Leatherneck Nation

Kickoff weather update: 65 degrees (high of 69), partly cloudy, practically no wind...beautiful day at any time of year, but exceptionally good for November football.

It was 45 this morning. Will warm up to 69 in the afternoon. Partly cloudy with a UV Index 2 of 10. Winds SW at 6 mph.

Tonight will be time-change night back to Standard Time.

The long-range forecast for the final home game on November 12 is calling for cooler weather: Sunny and 56.

Much on the line for Illinois State and Western.
From today's McDonough County Voice:
http://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/sports/20 ... nd-western


New Western coach familiar with ISU.
From the Bloomington Pantagraph:
http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/colleg ... 15ad7.html

Tailgating seems a bit dead.

You win some by the skin of your teeth, by season's end, things usually even out. Our defense is passive, letting offenses dicate play. Need to play more agressively, blitz more, get up on receivers.

Tough loss, but can't win them all.

Disappointed in the play calling the last drive. After the scramble, I thought they should have run the ball on 2nd or 3rd. Didn't like the throw to Leisure, even if the guy was interfering.

Unless they were really keying on the crossing or rb out of the backfield, I would have stuck with that.

Guess we've been spoiled with these last drives working.

Some good, some bad, some ugly.

If I'm not mistaken isn't ISU #82 an all-American and or all conference WR? Maybe someone should've informed Western's defensive side

Well kiss any chance of a 1st round bye goodbye. Now WIU is in playoff mode starting next week since they need to win at least one more game (as this team does not have a good statement win to get into the playoffs with 6 wins).

WIU became one dimensional again (SDSU all over again) with abandoning the running game in the 2nd half, and again Sean not reading his progression and locking his eyes on one receiver (no one can argue especially on that interception). And that final play call by the O.C. was terrible. Plenty of time to mix in the run, but like I said it disappeared in the 2nd half.

Once again the deep pass killing this team. All 3 big pass plays leads to touchdowns.

I said it last week that WIU had to play like the 2nd half of the USD game today and they did not.

Hopefully this isn't a let down that could cost these guys the season.

This was a very disappointing day for several reasons.

Tailgating was rather subdued in comparison to the first three home games.

When the Marching Leathernecks started their pre-game show at 12:45 PM, it looked like the crowd was going to be very small. But the biggest bulk of the crowd all arrived at the same time--just before kickoff. The attendance was posted as only 3,589. That is a very disappointing attendance for a 6-2, #11 ranked team that is playing its biggest football rival. Sad, sad, sad.

A game vs Illinois State used to bring big crowds to Hanson Field. Just four years ago in 2012, the crowd for the Illinois State at Western game was 16,033.

Western had 312 passing yards, 68 rushing yards.

In his WRMS Radio Post-game show, Coach Fisher was asked by both Scott Kornberg and Tom Cody about the team's lack of enthusiasm which was very evident throughout the game. Coach Fisher did not disagree with their assessment. Scott and Tom asked him if the team was perhaps looking ahead to the playoffs.

The Grand Forks newspaper is reporting today that the University of North Dakota is negotiating a move to the Summit League and the Missouri Valley Football Conference:
http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/ ... hU.twitter


Warrum burns defense as ISU downs No. 11 Western Illinois.
From the Bloomington Pantagraph:
http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/colleg ... 2368b.html

Not trying to make excuses but have we had a completely healthy db core for even one game I was More disappointed in the offense and special teams.