(12-02-2018 07:18 PM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 05:50 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  This is the “Cheribundi” Boca Raton Bowl.

Show of hands. Be honest. Who knows what Cheribundi is without Googling like I just did?

I remember Al, Peggy, Bud and Kelly. I do not remember Cheri.

(12-02-2018 06:10 PM)Big Redd Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 04:15 PM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Excited for this game. Always have respected the hell out of NIU. Should be a heck of a matchup.

Should be a good one. Congrats on the conference championship. What do we need to know about UAB? Respect program for coming back so strong but admit I know nothing about this year's team.

The first thing that stands out about UAB is they have only given up 200 points this year. Huskies have given up 280.

We look to be very similar. Good run game, great defenses. Difference in stats and record due to SOS.

Good location/bowl and good match-up. I would think the coaches and players are very excited about this.

(12-02-2018 07:18 PM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 05:50 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  This is the “Cheribundi” Boca Raton Bowl.

Show of hands. Be honest. Who knows what Cheribundi is without Googling like I just did?

I remember Al, Peggy, Bud and Kelly. I do not remember Cheri.

(12-02-2018 06:10 PM)Big Redd Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 04:15 PM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Excited for this game. Always have respected the hell out of NIU. Should be a heck of a matchup.

Should be a good one. Congrats on the conference championship. What do we need to know about UAB? Respect program for coming back so strong but admit I know nothing about this year's team.

The first thing that stands out about UAB is they have only given up 200 points this year. Huskies have given up 280.

I was actually thinking it might be the love child of Cher and Al Bundy.

They didn't waste anytime. UAB is a 1.5 point favorite.

Briefly, our starters are pretty good everywhere, but depth is a real issue (as you'd expect, not having a team 2 years ago).
--Offensive line: very experienced, solid unit. the strength of our offense. in our final regular season game, pretty much every starter was hurt, ill, or got thrown out for stupidity in the 1st half. that was THE difference between our 2 games with MTSU
--RB: Spencer Brown is our workhorse. Freshman all conference last year, will become all time leading rusher early next season (as a junior). also out in first game with MTSU. Power back with great vision and patience. A hit you in the face and wear you down type back. Not a threat in the breakaway speed dept. Other backs are just the opposite. They change pace, but overall, not super productive
--QB: starter for most of the season is a senior, game manager. When healthy, he hits short routes with consistency, but not a threat on the long ball. After piling up injuries, the freshman started. i think most of us agree that he has the far greater upside. with inexperience, he doesnt check down very well and hit the safe/short passes. but man, he throws a pretty deep ball. with his gunslinger mentality, he makes gunslinger mistakes. not afraid to throw into quadruple coverage. both can run. not in a Mike Vick super mobile way, but both can pull it and hurt you with the feet (when healthy). both have had health issue. i think most of us would prefer to see the freshman, but no telling who you'll see
--Receivers: some big/athletic receivers. some good posession receivers. every one can have a big play...but more likely, everyone could pull out big metal skillets for hands and turn an easy first down into a punt

our most likely route to offensive success is to pound it away and wear you down.
based on my VERY limited NIU knowledge, i'd be shocked if we had an offensive explosion. more likely, we'd prefer to manage the clock, get a couple of long scoring drives and play solid defense
(i'll try to be back with more later)

(12-02-2018 08:20 PM)LairDweller Wrote:  Briefly, our starters are pretty good everywhere, but depth is a real issue (as you'd expect, not having a team 2 years ago).
--Offensive line: very experienced, solid unit. the strength of our offense. in our final regular season game, pretty much every starter was hurt, ill, or got thrown out for stupidity in the 1st half. that was THE difference between our 2 games with MTSU
--RB: Jordan Howard is our workhorse. Freshman all conference last year, will become all time leading rusher early next season (as a junior). also out in first game with MTSU. Power back with great vision and patience. A hit you in the face and wear you down type back. Not a threat in the breakaway speed dept. Other backs are just the opposite. They change pace, but overall, not super productive
--QB: starter for most of the season is a senior, game manager. When healthy, he hits short routes with consistency, but not a threat on the long ball. After piling up injuries, the freshman started. i think most of us agree that he has the far greater upside. with inexperience, he doesnt check down very well and hit the safe/short passes. but man, he throws a pretty deep ball. with his gunslinger mentality, he makes gunslinger mistakes. not afraid to throw into quadruple coverage. both can run. not in a Mike Vick super mobile way, but both can pull it and hurt you with the feet (when healthy). both have had health issue. i think most of us would prefer to see the freshman, but no telling who you'll see
--Receivers: some big/athletic receivers. some good posession receivers. every one can have a big play...but more likely, everyone could pull out big metal skillets for hands and turn an easy first down into a punt

our most likely route to offensive success is to pound it away and wear you down.
based on my VERY limited NIU knowledge, i'd be shocked if we had an offensive explosion. more likely, we'd prefer to manage the clock, get a couple of long scoring drives and play solid defense
(i'll try to be back with more later)

Thanks for the info! Looking forward to this game! Love that it’s 2 conference champions going at it.

