Football

This week, as NFL teams shuffled their rosters in a post-lockout frenzy, three former Northeastern players signed rookie free agent contracts with NFL clubs, closing yet another chapter in Northeastern’s football history. David Akkiniyi (DE) signed with the  Minnesota Vikings after playing a season at South Carolina, John Griffin (RB) signed with the Cincinnati Bengals after playing his final season at UMass, and Griffin’s teammate last season Greg Niland (OL) was picked up by the Detroit Lions.

From a Northeastern release:

Akinniyi (Carrollton, Texas), a defensive end who signed with Minnesota, was a three-year starter for the Huskies. He played in 34 games, recording 141 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. While at Northeastern, he was a two-time Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Academic all-conference choice. Griffin (Westminster, Mass.), a running back who signed with Cincinnati, appeared in 29 games over three seasons at Northeastern, totaling 253 carries for 1,217 yards and seven touchdowns, including a 1,009-yard season in 2009. Niland (East Bridgewater, Mass.) also was a three-year starter for the Huskies and has inked a deal with Arizona. While on Huntington Ave., the offensive lineman was named to the CAA Football Academic All-Conference team and in 2009 he blocked for a team that averaged 130.8 rushing yards per game.

WRBB Sports Football Alumni, Off the wires

>>> Vinny Saponari (who is reportedly joining Northeastern in the fall) and recruit John Gaudreau (who is committed to the Huskies but may or may not join the team in the fall) were both honored as all-USHL selections. Of the 13 on the all-USHL team, 12 will be playing NCAA hockey in the near future. [USHL.com]

>>> Northeastern alumnus David Poile, general manager of the Nashville Predators, is profiled as the team continues its run through the Stanley Cup playoffs. [Vancouver Sun]

>>> Greg Niland, who played football at Northeastern for three seasons, is holding out hope that he might play professionally, but the NFL’s labor situation has complicated things. [Taunton Gazette]

>>> Former Northeastern women’s basketball coach Willette White was hired an assistant coach for the Utah Utes women’s basketball program. While at Northeastern, White compiled a 64-103 record. [UtahUtes.com]

Additional articles:

• Salt Lake Tribune: Leverts brings on veteran assistant White
• The Seattle Times: Former Washington assistant back in the Pac-, er, 12

>>> Jamie Oleksiak is getting some additional attention from NHL scouts as the entry draft approaches. He was invited to the NHL’s scouting combine, and is on the large list of prospects attending. [NHL.com]

WRBB Sports Basketball, Football, Hockey Alumni, NHL Draft, Women's Basketball

In an article in today’s Huntington News, Northeastern athletic director Peter Roby said that all of Northeastern’s varsity teams have benefited from the funds that otherwise would have gone to the football team this season:

Of the 60 scholarships Northeastern football players held, 20 have been distributed to other programs, though some of that money has been redirected to the general financial aid pool.

“All of our teams that have benefited from additional scholarships are thrilled,” Roby said. “They also wish it came with different circumstances.”

…

Roby said the elimination of the football program wasn’t simply a profitable decision. Though scholarship money was saved, revenue from ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, and the NCAA was lost.

Of the 87 players on the squad at the time of the team’s dismissal, 24 of them decided to stay at Northeastern and finish out their degrees, 36 have transferred to other schools and 27 were seniors who completed graduation.

This is the first time we have a clearer picture of how many students stayed at Northeastern (keeping their athletic scholarships) and how many vacant scholarships are available or have been redistributed.

• Huntington News: Football funds redirected

WRBB Sports Football Off the wires

Adding to our look at former Northeastern football players beginning the season with new teams, running back John Griffin and tight end Conor Gilmartin-Donohue are profiled in separate articles.

Griffin will be playing for the UMass Minutemen this season:

Griffin has moved 13 times in his 21 years, mostly the result of his stepfather’s job. So when the former Northeastern running back decided to transfer to the University of Massachusetts after the Huskies folded their football program after last season, two hours of highway didn’t seem like much.

“It seemed natural,’’ Griffin said. “Almost secondary.’’

UMass coach Kevin Morris is hoping Griffin will make the transition to the Minutemen offense as easily as he has settled into life in Amherst. Griffin’s arrival means UMass will replace one all-conference running back — the graduated Tony Nelson — with another. Morris thinks the duo of Griffin and Jonathan Hernandez will give the Minutemen one of the best running games in the Colonial Athletic Association.

• Boston Globe: He already has all the right moves

Gilmartin-Donohue made the long journey to North Texas:

If it wasn’t for a lucky set of circumstances, Gilmartin-Donohue might never have ended up at UNT, despite his efforts to contact just about anyone he could in an effort to find a school at which to spend his senior year.

