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.
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.
#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 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.
