Some More About NIU's Victory This Past Wednesday

On Thursday morning, I was shocked to see Mary Dixon mentioned the Northern victory on her morning newscasts on WXRT FM. Morning host Lin Braemer said he was a huge Huskie fan. Mary said "Not!" It turns out that Mary Dixon went to NIU. They mentioned that David Letterman probably watched the game since he is a Ball State alum.

The final 48-27 score may look like a blowout, but it sure wasn't. The score was 27-27 with 5:49 left in the fourth quarter when the Huskies scored three touchdowns. (It was like the Orange Bowl game against Florida State when, at the end of the third quarter and Northern down just 17-10, the Seminoles intercepted the ball on their 20-yard line and then scored twice more to make it 31-10.)

NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch put on a great show again, but by far the best play was on a third and 2 play when he was caught by two Ball State defenders behind the line and managed to break lose for a first down.

The USA Today had a video clip of Huskie mascot Diesel giving a high-five to a cheerleader after a Northern TD.

Huskie players wore special jerseys, all with the name "Heroes" on the back in honor of our nation's veterans. NIU helmets had the NIU in red white and blue.

A brand new pickup truck was given to a wounded Afghanistan veteran by a World War II veteran who also played for NIU. And, the guy who sings the "Star-Spangled Banner" at Chicago Blackhawks games performed with the Marching Huskie Band. I bet some of the Ball State fans were wondering what all the cheering and yelling during its singing was all about.

Yup, Sure Enjoyed That Game. --RoadDog

The Bronze Stalk Trophy-- Part 2

The first game between Northern Illinois and Ball State was in 1941 and resulted in a 6-6 tie. Until this past Wednesday, the Cardinals lead the all-time series 20-18-2 (now 20-19-2). But the Huskies have won 11 of the last 14 games (evidently, before the last 14 games, Ball State was another beat-the-Huskies team like Toledo).

The inaugural Bronze Trophy was won by Ball State in 2008 by a 45-18 score, but NIU has won it ever since.

Looking at the trophy, I'd have to say it bears a strong resemblance to the corn stalks painted on the side of the building by the clock memorial park on Lincoln Highway in downtown Dekalb. Perhaps Renee Bemis, sculptor of the Bronze Stalk Trophy, painted that as well.

Nice to Have It. --RoadDog

The Bronze Stalk Trophy-- Part 1

Watching the game Wednesday Night at Antonio's in Spring Grove, I saw this trophy many times and then the NIU team carried it off the field at the end of the game. I don't recall ever hearing about it before, so had to do some research.

From Wikipedia.

This is a fairly new trophy and goes to the winner of the annual Ball State- Northern Illinois MAC game. It began in 2008.

The impressive trophy was designed by nationally recognized sculptor and DeKalb, Illinois (Home of NIU), artist Renee Bemis, who also designed the new statue by the Chessick/Yordon Centers at Huskie Stadium featuring the three Huskies (dogs) which was just unveiled October 28th.

The Bronze Stalk Trophy  features intertwined stalks of corn done in bronze. The corn, of course, represents all the corn around the campuses of the two schools. When Bill Cosby opened the new NIU Convocation Center, he said that as soon as he stepped off the plane in DeKalb, a woman came up to him, handed him an ear of corn and said, "Welcome to DeKalb."

Pretty Corny If You Ask Me. --RoadDog