Both running back Montell Clanton and middle linebacker Tim McCarthy went for MRIs on Monday afternoon.

NIU head coach Joe Novak said at Monday’s MAC teleconference that preliminary reports put Clanton with a torn right ACL.

“It doesn’t look good,” the 12-year coach said. “I’m 95 percent sure Montell is out for the year.”

Novak expects sophomore tailback Justin Anderson to start, with true freshman Chad Spann as a back up. The coach also said that redshirt sophomore David Bryant and redshirt freshman Ricky Crider may play a role.

Preliminary reports for McCarthy say the captain has torn his PCL.

“It could be anywhere from several weeks ‘til the season,” Novak said of the length the middle linebacker might miss. “His [injury] doesn’t look good either.”


Kicking to history
With a second quarter PAT, place kicker Chris Nendick continued to make Huskie history.

The senior has scored in 39 consecutive games which is a NIU best. The old record was 24 consecutive games, by former place kicker John Ivanic.
Nendick has scored 10 points this season on two field goals and four PAT.

Turning a new page on turnovers

In two games this season the Huskies have turned the ball over eight times, and have only recovered one turnover.

Against Southern Illinois this past weekend NIU fumbled twice and threw three interceptions.

“The thing really bugging us is turnovers,” Novak said. “You can’t do that against anybody and have success. Right now that’s killing us.”

Last season, in 13 games the Huskies finished with a plus-two turnover margin.


Similar starts
For the last three seasons, NIU has started 0-2.

In 2005 the Huskies lost their first two games to Michigan and Northwestern. Then in 2006, NIU lost the season opener against Ohio State, and home opener against Ohio.

Both of those seasons saw NIU reach an extra game at the end of their season.
In 2005 the Huskies played at the MAC Championship and in 2006 NIU went to the San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.

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