Nice summary @LairDweller, thank you!

(12-02-2018 04:15 PM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Excited for this game. Always have respected the hell out of NIU. Should be a heck of a matchup.

Can't believe UAB has built up so fast. To cancel program and be back as CHAMPS in so short of time is incredible. Clark should be Coach of the Year hands down.

(12-02-2018 07:55 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 07:18 PM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 05:50 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  This is the “Cheribundi” Boca Raton Bowl.

Show of hands. Be honest. Who knows what Cheribundi is without Googling like I just did?

I remember Al, Peggy, Bud and Kelly. I do not remember Cheri.

(12-02-2018 06:10 PM)Big Redd Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 04:15 PM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Excited for this game. Always have respected the hell out of NIU. Should be a heck of a matchup.

Should be a good one. Congrats on the conference championship. What do we need to know about UAB? Respect program for coming back so strong but admit I know nothing about this year's team.

The first thing that stands out about UAB is they have only given up 200 points this year. Huskies have given up 280.

I was actually thinking it might be the love child of Cher and Al Bundy.

Well played by both Huskie Jon & 007.

(12-02-2018 08:20 PM)LairDweller Wrote:  Briefly, our starters are pretty good everywhere, but depth is a real issue (as you'd expect, not having a team 2 years ago).
--Offensive line: very experienced, solid unit. the strength of our offense. in our final regular season game, pretty much every starter was hurt, ill, or got thrown out for stupidity in the 1st half. that was THE difference between our 2 games with MTSU
--RB: Jordan Howard is our workhorse. Freshman all conference last year, will become all time leading rusher early next season (as a junior). also out in first game with MTSU. Power back with great vision and patience. A hit you in the face and wear you down type back. Not a threat in the breakaway speed dept. Other backs are just the opposite. They change pace, but overall, not super productive
--QB: starter for most of the season is a senior, game manager. When healthy, he hits short routes with consistency, but not a threat on the long ball. After piling up injuries, the freshman started. i think most of us agree that he has the far greater upside. with inexperience, he doesnt check down very well and hit the safe/short passes. but man, he throws a pretty deep ball. with his gunslinger mentality, he makes gunslinger mistakes. not afraid to throw into quadruple coverage. both can run. not in a Mike Vick super mobile way, but both can pull it and hurt you with the feet (when healthy). both have had health issue. i think most of us would prefer to see the freshman, but no telling who you'll see
--Receivers: some big/athletic receivers. some good posession receivers. every one can have a big play...but more likely, everyone could pull out big metal skillets for hands and turn an easy first down into a punt

our most likely route to offensive success is to pound it away and wear you down.
based on my VERY limited NIU knowledge, i'd be shocked if we had an offensive explosion. more likely, we'd prefer to manage the clock, get a couple of long scoring drives and play solid defense
(i'll try to be back with more later)

Jordan Howard is a Chicago Bear.

Anywho, I'm looking forward to it. I've had a soft spot for NIU ever since they ran UAB's rural sister campus in Tuscaloosa out of the stadium. 2000? 2001?

(12-02-2018 08:20 PM)LairDweller Wrote:  Briefly, our starters are pretty good everywhere, but depth is a real issue (as you'd expect, not having a team 2 years ago).
--Offensive line: very experienced, solid unit. the strength of our offense. in our final regular season game, pretty much every starter was hurt, ill, or got thrown out for stupidity in the 1st half. that was THE difference between our 2 games with MTSU
--RB: Jordan Howard is our workhorse. Freshman all conference last year, will become all time leading rusher early next season (as a junior). also out in first game with MTSU. Power back with great vision and patience. A hit you in the face and wear you down type back. Not a threat in the breakaway speed dept. Other backs are just the opposite. They change pace, but overall, not super productive
--QB: starter for most of the season is a senior, game manager. When healthy, he hits short routes with consistency, but not a threat on the long ball. After piling up injuries, the freshman started. i think most of us agree that he has the far greater upside. with inexperience, he doesnt check down very well and hit the safe/short passes. but man, he throws a pretty deep ball. with his gunslinger mentality, he makes gunslinger mistakes. not afraid to throw into quadruple coverage. both can run. not in a Mike Vick super mobile way, but both can pull it and hurt you with the feet (when healthy). both have had health issue. i think most of us would prefer to see the freshman, but no telling who you'll see
--Receivers: some big/athletic receivers. some good posession receivers. every one can have a big play...but more likely, everyone could pull out big metal skillets for hands and turn an easy first down into a punt

