(10-21-2019 10:56 AM)Jb 94 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 09:41 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 09:05 AM)Jb 94 Wrote:  Noted on the defense...although for both Ball State, and Ohio, too many plays big plays where we're not prepared..in other words outcoached.


On the other side, if you are going to do a complete overhaul of what you had been doing ( dual threat qb/ jet sweeps/ keep the clock moving), you better make sure it does not backfire on you, and you are 2 -5.


Whether, you liked our former system or not you cannot argue, based on success, that we had bottled the formula for being the best in the MAC - not the preetiest.


Now we are at the bottom of the MAC and still not the prettiest. You don't argue with success..I guess winning football games are not for everybody

Yea with Carey that was the safe bet since he wasn't going to change up the formula that had been working, and the personnel was selected for that. This is a big shake-up in the offense, and so far this is not working. Though missing your top 4 LBs and your starting QB among others is a tough road.

:Begs the question, why would you want a shake up, when you were at the top of what you do?

Being at the top of the MAC is a good thing, but it's like being the tallest midget. NIU wants to go to the next level, like a Boise State. Winning bowl games, winning OOC games, and flirting with the top 25 every so often is important.(think NIU 2013 and 2014)

I was not a Rod hater but I don't think he was going to take NIU to the next level.
Coach Hammock has the drive to do that, and hopefully this year is his learning year.

Hey, I love, and root for the Huskies, no more or less then anyone on the board..we all care, and have every right to own, and express, our options, thoughts, and idea.

Regarding the obsession of Carey, by most people one way or the other..I don't get he is long gone. His legacy is done, and if you wish to argue with accomplishments not being elite..keep doing it..winning is not for everyone. When I discuss NIU coaching, I am looking at a philosophy which was started by Novack, through Kill, Doreen, and Carey. I defend this for obvious reasons it worked. Legitimate reason to second guess this staff

In all due respect regarding " the next level", when we're we ever close to this. I have been watching for 31 years, and other then catching lightning in a bottle with Lynch, we were never in line for " an upgrade"...for obvious reasons, attendance, horrible basketball program.

We were what we were, and that was so cool.


What we are now, not as cool. Go Huskies

Exactly. And anyone who still maintains this is a "transition" year either isn't paying attention or lacks basic comprehensive skills. Or they're so full of themselves and their alleged expertise they can't see straight. New HC, new staff, new offense, major shift from run to pass ... add defensive injuries, questionable play calling/coaching, special teams disaster ... and now some suspensions. If it wasn't a "rebuild," it is now.

That said, I refuse to live off recalls of how things used to be under the former Coach-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. This is our team, this is where it's at, and we support what it is and (hopefully) where it's going. That, imo, is being a true Huskies fan. The rest is just ego-trolling.

Been through a ton of ups and downs, and still and always a fan. That said, again, I'll be looking for positive indicators, trends that are moving NIU toward that "next level" next year, or the next or the next. That's the lot of a Huskies fan. (Maybe that's why I've been a Cubs fan as long as an NIU fan. Oh well.)

If this p--s-s anyone off, too bad. Huskies fans have always had to be realists. When I have visions, it's isn't about the Big12. Not going to happen. But similar to Boise State, UCF?? Every year in the conversation about the Access Bowl/NY6? Possible. I'd love to be having debates on this board every year about how NIU is going to do against P5-whoever around New Year's.

There is no "next level". Never was. Not like some hope. Not like UCF or Boise. Budget alone tells you thats not possible. Right now we hope to be the next Appalachian State. They are on a 5 year run of averaging 10 win's a season and have won their last 4 bowl games. And they were hoping to be the next NIU when they started it. The NIU's and App State's are trying to overachieve into the top G5. The top of the G5 like UCF and Boise are trying to overachieve into the P5.

