Cheryl Raye-Stout

NIU Orange Bowl mixes bitter and sweet

By: Cheryl Raye-Stout | Dec. 5, 2012

Dec. 5, 2012

What did Northern Illinois University do to deserve such negativity about gaining a berth to a bowl championship game? 

Talking heads have lambasted the Huskies for getting the nod to play Florida State in the Orange Bowl in Miami on New Year’s Day, and stats nerds and big time football schools have scoffed at this BCS selection.

It's not the National Championship game — that will really see the big revenues. But money is the reason for such displeasure — and the fact that a smaller school in a smaller conference (the Mid-American Conference) gets to share in the wealth. The MAC gets $8 million for having a team in a BCS bowl game, and this is the first time this conference has had a representative.

But NIU earned their spot fair and square: They have an exciting quarterback in Jordan Lynch, and the school has gone to five straight bowl games.

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Seattle stuns Bears in OT

By: Cheryl Raye-Stout | Dec. 3, 2012

Dec. 3, 2012

The Bears defense wilted in the final minutes against Seattle Sunday, with Coach Lovie Smith taking the blame for a poor 4th down decision. The offense had some big plays, but didn't control the ball late — the result was a 23-17 overtime loss.

Defense blows 4th quarter lead

The Bears defense has been the team's strength throughout the season. But Seattle's rookie quarterback Russell Wilson saved his best for last; he drove a go-ahead touchdown late in the 4th quarter and guided the Seahawks to a game winning score to Golden Tate in the OT. Safety Major Wright's huge hit on Tate almost caused a fumble, but after one of many reviews of the game, it was ruled a game winner for Seattle. Wright, as well as the rest of the Bears, was stunned by the dramatic defeat. “We definitely got to come out and play better football,” said Wright. “This is a tough loss to swallow.” The defense looked worn out and suffered more injuries: Tim Jennings hurt his shoulder and Brian Urlacher had a sore hamstring. Another factor for the Bears defense was losing starting safety Chris Conte; he was weakened by the flu during the first half.

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No NHL? No problem!

By: Cheryl Raye-Stout | Nov. 30, 2012

Nov. 30, 2012

Another month is off the calendar for the Blackhawks and the NHL: The lockout continues with no end in sight.

But at this point does anyone care? Are there fans talking around the office water cooler, lamenting the absence of the game? NHL owners and players may not like that question, but the reality is this league is in trouble when (or if) the season is restored. U.S. federal mediation was brought in last Monday, as it was during the lock-out in the 2004-2005 season, but there is no guarantee that will change this labor dispute — or that fans will fill the seats if the dispute is resolved. How many times can sports leagues go to the well with labor disputes and expect no repercussions from the ticket-buying public?

Let’s go bowling — college football bowling

The final weekend of the regular season has plenty of good story-lines. Northern Illinois is in Detroit tonight meeting Kent State for the MAC title. The Huskies are ranked 18th in the AP poll and 19th in the USA Today coaches’ poll.

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Notre Dame headed to National Championship

By: Cheryl Raye-Stout | Nov. 28, 2012

Nov. 28, 2012
 
If you want to spark a heated discussion in college sports there is one team that seems to top most other schools — Notre Dame.

Last weekend the Fighting Irish finished an unbelievable regular season beating USC on the road and finishing with a 12-0 record and one more game to play. That game will be for the BCS title on January 7 in Miami. Their challenger for the National Championship will be determined in a few days.  For now, it is the team from South Bend, Ind., that is making the headlines and stirring the conversation.

There seems to be no middle ground. Fans love the program and the years of glory (not many the past several years) or they can't stand the team, the program or the history. (It is hard to use the word hate, talking about a religious-based school.)

Years ago, two words seemed to get under the skin of many people about Notre Dame: Irish and Catholic.

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Plenty of sports to go with your holiday leftovers

By: Cheryl Raye-Stout | Nov. 23, 2012

Nov. 23, 2012

Today is a day of left-overs, Black Friday specials and plenty of sports news. You can sit on your couch for hours this weekend with high school and college sports, the Bears and the Bulls.

