UNI's Season Done, Still Receives Awards
November 30, 2012
Season Report Posted: December 15, 2008 23:32
UNI has shown that even though they weren't able to go to a conference championship despite winning the SEC West or to a bowl game, they can still grab the awards.
Four major awards and many All-Americans were handed out to UNI. Senior LOLB Will Shaffer finished with the Chuck Bednarik Award (Best Defenseman) and the Dick Butkus Award (Best LB) as well as a 1st Team All-American and 1st Team All-Conference. Even though his name was never mentioned in the Heisman race, he still won a major award. Senior HB Mikel LeShoure finished the season with the Doak Walker Award (Best RB), Best Returner of the Year, 1st Team All-American and 1st Team All-Conference.
Other 1st Team All-American names were mentioned from UNI: Junior RE Eric Sampson, Senior Right Tackle Bob Swift, and Senior Defensive Tackle Andy Powell all received the praise.
One UNI player received a 2nd Team All-American praise, Junior Kicker Jason Johnson.
Others named to the All-SEC 1st Team were: WR Justin Greer, Right Tackle Bob Swift, RE Eric Sampson, DT Andy Powell, and Kicker Jason Johnson.
The lone guy named to the All-SEC 2nd Team was CB Cory King.
#113 UNI Faces Last Opponent, #69 Arkansas State
November 23, 2012
Season Report Posted: December 15, 2008 23:08
UNI has had a remarkable season with a 10-1 overall record and finishing 8-0 in the SEC. Even though UNI can't go to any bowl games or conference championships for another two years because of NCAA probations, just knowing their potential from a young team makes the future look a lot brighter.
Had they been going to the SEC Championship game they would have faced a Florida team that they already beat during the regular season. Instead, the team in second place in the SEC West, LSU will face the Gators. UNI has beaten both teams during the regular season.
UNI will play its last game at home and await what they can win at the end of the season which are awards and all-american honors.
UNI Breaks Scoring Record, Destroys Arkansas State, 110-7
November 24, 2012
Game Report Posted: December 15, 2008 23:24
It started with a 9 yard pass from Robertson to Johnson and ended with a 51 yard field goal by a different Johnson and in between, 8 rushing touchdowns by 2 different players, 2 passing touchdowns, 1 kick return for a touchdown, 2 fumble returns for touchdowns, 1 interception for a touchdown, and a safety. All, adding up to a new high score record of 110 points. The previous record was held by Coach Pelini's last team he coached for, Iowa Hawkeyes with 105 points.
Everyone was clicking from QB Robertson passing for 16 of 24 for 256 yards, 3 touchdowns and only one interception. The rushing monster that is named Mikel LeShoure had 395 rushing yards, 7 touchdowns and he had 215 yards after first hit. He also added a 92 yard kick return for a touchdown. WR Justin Greer had 8 receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown and WR Aaron Johnson had 5 receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown. There were three defensive touchdowns added by Walter Harris, DE Eric Sampson, and CB Jesse Carter.
UNI finishes with an amazing record of 11-1 and 8-0 in the SEC conference.
UNI hopes that record will show everyone who couldn't make it out to the dome to come out next year and support their team even though they know that UNI won't be able to go to a conference championship or a bowl game as well next year. They will get their scholarhips back so they hope that they have a good recruiting season that can take them into a conference championhip and a bowl game in a couple of years. UNI's attendance dropped to 5,185.
UNI Wins on Four Days Rest, Finishes 8-0 in SEC
November 15, 2012
Game Report Posted: December 15, 2008 22:54
Northern Iowa won but they didn't lead the game until the fourth quarter. They were behind the Rebels 0-7 early in the first quarter until they tied the game with 3:36 left in the first quarter by a 13 yard rushing touchdown by Mikel LeShoure. At halftime the Panthers were down 10-14 to the Rebels but they came back with a rushing touchdown by QB Leonard Robertson and two field goals (one from 52 yards out with no time left on the clock) to win the game 23-14.
