Huskies' Novak: Losing lingers
Just when Northern Illinois thought it had patented every possible way to lose, along came Western Michigan to make the Huskies realize there's at least one other avenue to heartbreak.
Western Michigan blew a 15-point lead in the final five minutes last week to lose 39-38 to Akron -- and the Broncos did it in the craziest way since Cal-Stanford 25 years ago.
After the Broncos voluntarily took a safety with 15 seconds left, the Zips capped their comeback after the clock struck 0:00 when they returned the ensuing kickoff (complete with lateral at their own 20) for a touchdown.
Could that have more of a hangover effect on today's homecoming game at Huskie Stadium than NIU's 2 missed extra points last week at Temple?
"Stuff lingers," Huskies coach Joe Novak said. "Losing lingers."
The Huskies know. They're 1-5 for the first time since 1998 and losing players even more rapidly than games.
Standout wide receiver Britt Davis (hamstring) won't start today, and quarterback Dan Nicholson (ankle) seems like something less than a 50-50 proposition.
If Nicholson can't make it, then he'll be the 11th projected preseason starter to miss at least one game because of injury.
That would give sophomore Ryan Morris (West Chicago) his first career start and true freshman Chandler Harnish his first chance as the No. 2 man.
In relief performances the last two weeks, Morris has completed 4 of 11 passes for 37 yards and 2 interceptions.
"If Dan can't go, we'll start with Ryan and then see what happens," Novak said.
In an effort to fend off any possible moping over the losses and the injuries, Novak and his staff have tried to offer a fresh transfusion of positive thinking this week.
You'd think a team like Northern Illinois, which just played in a bowl game 10 months ago, wouldn't lose confidence so quickly.
Then again, the Huskies are trotting out seven true freshmen, nine redshirt freshmen and three upperclassmen who never played at the Football Bowl Subdivision level until this season.
"I don't think it's lack of effort," Novak said. "I don't think it's lack of caring, but maybe there's a lack of confidence. We've had just tough losses, we could be 4-2 instead of 1-5."
"I really feel we that we are backed against the wall," said junior defensive end Larry English, who leads the team with 7 sacks. "We need to start fighting back as a team and stick together."
Western Michigan (2-4, 1-1) at NIU (1-5, 0-3)
When: 3 p.m. at Huskie Stadium
TV: Comcast SportsNet Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Series: WMU 21-11
Coaches: Bill Cubit (17-13, third year at WMU; 51-31-1 overall); Joe Novak (62-71, 12th year at NIU).
Players to watch: Western Michigan loves to throw the ball and few catch it better than Jamarko Simmons (55 receptions, 639 yards, 6 TDs). In five of his last seven games, the 6-foot-2, 234-pound junior has caught at least 10 passes. QB Tim Hiller completed 27 of 40 passes for 375 yards and 3 touchdowns last week against Akron. … NIU tailback Justin Anderson continues to fly up the FBS rushing charts. The sophomore ranks 12th nationally with 736 yards and 5 TDs in 144 carries. Nose guard D.J. Pirkle, one of seven true freshmen to see the field this year, racked up his first 2 sacks at Temple.
The skinny: If the Huskies lose, they'll snap their MAC-best streak of seven consecutive winning seasons. But since this homecoming affair is their lone home game in a six-week stretch, perhaps they'll thrive off a friendly crowd. WMU ranks last in the MAC and 113th in the country in rushing defense, so perhaps NIU can ride Anderson to victory.
-- Lindsey Willhite