November 1, 2004

Northern Illinois QB Josh Haldi Named Recipient of 2004 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award

DeKALB, IL --- If there was ever an honor that matched the recipient and a recipient who embodied the honor, then the mirror-image combination might belong to Northern Illinois University senior quarterback Josh Haldi and the prestigious 2004 National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame National Scholar-Athlete Award.

Haldi (Madison, OH) was one of eight National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1-A players and 15 overall selected to receive the 2004 National Scholar-Athlete Award. The announcement was made by National Football Foundation chairman Jon F. Hanson Monday (November 1).

The 15 scholar-athletes will be feted at The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame’s 47th Annual Awards Dinner on December 7 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. In addition, the National Scholar-Athlete Award-winners will share the dias the 2004 Division 1-A College Football Hall of Fame inductees.

“There is no one more deserving of such a national award than Josh,” said NIU director of athletics Jim Phillips. “He epitomizes the student-athlete. It’s a credit to Josh, his family, his teammates and coaching staff. He represents everything that is right about intercollegiate athletics. It’s a reflection of his character, our football program, and our university.”

Haldi joins Oklahoma State University tight end William Bajema, West Virginia University offensive guard Jeffrey Berk, University of Wyoming center Trenton Franz, University of Georgia quarterback David Greene, University of Wisconsin free safety Jim Leonhard, University of Tennessee offensive tackle Michael Munoz, and Virginia Tech quarterback Bryan Randall among this year’s 1-A National Scholar-Athlete Award recipients.

In a Northern Illinois context, Haldi becomes only the second Huskie to be named a National Scholar-Athlete Award recipient. Three-year College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America free safety Patrick Stephen made the New York trip in December, 1998.

“What more can one say about Josh? This is a tremendous award. It certainly is an understatement to say it is well-deserved. Nationally, he has put himself in good company in both the classroom and the football field,” said Northern Illinois head football coach Joe Novak. “I know, that in our huddle, Josh commands great respect from his peers. He is truly a great student leader. Well-respected. A young man who has performed at the highest level in academics and in athletics.”

Considered the school’s best 1-A era quarterback, Haldi opened the 2004 season on the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award “watch list” before being sidelined with a minor right foot stress fracture against the University of Maryland. Since returning to the Huskie line-up, the 6-foot-2, 216-pounder has led Northern Illinois to five straight triumphs and first place in the Mid-American Conference West Division. Currently, Haldi directs the nation’s No. 6 major-college scoring offense (37.3 points-per-game average), No. 10 rushing offense (239. ypg. average), and No. 10 total offense (462.2 ypg.).

This season, Haldi has completed 60-of-106 passes for 985 yards, 12 touchdowns, and only three interceptions. Two weeks ago against Western Michigan, he threw for a career-best 333 yards, six TDs, and a single-game, school-record 285.3 passing efficiency rating. Career-wise, Haldi has completed 393-of-703 passes for 5,616 yards, 52 TDs and only 18 “picks.” As a starter, his career Northern Illinois record is 23-7 overall during the last three seasons (2002-04).

In the classroom, Haldi boasts a 3.89 cumulative grade point average on a 4.00 scale as an accountancy major. A two-time First-Team All-MAC Academic pick and Mid-Am Scholar-Athlete of the Week, he has made the Dean’s List the last eight semesters (2000-04). Haldi has been honored as a four-time Victory Scholar in the school’s Academic Excellence Program. On target to graduate this December, Haldi is scheduled to intern with Price-Waterhouse-Cooper next spring.

“This certainly is a great honor for me, my family, my teammates, our coaches, and our program,” Haldi said. “My education has really opened a lot of doors for me. This is just one example. I’ve never been to New York and to be able to rub elbows with such Hall of Fame greats will be awesome. These people have a great love for the game of football. I guess I have to thank my parents who really pushed my education, my family, my teammates, the coaching staff. This is all icing on the cake for making this experience so good.”

The three Division 1-AA winners included offensive lineman Brandon Mason of Elon University, defensive lineman Michael Quarshie of Columbia University, and linebacker Craig Unger of Morehead State University. Eastern New Mexico University free safety Ty Touchstone won the award at the Division II level. Wide receiver Thomas Cleaver of Middlebury College, free safety Rocky Myers of Wesley College, and defensive back John Woock of Washington University-St. Louis were the Division III recipients.

Haldi and the other scholar-athletes will share the evening with the 2004 Division 1-A College Football Hall of Fame inductees such as middle guard Tony Casillas (University of Oklahoma), punter Ray Guy (University of Southern Mississippi), quarterback Joe Capp (University of California), runningback Lydell Mitchell (Penn State University), tight end James Mandich (University of Michigan), defensive back Jack Tatum (Ohio State University), and quarterback Andre Ware (University of Houston).

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to recognize college football’s best and brightest with these prestigious postgraduate scholarships,” Hanson said. “These gentleman have set the standard at their institution for all future student-athletes to lollow, and we salute them for their dedication in becoming standouts on the gridiron and in their communities.”

To be eligible for a National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame postgraduate fellowship, the nominee must be a senior or graduate student in his final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.00 scale, have shown superior academic application and performance, have outstanding football ability as a first-team player, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

“After thorough review of over 150 outstanding candidates representing schools of all sizes and all playing levels, the committee’s deliberations resulted in the selection of an exceptional 16 scholar-athletes,” said Robert E. Mulchay III, the chair of the NFF-CFHOF Awards Committee and director of athletics at Rutgers University. “Knowing the importance of these awards, the committee takes the charge of selecting the best and brightest seriously, and I applaud them for this effort.”

Each National Scholar-Athlete Award winner will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and, at the dinner next month, one of the 15 will also receive the Draddy Trophy as the top scholar-athlete in the nation (and the scholarship will be increased to $25,000).

2004 NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION-
COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME NATIONAL SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARDS

Division 1-A
William Bajema, Oklahoma State, Tight End, General Business, Oklahoma City, OK
Jeffrey Berk, West Virginia, Offensive Guard, Education, Dayton, OH
Trenton Franz, Wyoming, Center, Civil Engineering, Fort Collins, CO
David Greene, Georgia, Quarterback, Risk Management, Snellville, GA
Josh Haldi, Northern Illinois, Quarterback, Accountancy, Madison, OH
James Leonhard, Wisconsin, Free Safety, Kinesiology, Tony, WI
Michael Munoz, Tennessee, Offensive Tackle, Political Science, Mason, OH
Bryan Randall, Virginia Tech, Quarterback, Sociology, Williamsburg, VA

Division 1-AA
Brandon Mason, Offensive Line, Elon, Accountancy, Martinsville, VA
Michael Quashie, Columbia, Defensive Line, Political Science, Helsinki, Finland
Craig Unger, Morehead State, Linebacker, Finance, Greenfield, OH

Division II
Ty Touchstone, Eastern New Mexico University, Free Safety, Political Science, Lubbock, TX

Division III
Thomas Cleaver, Middlebury College, Wide Receiver, Political Science, Severna Park, MD
Rocky Myers, Wesley College, Free Safety, Biology, Frederica, DE
John Woock, Washington-St. Louis, Defensive Back, Biomedical Engineering, Louisville, KY

(For further information, please contact Mike Korcek) -30-