Former Novak players eventually figure it out:

(Wikipedia) Fleck’s first season as Broncos head coach resulted in a final record of 1–11 (1–7 Mid-American Conference (MAC)). It was the program's worst season since 2004, when the Broncos went 1–10 (0–7 MAC). Injuries, youth and inexperience, discipline, and execution led to poor play.[20] Low-lights included a home loss to Nicholls State, a blowout loss to Iowa, and a homecoming loss to Buffalo. The team improved their play late in the season, with a road win against UMass, and close home losses to in-state rivals Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan.[21]

Despite the on-field difficulties in 2013, Fleck and his staff succeeded off the field by signing a highly ranked recruiting class. Observers noted that it was possibly the best recruiting class in WMU history, and the best in the MAC since 2000.[22][23] Rivals.com had the WMU class ranked highest among "mid-major" programs for 2014, with 247Sports.com ranking the class 36th-best nationally for 2015.[24]

(I don’t think it will get this bad for us, but I’m going to trust this process even though losing sucks)

(10-21-2019 08:27 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  There is no "next level". Never was. Not like some hope. Not like UCF or Boise. Budget alone tells you thats not possible. Right now we hope to be the next Appalachian State. They are on a 5 year run of averaging 10 win's a season and have won their last 4 bowl games. And they were hoping to be the next NIU when they started it. The NIU's and App State's are trying to overachieve into the top G5. The top of the G5 like UCF and Boise are trying to overachieve into the P5.

Funny you should mention App State. I almost added them to my Boise & UCF comment. Don't recall why I didn't, but you're correct about that part.

As for "some hope" I dismissed the B12 dream some have. I do not think it's impossible to be a regular winner of "minor" bowls and maybe aspire to the Access/NY6. My wild personal guess is that's what App State has in mind also ... top of the G5.

As far as P5, no. No budget for it, and too many others in "front" of NIU.

(10-21-2019 10:57 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 08:27 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  There is no "next level". Never was. Not like some hope. Not like UCF or Boise. Budget alone tells you thats not possible. Right now we hope to be the next Appalachian State. They are on a 5 year run of averaging 10 win's a season and have won their last 4 bowl games. And they were hoping to be the next NIU when they started it. The NIU's and App State's are trying to overachieve into the top G5. The top of the G5 like UCF and Boise are trying to overachieve into the P5.

Funny you should mention App State. I almost added them to my Boise & UCF comment. Don't recall why I didn't, but you're correct about that part.

As for "some hope" I dismissed the B12 dream some have. I do not think it's impossible to be a regular winner of "minor" bowls and maybe aspire to the Access/NY6. My wild personal guess is that's what App State has in mind also ... top of the G5.

As far as P5, no. No budget for it, and too many others in "front" of NIU.

App State? A school that hasn’t even been FBS for five years and plays in the worst conference in the country. App State only has one P5 win over the last decade. How many does NIU have during that span? I know NIU is down this season but this is extreme. Prior to App State, Arkansas State was the top of that conference. These things move around so this is a stretch. NIU has been a leader in the MAC for almost two decades.

I guess people forget that a decade before the Orange Bowl NIU was up to #12 in the polls. NIU has climbed the mountain multiple times in its history and they will again.

"Childers is still not the QB for this team. He became the starter with a 10-0 lead in the 2nd quarter and we scored only 14 points the rest of the game."

How soon some forget! 2 weeks early (at home) midway through the 2nd quarter Bowers had a 14-3 lead AND the ball at the 1 yard line on 2nd down. Bowers was sacked for a 5 yard loss on 2nd down. We lost 27-20. That loss was on Hammock.

With Bowers out injured, maybe, just maybe, Hammock didn't allow Childers to run to avoid going to the 3rd string QB. Regardless, shouldn't you blame the coach when your running QB ain't running! That loss was on Hammock.

(10-22-2019 12:02 PM)El Duderino Wrote:  "Childers is still not the QB for this team. He became the starter with a 10-0 lead in the 2nd quarter and we scored only 14 points the rest of the game."

How soon some forget! 2 weeks early (at home) midway through the 2nd quarter Bowers had a 14-3 lead AND the ball at the 1 yard line on 2nd down. Bowers was sacked for a 5 yard loss on 2nd down. We lost 27-20. That loss was on Hammock.