our most likely route to offensive success is to pound it away and wear you down. based on my VERY limited NIU knowledge, i'd be shocked if we had an offensive explosion. more likely, we'd prefer to manage the clock, get a couple of long scoring drives and play solid defense
(i'll try to be back with more later)

Thanks for the summary. Given our run defense I would say UAB would have a very hard time pounding it and wearing us down on the ground. Our run D only gives up 110 yards/game, and while it didn't have its best game against Buffalo we still only gave up 142 yards on 42 carries (3.4 yards/carry). Based on what I have read thus far it looks like UAB and NIU are mirror images of each other.

"It's hard to go against the Blazers and coach Bill Clark, [/b]especially given NIU's bowl struggles under Rod Carey[b]." (http://www.espn.com/college-football/sto...-matchup). I know I am tired of that rep. and hope the players and coaches are also!

(12-02-2018 08:52 PM)NILAW Wrote:  "It's hard to go against the Blazers and coach Bill Clark, [/b]especially given NIU's bowl struggles under Rod Carey[b]." (http://www.espn.com/college-football/sto...-matchup). I know I am tired of that rep. and hope the players and coaches are also!

I read that, too, and found it odd. UAB is 0-2 in bowl games all time, including getting drummed out of the stadium by Ohio last year under Clark.

I love the guy and believe in him as a coach, but he's 0-1 in bowl games.

(12-02-2018 08:50 PM)Smaug Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 08:20 PM)LairDweller Wrote:  Briefly, our starters are pretty good everywhere, but depth is a real issue (as you'd expect, not having a team 2 years ago).
--Offensive line: very experienced, solid unit. the strength of our offense. in our final regular season game, pretty much every starter was hurt, ill, or got thrown out for stupidity in the 1st half. that was THE difference between our 2 games with MTSU
--RB: Jordan Howard is our workhorse. Freshman all conference last year, will become all time leading rusher early next season (as a junior). also out in first game with MTSU. Power back with great vision and patience. A hit you in the face and wear you down type back. Not a threat in the breakaway speed dept. Other backs are just the opposite. They change pace, but overall, not super productive
--QB: starter for most of the season is a senior, game manager. When healthy, he hits short routes with consistency, but not a threat on the long ball. After piling up injuries, the freshman started. i think most of us agree that he has the far greater upside. with inexperience, he doesnt check down very well and hit the safe/short passes. but man, he throws a pretty deep ball. with his gunslinger mentality, he makes gunslinger mistakes. not afraid to throw into quadruple coverage. both can run. not in a Mike Vick super mobile way, but both can pull it and hurt you with the feet (when healthy). both have had health issue. i think most of us would prefer to see the freshman, but no telling who you'll see
--Receivers: some big/athletic receivers. some good posession receivers. every one can have a big play...but more likely, everyone could pull out big metal skillets for hands and turn an easy first down into a punt

our most likely route to offensive success is to pound it away and wear you down.
based on my VERY limited NIU knowledge, i'd be shocked if we had an offensive explosion. more likely, we'd prefer to manage the clock, get a couple of long scoring drives and play solid defense
(i'll try to be back with more later)

Jordan Howard is a Chicago Bear.

Anywho, I'm looking forward to it. I've had a soft spot for NIU ever since they ran UAB's rural sister campus in Tuscaloosa out of the stadium. 2000? 2001?

haha...crap. thats what i get for typing quickly while distracted. corrected. Spencer Brown is our workhorse. He's very similar to Jordan Howard (the Chicago Bear that set records at UAB)

