Dec. 16, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOTBALL 2010
2010 uDrove Humanitarian Bowl
NIU (10-3, 8-0) vs. Fresno State (8-4, 5-3)
December 18, 2010 | 4:30 p.m. (CT) | ESPN
Boise, Idaho | Bronco Stadium | 32,000
HUSKIE FOOTBALL FACTS
2010 Record: 10-3
MAC (Regular Season) Record/Finish: 8-0/1st West
Interim Head Coach:Tom Matukewicz
Alma Mater/Year: Ft. Hays State (KS)/1994
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-3
First Year of Football: 1899
All-Time Record: 511-460-51
Last Bowl Game: 2010 International Bowl (Toronto): USF 27, NIU 3
All-Time Bowl Record: 3-7 Overall/2-3 FBS
NORTHERN ILLINOIS FACTS
Location: DeKalb, Illinois
Founded: 1895
Enrollment: 24,397
Affiliation: NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision
Conference: Mid-American (West Division)
Colors: Cardinal and Black
Nickname: Huskies
Stadium: Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium
Surface/Capacity: Field Turf /24,000
President (Alma Mater, Year): Dr. John Peters (John Carroll `67)
Assoc. VP/Athletic Director: Jeff Compher
Alma Mater: James Madison `80
Ticket Information: 815-752-6800
Athletics Website: www.NIUHuskies.com
2010 NIU SCHEDULE
FSU BULLDOGS' FACTS
2010 Record/Conference Record: 8-4/5-3
Head Coach: Pat Hill
Alma Mater/Year: UC Riverside '73
Record at FSU/Year: 108-70/13th
Career Record/Year: Same
Location: Fresno, Calif.
Enrollment: 19,000
Conference: Western Athletic
Colors: Red & Blue
Stadium: Bulldog Stadium/Jim Sweeney Field
Surface/Capacity: FieldTurf/41,031
President: Dr. John D. Welty
Athletic Director: Thomas Boeh
Ticket Information: 559-278-3647
Athletics Website: www.gobulldogs.com
FB Media Relations Contact: Steve Weakland
Phone: 559-278-2509 (O); 559-287-3304 (C)
E-Mail Address: sweaklan@csufresno.edu
FSU SCHEDULE & RESULTS
SERIES HISTORY
Overall Series: Tied 2-2
In Fresno: Series Tied 1-1
In DeKalb: Series Tied 1-1
Streak: FSU, 1
Series History:
1972: FSU 9, NIU 6 (H)
1973: NIU 24, NIU 15 (A)
1990: NIU 73, FSU 18 (H)
1991: FSU 55, NIU 7 (A)
NIU BOWL HISTORY
2009 ^International (Toronto, Canada) L, South Florida (27-3)
2008 ^Independence (Shreveport, La.) L, Louisiana Tech (17-10)
2006 ^Poinsettia (San Diego, Calif.) L, TCU (37-7)
2004 ^Silicon Valley Classic (San Jose, Calif.) W, Troy (34-21)
1983 ^California (Fresno, Calif.) W, Cal State Fullerton (20-13)
1965 Mineral Water (Excelsior Springs, Mo.) L, North Dakota (37-20)
1963 Mineral Water (Excelsior Springs, Mo.) W, SW Missouri St. (21-14)
1962 Mineral Water (Excelsior Springs, Mo.) L, Adams State (23-20)
1947 Refrigerator (Evansville, Ind.) L, Evansville (20-0)
1946 Turkey (Evansville, Ind.) L, Evansville (19-7)
^As a Division I FBS school. (NIU made transition in 1969.)
INTERIM HEAD COACH Tom Matukewicz
Assistant coach Tom Matukewicz will serve as interim head football
coach for Northern Illinois University when the Huskies take on Fresno
State in the 2010 uDrove Humanitarian Bowl. Matukewicz, who will also
continue to coach the NIU linebackers while serving as head coach, is a
former Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Assistant Coach of the
Year (2007).
In his third season at NIU, Matukewicz has been responsible for
coordinating the Huskies' run defense. Northern Illinois ranked 27th
in the country in that category this season, allowing opponents'
130.54 yards per game on the ground. The Huskie defense ranks in the top
five in the MAC in five categories and leads the league in scoring
defense.