With Bowers out injured, maybe, just maybe, Hammock didn't allow Childers to run to avoid going to the 3rd string QB. Regardless, shouldn't you blame the coach when your running QB ain't running! That loss was on Hammock.

Good point. Hopefully the Akron game will go well enough that Anthony Thompson can get some reps. The injuries seem to be stacking up this year.

(10-22-2019 11:09 AM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 10:57 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 08:27 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  There is no "next level". Never was. Not like some hope. Not like UCF or Boise. Budget alone tells you thats not possible. Right now we hope to be the next Appalachian State. They are on a 5 year run of averaging 10 win's a season and have won their last 4 bowl games. And they were hoping to be the next NIU when they started it. The NIU's and App State's are trying to overachieve into the top G5. The top of the G5 like UCF and Boise are trying to overachieve into the P5.

Funny you should mention App State. I almost added them to my Boise & UCF comment. Don't recall why I didn't, but you're correct about that part.

As for "some hope" I dismissed the B12 dream some have. I do not think it's impossible to be a regular winner of "minor" bowls and maybe aspire to the Access/NY6. My wild personal guess is that's what App State has in mind also ... top of the G5.

As far as P5, no. No budget for it, and too many others in "front" of NIU.

App State? A school that hasn’t even been FBS for five years and plays in the worst conference in the country. App State only has one P5 win over the last decade. How many does NIU have during that span? I know NIU is down this season but this is extreme. Prior to App State, Arkansas State was the top of that conference. These things move around so this is a stretch. NIU has been a leader in the MAC for almost two decades.

I guess people forget that a decade before the Orange Bowl NIU was up to #12 in the polls. NIU has climbed the mountain multiple times in its history and they will again.

Yes, App State. Look what they've accomplished in the short time they've been FBS. They lost Coach Satterfield to Louisville and kept right on going with new HC Drinkwitz after winning 3 Sun Belt titles in a row. And the same could be said for UCF and USF ... not too many years ago, they were nobodies in FBS too. The point is not what they were, but where they're going.

No one "forgot" the BCS Orange Bowl (I still have the bowl ball cap in my collection) or the #12 ranking, but that was how many years ago? And how many bowl games has NIU lost in a row now? Northern did not capitalize.

Read my post previous to the one you cited. Tell me Huskies fans would not want to be where App State, Boise State and UCF are right now. The teams that capitalize on their successes are the ones we keep hearing about.

It can be done, and I think Hammock can do it. I hope he will do it. I have faith he will do it.

(10-22-2019 12:02 PM)El Duderino Wrote:  "Childers is still not the QB for this team. He became the starter with a 10-0 lead in the 2nd quarter and we scored only 14 points the rest of the game."

How soon some forget! 2 weeks early (at home) midway through the 2nd quarter Bowers had a 14-3 lead AND the ball at the 1 yard line on 2nd down. Bowers was sacked for a 5 yard loss on 2nd down. We lost 27-20. That loss was on Hammock.

With Bowers out injured, maybe, just maybe, Hammock didn't allow Childers to run to avoid going to the 3rd string QB. Regardless, shouldn't you blame the coach when your running QB ain't running! That loss was on Hammock.

I think Childers didn't run because he was told to pass. Eidsness tried to run an offense built around Bowers's passing but with Childers at qb. Two different skillsets. Hopefully an adjustment is made. That 71-yard run by Childers vs. Ohio sticks in my mind.

(10-22-2019 02:15 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(10-22-2019 12:02 PM)El Duderino Wrote:  "Childers is still not the QB for this team. He became the starter with a 10-0 lead in the 2nd quarter and we scored only 14 points the rest of the game."

How soon some forget! 2 weeks early (at home) midway through the 2nd quarter Bowers had a 14-3 lead AND the ball at the 1 yard line on 2nd down. Bowers was sacked for a 5 yard loss on 2nd down. We lost 27-20. That loss was on Hammock.

With Bowers out injured, maybe, just maybe, Hammock didn't allow Childers to run to avoid going to the 3rd string QB. Regardless, shouldn't you blame the coach when your running QB ain't running! That loss was on Hammock.

