September
30, 2002
MID-AM GRID OPPORTUNITY
KNOCKS FOR NORTHERN ILLINOIS SS JUSTIN DOLE, WR DAN SHELDON
DeKALB, IL ---Five weeks ago, both Northern Illinois University senior
strong safety Justin Dole and sophomore wide receiver Dan Sheldon
were real nowhere men---playing behind two potential all-league performers.
Five weeks later,
not only were both Dole and Sheldon contributing in the Huskie starting
line-up, both were named Mid-American Conference West Division Players
of the Week for their respective roles in the 13-6 triumph over Kent State
University last week. League commissioner Rick Chryst made the
announcement Monday (September 30).
“This, again,
is a perfect example of two young men getting an opportunity to play some
football and contributing to our program,” Northern Illinois head
coach Joe Novak said. “Justin has done a great job for us,
stepping in for Lionel Hickenbottom the last three weeks. That
interception at the end of the game was a big play for us. Dan replaced
P. J. Fleck and has been great all year. That 90-yard punt return
was a big play, the difference in the game. Both took advantage of the
opportunity afforded to them. That’s what the game of football is
all about.”
A fifth-year senior,
Dole (Manteno / Kankakee Bishop McNamara) won MAC West Defensive Player
of the Week honors. He filled in for Hickenbottom in the Huskie secondary
and has collected 34 tackles in his last three games---a career-high 12
stops vs. Big Ten Conference representative Wisconsin, 11 hits vs. Western
Illinois, and 11 more (nine solo and two assists) vs. Kent State.
The 5-foot-11, 197-pounder
intercepted his second career pass in the fourth quarter which ultimately
led to a Northern Illinois field goal and a 13-6 lead against KSU with
2:22 remaining in the game. The nomination was the first of Dole’s
career.
As the Mid-Am West
Special Teams Player of the Week, Sheldon (Elgin / Burlington Central)
put the go-ahead points on the Huskie Stadium scoreboard in the Kent State
triumph by recording the longest punt return in school history. His 90-yard
punt return touchdown lifted Northern Illinois into a 10-0 lead with 13:54
left in the second quarter and reset the old mark established by All-Century
returner Rodney “The Little Big Man” Taylor (89 yards
vs. Bowling Green State on November 2, 1985).
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound
Sheldon---who shares the Huskie pass receiving lead with frosh teammate
Sam Hurd (San Antoino, TX / Brackenbridge) with 12 catches apiece---produced
117 all-purpose yards in the Kent State success (93 on three punt returns
and 24 more on three rushes). The Mid-Am nomination was also the first
of his career.
With Dole and Sheldon
winning MAC West Players of the Week honors, Northern Illinois leads the
league with six such plaudits in the first five weeks of the season. The
others include senior TB Thomas Hammock (Fort Wayne, IN / Bishop
Luers) vs. Wake Forest, junior TB Michael Turner (North Chicago)
vs. Wisconsin, senior LB Larry Williams (Chicago / Dunbar) vs.
Wisconsin, and PK Steve Azar (Colorado Springs, CO / Highlands
Ranch) vs. Wake Forest. Bowling Green State and Miami (OH) share second
place with four Players of the Week this fall.
Eastern Michigan RB
Ime Akpan won MAC West Offensive Player of the Week. In the East, Ohio
QB Dontrell Jackson and PK-P Kevin Kerr took Offensive and Special Teams
honors, respectively, while Kent State LB Eric Mahl earned the Defensive
honor.
(For further information,
please contact Mike Korcek)
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