Neckst Level Leathernecks | A Western Illinois Leathernecks Dynasty (NCAA 06)

[TheAStev]

Western Illinois football set to make the jump from Division I-AA to Division I-A ahead of the 2005 NCAA season

'Necks will leave the Gateway Conference to become an I-A Independent

In a surprising move, the Western Illinois Leathernecks have put a plan into motion to transition from NCAA Division I-AA to Division I-A, beginning with the 2005 NCAA season. They will start out as an independent, but hope to accept a conference invite within a couple years.

Head coach Don Patterson is heading into his 7th season with Western Illinois, and knows it may be a rough transition.

"We are very excited for the opportunity to compete with some of the most talented teams in college football," Patterson said following the transition announcement. "It may take a few seasons to adjust to the higher level of play, but I'm confident that our players and coaches have what it takes to begin this journey."

While WIU's 4-7 mark and 5th place finish in conference play in 2004 were both lows under Patterson, the program felt now was the time to make the move.

The Leathernecks, who have won four Gateway Conference championships in the past eight seasons, may be coming off of a down year, but are confident in their program's decision to make the jump. Nonetheless, Hanson Field in Macomb, Illinois is now home to a Division I-A program, and the fans are excited to see what's in store for their 'Necks.

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DYNASTY INFO:
GAME: NCAA Football 06
CONSOLE: PS2 (emulated on PCXS2)
ROSTERS: 2005 Named Rosters*
QUARTER LENGTH: 7 Minutes (changed from 8 to 7 after first season)*

HOUSE RULES
Recruiting: I will recruit realistically, meaning not going for a bunch of 4 and 5 star recruits from across the country. I will try to stick to prospects who are initially interested in WIU, and will be mainly focused on in-state and surrounding area prospects.
Players Leaving/Transfers: I cannot stop a player for leaving for the NFL draft or to another school, and must accept all incoming transfer requests.
Suspensions: I will discipline players based on the game's recommendations.
Scheduling: I will mainly stick with the CPU-generated schedule each season, with the exception of scheduling Illinois State as a rivalry game each year.
Coach Contracts: If my coach is fired from WIU, I will create a new one to take over and keep the dynasty going.

AUTHOR'S NOTES
-*The names on the initial Western Illinois roster correlate with a mix of the 2003-04 seasons, as the named roster I am using did not get all the I-AA rosters up to the 2005 season perfectly. However, with the heavy senior presence on WIU's roster, I am fine with using it, as the team will look very different from the second season onward.
-This is my first attempt at a NCAA dynasty write-up on the forum. I will be learning things as I go, but am very excited to get this started and have been reading up on some other dynasties recently as well to help prepare for my own. Thank you to all who read/interact with this dynasty

[TheAStev]

UNIVERSITY INFORMATION
Name: Western Illinois University
Established: 1899
Location: Macomb, Illinois
Nickname: Leathernecks
Colors: Purple and Gold
Mascots: Colonel Rock and Rocky

PROGRAM INFORMATION
First Season: 1903
Stadium: Hanson Field
Capacity: 16,368
Affiliation: NCAA Division I-A Independent (2nd season)

SCHOOL RECORDS
PASSING
Passing Yards (Game): 472 - Sam Clemons vs. Indiana State, 11/17/01
Passing Yards (Season): 3,160 - Russ Michna, 2003
Passing Yards (Career): 8,257 - Paul Singer, 1985-88
Passing TDs (Game): 5 tied with 5, most recent Russ Michna vs. Tennessee-Martin, 9/20/03
Passing TDs (Season): 25 - Donny Simmons, 1992
Passing TDs (Career): 62, Paul Singer, 1985-88
RUSHING
Rushing Yards (Game): 289 - Aaron Stecker vs. Southern Illinois, 11/1/97
Rushing Yards (Season): 2,293 - Aaron Stecker, 1997
Rushing Yards (Career): 3,799 - Aaron Stecker, 1997-98
Rushing TDs (Game): 6 - Travis Glasford vs. Cheney, 9/11/04
Rushing TDs (Season): 27 - Aaron Stecker, 1997
Rushing TDs (Career): 41 - Aaron Stecker, 1997-98
RECEIVING
Receiving Yards (Game): 286 - Frisman Jackson vs. Indiana State, 11/17/01
Receiving Yards (Season): 1,103 - Stacy Coleman, 2002
Receiving Yards (Career): 2,243 - Gunnard Twyner, 1993-95
Receiving TDs (Game): 4 - Gunnard Twyner vs. Buffalo, 11/12/94
Receiving TDs (Season): 12 - Demeris Johnson, 1992
Receiving TDs (Career): 19 - Steve Williams, 1986-89
Receptions (Game): 14 - Frisman Jackson vs. Indiana State, 11/17/01
Receptions (Season): 70 - Stacy Coleman, 2002
Receptions (Career): 144 - Gunnard Twyner, 1993-95
DEFENSE
Tackles (Game): 28 - Rodney Harrison at Western Kentucky, 10/30/93
Tackles (Season): 191 - Edgerton Hartwell, 2000
Tackles (Career): 512 - Edgerton Hartwell, 1998-00
Interceptions (Game): 3 - Frank Spraggins at Missouri State, 9/24/94
Interceptions (Season): 9 - Mike Wagner, 1969
Interceptions (Career): 17 - Frank Spraggins, 1994-97
Sacks (Game): 6 - Craig Phalen vs. Nebraska-Omaha, 11/7/77
Sacks (Season): 19 - JD Johnson, 1982
Sacks (Career): 28 - Todd Auer, 1984-86