Matukewicz has done an outstanding job mentoring NIU's linebacking
corps. Devon Butler and Alex Kube garnered Third Team All-MAC
recognition from league coaches this season. Sophomore Tyrone Clark led
the team in interceptions, and was named the Huskies' defensive MVP by
his teammates.
Matukewicz spent seven seasons at Southern Illinois under Jerry Kill
from 2001-07. He was honored as the 2007 Football Championship
Subdivision (FCS) Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Football
Coaches Association after helping turn the Salukis into one of the
stingiest rushing defenses in the country.
Matukewicz's pupils included Bart Scott, Royal Whitaker and Brandin
Jordan. Scott earned All-America honors at SIU in 2001, and enters his
ninth season in the National Football League in 2010, having played for
both the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets. Whitaker started four
seasons for Southern Illinois, and earned all-Gateway honors three
times. Jordan, the Gateway Conference's 2006 Newcomer of the Year,
ranked third on the team in tackles in 2007, garnering second team
all-conference accolades.
Before coaching at Southern Illinois, Matukewicz was the defensive line
coach at Emporia State, where he also had responsibilities as the
marketing and promotions director. He has also made stops at Butler
Country Community College, Coffeyville Community College and Pittsburg
State, where he earned his master's in sports management.
A native of Silver Lake, Kan., Matukewicz completed his undergraduate
work at Fort Hays State, receiving his bachelor's degree in physical
education in 1997.
Matukewicz and his, wife Lenna, have one daughter, Georgia (3).
HUSKIE MULTIMEDIA
The Humanitarian Bowl on TV
The uDrove Humanitarian Bowl will air nationally on ESPN beginning at
4:30 p.m. (CT)/3:30 p.m. (MT). Carter Blackburn will handle the
play-by-play call of the game with analysts Brock Huard and Mike
Bellotti. Shelley Smith is the sideline reporter.
The Humanitarian Bowl on Radio
On radio, fans can listen to the uDrove Humanitarian Bowl game between
Northern Illinois and Fresno State on the Huskies' flagship station,
WLBK AM 1360 in DeKalb, in Chicago on WSCR AM 670 The Score as well as
on WTJK ESPN1380 AM in Janesville, Wis. which covers the Rockford area.
The NIU-ISP Radio Network broadcast kicks off with the pregame show at 4
p.m. (CT). Hall of Fame broadcaster Bill Baker is in his 31st season as
the play-by-play voice of the Huskies and is joined by Mark Lindo, in
his 26th year as NIU's color analyst.
Nationally, ESPN Radio will carry its broadcast of the uDrove
Humanitarian Bowl to a national audience with a line-up of stations
across the country. Justin Kutcher will call the play-by-play of the
game with analysis by David Diaz-Infante.
"NIU Live" Radio Show
Each week, join NIU Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics
Jeff Compher, host Andy Garcia and Northern Illinois coaches for "NIU
Live" on WSCR 670 AM The Score in Chicago. The 30-minute show
features a weekly football update with special guests, as well as
interviews with other Huskie coaches and all the latest NIU Athletics
news. This week's show will air on Thursday, Dec. 16 from 11-11:30
a.m.
Huskie All-Access
Fans across the country can hear all NIU live radio broadcasts,
including football games and "Inside Huskie Football," live on
Huskie All-Access at www.NIUHuskies.com. All-Access subscribers pay
just $6.95/month or $49.95/year to receive all NIU radio game and show
broadcasts, as well as select football and all home men's and
women's basketball, volleyball and men's and women's soccer
games. Subscribers also have access to weekly press conferences and
special video features and all games and shows are archived for viewing
or listening anytime.
NIUHuskies.com
Get all of the latest NIU Athletics news and information, statistics,
press releases and more online every day at www.NIUHuskies.com, the
official athletics website for Northern Illinois University.
