Sports
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
www.NorthernStar.info/Sports H @NSSports H 815-753-9637
Eakes doing dirty work for football Frank Gogola Sports Editor H @FrankGogola
DeKalb | If Luke Eakes, redshirt senior tight end, never caught a pass or scored a touchdown he’d be perfectly fine with that. Eakes isn’t worried about pretty stats; his focus is on doing what the team needs done in order to be successful. One of the Huskies’ main blocking tight ends over the last three-plus seasons, he played in his 50th game Oct. 25 in Ypsilanti, Mich., against the East- Luke Eakes ern Michigan Tight end Eagles. He’s caught six passes for 68 yards this season and totaled 32 receptions for 498 yards and three touchdowns in his career at NIU. Eakes describes himself as a “hardworking guy that goes to work every day, shows up and does what he’s asked to do.” His teammates and coaches would have a hard time arguing with Eakes’ assessment. “Luke’s one of the hardest-working guys I’ve ever met,” said redshirt sophomore quarterback Drew Hare. “The guy just does an outstanding job, whether it’s blocking in the pass game, blocking in the run game or catching passes and running routes. He’s really just a great teammate. The guy really does a good job. … He’s as good as anybody.” Eakes played tight end his senior season at St. Marys High School in St. Marys, Kan., catching 14 passes for 312 yards and five touchdowns and carrying the ball six times for 86 yards. He played offensive guard and tackle in his first three years at St. Marys, where he learned blocking techniques and skills. Eakes was recruited by former coach Jerry Kill, whose offense would have utilized Eakes more in the passing game. Eakes redshirted his freshman season, 2010, but Kill left the program in December 2010,
Joshua Lazenby | Northern Star Portrait
Luke Eakes (83), redshirt senior tight end, doesn’t have the prettiest stats, but he gets his job done as one of the Huskies’ top blockers.
before Eakes took the field. Under coaches Dave Doeren and Rod Carey, Eakes has been utilized more in the blocking game. He lines up either in the slot, attached to the offensive line or in the backfield, putting his blocking talents on display. “I’m OK with it,” Eakes said. “We’ve been winning games with it, so I just keep doing what they ask me to do.” Eakes sees his role with the Huskies as being able to “get the play started. Get the block, move my person, get the play going and see what happens from there.” Eakes has only caught eight passes this season, so when he fumbled in the third quarter Oct. 18 at Huskie Stadium against the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks, offensive coordinator Bob Cole expected Eakes to be down on himself. Instead, the 6-foot-3,
253-pound tight end “just went back out there and does what he does.” “If we had 100 Luke Eakeses we wouldn’t lose a game,” Cole said. “He’s just a great kid, he’s a great player [and] a great person. He’s quiet, goes about his business, does his work and now he’s a true leader for us as a senior.” Eakes said he’s “not real talkative” and instead prefers to lead by example. Craig Harmon, tight ends and fullbacks coach, said Eakes “is one of the hardest-working players I’ve ever coached.” “If my son grew up to be like him I’d be happy with that,” said Harmon, who’s in his first season with the Huskies. “He’s a great guy. He’s a hard worker, a great kid and is always in there watching film. Anything you’d ask him to do he’d do it.”
7
Maddon hire provides jolt for Chicago Cubs Cubs managers Dusty Baker Lou Piniella Mike Quade Steve Shonder Dale Sveum Columnist H @NSSportsShonder Rick Renteria The Cubs are ready to move on Joe Maddon
from the Lou Browns who have populated the manager job under Theo Epstein, president of Baseball Operations, and get a major leaguer. Joe Maddon, the former manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, was unveiled as the Cubs’ manager for the next five years at $25 million Monday at a news conference held at The Cubby Bear. For that kind of money, the Joe Maddon Cubs definitely Manager aren’t getting a Lou Brown, even if Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer did meet him at an RV Park in Florida. Maddon knows it, and you better bet he believes it. “For me, I’m going to be talking playoffs next year…,” Maddon said at a new conference streamed on Cubs.com. “I can’t go to spring training and say any other thing. I’m incapable of doing that. Why would you even report? “It’s all about setting your standards, your goals high because the problem if you don’t set them high enough is that you might actually hit your mark, and that’s not a good thing. So, we’re going to set our mark high. And I’m going to talk playoffs, I’m going to talk World Series this year, I promise you. … And I’m going to believe it.” You know times are changing for the reigning NL Central cellar dwellers when you no longer have to google who the new manager is. The last time the Cubs got a bigname manager was forever ago, if you consider 2007 a long time ago. The hiring of Maddon is a great move. He knows how to win with young players and a — relatively
2003-2006 2007-2010 2010-2011 2012-2013 2014 Current
speaking — cash-poor organization. He took the Rays to the 2008 World Series, and his tenure lasted from 2006 until 2014. Everyone thinks it’s a great move, even the gamblers. The Cubs went from 50/1 to 20/1 to win the World Series, according to betting website Bovada.
“
It’s all about setting your standards, your goals high because the problem if you don’t set them high enough is that you might actually hit your mark, and that’s not a good thing. So, we’re going to set our mark high. …” Joe Maddon Manager
You can argue the ethics of the Cubs telling former manager Rick Renteria, who did a fine job, that he’d be back for the 2015 season and then dumping him, which is a terrible thing to do. Renteria was fine, but he was another transitional manager. He was hired to get the Cubs from point B to point C after Dale Sveum was hired to get them from point A to point B. Maddon is the guy who will hopefully get the Cubs to Point D, which is a World Series win. The pieces are there. Jorge Soler, Starlin Castro, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and now Maddon are what they need. This is the signature hire Epstein and company has been promising. Add a solid starter off free agency and the Cubs might just be actual contenders on the field. Maddon believes it; why not you?
Ask an Athlete: Cross country Content compiled by Rhema Rhea
Kelsey Hildreth Freshman
Meghan Heuer Senior
Taylor Perkins Redshirt freshman
Ali Olson Junior
What is your major?
Nutrition
Rehabilitation services
Communication
Communication with an emphasis on media studies
Who is your favorite superhero?
Elastigirl from “The Incredibles”
Wolverine
The Hulk. He’s strong and he has a strong will. I’ll give him that.
Captain America
What is your favorite sports movie?
“Remember the Titans”
“The Sandlot”
Definitely “Coach Carter.” It is my “We Are Marshall” favorite movie of all time.
Probably PR again. That would be cool.
I want to be around 22:30 timewise, and I want to score for the team. I want to put in a really good effort for the last race of the season.
Do you have any personal goals for the regional championship on Nov. 14?
I think the most I can say right now is I’d like to PR again.
Break 22:00.