[TheAStev]

YEAR-BY-YEAR SEASON RECORDS
2005: 2-10 | HC: Don Patterson (7th season)
2006: 0-0 | HC: Dan Dodd (1st season)

POSTSEASON HISTORY
BOWL APPEARANCES (2-1)
1949 Corn Bowl: W 13-0 vs. Wheaton
1953 Corn Bowl: W 32-0 vs. Iowa Wesleyan
1955 Corn Bowl: L 20-24 vs. Luther College

WESTERN ILLINOIS DIVISION I-A PLAYER AWARDS
2005 Week 8 I-A Independents Offensive Player of the Week: HB Travis Glasford
2005 Week 11 I-A Independents Offensive Player of the Week: HB Attley Lawson
2005 Week 14 NCAA Offensive Player of the Week: HB Travis Glasford
2005 Week 14 I-A Independents Offensive Player of the Week: HB Travis Glasford

WESTERN ILLINOIS ALL-AMERICANS + ALL-CONFERENCE
2005 AP All-American Second Team: G Jason Baksas
2005 All-Independents First Team: HB Travis Glasford, G Jason Baksas, C Ryan Solie
2005 All-Independents Second Team: WR Terrence Hall, DT Mike O'Brien, K Justin Langan

WESTERN ILLINOIS vs. ILLINOIS STATE RIVALRY MATCHUP HISTORY
87 all-time meetings, WIU leads series 47-37-3
2005: Western Illinois 55, Illinois State 36

[TheAStev]

WESTERN ILLINOIS YEAR-BY-YEAR STATISTICAL LEADERS
2005
Passing Yards: 2,034 - Russ Michna
Passing TD: 14 - Russ Michna
Rushing Yards: 1,441 - Travis Glasford
Rushing TD: 9 - Travis Glasford
Receiving Yards: 1,080 - Terrence Hall
Receiving TD: 7 - Terrence Hall, Travis Glasford
Receptions: 68 - Terrence Hall
Tackles: 41 - Lee Russell
Sacks: 12.0 - Mike Tetzel
Interceptions: 2 - Jason Riddle, Wyatt Green

[TheAStev]

BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME HISTORY
2005 Rose Bowl: #2 Boise State 35, #1 Iowa State 21 | MVP: QB Jared Zabranksy - 14/26, 251 yds, 4 TD

BCS BOWLS
2005 Nokia Sugar Bowl: #6 Auburn 38, #25 Louisville 31
2005 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: #17 USC 40, #4 Purdue 34
2005 FedEx Orange Bowl: #5 Georgia Tech 27, #3 Florida 24

HEISMAN TROPHY
2005: HB DonTrell Moore - New Mexico (R-Sr.) | 319 carries, 1,752 yds, 22 TD; 22 rec, 418 yds, 5 TD

[TheAStev]

NCAA YEAR-BY-YEAR STATISTICAL LEADERS
2005
Passing Yards: QB Reggie McNeal (Sr.) - Texas A&M: 4,331
Passing TD: QB John Beck (Jr.) - BYU: 48
Rushing Yards: HB DonTrell Moore (R-Sr.) - New Mexico: 1,863
Rushing TD: HB DonTrell Moore (R-Sr.) - New Mexico: 24
Receiving Yards: WR Todd Watkins (Sr.) - BYU: 1,580
Receiving TD: WR Todd Watkins (Sr.) - BYU: 23
Receptions: WR Ross Dickerson (R-Jr.) - Hawaii: 121
Tackles: OLB Barrett Scruggs (Jr.) - Army: 98
Sacks: DE Alan Branch (So.) - Michigan: 15.0
Interceptions: CB Jelani Jordan (Sr.) - Bowling Green: 7

[TheAStev]

Leathernecks in the NFL (Dynasty Players)
HB Travis Glasford: UDFA - Oakland Raiders (2006)

[TheAStev]

Working on adding stuff to my reserved posts. Feel free to post now!