I think Childers didn't run because he was told to pass. Eidsness tried to run an offense built around Bowers's passing but with Childers at qb. Two different skillsets. Hopefully an adjustment is made. That 71-yard run by Childers vs. Ohio sticks in my mind.

I feel like that's right, Childers would have 100 percent taken off running on a few of those plays

(10-22-2019 02:14 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(10-22-2019 11:09 AM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 10:57 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 08:27 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  There is no "next level". Never was. Not like some hope. Not like UCF or Boise. Budget alone tells you thats not possible. Right now we hope to be the next Appalachian State. They are on a 5 year run of averaging 10 win's a season and have won their last 4 bowl games. And they were hoping to be the next NIU when they started it. The NIU's and App State's are trying to overachieve into the top G5. The top of the G5 like UCF and Boise are trying to overachieve into the P5.

Funny you should mention App State. I almost added them to my Boise & UCF comment. Don't recall why I didn't, but you're correct about that part.

As for "some hope" I dismissed the B12 dream some have. I do not think it's impossible to be a regular winner of "minor" bowls and maybe aspire to the Access/NY6. My wild personal guess is that's what App State has in mind also ... top of the G5.

As far as P5, no. No budget for it, and too many others in "front" of NIU.

App State? A school that hasn’t even been FBS for five years and plays in the worst conference in the country. App State only has one P5 win over the last decade. How many does NIU have during that span? I know NIU is down this season but this is extreme. Prior to App State, Arkansas State was the top of that conference. These things move around so this is a stretch. NIU has been a leader in the MAC for almost two decades.

I guess people forget that a decade before the Orange Bowl NIU was up to #12 in the polls. NIU has climbed the mountain multiple times in its history and they will again.

Yes, App State. Look what they've accomplished in the short time they've been FBS. They lost Coach Satterfield to Louisville and kept right on going with new HC Drinkwitz after winning 3 Sun Belt titles in a row. And the same could be said for UCF and USF ... not too many years ago, they were nobodies in FBS too. The point is not what they were, but where they're going.

No one "forgot" the BCS Orange Bowl (I still have the bowl ball cap in my collection) or the #12 ranking, but that was how many years ago? And how many bowl games has NIU lost in a row now? Northern did not capitalize.

Read my post previous to the one you cited. Tell me Huskies fans would not want to be where App State, Boise State and UCF are right now. The teams that capitalize on their successes are the ones we keep hearing about.

It can be done, and I think Hammock can do it. I hope he will do it. I have faith he will do it.

App State isn’t on the same level as Boise or UCF. Their bowl wins were against Toledo (2x) and Ohio. What is impressive about that? NIU beats those teams regularly.

Their new coach is a first year coach. Remember when Carey took over at NIU? He started out 12 - 0, beat two P5 teams, and had NIU ranked as high as #16. Let’s see what happens when all the prior coach’s players start cycling out.

UCF has been good ever since leaving the MAC. They won multiple CUSA titles and beat Georgia in the 2010 Liberty Bowl before joining the AAC. They have since made three NY6 bowls and won two of them. Boise has an even better resume and has been doing it even longer. Putting App State in the same tier as those two is insulting to both of those programs. The resumes aren’t even close.

Me, earlier post: "Funny you should mention App State. I almost added them to my Boise & UCF comment." Someone else did and I added a comment since APP State has done pretty well.

The bottom line is about NIU and "continuity" and consistency. Going 0-6 in bowls since 2012 is not good. App State is 4-0 and 47-11 since going FBS. Four years from now, how would we feel about those stats for the Huskies? Stretch that to 10 years, just for fun. That to me is the "next level," and throw in an Access/NY6 bowl or two in in there.

(10-22-2019 05:38 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Me, earlier post: "Funny you should mention App State. I almost added them to my Boise & UCF comment." Someone else did and I added a comment since APP State has done pretty well.