(12-02-2018 08:52 PM)NILAW Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 08:20 PM)LairDweller Wrote:  Briefly, our starters are pretty good everywhere, but depth is a real issue (as you'd expect, not having a team 2 years ago).
--Offensive line: very experienced, solid unit. the strength of our offense. in our final regular season game, pretty much every starter was hurt, ill, or got thrown out for stupidity in the 1st half. that was THE difference between our 2 games with MTSU
--RB: Jordan Howard is our workhorse. Freshman all conference last year, will become all time leading rusher early next season (as a junior). also out in first game with MTSU. Power back with great vision and patience. A hit you in the face and wear you down type back. Not a threat in the breakaway speed dept. Other backs are just the opposite. They change pace, but overall, not super productive
--QB: starter for most of the season is a senior, game manager. When healthy, he hits short routes with consistency, but not a threat on the long ball. After piling up injuries, the freshman started. i think most of us agree that he has the far greater upside. with inexperience, he doesnt check down very well and hit the safe/short passes. but man, he throws a pretty deep ball. with his gunslinger mentality, he makes gunslinger mistakes. not afraid to throw into quadruple coverage. both can run. not in a Mike Vick super mobile way, but both can pull it and hurt you with the feet (when healthy). both have had health issue. i think most of us would prefer to see the freshman, but no telling who you'll see
--Receivers: some big/athletic receivers. some good posession receivers. every one can have a big play...but more likely, everyone could pull out big metal skillets for hands and turn an easy first down into a punt

our most likely route to offensive success is to pound it away and wear you down. based on my VERY limited NIU knowledge, i'd be shocked if we had an offensive explosion. more likely, we'd prefer to manage the clock, get a couple of long scoring drives and play solid defense
(i'll try to be back with more later)

Thanks for the summary. Given our run defense I would say UAB would have a very hard time pounding it and wearing us down on the ground. Our run D only gives up 110 yards/game, and while it didn't have its best game against Buffalo we still only gave up 142 yards on 42 carries (3.4 yards/carry). Based on what I have read thus far it looks like UAB and NIU are mirror images of each other.

"It's hard to go against the Blazers and coach Bill Clark, [/b]especially given NIU's bowl struggles under Rod Carey[b]." (http://www.espn.com/college-football/sto...-matchup). I know I am tired of that rep. and hope the players and coaches are also!

i concur. i dont think its an easy route to success (for us)...but the most likely.

there is a chance our OC comes out trying to sling it deep on every 1st down, but i dont see that going well for us

(12-02-2018 08:50 PM)Smaug Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 08:20 PM)LairDweller Wrote:  Briefly, our starters are pretty good everywhere, but depth is a real issue (as you'd expect, not having a team 2 years ago).
--Offensive line: very experienced, solid unit. the strength of our offense. in our final regular season game, pretty much every starter was hurt, ill, or got thrown out for stupidity in the 1st half. that was THE difference between our 2 games with MTSU
--RB: Jordan Howard is our workhorse. Freshman all conference last year, will become all time leading rusher early next season (as a junior). also out in first game with MTSU. Power back with great vision and patience. A hit you in the face and wear you down type back. Not a threat in the breakaway speed dept. Other backs are just the opposite. They change pace, but overall, not super productive
--QB: starter for most of the season is a senior, game manager. When healthy, he hits short routes with consistency, but not a threat on the long ball. After piling up injuries, the freshman started. i think most of us agree that he has the far greater upside. with inexperience, he doesnt check down very well and hit the safe/short passes. but man, he throws a pretty deep ball. with his gunslinger mentality, he makes gunslinger mistakes. not afraid to throw into quadruple coverage. both can run. not in a Mike Vick super mobile way, but both can pull it and hurt you with the feet (when healthy). both have had health issue. i think most of us would prefer to see the freshman, but no telling who you'll see
--Receivers: some big/athletic receivers. some good posession receivers. every one can have a big play...but more likely, everyone could pull out big metal skillets for hands and turn an easy first down into a punt

our most likely route to offensive success is to pound it away and wear you down.
based on my VERY limited NIU knowledge, i'd be shocked if we had an offensive explosion. more likely, we'd prefer to manage the clock, get a couple of long scoring drives and play solid defense
(i'll try to be back with more later)

Jordan Howard is a Chicago Bear.

Anywho, I'm looking forward to it. I've had a soft spot for NIU ever since they ran UAB's rural sister campus in Tuscaloosa out of the stadium. 2000? 2001?

2003. One of our best teams ever, going 10-2. Got screwed with no bowl game that year though.

(12-02-2018 07:55 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 07:18 PM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 05:50 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  This is the “Cheribundi” Boca Raton Bowl.

Show of hands. Be honest. Who knows what Cheribundi is without Googling like I just did?

I remember Al, Peggy, Bud and Kelly. I do not remember Cheri.

(12-02-2018 06:10 PM)Big Redd Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 04:15 PM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Excited for this game. Always have respected the hell out of NIU. Should be a heck of a matchup.

Should be a good one. Congrats on the conference championship. What do we need to know about UAB? Respect program for coming back so strong but admit I know nothing about this year's team.