Key Links
http://www.humanitarianbowl.org
http://www.mac-sports.com
http://www.gobulldogs.com
http://www.wacsports.com
http://www.broncosports.com
http://www.ncaa.org
NIU NEWS & NOTES
Bowling in Boise
For the third straight season, Northern Illinois will finish the season
with a bowl appearance as the Huskies (10-3, 8-0 MAC) take on the Fresno
State Bulldogs (8-4, 5-3 WAC) in the uDrove Humanitarian Bowl in Boise,
Idaho. The game, one of the first on the 2010-11 bowl schedule, kicks
off at 4:30 p.m. (CT)/3:30 p.m. (MT) on the famed "blue turf" of
Bronco Stadium.
Back to Back to Back
NIU will play in a bowl game for the third consecutive season for the
first time in school history. Northern Illinois is actually playing in
its second bowl game of 2010 as the Huskies played in the 2010
International Bowl in Toronto, Canada on January 2, 2010 at the end of
the 2009 season. Two years ago, the Huskies closed out the 2008
campaign at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
Record-Breaking Season
The Huskies are playing their school record 14th game and a win would
give NIU 11 wins, another school record. Northern Illinois played 13
games in each of the past two years. NIU deep snapper Nolan Owen is
playing in his school-record 52nd game, the most of any player to wear
the Cardinal and Black. Owen is the only current Huskie to have played
in every game over the last four seasons.
Postseason Regulars
Northern Illinois is playing in the postseason for the fifth time in
the last six seasons. For the first time in school history, NIU has
extended its season by two games. Unlike in 2005, when the Huskies lost
in the MAC Championship game and were denied a bowl berth, NIU was
guaranteed a bowl slot this season. The Huskies have won at least six
games 10 times in the past 11 years dating back to 2000.
Huskie Bowl History
Northern Illinois is 2-3 in bowl games as a Division I Footbal Bowl
Subdivision (FBS) team and the Huskies are 3-7 in bowl games all-time
dating back to 1946. NIU has lost three stright bowl games entering the
uDrove Humanitarian Bowl with the Huskies' last bowl victory in 2004,
a 34-21 win over Troy in the Silicon Valley Classic. Northern
Illinois' other FBS bowl win came in the 1983 California Bowl, by a
20-13 score over Cal State Fullerton. Prior to joining the "major
college" ranks in 1969, NIU played in a Turkey Bowl (1946), a
Refrigerator Bowl (1947) and three Mineral Water bowls (1962, '63 and
'65).
Tuke's Debut
Following the departure of Jerry Kill, who accepted the head coaching
job at the University of Minnesota on Dec. 5 after three seasons at the
helm of the NIU program, Associate Vice-President and Director of
Athletics Jeff Compher appointed Huskie linebackers coach Tom Matukewicz
to lead Northern Illinois in the bowl game against Fresno State.
Matukewicz, a Kansas native who has been with Kill for the last 10
seasons at Emporia State, Southern Illinois and NIU, was named the 2007
Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Assistant Coach of the Year by
the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) while at SIU. The
energetic and animated coach has coordinated the Huskies' run defense
while leading the linebacking corps. The Humanitarian Bowl marks his
head coaching debut.
Recapping
The 2010 season has been one to remember for Northern Illinois. After
beginning the year 1-2 with losses at Iowa State and Illinois, the
Huskies won nine straight game to earn the Mid-American Conference West
Division title and their first Top 25 ranking since 2004. Along the way,
NIU claimed a win over a Big Ten team for the second straight season,
won nine-straight games, and completed an undefeated regular season in
the Mid-American Conference for the first time in school history The
Huskies have played eight of their 13 games to date on the road. A
prolific Northern Illinois offense, led by junior quarterback Chandler
Harnish and senior tailback Chad Spann, has demolished the school's
single season scoring record by 71 points, and the Huskies' 64
touchdowns are seven more than any previous Northern Illinois team.
Bounce Back Opportunity
NIU enters the uDrove Humanitarian Bowl looking to rebound from its
biggest disappointment of 2010 after falling to Miami (Ohio), 26-21, at
the Marathon MAC Championship game in Detroit on Friday, Dec. 3.
