Buddy system

The transition a high school athlete makes to college is filled with all sorts of new challenges. From time management, intensity levels at practice and games to a full schedule of classes to adjusting to life in the dorms, just about everything is different from what a young athlete is used to.

For Geneva grad Pat Schiller and Kaneland alum Boone Thorgesen, two standouts from last year's high school football season, playing football on scholarship at Northern Illinois has been both fun and challenging. Once rivals, the two freshmen are now roommates. Living less than an hour away has helped them to see their old teams play just a couple times this season. Both wish they could be there for their teams more, but college life is time-consuming.

In Week 7, however, Thorgesen's old team made an appearance on his new turf at NIU's Brigham Field, when the Knights played DeKalb and won 35-7 in Western Sun Conference action. Schiller opted to see his Vikings beat Rochelle, 24-15, in Geneva.

Almost a year removed from high school action, I wondered what life has been like for these two former prep superstars-turned-college freshmen in their transition to a Division-I college. So I went to DeKalb on Friday night and found out.

Perhaps the biggest difference for me was having to approve everything through NIU's media relations department. A quick call to the athletes' cell phones or permission from parents and coaches was not enough. Oh well -- welcome to college!

The moment lasted no longer than 10 seconds, but it meant a lot to Kaneland senior Jody Henningson.

A handshake with Kaneland's star quarterback last year, Boone Thorgesen, was all Henningson, the current QB, received Friday, when the Knights traveled to DeKalb to play the Barbs on Northern Illinois' Brigham Field.

"It was brief, but it was good," Henningson said of the moment with Thorgesen.

The duo, however, have had more time to connect on the phone rather than in person.

"(Boone) gives me a lot of pointers and he tells me to keep my head up when things get rough," Henningson said after the Knights' 35-7 win over DeKalb in a game where he completed 23 of 45 passes for 306 yards, 3 touchdowns, no interceptions and an 8-yard keeper of his own. "He's always been there for me. He's awesome."

Thorgesen obviously made a lasting impression on the Knights, not just for his stats, but for his leadership and mere presence. He did, however, finish his senior season with nearly 4,000 yards passing and led his team to the Class 5A state semifinals.

Thorgesen's roommate at NIU, Pat Schiller, was also a hero for his respective school, Geneva, which also had a standout season last year and a great run in the Class 6A playoffs.

Both were big fish in a small pond at this time last year. Now, they are a pair of freshmen on NIU's football team who don't even get to travel with the team yet.

On this unseasonably hot Friday afternoon at Brigham Field, Thorgesen and Schiller are wearing their red NIU jerseys for a photo shoot. In the background, DeKalb and Kaneland's sophomore teams are warming up for their game. Perhaps it brings back memories of high school for the duo.

Both Schiller and Thorgesen have seen their respective high school teams play a just a couple of times.

"I miss it a lot," said Schiller, whose first appearance in Geneva was in Week 2, when the Vikings beat South Elgin. "When I went back, it was hard for me at first. It was weird. I was looking at the players and I'm sitting in the stands, thinking, 'My God, I wish I was down there.' But obviously, they are doing fine without me."

Schiller witnessed Geneva improve to 7-0 after Friday's win against Rochelle. Kaneland is 3-4 and is hoping for a spot in the playoffs, something Thorgesen was familiar with when he was on the Knights.

"I do miss it," Thorgesen said. "Our season last year was pretty special. You are always going to have those feelings when Friday nights come along. I miss playing with the guys I've played with forever. Some of the memories from high school are the best, but hopefully with college, you can top those feelings."

Kaneland went 11-2 last year, with one of those losses coming from Geneva, which also finished last year 11-2. The rivals became friends then roommates after seeing each other at several athletic banquets last season. The two got to know one another and now live together. Both agree things are going well.

"I like it," Schiller said of living with Thorgesen. "He minds his business. I feel bad for him because I might be a little messier than he is, but it's fun."

"He's not that messy," Thorgesen added on Schiller. "I'm sure I leave things around too. We have a good thing going and we get along great. I couldn't be happier with who I am rooming with."

Schiller and Thorgesen share the same routine -- school, football, study, football, sleep, football, eat, football. But both are very glad they still get to enjoy the sport.

"The biggest difference is this is like a job," Schiller said. "You aren't getting paid, but you are because you are on scholarship."

"It's a whole new world," Thorgesen said, adding that he sometimes leaves his dorm room at 6 a.m., only to return 14 hours later. "It's the price you have to pay, but I wouldn't have it any other way. This is what you have to do to be good. I want to play football, so it doesn't bother me at all. When I do have free time, I don't know what to do with it. I'll sit around and think about football. It keeps me busy, which is what I like."

Friday night is free for both Schiller and Thorgesen, who did not travel with the NIU to Philadelphia, where the Huskies played the Temple Owls (NIU lost the next day, 16-15).

While Schiller heads home to Geneva, Thorgesen sticks around to see the Knights. The varsity game didn't begin until well after 8 p.m., Thorgesen takes a seat in the stands. Alone. He's far enough away from the student section, but he doesn't sit with parents, either.

Thorgesen genuinely appeared to miss playing with the Knights. He wasn't alone for too long, as a pair of old classmates found him and talked to him during the game.

After the half, Thorgesen moved from the stands to Kaneland's sidelines. He had the chance to catch up with Korey Maple, who suffered a shoulder injury that made him sit out for most of the second half.

"I talked to him about my shoulder for a little bit because he had the same problem," Maple said. "He's been pretty helpful with everything year-round, especially with Jody. He's been supporting us as much as he can.

"It's nice to have someone from last year who experienced it all to be there on the sidelines, helping out."

Even new coach Tom Fedderly appreciated Thorgesen's presence at the game.

"It's good (to see him)," said Fedderly, who replaced longtime coach and Boone's dad, Joe Thorgesen. "Boone has meant so much to this program. All the kids look up to him, so it means a great deal to them."

Boone Thorgesen vanished before the Knights and Barbs' game was completed. Perhaps he didn't need to stick around. They did just fine without him, for they have moved on, and so has he.

Some things, however, won't be forgotten.