Saturday Could Be Toughest Test

Arizona State: good win, Pac12 opponent, on the road. Stanford: even better win, ranked opponent. Air Force: to me, best of the three, horrible conditions, come from behind, more than once, hold on at the end. Upped our rankings to 19 and 22.

Now Northern Illinois right here in our own stadium. We are 11-point favorites. We beat the Huskies solidly last year in DeKalb. But they are a good football team, offensively and defensively. They beat Nebraska in Lincoln. They’d love to upset Aztecs, a team with a target on their back.

So, be ready to see a close, hard-fought game. I’m convinced this year’s Aztecs team will win. What would make the win even better would be a huge crowd. Be sure you are there. Get others to go.

Rashaad Penny (Ernie Anderson)

Even with focus on Saturday’s Northern Illinois game, it’s hard not to keep thinking back to the Air Force game. And, of course, Rashaad Penny, the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week – again, and again, and again. His runs, his touchdowns, of course. But, to me, his play of the game was his spectacular one-hand catch of a pass on 3rd and 3 for a first down at a crucial point in the game. Also, you have to give credit to the defense – they held the Falcons to far below their yardage average.

You can bet Rocky will have our Aztecs up and ready for what I think will be the toughest test so far.

To clarify my missing the Air Force game, I wasn’t “sick.” Appreciated well-wishes, but it was more a question of oxygen shortage, both flying and at Air Force 7,000-foot-elevation. They tell me 91-year-olds have to be careful. I will be at our game here, of course, and at UNLV a week later!

GO AZTECS!