RedHawks' quarterback Austin Boucher hit Adrian Robinson on a 33-yard
touchdown pass with 33 seconds on the clock to give MU the upset
victory. Two plays prior, Boucher converted a fourth-and-20 pass to
Chris Givens on a ball that was tipped by a Huskie defender. Chandler
Harnish hit three long scoring passes - of 69 and 27 yards to Martel
Moore and 39 yards to Willie Clark - with the final score giving NIU a
21-20 lead at the start of the fourth quarter. Miami bottled up the
Huskie rushing attack, allowing just 92 yards, while playing error-free
football.
Road Warriors
Northern Illinois takes to the road for the ninth time in the 2010
season with the trip to Boise for the Humanitarian Bowl, and will play
its last four games of the year away from Huskie Stadium. NIU's last
home game was Nov. 9 versus Toledo. After playing four of their first
five games of the season on the road, NIU will finish the year by
playing five of its last six games away from home, including the final
two regular season contests, the MAC title game in Detroit and the bowl
game in Boise. Over the last three years, Northern Illinois is 9-11 in
road games, with eight of the 11 losses by nine points or less,
including decisions at Illinois (a 28-22 loss on Sept. 18), at Minnesota
and Tennessee (both in 2008), at Wisconsin (in 2009) and in Detroit. NIU
is the only 10-win team in the country to play only five home games.
From 2-10 to 10-2
In earning their 10th win of 2010, the Huskies completed a remarkable
turnaround from the injury-ravaged team that won just two of 12 games in
2007 to the 10-win Huskies of today. There are 27 players on the current
roster who were on that 2007 team. In winning 10 games, the 2010
Huskies matched the 10-win regular season posted by the 2003 NIU team, a
team that did not receive a bowl invite. Northern Illinois' only other
10-win teams were the 1983 MAC Champions (10-2) and 1963 NCAA College
Division Champion squads (10-0).
Ranked
After earning its ninth consecutive win and 10th victory of 2010 at
Eastern Michigan on Nov. 26, Northern Illinois entered both the
Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches Top 25 rankings. Northern
Illinois checked in at No. 24 in the Associated Press poll and was
ranked 23rd in the USA Today/Coaches list. The Huskies entered the Top
25 for the first time since Nov. 7, 2004 when NIU spent two weeks in
the USA Today poll. The last time the Huskies were ranked in the AP Poll
was Nov. 9, 2003 when NIU was 9-1. Northern Illinios was ranked as high
as No. 12 that season after starting 7-0 with wins over Maryland,
Alabama and Iowa State. The Huskies also achieved a BCS rating of No.
10 in 2003.
Perfection
Northern Illinois completed the first perfect (8-0) Mid-American
Conference campaign in school history with its win at Eastern Michigan.
In 25 seasons in the MAC, Northern Illinois had never gone undefeated in
league play, including in the 1983 championship season when the Huskies
were 8-1 versus MAC competition with a loss to Central Michigan.
The Series in Review
Northern Illinois and Fresno State meet for the fifth time ever and for
the first time since 1991 with the all-time series tied, 2-2. Each team
is 1-1 at home as the teams played a two-game set in 1972-73 and met
again in 1990 and 1991. The closest game of the four was the first,
which FSU won 9-6 in DeKalb. NIU tied the series with a 24-15 win the
next year in Fresno. Stats from the 1990 game are prominent in the
Huskie single game records listing as NIU triumphed 73-18 in one of the
highest-scoring games in school history. Fresno State repaid the favor
in the 1991 season opener with a 55-7 victory in the last meeting
between the teams.
The Last Meeting
Fresno State dominated from start to finish in a 55-7 win over Northern
Illinois in the 1991 season opener, avenging an embarrassing 73-18 loss
to the Huskies the previous year. After taking a 14-7 lead at the end
of the first quarter, the Bulldogs scored three second-quarter TDs,
including two rushing scores by quarterback Mark Barsotti, to build a
34-7 halftime lead en route to the blowout win. FSU gained 367 yards on
the ground and scored five rushing touchdowns while the Bulldog defense
limited the Huskies to one-of-nine passing for seven yards and forced
nine NIU punts. Northern Illinois converted just 1-of-12 first downs.
