NIU coach: Quarterback play key to title chances

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer 9:26 PM Friday, July 30, 2010

DETROIT — If Northern Illinois football coach Jerry Kill is correct about what it takes to win the Mid-American Conference championship, the Miami RedHawks should be considered one of the favorites for 2010.

Yes, the same RedHawks who have gone 3-21 overall and 2-14 in the MAC over the last two seasons, the same RedHawks who were picked to finish a distant fifth in the East Division in the MAC preseason poll that was released on Friday, July 30.

Kill was answering questions from a reporter during Friday morning’s MAC Preview at Ford Field and it was noted to the Huskies’ coach that there are not many “big-name quarterbacks” in the league this fall because 2009 was dominated by senior quarterbacks.

“I think whoever wins will have that guy,” said Kill, whose own Huskies have been picked to win the MAC West Division. “Chandler may be that guy.”

Chandler Hornish, a 6-foot-2, 213-pound junior, is the starting quarterback for NIU, Last year he completed 143 passes for 1,670 yards.

Those numbers pale in comparison to those of Miami sophomore Zac Dysert, who returns after starting just nine times and completing 247 passes for 2,611 yards.

“The kid from Miami was very productive as a freshman,” Kill said.

The NIU coach went on to say that “the bottom line is, whoever steps up and plays (well) at quarterback, that’s who is going to win. You’re not going to win a championship without a great quarterback. It just ain’t going to happen.”

Dysert already has made several preseason watch lists, including Lindy’s Honor Roll for having the “strongest arm” and being “coolest in the clutch” in the MAC. Dysert also was designated “best passing quarterback” in the MAC by The Sporting News and is a USA Today “MAC player to watch.”

Dysert said sure, there is pressure on him to succeed for the sake of his team.

“I try not to think about it too much,” he said. “It’s all about the team, I know that, and for the team to play well I have to play well and not make too many turnovers.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.

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