Category: Western Illinois Leathernecks
Missouri Valley Football Conference Recognizes "Silver Anniversary Team"
Founded in 1985 as the Gateway Football Conference, the Missouri Valley Football Conference is celebrating its 25th season of FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) football during the 2009 season. As part of a season-long celebration, the conference is paying tribute to its all-time greats by selecting a Silver Anniversary Team. Also selected was an NFL Greats and Institutional Greats team.
- 3203 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Southern Illinois Salukis, Indiana State Sycamores, South Dakota State Jackrabbits, North Dakota State Bison, Northern Iowa Panthers, Youngstown State Penguins, Western Illinois Leathernecks, Missouri State Bears, Illinois State Redbirds Patterson Steps Down, Citing Health Concerns
MACOMB, Ill.- In his 11th season with the Western Illinois football program, head coach Don Patterson has announced he will step down from his head coaching role due to personal health concerns, Friday, Sept. 25th.
Patterson, who was diagnosed with tonsillar cancer last July, missed most of the 2008 preseason camp and the first seven games of the year as he underwent treatment for cancer.
- 325 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Western Illinois Leathernecks Right attitude and hard work wrap up two weeks of camp for WIU
MACOMB - Western Illinois head coach Don Patterson was pleased with the Fighting Leatherneck football team’s right attitude and efforts as the team wrapped up 20 practices in two weeks with a second scrimmage at Hanson Field, Saturday.
“I feel pretty darn good about this football team,” Patterson explained. “I’m really encouraged for two primary reasons, we have talent and the right attitude. Those two things can carry you a long way.”
The first scrimmage took place last Saturday with 10 practices in between the two scrimmages.
WIU gearing up for 2009
MACOMB, IL - While comparing the coaching schemes of college football legends Bobby Bowden and Lee Corso, Don Patterson compiled his own.
“Corso tested you,” said Patterson, who is heading into his 11th season at the Western Illinois helm. “Bowden takes shots down the field and challenges the other team with the ball.”
Patterson told the Media Day crew earlier in the week that WIU has those capabilities, and he won’t hesitate to use them this upcoming 2009 campaign.
“We’re going to throw it down (the field) because you know if those defensive backs could catch, they’d be playing wide receiver,” the coach said. “We’ve been telling our QBs going in that our guys can judge the ball better than them.”
The Leathernecks produced a 6-5 overall, 4-4 Missouri Valley Football Conference record in 2008 under the leadership of a young Matt Barr. The junior quarterback will take the snaps once again.
TSN: UNI, SIU teams to beat in MVFC
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - There was little doubt that the addition of North Dakota State and South Dakota State would make a brutal Missouri Valley Fall Conference race even more competitive.
But when the dust had settled last season, it was traditional powerhouses Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois sitting on top of the league. Things will likely be just as competitive in 2009, but UNI and SIU are again the teams that should set the pace.
Northern Iowa is looking for a share of its third consecutive MVFC title and has developed into one of the more consistent programs in FCS under coach Mark Farley, going from a top-10 team to a squad capable of winning a national title in almost any given year.
- 2240 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Southern Illinois Salukis, Indiana State Sycamores, South Dakota State Jackrabbits, North Dakota State Bison, Northern Iowa Panthers, Youngstown State Penguins, Western Illinois Leathernecks, Missouri State Bears, Illinois State Redbirds MVFC Recognizes "All-Select NFL Team"
ST. LOUIS – Founded in 1985 as the Gateway Football Conference, the Missouri Valley Football Conference will celebrate its 25th season of FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) football during the 2009 season. To kick off the league’s 25th Year Celebration, the Missouri Valley Football Conference is paying tribute to its all-time greats - those who have had stellar careers or played with distinction in the National Football League.
Included in the list are former NFL Most Valuable Players, Pro-Bowl selections and Super Bowl participants. In all, former conference players have combined to play in 15 Pro Bowls and earned four MVP honors, while 12 players have combined for 23 Super Bowl appearances. Notably, 16 former league players on the list are currently active in the NFL.