Twenty Years Ago
NIU and Fresno State played in one of the highest-scoring,
offensive-minded contests in Northern Illinois' major college history
on Oct. 6, 1990. On that day, the homestanding Huskies demolished a No.
24-ranked Fresno State team, 73-18. Northern Illinois' 73 points were
the most ever scored by NIU in a Division I game as NIU scored 50 points
in the first half alone. Quarterback Stacey Robinson ran for 308 yards,
287 in the first half, and scored five rushing touchdowns. Mark Kellar
(186) and Jerry Latin (100) each hit the 100-yard mark in rushing as the
Huskies totaled a school record 733 rushing yards with 36 first downs,
in the game. The win was NIU's first all-time over a ranked team.
Versus the WAC
Northern Illinois is 9-15 all-time versus teams that currently make up
the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and will face a WAC opponent in a
bowl game for the second time in the past three years. The Huskies lost
a tight 17-10 game to Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl in 2008.
NIU's last game against a WAC opponent came last season, when Idaho
handed the Huskies a 34-31 defeat in DeKalb, the last loss by Northern
Illinois at home. La Tech and Idaho have been NIU's most frequent WAC
opponents as Northern Illinois is 1-6 against the Bulldogs and 3-3
versus the Vandals. The Huskies played Nevada (1-1), New Mexico State
(1-2), San Jose State (1-0) and Utah State (0-1) during their brief
stint in the Big West Conference (1993-95). Northern Illinois has never
faced Boise State or Hawai'i.
A California Thing
In the major college era, the Huskies have had a strong
"California" connection in terms of bowl games. NIU played
each of its first three bowl games as a Division I-A team in California
(in 1983, 2004 and 2006) and face a team from California in a bowl game
for the second time. Northern Illinois defeated Cal State Fullerton,
20-13, in the 1983 California Bowl which was played, coincidentally, in
Fresno.
California Competition
Northern Illinois is 10-13 all-time against teams from California,
including the 2-2 mark versus Fresno State. The Huskies have not faced a
California team since 1995 when NIU defeated San Jose State, 18-17 in
the only meeting between the teams. NIU has a 4-5 record all-time
against Long Beach State and has played San Diego State (0-4) four
times. The only other California teams Northern Illinois has faced are
Cal State Fullerton (2-1) and Pacific (1-1).
California Connection
Northern Illinois has two active players from the state of California
on the 2010 roster. Senior tight end Nick Groeniger, a junior college
transfer from Saddleback College, and senior deep snapper Nolan Owen
(Canyon Lake) are the Huskies two Californians. Owen is a four-year
starter while Groeniger has played in a reserve role in the last two
seasons.
MAC Mark
Northern Illinois completed its 25th regular season as a member of the
Mid-American Conference in 2010 by earning its 100th win as a MAC team
in the regular season finale at Eastern Michigan. In MAC games (regular
season only), Northern Illinois is 100-89-2. Since rejoining the MAC in
1997, NIU is 65-45 (.596) versus league opponents and in the past three
seasons under Jerry Kill, the Huskies are 18-7 in Mid-American
Conference games. The Huskies are in the 14th season of their second
stint in the MAC after originally playing in the league from 1975-85.
Nine in a Row
Northern Illinois posted a nine-game winning streak, the school's
longest as an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program,
between Sept. 25 and Dec. 3. After dropping a 28-22 decision to Illinois
in Champaign on Sept. 18, NIU reeled off wins over Minnesota, Akron,
Temple, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Toledo, Ball State
and Eastern Michigan. The Huskies' nine-game winning streak tied Coach
Howard Fletcher's 1965 squad which posted an undefeated 9-0 regular
season before losing to North Dakota in the Mineral Water Bowl. Northern
Illinois started play in what is now Division I FBS football in 1969.
Winning the West
Northern Illinois won the Mid-American Conference West Division title
for the first time since 2005 with a perfect 8-0 league record. NIU made
its second appearance in the MAC title game, and first since 2005, when
the Huskies lost to Akron, 31-30, on a last-second bomb. The Huskies
earned a share of the West Division crown in 2001, 2002 and 2004 before
winning the division outright in 2005.