With the win, it gave the Panthers an unbelievable undefeated record in the SEC conference of 8-0. They are 10-1 overall with their best record in years even when they played in the 1-AA Gateway Conference. "To do this amazing feat in 1A football is just amazing! I'm confident that in a few more years barring any NCAA probations or penalties and with some kindness from the polls, I can make this team into a feared team" Coach Pelini added.
Next up for #113 UNI is #69 Arkansas State, their last game of the season. They plan on having a fun day because they have nothing to lose since they are not allowed to go to any bowl games or conference championships.
#116 UNI Takes on Last SEC Opponent, #62 Ole Miss
November 11, 2012
Season Report Posted: December 11, 2008 03:28
Have you seen how weird UNI's schedule has been? Two weeks ago, UNI had a game on Saturday, Oct. 27 and then they played two days later. Now, UNI has a similar schedule as they played on Saturday, Nov. 10th and they play again on Thursday, Nov. 15th. This will be UNI's last conference opponent as they've already captured the SEC West but there won't be anything to show for it for the next two years as they are still on probation for another two years from going to any conference championships, games being televised or any bowl games.
UNI Wins Again on Road
November 10, 2012
Game Report Posted: December 11, 2008 02:38
You can never assume anything when the opponents of UNI score first and early. Western Michigan started off the game with one play for a 70-yard passing touchdown from Carder to Simpson. However, the momentum shifted when UNI strong safety Wesley Atkins blocked the extra point. From then on, it was all UNI. Western Michigan would not score for the rest of the game.
Western Michigan did seem to slow down the offense of UNI as none of the UNI wide receivers had more than 100 yards on the day. HB stud Mikel LeShoure even had under 200 yards rushing. He did end up with 166 yards rushing as he rushed for three touchdowns and returned a kick off for an 82 yard return for a touchdown in the third quarter. UNI had a scare when their senior quarterback Lance Robertson went down in the second quarter with a mild concussion and was held out for the remainder of the game. Robertson was having a career game as he was 5 for 5 with 78 passing yards and no interceptions.
The plus side for Western Michigan was their offensive line allowed no sacks! That is the first time that UNI didn't have at least one sack in the game.
UNI kicker Jason Johnson had an impressive game kicking 2 for 2 in field goals with a 45 long field goal and an impressive two punts that both went beyond 50 yards.
UNI is 9-1 overall and 8-0 in the SEC conference. They will face their last conference opponent next week at Ole Miss with only one game left after that in the season.
HB Mikel LeShoure was named NCAA and SEC Offensive Player of the Week.
#112 UNI to Face #51 Western Michigan
November 3, 2012
Season Report Posted: December 09, 2008 23:15
With one day's rest, UNI beat up on an Ohio team last week 66-13. Between that game and their next game, they'll have 12 days of rest. UNI will travel to Western Michigan to face the Western Michigan Broncos. UNI's attendance has taken another drop despite UNI's win streak to 5,315
UNI Gets One Day Rest and Still Wins Big
October 29, 2012
Game Report Posted: December 09, 2008 23:09
Coach Pelini gave the Panthers their day off from practicing because if they were to lose to Ohio, it wouldn't have mattered that much if they would have lost. The Panthers have already won the SEC West and they lead the entire conference overall. Because of the probation though, they know they won't be able to play in the SEC Championship this year or next. He's been so happy of what they've done so far that they deserved the rest. That decision proved to be a good one as UNI romped on Coach Pelini's old boss Frank Solich's Ohio team 66-13.
UNI's leading HB Mikel LeShoure ran for 303 yards and 5 touchdowns and was named the NCAA and SEC Offensive Player of the Week. Defensively for UNI it was LOLB Will Shaffer that was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week with four tackles, four tackles for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble.
QB Leonard Robertson had some good stats as he passed for three touchdowns as WR Justin Greer caught all three for touchdowns.
UNI to Play Next Game With Only One Day Off
October 28, 2012
Season Report Posted: December 09, 2008 21:40
It doesn't happen very often but UNI will only have Sunday off before playing their next game on Monday.
Coach Pelini will face his former boss, Frank Solich, coach of the Ohio Bobcats. Pelini was a defense coach at Nebraska when Frank Solich was the head coach.
