NIU kicker John Ivanic is within leg's reach of setting a number of Huskie football records. The redshirt freshman is four consecutive extra points away from breaking Rick Osbourne's 1966 NIU mark. He is also five field goals away from breaking Vince Scott's 1983 record of 18, and 22 points away from overcoming Scott's 80-point mark set the same year.

Huskie halfback Rodney Taylor is approaching some NIU records of his own in the punt return department. The junior, who is 12th in the nation with 13.1 yards per return, is 16 returns and 24 yards away from Huskie career marks. He currently has 53 career returns for 470 yards.

NIU's rushing offense ranks ninth in the nation with 276.1 yards per game. The team is also 31st in total offense with 390.6 ypg and 27th in scoring with 27.6 points per game.

Fullback Tim Peshek has had 144 carries during his two-year NIU career and he has not lost yardage on any of his attempts. With this season's 456 yards, he has moved his career yard total to 652.

In men's basketball, forward Andrew Wells is still not practicing because of a sprained ankle. Coach Jim Rosborough said Wells should be ready by the team's Nov. 19 date with the New Zealand National team.

Rosborough's staff compiles a daily chart of each player's performance in practice and then ranks the players to show each one's progression since practices started. Not surprisingly,, senior guard Rodney Davis was at the top of the list through Tuesday's practice. He was followed—in order—by Brett Andricks, Donnell Thomas, Randy Norman and Jo Jo Jackson.

The men's and women's basketball teams will hold a joint open scrimmage Saturday, Nov. 21. The teams will alternate playing periods so the fans can see each in action. The day will also feature an autograph session.

The men's team's open practice which was scheduled for Nov. 23 apparently will not be held because there is a Run DMC concert in Chick Evans Field House that night.

A pair of walk-ons made NIU's basketball teams this year. Women's coach Jane Albright is keeping guard Denise Lipnisky and Jim Rosborough has made room for guard Dave Pygon.

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

NIU sports notebook

Dec 10, 1987

The men’s basketball team is only in its early practice sessions, but the squad’s injuries are in midseason form.

Guard Kendall Jones had an appendectomy at the beginning of the month and has been limited to mostly ball-handling drills during practice. Coach Jim Rosborough said Jones will begin heavier workouts next week and will be ready for full action the following week.

Freshman forward Andrew Wells had a slight ankle sprain Tuesday but should be ready for practice today.

The Sporting News ranks the NIU men’s basketball team 7th among the nation’s seven major independents. Over the summer, the magazine ranked the Huskie football team 23rd out of the 24 major independents in football ahead of only Akron. The football team has responded with a 3-3-1 start.

TSN’s comment on the NIU basketball team: “The Huskies’ battle for respectability would have been easier if flashy Battle hadn’t transferred to greener grass (Illinois).”

At the basketball team’s Media Day, Jim Rosborough said he has been thinking about pursuing the formation of a Midwest conference of which NIU could be a member.

He admitted the conference is only an idea, but said it would make sense economically, build fan support and revive local rivalries. He said Loyola, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State and Southern Illinois are just a few of the teams who he thought might be interested in such a conference.

Cathy Holmes was named the North Star Conference’s Athlete of the Week. The 6-foot-1 middle hitter is the first NIU athlete to be honored with the award since the Huskies began competing in the conference this fall.

In a match against Eastern Michigan, Holmes had a match-best .388 hitting percentage. She tallied eight kills with one error in 18 attempts as NIU lost 10-15, 15-10, 15-4, 15-8.

The Huskie football team still ranks among the nation’s leaders in a number of departments. NIU ranks fifth in team punt returns, with 14.3 yards per return, eighth in team rushing with 293.9 yards per game, 22nd in total offense with 402.3 ypg and 23rd in scoring with 29.1 points per game.

Individually, Rodney Taylor is seventh in the nation in punt returns with 14.3 ypr and John Ivanic is 11th in in field goals with 1.7 per game and 21st in scoring with 7.7 points per game.

Former NIU football assistant, Lawrence Cooley will be on the opposing sidelines this weekend when NIU takes on Ball State. Cooley was at NIU from 1984-1986.

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