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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

FILE - In this April 28, 2017, file photo, Theo Epstein, president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs, poses with a young fan prior to a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cubs at Fenway Park in Boston. Theo Epstein, who transformed the long-suffering Chicago Cubs and helped bring home a drought-busting championship in 2016, is stepping down after nine seasons as the club's president of baseball operations.
The team announced Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, Epstein is leaving the organization, and general manager Jed Hoyer is being promoted to take his place.

Dear Theo: Thank you

By Wes Sanderson | November 21, 2020

Tuesday was a tough day in the North-side of Chicago or for anyone who calls themselves a Chicago Cubs fan for that matter.  Tuesday afternoon around 11 a.m. I received a news bulletin that read “Theo Epstein Resigns from Cubs,” from Bleacher...

Joe Mulholland puts on a rain jacket during a practice round at the Masters golf tournament Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020, in Augusta, Ga.

Down the Lines: The Masters

By Wes Sanderson | November 11, 2020

A tradition unlike any other. This phrase is synonymous with one tournament that takes place in southeast Georgia. Augusta, GA, with a population of just over 200,000, becomes the center of the golf universes for one week a year as the top players in...

NIU redshirt senior Lance Deveaux Jr. (left) chases Buffalo redshirt first-year wide receiver Trevor Wilson Nov. 4, during NIU's 49-30 loss to the University at Buffalo Bulls at Huskie Stadium.

Defense needs to gain experience with several first-year starters

By Mike Knapp | November 10, 2020

Football is finally here, but Northern Illinois will have to wait until Wednesday to pick up their first win of 2020. With almost half of the roster made up of new faces, it would’ve helped the Huskies to have had an easy win to knock off the rust...

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) looks to pass the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Hopes are high Tagovailoa will be the best of the 22 quarterbacks to start for Miami since Dan Marino retired following the 1999 season.

Down the Lines: NFL Week 9 predictions

By Wes Sanderson | November 7, 2020

Week 9 of the NFL is sort of a snooze fest in terms of big match-ups. With four teams on the bye week, three of which have been great investments on a week-to-week basis against the spread, Week 9 should be used to recover potential losses, or better...

View of the NIU jumbotron from inside Huskie Stadium Oct. 19, in DeKalb, Illinois.

Football is coming back to bring us all together again

By Mike Knapp | November 3, 2020

Have you ever had a crush? You know, you meet someone who you believe is the greatest person you’ve ever met. You spend all your time thinking about that person, and maybe you get the courage to ask them out. Or maybe not. Sooner or later, though,...

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) looks to pass against the Cleveland Browns in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Pittsburgh.

Down the Lines: NFL Week 8, NCAA football predictions

By Wes Sanderson | October 31, 2020

Los Angeles Rams (-180) vs. Miami Dolphins (+152) O/U: 46: Kickoff: Noon Sunday The Rams are arguably the best two-loss team in the NFL. Behind defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the Rams defense grades out as the seventh best in the league according to...

FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, file photo, New England Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown stands on the sidelines during the first half at an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Fla. Brown has agreed to return to the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year deal, according to a person with knowledge of the move. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 because the contract had not been completed.

NFL Week 7 recap: A $1.05 million pipe bomb

By James Krause | October 30, 2020

In March, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Bruce Arians said flat-out that Antonio Brown wouldn’t be on his team. “Yeah, it’s not gonna happen,” Arians said in March to CBS Sports Radio. “There’s no room. And probably not enough money. But...

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) looks to pass the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Hopes are high Tagovailoa will be the best of the 22 quarterbacks to start for Miami since Dan Marino retired following the 1999 season.

NFL Week 6 recap: Overcome, with emotion

By James Krause | October 23, 2020

As the NIU football opening game against the Buffalo Bulls draws near, I can’t help but remember the last time NIU played the Bulls. It was Nov. 30, 2018, at Ford Field in Detroit when NIU knocked off Buffalo after a 19-point comeback. Sure, I remember...

Green Bay Packers' Robert Tonyan (right) celebrates a touchdown reception with Malik Taylor (left) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Down the Lines: NFL Week 6, Georgia vs Alabama predictions

By Wes Sanderson | October 17, 2020

Saturday felt like I was trapped in the Bill Murray movie “Groundhog Day,” watching college game after college game have the over-under line destroyed by one thing: the lack of defense across the NCAA.  I expected the Oklahoma-Texas game to have...

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) scrambles out of the pocket before throwing a pass in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

NFL Week 5 recap: The pressure of being America’s quarterback

By James Krause | October 15, 2020

It’s hard to believe the emotions that poured out of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott while being carted off the field Sunday were purely from the pain, though he wouldn’t be blamed if it was. Prescott suffered a compound fracture and separated...

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick wears two masks as he watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs , Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in Kansas City. The New England Patriots have canceled practice amid reports that a third player has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Sports Illustrated reported that reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore tested positive for the virus on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, and was added to the team's reserve/COVID-19 list. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

NFL Week 4 recap: The league has made its bed

By James Krause | October 9, 2020

I finished my column for Week 3 of the NFL last Wednesday and thought, “It can’t get any crazier than that.” A week later, hindsight says it actually might be just the beginning. After New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton tested positive...

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) looks to pass the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Down the Lines: NFL Week 5, NCAA football predictions

By Wes Sanderson | October 8, 2020

For college football junkies, last week solidified the opinion that the Big 12 is eliminated from the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma lost for a second straight week to an unranked opponent and Texas, who was considered to be the “second best”...