"I'm really excited to see Frank again. We are very good friends and I learned a lot from him when we both coached at Nebraska. I'll be eager to play his team and it should be a good match up."
UNI is ranked #113 as they will play #75 Ohio Bobcats in the UNI Dome.
UNI Wins Big on Road
October 27, 2012
Game Report Posted: December 09, 2008 21:12
Alabama wasn't ready on either side of the ball for this UNI team. UNI scored just about every way you can score except for a field goal attempt or a safety. UNI had four rushing touchdowns by LeShoure, a passing touchdown by Robertson to Collins, a 70 yard punt return for a touchdown by LeShoure, a record-breaking 92 yard Interception return for a touchdown by King, and a 35 yard fumble return from Roberts.
Pelini had this to say, "I couldn't believe at all the ways we were scoring against this Alabama team. Alabama was once ranked 10th in the nation and I'm sure we'll be taking them out of the top 25 after this win. I'm so proud of all of our players especially for the defense for shutting Alabama out at their home field."
UNI gets a big win at Alabama 56-0.
#114 UNI to Travel to #16 Alabama for a Conference Clash
October 26, 2012
Season Report Posted: December 08, 2008 03:15
UNI Panthers improve their conference record and is the only team in the SEC that are undefeated in conference play. UNI is 6-1 overall and 6-0 in the SEC conference. However, no matter how well they do, they can not go to a SEC Championship for another two years because of NCAA probation.
Although UNI is dominating, many statistics are askew, for example, as UNI keeps winning and winning their average attendance has seen a decrease to 5,579.
In a magazine cover for Award Semifinalists one magazine cover reads: Honored! Nebraska's Rogers is the leading Best RET candidate at this point. However if you look at the stats, the leading candidate at this point is UNI's Mikel LeShoure.
And the continued messed up stat is the ranking that UNI keeps getting. As UNI keeps on winning, their ranking seems to drop. Last week they were ranked #113 as they beat up on #99 Kentucky 65-14 and as they head into Alabama, they drop a ranking and rank at #114 vs. #16 Alabama Crimson Tide.
UNI Wins 6th Straight
October 20, 2012
Game Report Posted: December 08, 2008 03:02
UNI hands Kentucky a loss and improves their conference record to 6-0. The game didn't start well as Kentucky completed a 72 yard passing touchdown in the first 15 seconds of the game. However, Kentucky wouldn't be able to score again until the third quarter and they were held to 14 points.
UNI scoring was led by senior HB Mikel LeShoure as he carried the ball 22 times for 185 yards and caught the ball for 15 yards. LeShoure had a total of five touchdowns on the day as he had an 87 yard kick return for a toucdhown in the third quarter. LeShoure was named SEC offensive player of the week. Junior kicker Jason Johnson went 3-3 on field goals and on the defensive side it was junior right defensive end Eric Sampson who was named SEC and NCAA defensive player of the week as he racked up eight tackles, eight for loss, seven sacks and he returned a 22-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
The UNI Panthers have two conference games left on the season but it won't matter because of the probation UNI is under for the next two years for championships.
UNI: Dreaded By Many Teams but Dissed By Polls
October 19, 2012
Season Report Posted: December 05, 2008 03:38
UNI proves once again that games aren't played on paper. The SEC race takes an unexpected turn as UNI triumphs. Those are just a few headlines coming out of the weekly ESPN Magazine covers. What if UNI wasn't on probation and Coach Pelini would have been allowed to recruit off-season and in-season this year? What is keeping the Panthers above a #100 ranking? Do the coaches really despise the winningest coach in football? You can bet that Coach Pelini will work hard every game and every year and if he has to do it the hard way to get into the national championship game then he will. "These coaches who are coaching teams like Oklahoma and the Florida teams always get into a good bowl game year after year. I'm coaching the dead last place team in the nation to prove to those coaches that you should work hard as a coach and not just get by by coaching these teams that make it on the "brand name". All of the good recruits go to these teams because they know they'll be playing in a good bowl game at the end of the year. Not me. I want recruits to go to the 'coaches' of the team not the 'name' of the team"
UNI dropped in the polls again despite beating a #29 Arkansas team. Fans are beginning to get petitions signed by the head of the NCAA to look into a wrongdoing of the polls wherever Coach Pelini coaches. The UNI Panthers started the season at #120. They've beaten #19 Auburn, #19 Georgia, #7 LSU AT LSU, #4 Florida AT Florida and just recently a #29 Arkansas which was ranked in the 20's for a long time yet the UNI Panthers haven't gotten past a #112 ranking. One fan commented, "something has got to be done about this. We are being treated as if we are nobody. Yet if your name is Florida or Florida State and you have five losses, you can bet the coaches will keep them ranked in the top 25 for some god damn reason.