- 1657 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Southern Illinois Salukis, Indiana State Sycamores, South Dakota State Jackrabbits, North Dakota State Bison, Northern Iowa Panthers, Youngstown State Penguins, Western Illinois Leathernecks, Missouri State Bears, Illinois State Redbirds Missouri Valley Football Conference Announces 2008 Academic Awards
Thirteen student-athletes highlight nearly 400 who earned selection to the 2008 Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll, as announced by the league office.
- 1077 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Southern Illinois Salukis, Indiana State Sycamores, South Dakota State Jackrabbits, North Dakota State Bison, Northern Iowa Panthers, Youngstown State Penguins, Western Illinois Leathernecks, Missouri State Bears, Illinois State Redbirds Leathernecks' placekicker, longsnapper attend pro kicking camp
MACOMB, Ill. - Senior placekicker Taylor Rowan and senior long snapper Travis Cherry have done their parts in writing the storied history of Western Illinois’ special team success.
Now they would like to be part of the Leathernecks’ long tradition of sending players to the NFL.
- 705 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Western Illinois Leathernecks One Hot LB: WIU's Williams Has 10 Pre-draft Visits
Jason Williams is going to earn his wings before the NFL draft. Maybe he’ll even score a free future ticket.
The Western Illinois linebacker is one of the hottest risers with just three weeks to go as he crisscrosses the country getting in 10 pre-draft visits. That is more than any other player we’ve heard of to this point as the visit season cranks up with teams whittling down their draft boards.
WIU Leathernecks kick off spring practices
Contrary to what the weather might feel like, the Western Illinois football team kicked off its spring season with their first practice, participating in helmet-only workouts.
“I was impressed today with the minimal mental mistakes that we made, especially when you factor in the really tough practice conditions,” said Western Illinois head coach Don Patterson. “I thought the guys did a good job at concentrating through the drills and you saw very few mental mistakes, which is a very good sign. It’s an indications that the coaches have done a good job at preparing the players and the players have been conscientious in learning their assignment and concentrating on any given play.”
- 450 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Western Illinois Leathernecks Walter Camp Football Foundation Names 2008 FCS All-America Team
NEW HAVEN, CT – Two wide receivers headline the Walter Camp Football Foundation 2008 Football Championship Subdivision All-America team. The team was selected by the head coaches and sports information directors of the Football Championship Subdivision schools and certified by UHY Advisors, a New Haven-based accounting firm.
- 675 words - FCS News Articles, Appalachian State Mountaineers, Montana Grizzlies, Florida A&M Rattlers, New Hampshire Wildcats, Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, Eastern Washington Eagles, Liberty Flames, Villanova Wildcats, James Madison Dukes, Maine Black Bears, Western Illinois Leathernecks, Cal Poly Mustangs, UC Davis Aggies, Yale Bulldogs, Colgate Raiders, Elon Phoenix, Furman Paladins, Murray State Racers, Central Arkansas Bears, Prairie View A&M Panthers Sims suspended for first two games
MACOMB -
Western Illinois University acting head football coach Mark Hendrickson has announced a two-game suspension for senior wide receiver Carl Sims due to violation of team rules during preseason camp.
Sims will miss both the season opener at Arkansas (Aug. 30) and the home opener against Quincy (Sept. 6).
Sims joins senior defensive linemen Josh Galloway and Clinton Barley on the sidelines to start the 2008 season.
Games that may serve up shocker
Michigan could have opened the season at home last year against Hawaii.
It opted to play host to Appalachian State.
Seemed like a smart move. … Oops.
In one Ann Arbor afternoon, the notion that a blue-blood program could “schedule” a paycheck win against a non-major program got turned on its Appalachian cart.
Appalachian State’s 34-32 victory win at Michigan over Labor Day weekend will reign as an all-time upset, blossoming as a love story and a cautionary tale.
A question entering 2008: Could it happen again?
