After years of being the weak sisters of the Big Eight Conference, the Kansas State football team appears headed toward respectability. Last year, the Wildcats had five victories, which was one more than they had the previous five seasons. Their third-year...

NIU tailback T.C. Dantzler isn't familiar with his new role. He is used to gathering attention at center stage as one of NIU's premier wrestlers. Last year, he qualified for the NCAA Championships as a 158 pounder. Now, the junior finds himself clearly...

NIU has never won a national championship in basketball or football. And the baseball program is on its second year after an eight-year hiatus. So why would some of the top athletes in the country want to play at NIU? They play at NIU by choice. Actually,...

Some wins are better than others. Although the scoreboard read NIU-22, Arkansas State-21 at the end, and NIU's rookie coach Charlie Sadler won't decline his first victory, Saturday's home-opener probably won't be listed under "NIU football milestones"...

Even after Adam Dach's career-best night of rushing Saturday, a reporter still asked NIU's preeminent football player about his subpar numbers (eight carries, 33 yards) Sept. 7 at Fresno State. "Last week's gone," Dach said. "I don't even want to talk...

"Somewhat down, but not out," is the message from the NIU football team after suffering a 55-7 loss in its season-opener. Rookie head coach Charlie Sadler openly questioned the competitiveness of his squad after Saturday's loss at Fresno State. "We learned...

In their season-opener, the NIU football team's air game wouldn't get a passing grade, but the Huskies aren't about to pass on their air game. On the surface it might appear that the Huskies fell short of their goal of diversifying their offense by adding...

Last week, I advised the new coaches at NIU to have faith in their school, to not abandon it overnight, like some of their predecessors have done. Now, I am not so sure in what I said. It might not be so unwise for head football coach Charlie Sadler to...

It isn't as severe a case of split-personality as was suffered by Dr. Jekyll, but Huskies coach Charlie Sadler proves that first impressions can be deceiving. Sadler's usual gentle demeanor doesn't always fit in with the image presented by his players....

Saturday in Fresno, Calif., the Fresno State Bulldogs purged ghosts that have haunted their program since a 1990 defeat to NIU. Ever since the Huskies clobbered the Bulldogs 73-18 last year, 1991's season-opening rematch has been eagerly anticipated—at...

According to an NCAA study, the NIU football team faces the fourth-toughest schedule in the country this year. Which means the Huskies opener at Fresno State could prove to be an appropriate appetizer for NIU's rugged menu of opponents. The Bulldogs (8-2-1)...

NIU fans anxious for football and tired of being force-fed facts, figures and quotes from the Huskies, take heed; NIU's season opener is almost here. But first, here's some more facts, figures and quotes on the upcoming game. Game day: Saturday. Game...