Pelini is starting to increase the attendance in the UNI Dome. Average attendance has increased a few hundred and is up to: 6,345
He has about 10,000 more to go to reach full capacity which is one of his goals by the end of his coaching career at UNI. If UNI were to reach seating capacity at 16,324 it will be a very hard place to play at. It's loud outside at Penn State or Oklahoma but if you have that many people in an ENCLOSED contraption? It could be just as loud!
Next up for UNI is #99 Kentucky at the UNI Dome. It is an SEC match-up.
#113 UNI Knocks Off Another SEC Opponent
October 13, 2012
Game Report Posted: December 05, 2008 03:54
#29 Arkansas didn't seem much of a threat as they took on #113 UNI. "I almost liked being ranked this low because opponents will come into our matchups thinking that they are just going to walk all over us. If they take a look at our schedule and who we've beaten, well then, that's a different story." "On paper we look like a very easy team to beat but our defense has really been doing a great job especially the defensive line with our blitzing and getting to the quarterback before the other team can get a read on the receivers and make a pass" Coach Pelini stated.
UNI started the scoring with a 76 yard pass from QB Robertson to WR Greer as they took the lead 7-0. In the 2nd, UNI was just making it look easy as their junior kicker who has been doing a great job on the year made two of two field goals to make it 13-0 UNI at half.
The third quarter was back and forth as no team scored but in the fourth, the Razorbacks started to try to make a comeback with an 18 yard touchdown run by their halfback to cut the lead to 13-7. Panthers put Arkansas away by a passing touchdown to 6'5" WR Simmons to make the score 20-7 with 3:29 left in the game. Panthers added the insult score with :03 left in the game by a 1 yard touchdown run by HB Mikel LeShoure to make the final 27-7.
UNI is now 5-0 in the SEC conference but that won't make much of a difference because UNI is not allowed to go to their conference championship if they were to win the SEC WEST which looks like they will.
#112 UNI Will Face #29 Arkansas
October 12, 2012
Season Report Posted: December 05, 2008 03:12
UNI have been making headlines as they continue to upset team after team. They weren't supposed to be able to win more than a couple of games this year and right now the Panthers are 4-1 with a 4-0 record in the SEC West conference. Many know that all of the wins come behind one of the top coaches in the nation. Coach Pelini has won four conference championships and two national championships and he's only in his fifth year as a coach. The two teams that Pelini previously coached are both currently ranked in the top ten in the coaches and media polls. The Nebraska Cornhuskers (Pelini's first team as a coach) are ranked #2 in the nation and his recent team the Iowa Hawkeyes are currently at #9.
The Panthers will face SEC opponent Arkansas Razorbacks. Once ranked as high as #21, Arkansas will look to figure out a way to break this win streak that the Panthers are on. If they're going to do it, they're going to have to beat UNI at their own field which UNI is undefeated so far at the UNI Dome.
UNI Pulls Off Fourth Upset in as Many Weeks
September 29, 2012
Game Report Posted: December 05, 2008 03:01
UNI had thought that Florida figured out their weekness right off the start by passing as Florida scored quickly. The gators were caught off guard by the amount of blitzes UNI were bringing. In one of the blitzes, LOLB Will Shaffer got to the QB, forced a fumble, recovered the fumble and then ran it in for a touchdown to tie the game in the first quarter at seven a piece. Florida would not go quietly though as they kept to Florida's strengths by passing. Florida passed for another TD in the first quarter to give Florida back the lead 14-7. That's all Florida would be able to score against the Panther's defense as the Panthers would force Florida to punt and eventually UNI would run the clock and begin scoring once in the final two quarters with rushing touchdowns by QB Robertson and HB Mikel LeShoure.
