Huskie tales, NIU: October 2009 Archives

Northern Illinois sophomore quarterback Chandler Harnish, who missed last week's 27-22 win at Miami due to a knee injury, apparently had an arthroscopic procedure done on his knee last Tuesday.

"He had surgery," said Kill at his weekly press conference in DeKalb. "It's not a major thing. He will be back (this season). Optimistically, there's a chance this weekend."

Kill said Harnish made the trip to Miami last Saturday and did some backpedaling and made some throws in the pre-game warmup but that he hadn't run full speed yet.

Fullback Conor Flahive also missed the Miami game with a knee injury and both he and Harnish will be re-evaluated on Wednesday, the coach said.

Harnish was injured two weeks ago during the Toledo game on Northern's final drive. Kill said he played the final five or six plays with the injury.

The Huskie defense is not immune to injury woes.

Senior free safety David Bryant was hurt at Miami, suffering a knee injury that will keep him out two to four weeks on an apparent chop block.

His backup, Mike Sobol, was also dinged with an injury Kill would not reveal, but is expected to play at home against Akron this week.

"At one time we had three (defensive backs) on the sidelines with me and that's not good," said Kill, who said redshirt freshmen Jody Van Laanen (S), Tony Davis (CB) and Rashaan Melvin (CB) will have to step up.
"Jody did a good job (Saturday). He hadn't had hardly any reps and we were down to no safeties at one time but credit to Jody for being ready to play."

The team's defensive line has taken some hits, too, as redshirt freshman Brian Lawson (Rich East) was sidelined with a hand injury that required surgery. It forced Kill's defensive coaches to move senior Jake Coffman back and forth between noseguard and end. He responded with 2.5 sacks.

Kill also cited nice work by redshirt sophomore Ron Newcomb (Mt. Carmel).

"We're fortunate to have guys like him step up, he came out of nowhere," said Kill, "who lost senior tackle Mike Krause before the season started to a heart ailment.

"We should be awfully deep on the defensive line a year from now," the coach said.

Former Marmion Academy and Northern Illinois standout Larry English garnered another first in his NFL career this week, drawing a $7,500 fine for a horse collar tackle he was penalized for in Monday's loss to Denver.

Tickets are available for the Northern Illinois Hall of Fame Banquet scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30th in the Duke Ellington Ballroom at the Holmes Student Center. Among those to be honored is local broadcaster Bill Baker of Montgomery.

The voice of the Huskies in football and basketball for more than 20 years, Baker will be inducted along with former NIU athlete/athletic director Cary Groth, the 1981-82 men's basketball team, former volleyball player Cathy Holmes (Galloway) and four-sport standout from the 50s, Wes Luedeking.

WGN-AM radio personality Dave Kaplan will emcee the banquet in place of Baker, who has done the honors for the past 23 years.

Tickts for the banquet ($50 apiece) are available. Call 815-753-1923.

The class will also be honored the next day at halftime of the Huskies' football game with visiting Akron.

Film study paid big dividends for Toledo, helping lead to two kick blocks that keyed the Rockets 20-19 upset win over Northern Illinois Saturday night.

Barry Church, a 6-foot-2 senior safety blocked a Mike Salerno extra-point kick after the Huskies' first touchdown and then blocked his 42-yard game-winning field goal attempt with 37 seconds left in the game.

Toledo coach Tim Beckman said his staff noted that Idaho had used a "middle block" to almost block a Northern kick.

"We felt we needed to put our best athlete in position to block one," said Beckman. "Church had been pulling out and covering, so I think the first one caught them off guard. The last one was just a max block where we had to bring everybody becasue (of the situation).

"(Church) made it through the A gap again and it was an outstanding play. The two interior linemen, Maurice Hill and D.J. Summers, did a great job of getting penetration to clear up those A gaps."

Northern coach Jerry Kill said the Rockets just made a good play.

"(Salerno) and I talked about it and we wish we'd have gotten the ball up a little bit more," said Kill. "We had a good snap, hold and they just made a good play. Mike's confidence is fine, though, that's just part of that position."

Northern senior defensive end Brandon Bice (Lyons Township) was named Mid-American Conference West Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the game.

Bice had eight tackles, including a sack, and forced two fumbles that the Huskies recovered for two of their three turnovers.