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Western Football Needs U Sat.
Western football needs you Saturday
5 reasons to attend the next Leatherneck football game.
In case you did not realize, the Western Illinois University football team is 5-2 and ranked No. 17 in the country. The Leathernecks are perfect in the Gateway Football Conference (2-0) and take on Northern Iowa (6-0, 2-0 Gateway) Saturday at 6:37 p.m.
By the way, Northern Iowa moved up to become the No. 1 team in the country after handing Southern Illinois its first loss of the season over the weekend. So, if that is not reason enough to come out to Hanson Field Saturday night, here are five other reasons you should go to the game.
FSN Midwest is broadcasting the game
The 'Necks are going to be on primetime national television. Not only is the football team going to be on the small screen, but our school is going to be highlighted.
Western played Missouri State Saturday, and the crowd was poor at best. I don't know if it was because of the weather or because of an early start time, but I know if we have another poor showing on national television, that's not only a bad deal for our football team - it's a horrible picture for our university.
It's Family Weekend
What else is there to do on a Saturday night with your parents? I hear students frequently say Western does not have the typical student atmosphere at sporting events. Well, that's because students don't show up to games, and for that matter, half of the students who do show up don't stay past halftime.
There's no better time to start showing that Western has an intense student atmosphere than in front of your parents and on national television.
Oct. 28, 2006
A 4-5 Western football team traveled to the UNI Dome last season and upset the then No. 7-ranked Panthers 24-13. Speaking to Western Marching Leathernecks members who made the trip a year ago, the visiting section's noise seemed as though it had to do with the outcome of the game.
For the 'Necks to knock off the Panthers again this season, the east side of Hanson Field will need to be filled to capacity so Western can truly have home field advantage.
Herb Donaldson
Western's junior running back was named the National Player of the Week for his 314-yard, two-touchdown performance in last week's win over Missouri State. In the game, he also surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
Saturday will be Donaldson's biggest test since Illinois. Northern Iowa gives up only 84.8 yards per game on the ground - not good news for Western, which has totaled 846 rushing yards in its last two games.
Eric Sanders
The Northern Iowa quarterback ranks second in the Gateway in passing yards and efficiency at 231.8 and 159.5, respectively. Just as Western's rushing attack faces one of its toughest opponents this weekend, Sanders faces his.
The Leatherneck defense leads the Gateway in pass defense, giving up less than 150 yards per game. Western has also racked up the most sacks (21) in the conference this season, which has led to opposing quarterbacks throwing for low yardages and completion percentages.
This weekend's game is Western's chance to show a national audience that it has a football program to be reckoned with, and that the team has some of the best fans in college football.
FROM STUDENT PAPER @ WESTERN ILL.
http://media.www.westerncourier.com/...-3036719.shtml
5 reasons to attend the next Leatherneck football game.
In case you did not realize, the Western Illinois University football team is 5-2 and ranked No. 17 in the country. The Leathernecks are perfect in the Gateway Football Conference (2-0) and take on Northern Iowa (6-0, 2-0 Gateway) Saturday at 6:37 p.m.
By the way, Northern Iowa moved up to become the No. 1 team in the country after handing Southern Illinois its first loss of the season over the weekend. So, if that is not reason enough to come out to Hanson Field Saturday night, here are five other reasons you should go to the game.
FSN Midwest is broadcasting the game
The 'Necks are going to be on primetime national television. Not only is the football team going to be on the small screen, but our school is going to be highlighted.
Western played Missouri State Saturday, and the crowd was poor at best. I don't know if it was because of the weather or because of an early start time, but I know if we have another poor showing on national television, that's not only a bad deal for our football team - it's a horrible picture for our university.
It's Family Weekend
What else is there to do on a Saturday night with your parents? I hear students frequently say Western does not have the typical student atmosphere at sporting events. Well, that's because students don't show up to games, and for that matter, half of the students who do show up don't stay past halftime.
There's no better time to start showing that Western has an intense student atmosphere than in front of your parents and on national television.
Oct. 28, 2006
A 4-5 Western football team traveled to the UNI Dome last season and upset the then No. 7-ranked Panthers 24-13. Speaking to Western Marching Leathernecks members who made the trip a year ago, the visiting section's noise seemed as though it had to do with the outcome of the game.
For the 'Necks to knock off the Panthers again this season, the east side of Hanson Field will need to be filled to capacity so Western can truly have home field advantage.
Herb Donaldson
Western's junior running back was named the National Player of the Week for his 314-yard, two-touchdown performance in last week's win over Missouri State. In the game, he also surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
Saturday will be Donaldson's biggest test since Illinois. Northern Iowa gives up only 84.8 yards per game on the ground - not good news for Western, which has totaled 846 rushing yards in its last two games.
Eric Sanders
The Northern Iowa quarterback ranks second in the Gateway in passing yards and efficiency at 231.8 and 159.5, respectively. Just as Western's rushing attack faces one of its toughest opponents this weekend, Sanders faces his.
The Leatherneck defense leads the Gateway in pass defense, giving up less than 150 yards per game. Western has also racked up the most sacks (21) in the conference this season, which has led to opposing quarterbacks throwing for low yardages and completion percentages.
This weekend's game is Western's chance to show a national audience that it has a football program to be reckoned with, and that the team has some of the best fans in college football.
FROM STUDENT PAPER @ WESTERN ILL.
http://media.www.westerncourier.com/...-3036719.shtml
thats always a highlight.
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