From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Huskies |
|
|
| First season |
1899 |
|
| Staff |
| Head coach |
Jerry Kill |
|
1st year, 0–0–0 |
|
| Stadium |
| Home stadium |
Huskie Stadium |
| Field |
Brigham Field |
| Year built |
1964 |
| Stadium capacity |
31,000 |
| Stadium surface |
FieldTurf |
| Location |
DeKalb, Illinois |
|
| League/Conference |
| Conference |
Mid-American Conference |
| Division |
West |
| Team records |
| All-time record |
486–445–50 |
| Postseason bowl record |
3–5–0 |
| Awards |
| Conference titles |
9 |
| Division titles |
1 |
| Pageantry |
| Colors |
Black and Red |
| Fight song |
"Huskie Fight Song" |
| Website |
NIU Huskie Football |
The Northern Illinois Huskies Football team represents Northern Illinois University in the Mid-American Conference of the NCAA's Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision.
[edit] History
NIU's football program was established in the late 1800's, playing its first ever game against DeKalb HS in 1899 and was led by coach John L. Keith to the team's first ever victory. NIU started out in the independent scene from 1899 through 1919 before joining the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Huskies' stint with the IIAC was short-lived, lasting only five seasons as the team became independent again in 1925. NIU returned in the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1928 and finished the season winless for the first time. In 1929 however, Red Evans took over as the head football coach and immediately twisted the downhill fate of his team as he led his squad to a 6-1-1 record. Evans led the Huskies to continuous winning seasons since his take over, and his efforts paid off in 1938 as NIU captured the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship, the team's first title. He followed it up with three more championships (1941, '44, and '46) and even led the Huskies' to a back-to-back bowl game appearance in 1946 and '47 (unfortunately, both on a losing cause to Evansville first in the Turkey Bowl then in the Hoosier Bowl). NIU then left for the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1950 but, with the exception of the spotless season (9-0-0) in 1951 that earned the team a 5th conference title, failed to make a decent showing in its first few years with its new home. Howard Fletcher though had other plans as he picked up the pieces of the miserable 0-8-1 season from Robert Kahler in 1956. The Huskies' had a slow progress that picked up in the late 1950's. The team's third bowl game appearance in 1962, although a loss, was only the beginning of good things to come as in the following season, the Huskies completed their sixth undefeated season which earned them the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship, an AP College Division National championship selection, and a ticket to the Mineral Water Bowl which the team eventually won over Missouri State. The team made it a three-peat championship, adding up the 1964 and 1965 conference titles. NIU became independent from 1966 through '72 before joining the Mid-American Athletic Conference in 1973. The team claimed the MAC title in 1983 then went on to their first Bowl Game in the Division I-A, the California Bowl, which the Huskies won over Cal State-Fullerton. The team had no permanent affiliation after leaving the MAC in 1986; first became independent from 1987-92, then joined the Big West Conference from 1993 through '95, became independent again in '96, then finally was admitted back into the Mid-American Athletic Conference in 1997.
As of 2006, NIU has won 9 conference and 1 division titles, appeared in eight Division I-A and College Division Bowl Games (winning three), and has accumulated over 400 wins and an all time winning mark that is above .500.
Huskies Football enter the 2008 season having produced a 1,000 yard rusher in nine consecutive seasons from 1999 through 2007, including rushers Thomas Hammock, Michael Turner, Garrett Wolfe and Justin Anderson.
[edit] The Joe Novak Era (1996-2007)
Joe Novak took over the Huskie program in December of 1995, and coached his first NIU game in September of 1996. The first 3 years of Novak's tenure proved to be tumultuous, as his Huskie squads won a total of 3 games between 1996 and 1998. Despite this, Novak kept his job and turned the program around. In 1999, Northern Illinois won 5 games, and in 2000 Novak started a string of 7 consecutive winning seasons, going 6-5 in both 2000 and 2001. After a 1-3 start to the 2002 season, fans began to see the fruits of Novak's labor as the team ripped off 7 consecutive wins, and only a 33-30 loss in their final game against rival Toledo prevented a MAC Championship Game appearance. Optimisim was high to start the 2003 season, with 12 returning starters including future NFL players Michael Turner, Doug Free, Brad Cieslak, P.J. Fleck and Dan Sheldon. On opening weekend, the Huskies beat #14 Maryland 20-17 in overtime. Then, the Huskies travelled to Tuscaloosa and beat #21 Alabama 16-13. After beating Iowa State the following week, the Huskies were rolling and won their first 7 games. Following their week 5 win against Ohio, the first BCS standings were released, and by week 7 the Huskies had climbed to #10 overall. Novak and the Huskies could not keep that momentum going, as they lost in week 8 at #22 Bowling Green, which also featured the first ever ESPN GameDay appearance for a MAC football game. The Huskies would lose only one more game in 2003, to Toledo, finishing the year 10-2, unranked, and uninvited to a bowl game. Novak's 2004 and 2006 teams both went to bowl games. The 2004 team went to the Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose, California and was the first Huskie team to go bowling in 21 years. The Huskies fell behind early 14-0 to a Troy team that featured current NFLer DeMarcus Ware, but were able to rally behind future NFL running back Garrett Wolfe and the accurate passing of Josh Haldi to win 34-21. In 2006, Wolfe and company returned to a bowl, the Poinsettia Bowl, against TCU and lost 37-7. Novak's final year was a tough one, winning only 2 games and finishing at the bottom of the MAC West. Overall Novak won 63 games as the Huskie's head coach. He currently is retired and resides in North Carolina.
[edit] Championships
Conference Championships
- 1938 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
- 1941 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Co-Champions
- 1944 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
- 1946 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
- 1951 - Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
- 1963 - Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
- 1964 - Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Co-Champions
- 1965 - Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
- 1983 - Mid-American Athletic Conference Champions
Division Championships
- 2005 - MAC - West Division Champions
[edit] NIU Bowl History
|
Northern Illinois bowl games |
|
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1983 California Bowl • 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl • 2006 Poinsettia Bowl
|
|
College Division/Other Bowl Games
| Year |
Bowl Game |
Result |
Opponent |
Score |
| 1965 |
Mineral Water Bowl |
L |
North Dakota |
20-37 |
| 1963 |
Mineral Water Bowl |
W |
Missouri State |
21-14 |
| 1962 |
Mineral Water Bowl |
L |
Adams State |
20-23 |
| 1947 |
Hoosier Bowl |
L |
Evansville |
0-20 |
| 1946 |
Turkey Bowl |
L |
Evansville |
7-19 |
[edit] Coaches/Team Officials
- Jerry Kill - Head Coach
- Denny Doornbos - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
- Roy Wittke - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Chris Beatty - Assistant Coach/Running Backs
- Greg Bower - Assistant Coach/Tight Ends
- Harold Etheridge - Assistant Coach/Offensive Line
- P.J. Fleck - Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers
- John Hauser - Assistant Coach/Secondary
- Jeff Phelps - Assistant Coach/Defensive Tackles
- Mike Sabock - Asst. Coach/Def. Ends/Recruit. Coord.
- Michael Biehl - Graduate Assistant
- James Brochu - Graduate Assistant
- Alex Golesh - Graduate Assistant
- Brandon Staley - Graduate Assistant
- Matt Mangum - Strength & Conditioning Coach
[edit] Notable Alumni in NFL
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External Links
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NIU Huskies head football coaches |
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