school in light of all the other pressing problems?'.

I now have apathy for trying make NIU a bigger more powerful football program. Not for the football program and school in general.

(09-23-2018 12:05 PM)NILAW Wrote:  I don't think the fans (including us here) are apathetic. I think we have mostly come to expect being mediocre under Carey and are not surprised when that is exactly what we get. Unless he and the OC do something about the O in a big hurry I don't even think we will be mediocre this year! Carey is a cancer on our program! I can think of many negatives to say about Carey, but there is no reason to repeat what I and many others have been saying. What I find sad is I have a hard time coming up with positives to say about and I cannot think of a single legitimate reason why his contract should be extended! IMO that is why we no longer hear much from the Carey apologists.

At least our players have not given up. They fought back and showed composure and heart against FSU IMO. How would you like to be a Nebraska fan and read that your players gave up after the first series, which is exactly what some Michigan players said!

Carey and the OC need to go. We need someone dynamic and hungry. He is suppose to know football, so let's hope STF sees what is patently obvious!

If you are counting on STF to save things, you will be waiting for awhile. STF is a disaster, complete and total disaster.

I have accepted that NIU will not be ranked this year.

But they are still undefeated in MAC play, and the could be 2-0 after next week. EMU is not FSU.

(09-23-2018 08:05 PM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  I have accepted that NIU will not be ranked this year.

But they are still undefeated in MAC play, and the could be 2-0 after next week. EMU is not FSU.

No, but they are certainly better than CMU and we had enough trouble with them at home.

(09-23-2018 04:12 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-23-2018 12:05 PM)NILAW Wrote:  I don't think the fans (including us here) are apathetic. I think we have mostly come to expect being mediocre under Carey and are not surprised when that is exactly what we get. Unless he and the OC do something about the O in a big hurry I don't even think we will be mediocre this year! Carey is a cancer on our program! I can think of many negatives to say about Carey, but there is no reason to repeat what I and many others have been saying. What I find sad is I have a hard time coming up with positives to say about and I cannot think of a single legitimate reason why his contract should be extended! IMO that is why we no longer hear much from the Carey apologists.

At least our players have not given up. They fought back and showed composure and heart against FSU IMO. How would you like to be a Nebraska fan and read that your players gave up after the first series, which is exactly what some Michigan players said!

Carey and the OC need to go. We need someone dynamic and hungry. He is suppose to know football, so let's hope STF sees what is patently obvious!

If you are counting on STF to save things, you will be waiting for awhile. STF is a disaster, complete and total disaster.

As STF is the AD I am counting on him to make the right decision. Given prior discussions Carey's contract runs through June 30, 2019. I am certainly no expert on college football HC extensions, but from what I have read most often extensions are given long before 1 year is left on the contract, which I am fairly sure was the case with Carey's last extension. As there is only 9 months left on Carey's contract I view that as a positive that STF is looking at not extending Carey's contract or at least is waiting until the end of this season.

(09-23-2018 04:09 PM)NIU84 Wrote:  Yep, I sure am apathetic. I'm looking for the little improvements now. It's what I have to look forward to.

The best part of the FSU game was when Childers needed to throw and made alot of attempts. Some plays looked horrible with passes way off, or easy catches just dropped. But, for every 3 bad plays, 1 clicked. And that's enough to plant the seeds of confidence in some players. I'm hopeful the offense learned much from this game. That's the type of stuff I look for now.

I can't explain the play calling oddities, or player selection sometimes. I've stopped trying to get in the coaches heads for those concepts.

In the end it's a group of 18-22 year olds, some care alot and some not so much, some have higher end football talent, some not. I'm trying not to be so critical of young dudes.

But given the financial situation at NIU, and the changing demographics shifting attention and attendance away from football and sports in general, I'm resigned that this is very close to the best NIU can do. They were 8-5 last year, and will probably end up about 6-6 or 7-5 this year. And they are preseason MAC favorites.

Unfortunately, if I'm the new university president, I would think 'how can I spend less on sports in general?..what problems will that cause me?..what value does this bring the school in light of all the other pressing problems?'.

I now have apathy for trying make NIU a bigger more powerful football program. Not for the football program and school in general.

Someone else wrote on this thread that one of the biggest issues is NIU just has "no spark". That is a very simple and accurate way to explain the current state of affairs.

The team is by no means a disaster; we play stout defense and we are capable of staying in football games.

But we are boring. The team is difficult to watch.

We have no flair, we have no excitement, we show no creativity or ingenuity. There is nothing to suggest that we are a team on the uprise.

Why would any decent recruit want to come play in this offense? Why would any casual fan want to come out and watch this team play and fill seats at Huskie stadium?

We very well may do well in the MAC once again, but every season under Carey will continue to grind our program and our fanbase down just a bit more until it is eroded beyond repair.

(09-23-2018 08:34 PM)NILAW Wrote:  

(09-23-2018 04:12 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-23-2018 12:05 PM)NILAW Wrote:  I don't think the fans (including us here) are apathetic. I think we have mostly come to expect being mediocre under Carey and are not surprised when that is exactly what we get. Unless he and the OC do something about the O in a big hurry I don't even think we will be mediocre this year! Carey is a cancer on our program! I can think of many negatives to say about Carey, but there is no reason to repeat what I and many others have been saying. What I find sad is I have a hard time coming up with positives to say about and I cannot think of a single legitimate reason why his contract should be extended! IMO that is why we no longer hear much from the Carey apologists.

At least our players have not given up. They fought back and showed composure and heart against FSU IMO. How would you like to be a Nebraska fan and read that your players gave up after the first series, which is exactly what some Michigan players said!

Carey and the OC need to go. We need someone dynamic and hungry. He is suppose to know football, so let's hope STF sees what is patently obvious!

If you are counting on STF to save things, you will be waiting for awhile. STF is a disaster, complete and total disaster.

As STF is the AD I am counting on him to make the right decision. Given prior discussions Carey's contract runs through June 30, 2019. I am certainly no expert on college football HC extensions, but from what I have read most often extensions are given long before 1 year is left on the contract, which I am fairly sure was the case with Carey's last extension. As there is only 9 months left on Carey's contract I view that as a positive that STF is looking at not extending Carey's contract or at least is waiting until the end of this season.

I guess that's a good sign that maybe STF has plans.