Reviewing the travesty that was the 2007 All-MAC Football Team

Here's something I was just browsing over again:

When the MAC All-Conference team was voted on by the MAC's 12 coaches:

1st Team:
DL Larry English, JR

2nd Team:
RB Justin Anderson, SO

3rd Team:
OL Jon Brost, JR


Wait just one second here. Where are WR Matt Simon and SS Alex Kube? They played well enough to be on 3rd or even 2nd-1st team at their respected positions.

Let's take a glance at Matt Simon's stats for the year:

52 rec
969 yds
18.63 avg
5 tds
4.3 rec/g
80.8 ypg

Now let's look at this jokester that made 3rd team All-MAC:

Buffalo WR Naaman Roosevelt:

63 rec
766 yds
12.16 avg
4 tds
5.3 rec/g
63.8 ypg

Matt is better than this guy in every single category other than receptions. It is a joke that Simon was not named 3rd Team All-MAC.

He had 203 more yds than the Buffalo WR for the year! Matt led the MAC in yards per catch with 18.63. What an embarrassment that the most consistent offensive player for the Huskies has to be shafted.


Now for SS Alex Kube. This redshirt freshman really came on the scene for the Huskies, staying healthy when everybody else was going down.

Let's take a glance at tackles by a DB in the MAC Conference:

1. Buffalo's Davonte Shannon with 123 tackles
2. NIU's Alex Kube with 111 tackles

WHAT?

Shouldn't Alex Kube be a shoe-in for 1st or 2nd team All-MAC??? Shannon is 1st Team. What about Alex? Being the 2nd best tackler for a defensive back doesn't put you in the top 12 DBs in the conference? What a farce.

Kube may have been a glorified roaming linebacker at the SS spot, but shouldn't he get some recognition inside this conference? He was the number 8 tackler in the MAC, but doesn't get the respect he deserves as our last line of defense. What a joke. I don't know if our safeties are going to get as many tackles next year as they have in past years, but I hope this snub doesn't happen again.

I guess we just live in a corner-obsessed league where interceptions are everything and strong safeties aren't going to get respect. I just hope that the NIU secondary learns how to play in the post-Doornbos era and force more turnovers so we can avoid another 2-10 season.

2 Huskies Garner MAC POY Awards

Irene Johnson Earns MAC West Player Of The Week Honors

Johnson is the second Huskie to take home such an honor this season

	Irene Johnson has totaled 196 kills and 160 digs for NIU in 2007.

Oct. 8, 2007

DeKalb, Ill. - Junior outside hitter Irene Johnson (Schaumburg, Ill. / Schaumburg) became the second NIU volleyball player this season to earn the Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week for her efforts in the Huskies' two road wins over the weekend.

Johnson joins freshman Dani D'Ambrose (Addison, Ill. / Addison Trail) as the only two Huskies to garner MAC West Player of the Week honors and has notched a personal best three straight double-doubles. On Friday, Johnson led the way for NIU with 14 kills and 12 digs in the Huskies' 3-1 win over Toledo on the road. On Saturday, Johnson also helped spark NIU's comeback from a 2-0 deficit to Ball State, leading the Huskies with 16 kills and 12 digs in the 3-2 NIU triumph over Ball State. Johnson finished the weekend with 30 kills, 24 digs, five blocks and 35 points while helping the Huskies post their third consecutive MAC win and second win in 15 years at Ball State's John E. Worthen Arena.

"It's great for Irene and the program for her success this past week," said NIU head coach Ray Gooden. She has done a good job offensively and defensively for us. It's great to see her rewarded by the conference. We're fortunate now to have multiple kids win the award."

On the season, Johnson ranks third on the Huskies and sixth in the MAC with an average of 4.18 kills per MAC contest. Johnson also ranks sixth in the MAC and second on NIU with 4.73 digs per MAC contest.

The Huskies face Akron on Friday, October 12 at 5 p.m. in Akron, Ohio.

Not to be outdone...

Van Buren's Shutouts Earn MAC Accolades

Senior Brian Van Buren shut out two opponents and contributed an assist last weekend.

	Brian Van Buren recorded the first and second shutouts of his NIU career last weekend.

Oct. 8, 2007

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference has named Northern Illinois goalkeeper Brian Van Buren its Men's Soccer Player of The Week, the conference announced Monday.

Van Buren (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) recorded three saves in two shutout victories for the Huskies, the first and second shutouts of his career. To open the weekend, Northern Illinois defeated MAC opponent Western Michigan 4-0 in a game in which Van Buren faced four shots. Two days later, the senior keeper recorded three saves and assisted the game-winning goal in the Huskies' 1-0 victory over Western Illinois.

"Brian has trained hard his entire NIU career to be at his peak when called upon, and that hard work paid off last weekend," Huskie head coach Steve Simmons said.

Van Buren has now allowed only one goal in 270 minutes between the pipes.

The Huskies return to action Saturday at 6:30 p.m. (CST) to face No. 28 Akron in Akron, Ohio.

BTW, it was just announced that the NIU @ Wisconsin game will be played Saturday October 20 @ 11 AM and will be shown on the Big 10 Network

DE Larry English is Nagurski Player of the Week

LARRY ENGLISH EATING THE IDAHO QB FOR DINNER

Here is the complete release:

DALLAS (FWAA) – Northern Illinois end Larry English has been named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week for games the weekend of Sept. 22.

English, a 6-3, 254-pound junior from Aurora, Ill., had a school-record five sacks and five quarterback pressures in the Huskies' 42-35 victory at Idaho. He also caused a fumble that he recovered for a touchdown and registered a pass break up. Overall, he had 12 tackles, 10 unassisted and his sacks accounted for 34 yards in losses.

English already is on the 2007 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be presented to the best defensive player in college football on Dec. 3 by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C.

Each week during the 2007 season the FWAA All-America Committee will select a national defensive player of the week from nominations made by the 11 Division I Bowl Subdivision Conferences and major independents.

Last season Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis won the coveted Bronko Nagurski Trophy during the 12th season the FWAA has named a Defensive Player of the Year.

What's good Joe?

"He made a lot of big plays for us at Idaho," said head coach Joe Novak. "Sometimes you can have five sacks and they might be at garbage time, but Larry's were all big and at key times. It was an outstanding game for him."

English's performance vaulted him to the top of the MAC's sack rankings and placed him second nationally. His 19 career sacks are tied for third on NIU's all-time list.

Sam Hurd!

#17 doin what he does best:



Also had a catch for 25 yds. It just had to be against the Bears though...and where was Wolfe???

Oh and DE Larry English was named MAC West Defensive Player Of The Week as expected.



NOW CHECK OUT THIS MELVIN RICE-LARRY ENGLISH SANDWICH:



...and watch Chase Carter take it to the house

MAC WEST DIVISION AWARDS - WEEK 1

Additional Nominations – West Division

Special Teams

Chris Nendick, PK-P, Northern Illinois (Nendick scored in his school record 38th consecutive game with a 33-yard field goal vs. Iowa for the Huskies only points on the day. In an emergency role, he stepped in for the injured punter Andy Dittbenner and booted seven punts for a 43.4 average in his first collegiate game as a punter. Nendick booted his initial punt 55 yards and dropped it at the Iowa five-yard line.).

I find it pretty funny 2 punters got Special Teams awards for MAC West teams.