Happy at Home
Northern Illinois completed a perfect 5-0 home record with its win over
Toledo on November 9 and the Huskies have won nine straight games at
Huskie Stadium dating back to the 2009 loss to Idaho on Sept. 26. NIU
also has won eight straight MAC games in DeKalb dating back to the
Huskies' last league game of 2008. Under Jerry Kill, Northern
Illinois is 14-3 on Brigham Field.
Senior CLASS Finalist
Huskie senior defensive end Jake Coffman was honored as one of 10
finalists for the 2010 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award and there was not a
more deserving candidate. The Senior CLASS Award honors four-year
players who achieved in community, classroom, character and competition
throughout their four-year careers. Coffman, the 26-year-old Marine
Corps veteran who elected to come back and play his final season with
and for his Huskie teammates after originally deciding the 2009 season
would be his last, was a perfect example of all four attributes. The
Touchdown Club of Columbus' 2009 Male Athlete of the Year, Coffman
leads the team with 12 tackles for loss and 6.5 quarterback sacks and
will finish his Huskie career ranked in the NIU Top five, all-time, in
sacks. Coffman led the fan voting component for the Senior CLASS Award
through most of the competition. Fan voting accounts for one-third of
the total.
Ten-Win Teams
Northern Illinois is one of only 18 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in
the country to win 10 games in the regular season in 2010. Of that
group, NIU is the ONLY school to have played only five home games. The
Huskies are one of six teams from a non-automatic qualifying conference
to win 10 games prior to playing in a championship game, joining Boise
State, Nevada, TCU and Utah.
1,023/512
The uDrove Humanitarian Bowl is the 1,023rd game in Northern Illinois
history and the Huskies will be looking for their 512th victory
all-time. NIU played its 1,000th game and won its 500th, last season and
has a 511-460-51 all-time record for a winning percentage of .525. From
2000 to 2009, Northern Illinois posted a 68-53 record (.562) with eight
winning campaigns, the best mark among any of the three NCAA Football
Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams in Illinois.
All-MACcolades
Six Northern Illinois player earned first team All-Mid-American
Conference accolades from MAC coaches and 13 NIU players were honored
with all-league honors overall after leading the Huskies to an
undefeated (8-0) MAC regular season record. Senior tailback Chad Spann,
the league's leading rusher and Offensive Player of the Year, led a
contingent of four offensive players on the first-team unit. Chandler
Harnish became the first Northern Illinois quarterback in school history
to be named to the first-team squad and he was joined by offensive
linemen Trevor Olson and Scott Wedige. Defensively, the coaches named
defensive end Sean Progar and cornerback Chris Smith to the All-MAC
squad. In addition to that contingent, defensive end Jake Coffman and
offensive guard Joe Pawlak earned first team accolades from Phil
Steele's Magazine and/or rivals.com. The complete list of
all-conference selections can be found later in this release.
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner
Senior tailback Chad Spann was named the winner of the MAC's 2010
Vern Smith Leadership Award, which honors the top player in the league
as selected by league coaches. A Northern Illinois player has won the
Vern Smith Award four times in the last five years and five times
overall. Huskie defensive end Larry English won back-to-back Vern Smith
Awards in 2007 (on a 2-10 NIU team) and 2008, while Garrett Wolfe's
selection in 2006 made him the first Huskie in 23 years to win the
honor.
Watching C-Spann
Chad Spann leads the Mid-American Conference and ranks 20th in the
country in rushing with 99.5 yards per game with his career single
season best of 1,293 yards in 13 games. Spann's 2,821 career rushing
yards rank eighth all-time at NIU. He tallied a career-best 223 yards
on 15 carries at Minnesota (Sept. 25) with runs of 61, 56 and 33 yards
to win Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week honors. He
averaged 14.9 yards per carry in the game. Spann's other 100-yard
games this year have come versus North Dakota (140), Temple (100),
Buffalo (111), Central Michigan (101) and Western Michigan (146).