The UNI Panthers pulled off a fourth straight upset in as many weeks. Beginning with #19 Auburn, then #19 Georgia, then #7 LSU and now #4 Florida. The Panthers have really high hopes and are disappointed that their previous coach didn't enforce any discipline as the NCAA punished the Panthers. UNI will not be able to compete on TV, in any championships and be invited to any bowl games for another two years. Coach Pelini said that's fine with him as at the end of his first year at UNI will begin to build a strongforce. "Right now, I'm just showing everyone in the nation what I can turn a team into. We're 5-0 in the SEC conference right now. We were picked dead last, and to tell you the truth, by looking at this club I would have thought we wouldn't have been able to win more than two games, but all of my kids have promised to give me more than 100% as I showed them that I can win championships with any team."
UNI Moves Down In Rankings
September 23, 2012
Season Report Posted: December 03, 2008 23:30
UNI moves down to #119 from #118 despite beating a #7 LSU at LSU last week! UNI has beaten three ranked teams in three straight weeks, yet they can't get past a #118 ranking in the polls. "Have you heard me say how much I hate the coaches yet? They're scum, they're pitiful. I feel bad for our team because who knows when the coaches are going to give us some respect and see that we're a good team. I can understand it for the first year but if we win out, we better be at least in the top 50 going into next year." Pelini had that to say.
#119 UNI will take on #4 Florida, the highest ranked team they've played yet. They will travel to Florida to take on the Gators at their stadium.
UNI Does It Again!
September 22, 2012
Game Report Posted: December 03, 2008 23:23
The #118 UNI Panthers has done the unthinkable. A no name team in the SEC West comes and knocks off #7 LSU at home! Not only did they beat LSU but they beat them badly! 56-14. UNI Coach Pelini added this, "we could have shut them out had our Special Teams done their job. We will be working this week on our special teams and try and figure out how to stop teams from returning kicks on us for touchdowns." UNI Special Teams allowed two kick returns for touchdowns on Saturday. Had they stopped them and let the defense do their job, UNI could have possibly shutout LSU! UNI stays undefeated in the SEC at 3-0. "I wish we weren't on probation this year because I'd really like people who can't make it to our games see us on TV. I think the word will spread fast and maybe they'll try and make it to our games. I also wish that our bowl games weren't stripped because I know that if our team keeps playing as good as they have been that we would definitely make it to a bowl game this year but because we are on probation this year, we aren't allowed to be televised and we aren't allowed to go to any bowl games. That's not all, we were also stripped of all of our scholarships this year. I don't know how this team can play with no scholarships but they are doing much better than I expected them to play and all I have to say is, wait for another two years when we get to be on TV, and we will get to go to a bowl game and we'll have our scholarships back!" Pelini added.
Next up for UNI is #4 Florida which is a big SEC contest for the UNI Panthers.
UNI Takes Biggest Test Yet
September 21, 2012
Season Report Posted: December 03, 2008 22:20
UNI has finally moved up in the polls but only two spots to #118. "Yep, the coaches must have read my last comment about them and now they're determined to keep us in the #100 ranks even if we go 11-1 on the season. If that were to happen, then I'm going to sue them for discrimination. It's sad that teams like ours will never get into the National Championship because the "committee" doesn't want to see a team like ours and they wouldn't get as much money. That's why there needs to be a playoff system so teams like ours and Utah and those no name schools that go undefeated on the season can prove themselves. That's the only way we are going to get in the big game at the end of the season" Coach Pelini said.
UNI will face #7 LSU. LSU was once ranked #2 at one point but suffered a conference loss. UNI is still undefeated in the conference and is surprising a lot of people. Coach Pelini is turning out to be one of the greatest coaches and will probably be the highest paid coaches of college football. NFL teams are already going after him.
Coach Pelini has also increased UNI's average attendance at the UNI Dome to 6,014.
