We’re on the eve of another college football season. The teams have been practicing and preparing for the next 4 months of fun. The Bucks had their fall jersey scrimmage yesterday with the defense pulling out a W on the last play, 66-65 retaining the scarlet jerseys until spring. Bucknuts has a great story about the scrimmage with all the gory detail posted here.
Everyone is focused on Texas and Iowa as opponents in the month of September, but the first game and the one all attention should be focused toward is Northern Illinois. Sept 2 the Huskies will take the field in Columbus and it’s not realistic to view this team as a practice squad that the Bucks will simply roll over. On paper, it’s a mismatch. But, experience tells us that weird things happen in early season games. NIU returns a talented tailback in Garrett Wolfe and a pretty deep and experienced offensive line. I don’t think this one is decided until late 3rd quarter with the Buckeyes winning 34-24 in a game closer and tougher than anyone anticipated.
On a related note, English Premiership soccer (football for you Brits) returns this weekend. Chelsea (my adopted team as it seems to irritate those in the know) takes on Manchester City tomorrow. I expect a thorough thrashing with the Blues winning 3 nil. We’ll see!
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14 days to OSU/NIU
08.19.06 | 2 Comments
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I think your comments are very fair and accurate. The Huskies are not your run-of-the-mill mid-major patsies and have regularly beaten BCS schools who are no longer willing to play in DeKalb. NIU has competed quite well with the Illini and nearby UW for local talent in recent years and the results have been showing. NIU is a big school only an hour from Chicago that has just been coming into its own the last few years in football, making it up to #12 at one point in 2003. This is not Eastern or Western Cupcake that is coming to town, this is a real program.
Although I expect OSU’s potent offense to move the ball against Northern and most of the Big Ten as well, NIU has two All-American candidates on offense going up against a talented but young OSU defense with only two returning starters. Northern also has an outstanding kicker, and a senior QB with impressive stats in Phil Horvath.
NIU’s Wolfe ran for 176 yards against UMich last year and UM won the game only because of five turnovers in their favor. Look for Northern to beat the spread and appear in the Top 25 by mid-season. Definitely a team and game worth NOT overlooking which I am going to enjoy.
Great comment Bob, I didn’t know about the kicker. I expect a competitive game that will be fun to watch. Can’t wait!