The first thing that stands out about UAB is they have only given up 200 points this year. Huskies have given up 280.

I was actually thinking it might be the love child of Cher and Al Bundy.

I was trying to figure out who Jared Birmingham is/was and why he had a bowl named after him. Found him. I'd be pi$$ed if I was sponsoring a bowl and they spelled my name wrong.

Wonder if he is going to perform?

Jared Birmingham Bowl: Memphis vs. Wake Forest

https://www.jarrodbirmingham.com/

(12-02-2018 08:43 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 04:15 PM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Excited for this game. Always have respected the hell out of NIU. Should be a heck of a matchup.

Can't believe UAB has built up so fast. To cancel program and be back as CHAMPS in so short of time is incredible. Clark should be Coach of the Year hands down.

Appreciate it. I’ll admit, we did get some breaks from the NCAA on recruiting for that down time, so we’re not exactly sure what the future holds, but I think we all expect to be a consistent bowl team at minimum, as long as Clark is here and we play in C-USA. Most of us are just living in the moment though, and enjoying this ride after everything we’ve been through.

NIU has always been a program I’ve admired. Seems like you guys are ALWAYS in contention for the conference championship. Plus, I remember watching Garrett Wolfe tear it up 10+ years ago. He and Chandler Harnish (I believe that’s his name) are two of my favorite college players that I’ve seen in my 10-15 years of watching the sport.

(12-02-2018 09:13 PM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 08:43 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 04:15 PM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Excited for this game. Always have respected the hell out of NIU. Should be a heck of a matchup.

Can't believe UAB has built up so fast. To cancel program and be back as CHAMPS in so short of time is incredible. Clark should be Coach of the Year hands down.

Appreciate it. I’ll admit, we did get some breaks from the NCAA on recruiting for that down time, so we’re not exactly sure what the future holds, but I think we all expect to be a consistent bowl team at minimum, as long as Clark is here and we play in C-USA. Most of us are just living in the moment though, and enjoying this ride after everything we’ve been through.

NIU has always been a program I’ve admired. Seems like you guys are ALWAYS in contention for the conference championship. Plus, I remember watching Garrett Wolfe tear it up 10+ years ago. He and Chandler Harnish (I believe that’s his name) are two of my favorite college players that I’ve seen in my 10-15 years of watching the sport.

Wolfe is still my favorite player though Jordan Lynch is right there also. And Harnish is up there as well.

(12-02-2018 08:50 PM)Smaug Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 08:20 PM)LairDweller Wrote:  Briefly, our starters are pretty good everywhere, but depth is a real issue (as you'd expect, not having a team 2 years ago).
--Offensive line: very experienced, solid unit. the strength of our offense. in our final regular season game, pretty much every starter was hurt, ill, or got thrown out for stupidity in the 1st half. that was THE difference between our 2 games with MTSU
--RB: Jordan Howard is our workhorse. Freshman all conference last year, will become all time leading rusher early next season (as a junior). also out in first game with MTSU. Power back with great vision and patience. A hit you in the face and wear you down type back. Not a threat in the breakaway speed dept. Other backs are just the opposite. They change pace, but overall, not super productive
--QB: starter for most of the season is a senior, game manager. When healthy, he hits short routes with consistency, but not a threat on the long ball. After piling up injuries, the freshman started. i think most of us agree that he has the far greater upside. with inexperience, he doesnt check down very well and hit the safe/short passes. but man, he throws a pretty deep ball. with his gunslinger mentality, he makes gunslinger mistakes. not afraid to throw into quadruple coverage. both can run. not in a Mike Vick super mobile way, but both can pull it and hurt you with the feet (when healthy). both have had health issue. i think most of us would prefer to see the freshman, but no telling who you'll see
--Receivers: some big/athletic receivers. some good posession receivers. every one can have a big play...but more likely, everyone could pull out big metal skillets for hands and turn an easy first down into a punt

our most likely route to offensive success is to pound it away and wear you down.
based on my VERY limited NIU knowledge, i'd be shocked if we had an offensive explosion. more likely, we'd prefer to manage the clock, get a couple of long scoring drives and play solid defense
(i'll try to be back with more later)

Jordan Howard is a Chicago Bear.

Anywho, I'm looking forward to it. I've had a soft spot for NIU ever since they ran UAB's rural sister campus in Tuscaloosa out of the stadium. 2000? 2001?

2003, actually. I watch this occasionally when I'm having a bad day. Cheers me up. Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqZosKoCSos

Great memories!

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