The Spann-Zone
Chad Spann's spectacular senior season included breaking the school
record for rushing touchdowns with 20 and scoring at least one TD in a
school record 11 consecutive games. Spann has five multiple-touchdown
games on the year. He leads the MAC and is tied for 12th in the country
in scoring with 9.23 points per game, and his 20 rushing scores are tied
for third all-time in the MAC in a single season. A year ago, Spann
tied Huskie greats Michael Turner and Garrett Wolfe for the single
season rushing touchdown record with 19. He has at least one rushing
score in 17 of NIU's last 20 games and has passed Michael Turner to
take over second place on the Huskies' career list for rushing TDs
with 47 (behind Wolfe's 52).
Hidden Gems
Northern Illinois has a long tradition of non-scholarship players
becoming not just contributors, but starters and even all-conference
players. In 2010, five Huskie players honored on an All-Mid-American
Conference team began their NIU careers as walk-ons: Chad Spann (TB),
Joe Pawlak (OG), Jason Schepler (TE), Jake Coffman (DE) and Sean Progar
(DE). In all, 11 players on NIU's current depth chart originally came
to Northern Illinois as walk-ons. Key contributors Willie Clark (WR),
Connor Flahive (FB), Jack Marks (TE) and Rashaan Melvin (CB) are also
former walk-ons as are specialists Michael Cklamovski (K) and Ryan Neir
(P).
Players of the Week
Seven different Northern Illinois players earned MAC Player of the Week
recognition 11 times this year, and at least one Huskie player was
honored in 10 straight weeks. Jake Coffman was a two-time Defensive
Player of the Week (versus EMU, WMU) while quarterback Chandler Harnish
was named Offensive Player of the Week three times (vs. Akron, Temple,
Toledo) and true freshman Jimmie Ward earned two of the Huskies' four
Specialist of the Week honors (vs. Minnesota, Buffalo). Linebacker
Tyrone Clark was the other NIU defender honored (vs. Central Michigan)
and Chad Spann was the Offensive Player of the Week after his 223-yard
rushing day at Minnesota. Linebacker Jordan Delegal (vs. Ball State)and
punter Josh Wilber (vs. Illinois) were one-time Specialist of the Week
honorees as NIU players earned that recognition four times.
Points Record Obliterated
Even before the MAC Championship game, Northern Illinois had broken the
school record for points scored in a season by a 50-point margin and
NIU's current total of 492 points (37.8/game) is 71 more than the
previous mark of 421. NIU's per game average would break the single
season record of 37.2, set in 2000. The Huskies lead the MAC and rank
13th in the country in points per game.
Rushing Rankings
As a team, Northern Illinois has rushed for 3,442 yards on 553 carries
with 38 touchdowns in 2010 to rank seventh in the country in rushing
offense with an average of 264.77 yards per game. In addition, NIU's
per carry average of 6.22 ranks second in the nation and would break the
Huskies' current record of 6.13. The rushing yardage number ranks as
the fourth-best in school history, and the most since 1990, while the
rushing touchdowns are the most NIU has scored on the ground since 1989
(40).
200 is the Magic Number
In three seasons under Jerry Kill, the Huskies are a perfect 21-0 when
they rush for 200 or more yards in a game, including a 9-0 mark in 2010.
However, NIU is only 2-16 over the last three years when it does not
gain 200 yards on the ground. The only exception to that rule has
occurred in two games against Ball State as Northern Illinois has won
each of those contests despite rushing for less than 200 yards.
Seniors Saluted
Northern Illinois' 2010 senior class includes 10 defenders, eight
offensive players and three specialists. Fifteen of NIU's 21 seniors
are from Illinois (10) and the neighboring states of Indiana (2),
Missouri (2) and Wisconsin (1) with the other eight from points east
(Washington, D.C.), west (California and Arizona) and south (Florida).
NIU boasts 13 senior starters in 2010 (three on offense, seven on
defense and three specialists). The Huskies' 21 seniors have combined
to make 282 career starts.
Turnover Talk
Northern Illinois has won or tied the turnover battle in 11 of its 13
games in 2010 and is 10-1 in those games. NIU did not commit a turnover
in the Eastern Michigan, Toledo, Central Michigan or Minnesota games.
