Which do I hate more...
The Toledo Rockets...or NIU Business School Midterms?
The answer is...
By a nosehair...I really don't think I did so well on that test...I feel like Dan Nicholson after the Wisconsin game. Ouch. Rather than reading articles on NIU, I've been studying and studying until my eyes bleed.
If there's one team that I despise in the Mid-American Conference, it's the pathetic team in Ohio called the Toledo Rockets.
Toledo is NIU's biggest rival in the Mid-American Conference. Do the Toledo Rockets see it as a rivalry? Not as much or not at all.
Joe Novak says it's a rivalry (Chronicle):
“Toledo, from at least our perspective, has turned into a big rival game,” Novak said. “The games have had such importance every year. When you are struggling, it's important to have a game like this.”
Transfer Chase Carter has also heard some stories:
"I've heard about Toledo and the rivalry but I don't personally know much about it. I do know that NIU and Toledo have a long history and we need to get this win. I could tell from our meetings this week that this is a big game and we need to get ready to play."
The Rockets are the opposite of the Huskies, ranking 4th in the conference scoring 30.4 ppg, whereas we are last with a PATHETIC 17.0 ppg. 114th nationally.
Toledo also has something we don't have which is tremendous depth at the quarterback position. Their top 2 QBs Aaron Opelt & Clint Cochran have gone down and have used Lenehan played 2 weeks ago. Opelt is back as their starter this week healed from his calf injury.
In the last game, UT forced 8 turnovers and RB Jalen Parmele ran the ball 38 times for 241 and garnered MAC player of the week.
Here's a little history of the rivalry (Game Notes)
ROCKETS 'N DOGS: The Huskies and Rockets meet for the 35th time and for the 19th time in Toledo. NIU is just 2-16 versus the Rockets in Toledo and has won only seven of the 34 meetings overall, but snapped an 11-game losing streak to UT the last time the teams played in the Glass Bowl with a 35-17 win in 2005 behind then back-up QB Dan Nichsolson. Toledo won the first four games between the teams (from 1967-71), and nine of the first 10 games, with Northern Illinois earning its first series win in 1972. Prior to the 2005 game, NIU's last win over the Rockets was in 1989.
Might we have a revenge factor? (Weekly Quotes)
Joe hasn't forgotten the "fog game"
"Last year's loss was one of the tougher losses that I have had here. This is not a personal thing, it's a team thing, but personally it was one of the toughest that I have been through because of the way it ended. It is always so tight anyway and to lose like that was difficult."
THE LAST MEETING: Northern Illinois mis-fired on four tries from the Toledo two-yard line in the final moments of the game as the Huskies dropped a 17-13 decision to Toledo on a foggy Thursday night in DeKalb. The Rockets built a 17-10 halftime lead and made it stand as the two teams could manage just a field goal in the second half. Britt Davis caught nine passes for 163 yards and three NIU defenders registered double figures in tackles, led by Tim McCarthy with 16.
Oh great Britt Davis & Tim McCarthy aren't even playing right now. What are we gonna do?
We're SO bad at so many things. The Chronicle sums it up:
The 1-7 record is just one of a series of ghoulish numbers for Northern Illinois In this week's FBS team statistics, the Huskies rank:
117th in kickoff returns (17.39 ypr),
116th in third down (28.6 percent) and fourth down offense efficiency (22.2) and turnover margin (minus-1.50),
114th in scoring offense (17.0 ppg),
113th in turnovers lost (23),
108th in passes had intercepted (14),
107th in time of possession (27:56),
106th in punt return yardage defense (14.06 ypr),
105th in total offense (322.13 ypg),
103rd in passing efficiency (108.32),
98th in net punting (32.42 ypp),
94th in turnovers gained (11) and fumbles lost (9),
93rd in rushing defense (191.5 ypg) and
91st in passing offense (188.9 ypg).
Our offense will make Toledo's 118th ranked D look like the Chicago Bears D circa 1985!
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