WIU football preview: Leathernecks start season without coach
MACOMB — The purple wristbands sported by Western Illinois’ football Leathernecks will be their way of saluting head coach Don Patterson, who won’t be on the sidelines early this season while he undergoes treatment for tonsillar cancer. | WIU team page
The wristbands bear the words “Coach P’’ and will be worn throughout the season.
Patterson addressed the team at its first meeting of preseason drills but has not been with the Leathernecks during preseason practice. His treatment plan is expected to last seven weeks.
“I have coached in 352 football games without missing one and I am going to have to miss a few this fall,’’ Patterson said at the Missouri Valley Conference media gathering in late July.
“I don’t know how many; I haven’t made any promises to the team because I’ll never make a promise to our team that I can’t keep. I did make this promise: I will be back as soon as I possibly can,’’ he added.
Dakotas could further cloud playoff race
Four teams from the Missouri Valley Football Conference (formerly the Gateway) made the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in 2003.
Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois University tied for first place in the league at 6-1. Western Illinois and Western Kentucky, both 5-2 in the league, tied for third.
For the only time in the history of the MVFC, four teams made the postseason. SIU fell 48-7 to Delaware, the eventual national champions. Western Illinois and Western Kentucky fell in the first round. Northern Iowa lost in the second round to the Blue Hens, 37-7.
This season Valley football might have the credentials to get four in again, but the records to deter the selection committee from making it so. Five MVFC teams were picked in The Sporting News’ preseason top 25. Three were picked to finish in the top 10 - UNI (third), North Dakota State (eighth) and Youngstown State (ninth).
College Football Has its 'Watch-Out' Games on Opening Weekend
Last year, Michigan stumbled big early against Appalachian State. Could it happen again?
Michigan could have opened the season at home last year against Hawaii.
It opted to play host to Appalachian State.
Seemed like a smart move. . . . Oops.
In one Ann Arbor afternoon, the notion that a blue-blood program could “schedule” a paycheck win against a non-major program got turned on its Appalachian cart.
Appalachian State’s 34-32 victory win at Michigan over Labor Day weekend will reign as an all-time upset, blossoming as a love story and a cautionary tale.
Picked last in MVFC? No sweat for Miles, Indiana State
Sycamores’ new football coach not concerned with team’s place in conference pecking order.
ST. LOUIS — “New name, same game” says the slogan for the newly-named Missouri Valley Football Conference on its media guide.
Same game indeed when it comes to preseason expectations for the Indiana State football team.
For the sixth season in a row, the Sycamores were tabbed to finish last in the Valley in the preseason conference poll … and by a wide margin. ISU was not a unanimous last-place selection — its 41 points was six off the minimum — but ISU was a distant 63 points away from eighth-place Illinois State.
Valley coaches rally around Patterson
ST. LOUIS — Coaches live to compete.
Tuesday, the coaches of the Missouri Valley Football Conference joined forces to support a man and his fight to live.
They stood unified and delivered a rousing, standing ovation to Don Patterson, the leader of Western Illinois’ program. Patterson, the former assistant to Hayden Fry at Iowa, recently underwent surgery for tonsillar cancer.
Newcomer NDSU is MVFC's Preseason Pick
ST. LOUIS — It didn’t take long for one of the two new teams in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, to become the hunted.
North Dakota State was picked by coaches, media and sports information directors to finish first in the nine-team league. The poll was released Tuesday prior to the conference’s annual media day.
Western Illinois was picked fourth in the league formerly known as the Gateway Conference. Illinois State was picked eighth.
MVFC Newcomer North Dakota State Voted Preseason Favorite
ST. LOUIS – Most of the time, the new kid has to earn respect. North Dakota State already has respect in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
That surprises Tyler Roehl, a returning all-American running back for the Bison.
“I feel that we have got to earn it,” Roehl said Tuesday at the league’s media day after learning North Dakota State, a league newcomer, was named the preseason favorite in the Valley.
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