What a dandy way for top-ranked Notre Dame to finish the regular season: playing at USC. When the college season began, the Trojans held the top spot of the polls. I guess the saying, "It's not how you start, but how you finish," is really true for the Irish. They better be careful, though. The Number 1 spot has been very wobbly —just ask Alabama and Kansas State; both posted losses as the top team. Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly's team is 11-0, if they finish with a "W" Saturday in California. January 7th will be their next playing date in Miami for the NCAA crown. How many people predicted them to be there?

While Notre Dame is the king of the mountain, what can be said of University of Illinois and first-year head coach Tim Beckman? Well, let's see. They are winless in the Big Ten (0-13 going back to last year) 2 and 9 overall. Saturday, the Illini finish the schedule with bowl-bound Northwestern.

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Sports never take a holiday

By: Cheryl Raye-Stout | Nov. 21, 2012

Nov. 21, 2012

Sports never take a holiday: People race in turkey trots, watch the NFL, and some even go bowling on Thanksgiving. When I worked at an all-sports radio station, I was sent to Detroit to cover the Bears on Thanksgiving Day. Fortunately, Detroit isn't a long flight; you fly in early, cover the game and return home after you finish up locker room interviews. The Lions provided us with a full Thanksgiving dinner in the press room that year. Glamorous, the life a traveling sports reporter.

Thankfully, by my choice, those days are behind me now. Call me a softie, but family time matters to me. Thanksgiving and other holidays also matter to athletes, even though many leagues schedule practice, travel or games that day.

I talked to some of Chicago's athletes about the upcoming holiday earlier this week. The Bulls, nearing the end of their five-game road trip, are in Houston Wednesday night and will fly back home for Thanksgiving Thursday. Players are probably hoping coach Tom Thibodeau will give them a day off before they finish the trip in Milwaukee on Saturday.

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Bad news Bears lose big

By: Cheryl Raye-Stout | Nov. 20, 2012

Nov. 20, 2012

Which was worse for the Bears, the offense or the defense? It was probably a draw, since both sides of the ball were so inept in this embarrassing 32-7 loss against the 49ers. With back-to-back losses, the Bears drop to 7-3 for the season. Now they have to figure out how to repair the damage.

Bears’ offense in shambles

Bears offense was rather non-existent. They did absolutely nothing well: They couldn't run, they couldn't pass and back-up quarterback Jason Campbell was under fire the whole game, man-handled by an outstanding defense. San Francisco's Aldon Smith had a career night, adding 5 1/2 to his league-leading sack total of 15 — the most sacks by a single player in Monday Night Football history. It seems the stage is always set for the Bears to be on the receiving end of stellar performances like Smith’s.

Matt Forte was held to just 63 yards, as a team the Bears only mustered 85 total rushing yards. Jason Campbell’s final passing numbers were 14 of 22 for 107 yards with two interceptions and one touchdown to Brandon Marshall.

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Bears try to rebound against the 49ers on MNF

By: Cheryl Raye-Stout | Nov. 19, 2012

Nov. 19, 2012

If you like defense, you'll love the game between the 7-2 Bears and the 6-2-1 Niners tonight in San Francisco — they strut their stuff on Monday Night Football. But if you love seeing points on the board, odds are you may be disappointed. These teams are stingy in that catergory. 

What's at stake?

While all the news has been swirling around the health of both teams starting quarterbacks all week, the game is now the focal point no matter who is under center. Like the Bears' Jay Cutler, San Fran quarterback Alex Smith suffered a concussion last week. The Bears said Friday that Cutler would sit out Monday night's game. Smith initially got the OK to return to the practice; however, reports Monday indicate he will not be starting tonight. Back-up Colin Kaepernick will get the start; he has been used this season in the “wild cat” offense.

This is a key NFC match up and the winner can crow that they are the best in the conference. Last year, San Francisco was a game away from the Super Bowl, and well, we know what happened with the Bears missing the playoffs.

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