Aug. 25, 2007

DeKALB, Ill. - A happy group of Northern Illinois Huskies closed out three weeks of preseason workouts Saturday with a two-and-a-half hour practice at Huskie Stadium. NIU now enters game week preparations for the Sept. 1 season opener versus Iowa at Soldier Field. The sold-out game will be televised on ESPNU with kick off at 2:30 p.m.

"There were a lot of happy campers out there today, including the coaches," said NIU Head Coach Joe Novak. "They're excited about closing out camp. They know it's one week to go and they want to play a game. They practice so much and so hard, they work year-round for the chance to play 12 games."

Overall, Novak said he has been pleased with the progress of his team during the preseason and has seen improvement across the board.

"It's been a good three weeks," he said. "The kids came out focused every day. We have gotten better. We still have concerns, I think every coach does at this point. There are some things you just don't know until you play a game. But we have improved and I like the way we've worked. Now we find out how good we are."

Northern Illinois spent almost half of Saturday's practice simulating game conditions with officials once again on hand. Novak directed the action as the team remained together on one sideline, coaches called plays from the press box and the offensive, defensive and special teams units came on and off the field.

At a school known for churning out successful running backs, that position once again caught Novak's eye during the preseason.

"All of our top three running backs [Montell Clanton(Rockford, Ill./Guilford HS), Justin Anderson (Chicago, Ill./Steinmetz) and Chad Spann] have had a great camp," he said. "They've all improved and I've been pleased with that position overall. Chad Spann on offense has stood out. I think he's got something to him. He's tough, he's durable and he's instinctive."

Spann, a walk-on from North Central High School in Indianapolis, Ind., has moved up to number three on the running back depth chart and Novak said fans will get a look at the youngster versus Iowa.

"Of the freshmen, I would say you will see both Chad Spann and [wide receiver] Landon Cox," he said. "They are going to play. Landon Cox has had a very good camp. He's been there every day and has performed every day."

Cox (Calumet City, Ill./Thornton Fractional North) has moved up to a second team spot on the wide receiver depth chart. Novak classified the youngster, along with veterans Britt Davis (Broadview, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield HS), Greg Turner (Glendale Heights, Ill./Driscoll HS) and Matt Simon (Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS) as "dependable."

"I've talked a lot about dependability this camp," Novak said. "Those guys you can count on every play, every day. Cox has that and I like our three wideouts (Davis, Turner, Simon) and our three running backs. They've been there every day."

On defense, three young linebackers have stood out as the Huskies feature just one senior - Elmwood Park's Saul Ibarra - at the position.

"Defensively, Josh Allen (North Chicago, Ill./North Chicago HS), John Tranchitella (Addison, Ill./Driscoll HS) and Cory Hanson (Minneapolis, Minn./De La Salle HS) - all three have been very good. All three have grown up. We probably had to play them before their time, but now they're playing like we thought they could."

The 12th year-head coach also continues to enjoy the Huskies depth and quality of play in the secondary.

"I've been pleased with Bradley Pruitt (Chicago, Ill./Hyde Park HS), Melvin Rice (Chicago, Ill./Morgan Park HS) and Alex Kube (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove HS), especially," Novak said. "Athletically, overall it is the best group we've had back there."

With classes scheduled to start on Monday, Northern Illinois will begin its regular "game week" schedule Sunday. The team will lift, meet and go through a light workout Sunday before taking Monday off.

Northern Illinois opens the 2007 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 at Chicago's Soldier Field versus Iowa. The sold-out game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. and will be televised by ESPNU. The Huskie Stadium opener will take place Saturday, Sept. 8 versus in-state foe Southern Illinois. Season tickets for NIU's five Huskie Stadium games are on sale now for just $95 at www.niuhuskies.com or by calling the Athletics Ticket Office at 815-752-6800.

-- NIU --