The bottom line is about NIU and "continuity" and consistency. Going 6-0 in bowls since 2012 is not good. App State is 4-0 and 47-11 since going FBS. Four years from now, how would we feel about those stats for the Huskies? Stretch that to 10 years, just for fun. That to me is the "next level," and throw in an Access/NY6 bowl or two in in there.

Have you ever looked at who App State has beat OOC since going FBS? Outside of North Carolina this year, their only P5 win, it’s not all that impressive and doesn’t seem very next level to me.

2014: Campbell
2015: Howard, Old Dominion, Wyoming
2016: Old Dominion, Akron
2017: Savannah State, Idaho, (lost to UMass)
2018: Charlotte, Gardner Webb
2019: East Tennesee State, Charlotte, North Carolina

The only reason, imo, that App State got brought into the conversation -- regardless of who they played in the past -- is what they are doing right now. They are 6-0 and #21 in the latest AP Top 25 poll.

I am not obsessed with App State, Boise State, UCF, etc etc etc, so I am getting off that train. I am a Huskies fan trying to make a point about continuity and what I think is the "next level" for NIU. That's what this thread is about.

To consistently win the division and conference cg AND win some bowls over a period of several years is next. To build a stronger, more reliable brand that gets into the Top 25, and becomes and stays a part of the upper-level G5 discussion, especially concerning the Access/NY6 bowl.

I hope that at least some of that is what we all want.

(10-22-2019 06:33 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(10-22-2019 05:38 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Me, earlier post: "Funny you should mention App State. I almost added them to my Boise & UCF comment." Someone else did and I added a comment since APP State has done pretty well.

The bottom line is about NIU and "continuity" and consistency. Going 6-0 in bowls since 2012 is not good. App State is 4-0 and 47-11 since going FBS. Four years from now, how would we feel about those stats for the Huskies? Stretch that to 10 years, just for fun. That to me is the "next level," and throw in an Access/NY6 bowl or two in in there.

Have you ever looked at who App State has beat OOC since going FBS? Outside of North Carolina this year, their only P5 win, it’s not all that impressive and doesn’t seem very next level to me.

2014: Campbell
2015: Howard, Old Dominion, Wyoming
2016: Old Dominion, Akron
2017: Savannah State, Idaho, (lost to UMass)
2018: Charlotte, Gardner Webb
2019: East Tennesee State, Charlotte, North Carolina

They're not next level. They're our level, They're succeeding at our level. App.'s SOS over their last 5 years is more difficult than NIUs SOS from 2010-2014. Wen NIU was "next leveling" they did just what App is doing now. Played no one. NIUs SOS over those glory years averaged 113/123. So only 10 teams had easier scheduling than NIU. App's avg. is 109/129. They have had a slightly tougher schedule. When NIU's scheduling got tougher, 2015- present with an avg. of 87/128, the big seasons disappeared. Obviously no Lynch and Harnish is as big a factor, but it's no coincidence. Tougher scheduling = less wins. Boise's avg over the last 5 years is around 80/128. UCF is 96/128.

The App's and NIU's of the world recipe for success is crap scheduling. App has a student body of 19K and athletic budget of $35 mil. NIU is 16k and $26 mil. UCF is 60k and and $60 mil.

We are much much closer to App state., Marshall and W.Kent than the top G5's. The sooner Huskie fans realize this the more I think they'll enjoy NIU football again. APP may run the table and go to a NY6 bowl. It doesn't mean they're moving up a level. It means they used the same formula NIU did to succeed.

I'm almost sorry anyone ever mentioned App State, and even sorrier I picked up on it. But you're right, imo.

NIU schedule's $$ games for obvious reasons, then goes 1-2, 03, etc., and collects the paychecks. NIU needs to focus on the fan gameday experience at Huskie Stadium. Forget the weekday night games; take what we can get. If I had the money the one thing I'd buy is a bigger video scoreboard. Compete with the big-screen at home. Touchdown Village a nice touch (no pun intended). Make the games fun to be at. BTW, where is the student tailgate area? Do they even have one?

And gotta say I'd be thrilled if NIU succeeded again at that formula you mentioned.