#120 UNI Pulls Off Second Straight Upset
September 15, 2012
Game Report Posted: December 03, 2008 21:59
In as many weeks as the UNI Panthers have played Top 25 ranked teams, they have won both match-ups.
UNI somehow came away with a victory over the #19 Georgia Bulldogs with not a single offensive touchdown.
They had two great players during the game. K Jason Johnson kept UNI in the game the entire time by hitting 5 of 5 field goals and HB Mikel LeShoure kept them close at half and gave them the win by returning two kick returns for touchdowns.
This was the third highest greatest game coached by Bo Pelini and was also recorded on VHS to review later.
Coach Pelini had these comments after the game: "Georgia was hurt by too many excessive celebrations that helped us by taking them out of field goal range, and I believe my team learned from their mistakes by not celebrating too much until we become a better team. We all spent the week reviewing tapes of our last win against #19 Auburn and we took all of that to this game and we won."
Next week will be a true test to see how good UNI really has become after their loss in the first week. UNI has come a long way since their old coach and many think UNI can keep the game close at #7 LSU next week.
UNI Stays Ranked #120 Going Into Fourth Week
September 9, 2012
Season Report Posted: December 02, 2008 02:48
The Panthers started off the season being ranked #120 and after a loss and beating #19 Auburn Tigers they remain at #120 when they face #19 Georgia Bulldogs. "I'm hoping we can move up a little in the polls, especially if we pull off another upset for two weeks in a row. If we don't move up then I think the Coaches have something against me personally because when I coached Iowa, I NEVER felt the love with the polls. I guess I showed them when our Iowa team blew out #1 Texas in the National Championship Game. So take that coaches!" Pelini said.
UNI Pulls Off an Upset
September 8, 2012
Game Report Posted: December 02, 2008 02:37
Coach Pelini's first win as the coach of a new team came against a ranked team at home. The UNI Panthers defeated the #19 Auburn Tigers 38-7. "This win means a lot. Not only is it our first win but it came against a conference AND a ranked team! I have a gameplan this year that I put into play on this game and one that I should have ran on the first game."
The Panthers are now 1-1 on the season and undefeated in the SEC conference with a record of 1-0. They also increased their average attendance at the dome from 5,662 to 5,890.
Pelini Suffers Worst Loss of Career
August 31, 2012
Game Report Posted: December 02, 2008 02:33
Pelini knows what it's like to lose close games but this is the first time he's lost by this much. "I knew going into this season that we were going to have some losses. I know by the teams that we play this year that some of the games are probably going to be ugly but maybe we can get lucky on a couple of them and pull out a victory" Coach Pelini said.
The UNI Panthers start the season winless against #63 Memphis Tigers. Panthers lose 28-50. The next team they face are the #19 Auburn Tigers at home in the UNI Dome.
UNI Needs Help Everywhere
August 24, 2012
Season Report Posted: December 01, 2008 03:15
UNI still being on probation will have to rely on some walk-ons. UNI was not able to recruit anyone in the off-season as they were stripped of all 25 scholarships. Same goes for the in-season. No recruiting was allowed for in-season as well.
"We still have a good football team and I know that we can win at least four games if not more this season. Even if we were to go undefeated, we're not able to go to a bowl game this year because of our probation status. We were stripped 25 scholarships, allowed no bowl games and no televised games for this entire season. All I can say is wait till next year because we will be competing and doing some upsetting" stated Coach Pelini.
UNI to Get Help From 2-Time National Champ Coach
August 1, 2012
Season Report Posted: November 24, 2008 23:13
The Panthers will look to get some needed help for the program and they not only get a coach who wins but they get the top coach in the nation. He's only lost two games in his four years of coaching. He's won a conference championship each year he's coached; 1-Big 12 and 3-Big 10 championships and he's won the National Championship with each team he's coached. He coached Nebraska for one year and won the National Championship and then went to Iowa where it took him three years to win the National Championship. The first two years at Iowa were impressive as well as he won the Rose Bowl the first year and the Orange Bowl the next year.
UNI's attendance starts at an average of 5,662. His contract is for three years and his goals for his first three years are to have a winning season and to receive a bowl bid.
UNI will compete in the SEC (WEST) as they replace Mississippi State.