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Brian Palangi didn't stay a free agent for long.
The former Swampscott High football captain was as shocked as anyone when Northeastern announced it was dropping football a few days before Thanksgiving. Resigned to the fact that he'd have to continue his gridiron career elsewhere, the six-foot-four, 300-pound center has decided to transfer to Northern Iowa — one of the nation's top Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA) programs.
"I got lucky in that the football is an upgrade from Northeastern," said Palangi, who will begin at NIU after the holidays for the spring semester and has three seasons of NCAA eligibility left. "I'm happy — I'm not going to look back. I have to look forward."
NIU's Panthers finished this past season ranked No. 16 in the country in FCS and came within two blocked field goals of beating Big Ten power Iowa. NIU has finished in the top five nationally four times in the last eight seasons — a stark contrast with Northeastern, which hadn't been to the playoffs since Masconomet star Tim Gale led them there in 2002.
"Just from talking to the players and coaches, and some students that don't play football, the games are pretty important up there," said Palangi, who visited NIU's Cedar Falls campus last week. "They're all about winning and hard work."...more of this article in link
The former Swampscott High football captain was as shocked as anyone when Northeastern announced it was dropping football a few days before Thanksgiving. Resigned to the fact that he'd have to continue his gridiron career elsewhere, the six-foot-four, 300-pound center has decided to transfer to Northern Iowa — one of the nation's top Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA) programs.
"I got lucky in that the football is an upgrade from Northeastern," said Palangi, who will begin at NIU after the holidays for the spring semester and has three seasons of NCAA eligibility left. "I'm happy — I'm not going to look back. I have to look forward."
NIU's Panthers finished this past season ranked No. 16 in the country in FCS and came within two blocked field goals of beating Big Ten power Iowa. NIU has finished in the top five nationally four times in the last eight seasons — a stark contrast with Northeastern, which hadn't been to the playoffs since Masconomet star Tim Gale led them there in 2002.
"Just from talking to the players and coaches, and some students that don't play football, the games are pretty important up there," said Palangi, who visited NIU's Cedar Falls campus last week. "They're all about winning and hard work."...more of this article in link
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