Gilmartin-Donhue sent highlight tapes of his junior season to about 50 schools across the country playing at every level from Division II to FCS to FBS. One of the schools he sent tape to was Division II power North Alabama, where John Pont was an assistant coach.

Pont brought the tape to UNT, where he worked as a graduate assistant coach last spring. The Mean Green’s coaching staff quickly recognized Gilmartin-Donohue.

The article profiling Gilmartin-Donohue has an interesting note about how Northeastern is accommodating players who wish to play their senior year, then return to NU in the spring to finish their degrees:

Northeastern set up a way its seniors could transfer, play their final college season, return in the spring and use the credits they earn at other schools toward graduating from the prestigious private school in Boston.

Gilmartin-Donohue is taking advantage of that opportunity in a part of the country he had never seen before visiting this summer.

• Denton Record-Chronicle: Tight end finds new home at UNT

WRBB Sports Football Alumni, Off the wires, UMass

After last year’s sudden discontinuation of Northeastern football, several players hit the open market to search for new homes. Several wound up at UMass, while others were scattered around the conference – and the country. Here are some stories about former Huskies, their new homes, and expectations for the new season:

• Boston Herald: UMass glad to have ex-Huskies
• Richmond Register: Lengel finds new home at EKU
• Scout.com: Akinniyi is all business
• Scout.com: Camp Q&A – David Akinniyi
• S.C. Technician: Senior adjusts to new scenery in last final year of eligibility

WRBB Sports Football Alumni, Off the wires

You can weigh in by messaging us on Twitter (@wrbbsports), e-mailing us (sports@wrbbradio.org) or commenting on our Facebook page.

Here are our picks for the top highlights from November of this season.

November 6, 2009 – Hockey vs. Boston University

This one had all the ingredients: sell-out crowd, rivalry game, two nationally ranked teams, one of them the defending national champion. Chris Rawlings stops 43 shots and NU holds on for an incredible four-plus minutes on the penalty kill at the end to seal one of the most dramatic hockey victories in the past decade.

November 14, 2009 – Final home football game

Though few knew it at the time, this rain-soaked homecoming game at Parsons Field would be the last home game for Northeastern football. Ending in a bizarre finish, the Huskies beat Hofstra 14-13. Their opponents, ironically, would cut football just weeks after Northeastern did.

November 28, 2009 – “The Buzzer-Beater”

The game itself was exciting, but it was Chaisson Allen’s buzzer-beater to win it that drew nearly 100,000 views on Youtube. For a different perspective, listen to WRBB’s call of the final shot – one of the top moments of the basketball season.

WRBB Sports Basketball, Football, Hockey BU, Hofstra, Wright State

Win or lose, this year was an emotional roller coaster for Huskies fans. So, what were your favorite games this season? The best wins, the most exciting back-and-forth tussles, the last-minute finishes? You can weigh in by messaging us on Twitter (@wrbbsports), e-mailing us (sports@wrbbradio.org) or commenting on our Facebook page.

Here are our picks for the top highlights from October of this season.

October 10, 2009 – Hockey’s win at Colorado College

After giving up two goals on the first two shots the night before, Northeastern responds to win its first game of the season on the road in Colorado Springs.

October 24, 2009 – Football vs. Towson

Northeastern football finally breaks through for its first victory of the season, with a blend of unconventional plays and exciting offensive sequences. They take a decisive 27-7 win over the Towson Tigers.

October 31, 2009 – Women’s soccer wins regular season title

Huskies women’s soccer earns the right to host the CAA tournament for the first time, defeating Hofstra 4-0.

WRBB Sports Football, Hockey Colorado College, Hofstra, Towson, Women's Soccer

Fellow CAA Football member Villanova captured its first Division I national championship in football, defeating the Montana Grizzlies 21-23 tonight in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Wildcats become the fourth different CAA team in seven years to take the title. Earlier this season, Northeastern lost to then No. 2 Villanova, 56-7.

WRBB Sports Football Villanova

With the Holiday Road Trip starting on Sunday, let’s get some news links out of the way:

>>> We start with Jeff Howe who recaps the major storylines from the first half of the Hockey East season. [INCH]

>>> The Globe’s sports blog says that the Hunte brothers will be transferring to separate CAA schools, UMass and Delaware. [Boston Globe]

>>> Darren J. Costa has a rundown of who’s transferring where from Northeastern’s football team. [Life Being Husky]

>>> Sam Perkins profiles basketball assistant coach Antonio Reynolds-Dean. [Far From The Show]

>>> Marvin Pave writes the obituary in the Globe for NU women’s hockey star Kathryn Waldo. [Boston Globe]

WRBB Sports Basketball, Football, Hockey women's hockey