Welcome to this week's edition of the HuskieWire.com Q&A.
Every Thursday, I'll answer your NIU and MAC-related questions right here. Do you have a question about NIU or the MAC? E-mail your questions to me at jsahly@daily-chronicle.com and I'll answer them next Thursday.
Here are this week's questions and answers:
Pat. E. asked: I saw the spring roster was released and have two questions:
1. Panan Tense would have started at tackle, and with Adam Kiel coming off injury, will a freshman get a shot?
2. Kevin Sabock has been battling knee injuries...so is he going to be on the team in the fall still, or just left off the spring roster due to NCAA rules?
John Sahly: Pat, I don't believe Panan Tense would have started at right tackle. Adam Kiel had pretty well established himself there before he got hurt. With Tense gone, though, the Huskies will need to find someone who can step in for Kiel should Kiel get hurt again. In that spot, a young player should be in the mix with Keith Otis for the backup right tackle spot.
As for your second question, we reported on Sabock's situation earlier in the week here. But, as I was sitting down to write this, Sabock called me to add some details to the story. He said doctors still don't know exactly what is wrong with his knee and his playing days are finished.
"I'm still limping around," Sabock said. "I'm trying to get to the point where I can walk normal."
But, Sabock isn't done with football. He is still around the team and helping out where he can. Like his father, Western Michigan assistant coach Mike Sabock, Kevin sees himself as a coach in the future.
"That's what I want to do," Kevin said. "I want to coach football."
Martin asked: Can [Ricardo] Patton convince these kids (save [Xavier] Silas and [Jake] Anderson) to actually play? I watched the Minnesota game on BTN and my Huskies had no rhythm on offense, didn't defend, screen, rebound, set picks or convert foul shots, but were very good at committing unnecessary fouls and most charitable at turnovers. How much patience will the AD have with this mess you think?
JS: Martin, it's no surprise you feel that way after watching the Minnesota game back in December. I'd be curious to know how many other games you've seen this season. Now, the Huskies have lost nine in a row, can't close out games and are doing some of the things you saw in the Minnesota game. NIU has show the potential to play really well, especially during it's 4-0 start to MAC play, which was after the Minnesota game. But, no one has seen that for a while (or anywhere close to 40 minutes) now. It's pretty clear fans are starting to run out of patience at this point.
