The man, the myth, the legend
September 21, 2015
Season Report Posted: October 19, 2009 20:52
It's been done before where one player has won the Heisman two years in a row and this definitely looks like it will happen for HB Steve Jackson who is only 31 yards from 1,000 yards after just three games! Barring any injuries this season, he should literally run away with the Heisman this year. The question is, will he stay and go for a record that has never been done in college football history before and go for three consecutive heisman trophies? Or, will he leave and begin his pro career? It hasn't helped a whole lot that UNI hasn't been on TV besides their bowl games for the exposure of HB Steve Jackson.
The attendance has stayed the same at: 18,881. Next up for the UNI Panthers is hosting #19 LSU. Last time UNI faced LSU, LSU was ranked #15 and UNI beat them with ease by a score of 44-17. The year before that, UNI lost to a #16 LSU by a touchdown.
Man or Machine?
September 19, 2015
Game Report Posted: October 19, 2009 20:40
Many say he's a machine but only HB Steve Jackson knows what HE truly is. Without the help of junior running back Steve Jackson, UNI may not be where they are at. Jackson ran 39 times for 519 yards. Not only did he break his old rushing record for a game at 517 yards, he also bettered his rushing touchdowns in a game by one with 9 total touchdowns.
The one of two touchdowns allowed by the UNI Panthers was a special teams touchdown.
UNI Moves Up Despite Close Win
September 14, 2015
Season Report Posted: September 23, 2009 21:53
The UNI Panthers have moved up two spots in the Coaches poll from a #13 last week to a #11 this week. The new media polls were released for the first time and UNI sits comfortably in those polls at a #15. UNI saw a loss in attendance as it dropped to 18,881.
Next up for #11 UNI is a road game to #41 Boise State.
UNI Goes Back and Forth, Ends Up on Top
September 12, 2015
Game Report Posted: September 23, 2009 21:49
The rush defense for UNI was great holding BYU to a -19 rushing yards, however, BYU learned of UNI's weak spot and that was the pass defense. BYU had a hay day passing all over UNI with 355 passing yards and that's what almost beat UNI.
This game was the 5th greatest game of all time for UNI as they saw an amazing EIGHT lead changes in the game. UNI never really had a very big lead with 10 points being their biggest margin early in the first quarter but once BYU found the weakness of UNI, they exploited it and capitalized on it.
HB Steve Jackson won national honors as Player of the Week with 32 carries, 240 yards, and 5 touchdowns.
"BYU definitely played us higher than a #23 seed. They looked strong at times and exploited our weak pass defense and scored on us five times through the air" Coach Pelini said. "We've fixed our Special Teams allowing touchdown returns, now it's time to work on our pass defense and then I think this team could be unstoppable."
UNI Has Losses and Gains
September 8, 2015
Season Report Posted: August 31, 2009 22:05
Sophomore kicker Scott Chance won four awards last year as a FRESHMAN! 2nd Team All-American, Freshman All-American, 1st Team All-Conference and the biggest award for a place-kicker, the Lou Groza Award. Chance was caught cheating while others took tests for him. Coach Pelini was determined to get all of the NCAA violations cleared so his team can play with no infractions. "This doesn't help at all. I told my team, I will have no problems suspending players no matter how good they are and I hope I got the point across by suspending our top kicker three games."
With a huge 54-3 win over Fresno State the UNI Panthers made a couple of ESPN covers one titled Home Cookin': UNI Fans Can't Wait For The Cougars To Come Into Cedar Falls. The other was on the POTW cover-Super Start! UNI's Pettway Is POTW After Season-Opening Win.
Steve Jackson and Allan Pettway were named SEC players of the week for week two.
Although the Panthers are ranked higher than their start last season, attendance dropped almost 4,000. Current attendance is at: 20,767. UNI could attribute that to the non-exposure of their games. They still have a two year probation on any of their games being televised.
Next up for UNI is #23 BYU. BYU was ranked #24 last week.
UNI Takes Care of First Game With Ease
September 5, 2015
Game Report Posted: August 31, 2009 21:48
The #13 UNI Panthers definitely showed their nerves in the first quarter but after that they were all out and you could tell with the continuous scoring they did.
2014 Heisman Winner HB Steve Jackson proved that he's out for another trophy this year as he ran for 210 yards and four touchdowns in the game.
Coach Pelini had this to say about Jackson and the team, "I'm really he came back because he has the skills I believe to go to the next level. It's like having a player in the major leagues come down to your Triple A team! I'm also proud of our Special Teams for not allowing a touchdown, something we worked on in the off-season. Our defense was amazing too with returning an interception for a touchdown and returning a fumble for a touchdown. Along with our Special Teams, I'm proud of our punter Jeremy Jones for stepping up and filling in for our normal kicker Scott Chance who is out for three games for academic trouble. I tell my kids that academics come first, then football. If you don't do well in academics, then I don't want you on the team, no matter how good you are."
UNI faces #23 BYU next week.
One Week Before Season Starts
August 29, 2015
Season Report Posted: August 24, 2009 01:51
Some things stay the same and some things just get better for UNI.
UNI improves their team with the best recruiting class they've had since Coach Pelini came along. They had the #11 best recruiting class this year. Part of that was due to recruiting four-5 stars, six-4 stars, and three-3 stars.
The things that do stay the same are for the good! HB Steve Jackson is predicted at #1 for the Heisman Outlook.
UNI starts off the season ranked higher than they've ever been. Last year they started off the season at #30 and it wasn't until week #4 before being ranked #20. This season, they start off at #13.
Their current NCAA Sanctions are 10 less scholarships for one more year and no TV games for another 2 yeaars. The cover of ESPN magazine reads: BUSTED!: A string of violations puts #5 UNI in hot water.
UNI is picked to finish third in the SEC this year even though they won it last year.