yes, it was Ward, and he about got a 2nd one as well.

From the Huskiewire article:


Ward's punt block firmly shifted the momentum of the game to the Huskies. Minnesota punter Dan Orseke had little chance with Ward coming off the edge, sticking both hands in and sending the ball backwards and into NIU's possession.

"My mind went blank and all I was visioning was the ball," Ward said. "My coaches had a good scheme and I just did what I was coached to do."

The punt block was the seventh by NIU in the past three seasons under Kill. Ward almost had another in the third quarter, also.

"I've coached about 28 years and I don't know if I ever recruited one like this kid (Ward)," Kill said. "He can make plays on special teams. He's going to be a great secondary player.

"I think any time you block a punt it changes the momentum of a football game. That was a big play in the game."

Yeah I think if he would've laid out on the second one he would've blocked it too. Probably was worried about being late and taking a roughing the kicker.

(09-26-2010 06:55 AM)thetachihuskie Wrote:  I thought the officials did the best job of any Big Ten game in my memory. They were not the typical homer calls that we have endured for years.

I agree, I think we actually got a fair shake for once at a Big Ten venue, weird. I did notice though that they sent several plays up for "revue" that had no right being checked twice, seemed as if they wanted to make doubley sure that they couldn't give minny a gift, looking at the revue for a chance to change the call....

Oh well lets take the W and enjoy!!!

(09-26-2010 01:25 PM)armour248 Wrote:  Yeah I think if he would've laid out on the second one he would've blocked it too. Probably was worried about being late and taking a roughing the kicker.

Jesus, almost forgot about the second one. He overran the second punt block. He needed to slow down or just dive on the kicker's leg. It was amazing, yet sad, that he missed that second one. No excuse for that.

(09-26-2010 11:55 AM)17Huskies Wrote:  

(09-26-2010 10:40 AM)DiehardHuskie Wrote:  I loved how every time our kicker came on the field, they mentioned he was a u of I transfer. Except for the time they mentioned his uncle was a kicker at ohio state. I counted six times in the first half.

I'm ok with some of those comment and always tailing it back to the Big 10, because it is there network....but when the challenge replays were happening...trying to make it seem like some should be overturned, when it was just nowhere close.

i know, this was bad!

that wasn't a punt block, if you watch the replay in slow motion he actually knocked it down before it ever got to the punters foot. it was a prepunt block/fumble, but of course is statistically a punt block.

We often hear coaches before and after games talking about needing to make plays.

I think of Wannstedt every time those words ring in my ears.

NIU made an absolute sh!tload of plays on O and D Sat nite vs UM.

Keep it up Huskies !!! It was one of the more awesome performances in awhile by the good guys.

This thread ended after 666 posts (that is until now). I guess we should've seen it coming.