So why is NIU suppose to be so good?

[CyCloned]

I see a lot of talk about how impressive Northern IL is going to be, but I just don't get it. They have 8 starters back on offense but only 4 on defense. Some of the new starters are juniors and seniors, but that doesn't guarantee they are good. Looking at last years success for Northern IL it appears that they mostly won with defense. They generate 2 games worth of offense against Eastern MI, which must have been the worst team in D-1 by a long shot. I am not saying that they will be bad, but it isn't like they have 17 starters back from a MAC championship team.

 

[isuno1fan]

We will squash like bug

 

[CycloneErik]

Dead Huskies Walking.

 

[Cyhart]

Just listened to the M&M Coach Kill interview.
I really liked the following exchange.
(paraphrasing)

Matt- So Coach a lot of people are picking you to beat Iowa State. What do you think about that?

Coach Kill- Im not stupid. I realize that Iowa state is farther along in what they are trying to do than we are. Im not an idiot.

Translation of "farther along in what they are trying to do than we are"= They are better than us.

Good for Coach for telling it like it is. I have alot of respect for him now from listening to that interview.

 

[Havs]

This thread makes me almost as nervous as this game. It's a trap with Iowa the next weekend.

 

[ISUser]

This thread makes me almost as nervous as this game. It's a trap with Iowa the next weekend.

Listen to Admiral Ackbar.

 

[Cysrevenge]

if we play like we're capable of playing then we will win by 10. if we play sloppy, turn the ball over, and make bad decisions, NIU could easily walk out of ames with a win.

My money is on the clones, but I don't think that NIU should be taken lightly

 

[cyclonedave25]

if we play like we're capable of playing then we will win by 10. if we play sloppy, turn the ball over, and make bad decisions, NIU could easily walk out of ames with a win.

My money is on the clones, but I don't think that NIU should be taken lightly

Only 10, huh? I know NIU isn't to be overlooked, but if we play like we're capable, we will win by a lot more than 10, IMO.

 

[CycloneErik]

Only 10, huh? I know NIU isn't to be overlooked, but if we play like we're capable, we will win by a lot more than 10, IMO.

I don't think it's overlooking them to say we'll win by more than 10. I think we can look right at them and say we ought to destroy that team.

We have to show up, play hard, execute and all that, but this NIU bunch isn't a team that anyone here should be thinking walks out of the Jack with a win next week. We should all be walking back to our cars enjoying a Cyclone beatdown of these Huskies.

 

[hawkeyeh8r]

why cant we just schedule crappy non conference teams like iowa does...i mean eastern illinois and ball state....doesnt get much easier than that

 

[demoncore1031]

we usually make some mistakes in the first game of the year. lets hope this does not happen. NIU is very capable of beating us, especially with their great RB... BUT... arnaud will lead us to victory!!!

 

[CycloneErik]

The records of the teams they actually beat: 17-66.

4 of those wins were against teams that won 2 games or less. A 5th was against a 3-win team.
They really aren't much to worry about.

 

[Havs]

They did get beaten pretty badly by South Florida in a bowl game. Would you say we are equal to South Florida's team last year?

 

[CycloneErik]

They did get beaten pretty badly by South Florida in a bowl game. Would you say we are equal to South Florida's team last year?

Not sure on that. I just don't see anything to be scared of.

 

[Tornado man]

Not sure on that. I just don't see anything to be scared of.

Then you must have missed their game against Wisky last year - a 28-20 game. NIU didn't look too outmanned in that one...

 

[GaryJohnson]

why cant we just schedule crappy non conference teams like iowa does...i mean eastern illinois and ball state....doesnt get much easier than that

I'd say you already do schedule "crappy non-conference teams like Iowa does." Eastern Illinois is ranked 16th: College Football - Rankings - Rivals.com
That's pretty comparable to UNI, who are 13th in that poll.

 

[CycloneErik]

Then you must have missed their game against Wisky last year - a 28-20 game. NIU didn't look too outmanned in that one...

I did. I don't spend a lot of time on Wisconsin games. But how much of a role does the Badgers grinding style play in that?

Be worried if you want. That's fine. I don't think this is a team for fans to lose sleep over.

 

[hawkeyeh8r]

I'd say you already do schedule "crappy non-conference teams like Iowa does." Eastern Illinois is ranked 16th: College Football - Rankings - Rivals.com
That's pretty comparable to UNI, who are 13th in that poll.

this year EIU may be 16th but historically UNI has been better. i dont pay any attention to the FBS unless UNI happens to make the news but i dont think EIU has made it to the FBS championship game recently

 

[Tornado man]

I did. I don't spend a lot of time on Wisconsin games. But how much of a role does the Badgers grinding style play in that?

Be worried if you want. That's fine. I don't think this is a team for fans to lose sleep over.

Wisconsin beat them through the air - it was no mis-match in the trenches. I was impressed with the physical play of Northern Ill in that game. They shut down Wisky in the fourth quarter.
I bet they're expecting to win in Ames.

 

[CycloneErik]

Looking it up here, Wisconsin Badgers 2009 Football Schedule , I would say that the Badgers tended towards close games more often than not.