Meanwhile, the Huskies caused a season-high five turnovers in the win
over Central Michigan and have forced at least two turnovers in eight
games this season. The Huskies are a perfect 8-0 in the games when it
has won the turnover battle (versus North Dakota, Minnesota, Akron, CMU,
WMU, Toledo, Ball State, EMU ) and is 2-1 in the three games when the
turnovers were even, with wins over Temple and Buffalo and a loss to
Iowa State. Miami and Illinois committed less turnovers than NIU in
those contests to come away with wins.
Top Offense
The 2010 Huskie offense will go down in school history as one of the
most successful ever at NIU. The Huskies broke the school records for
yards of total offense (5,797), touchdowns scored (64) and first downs
(281). In each case, the new standard set by the 2010 team far exceeded
the previous record. The Huskies' 5,797 yards of total offense is 468
yards betteer than the previous mark (5,329 in 2005). NIU has scored 64
touchdowns, 11 more than ever before, and the 281 first downs is 20 more
than the 2004 team. In addition, NIU has made (55) and attempted (62)
more PAT kicks than ever before.
Sure-Handed
One key to Northern Illinois' success in 2010 has been its ability to
hold onto the football. Northern Illinois is tied for 10th in the
country in fewest fumbles lost with just six on the year. Even more
impressively, Huskie running backs have lost just ONE fumble (on 356
carries) on the year as Chad Spann gave up the ball on the very first
carry of the Temple game. NIU went four games without losing a fumble
(between Temple and Ball State).
On the Block
A highlight of the MAC Championship game for the Huskies came on
special teams as NIU blocked a PAT attempt and a field goal - two huge
plays that enabled Northern Illinois to take a 21-20 lead into the
game's final minute. Senior defensive tackle Mike Krause earned
the PAT block - the second of his career - following the RedHawks'
first score. On the last play of the first half, Jake Coffman knocked
down a 42-yard field goal attempt to preserve the Huskies' 14-13
halftime lead. Those were the first two placekicks blocked by NIU this
season to give the Huskies eight total blocks.
The Block Goes On
Northern Illinois has set school records for punts blocked in a game
(three versus Ball State) and in a season (six) in 2010 and have blocked
a total of 12 punts in the past three years under this coaching staff.
Versus Ball State, linebacker Jordan Delegal blocked a pair of punts,
the first of which was returned by Jimmie Ward for a NIU touchdown.
Ricky Crider earned the other punt block at Ball State. Ward owns the
other three blocks by the Huskies in 2010 (see note below). The Huskies
had five blocked punts in 2008 and one last year.
A-Ward Winning
True freshman Jimmie Ward has had a huge impact on the 2010 season in
his role on the Huskie punt block/punt return team. Ward has blocked a
school-record three punts this year (versus Central Michigan, Minnesota
and Buffalo), picking up two MAC Specialist of the Week honors along the
way. Against Ball State, Ward scored the first touchdown of his
Northern Illinois career as he recovered Jordan Delegal's blocked punt
and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown to give NIU a 14-0 lead. The
Mobile, Ala. native is the first NIU true freshman to earn two MAC
Player of the Week honors in the same season since 2004 when kicker
Chris Nendick was a two-time honoree.
Totally Offensive
Chandler Harnish broke one of the Huskies' oldest-standing records at
the MAC Championship game when he surpassed All-American George Bork's
47-year old mark for total offense yards in a season. Harnish's 2,994
yards this season (2,230 passing/764 rushing) passed Bork's total of
2,945 yards in 1963. Harnish, whose totals have been compiled in just
12 games at quarterback, is averaging 185.8 passing and 63.7 rushing
yards per game. He is averaging 6.0 yards per rush on 127 carries and
has 25 total touchdowns (20 passing, five rushing). After throwing
three TD passes versus Miami, including a season-long 69-yarder to
Martel Moore, Harnish ranks fifth at NIU in passing TDs in a season.
The Definition of Efficiency
Junior Chandler Harnish leads the Mid-American Conference and ranks
16th in the country in passing efficiency with a rating of 156.14.
After connecting with NIU receivers on touchdown passes of 69, 27 and 37
yards at the MAC title game, he has a career-best 20 touchdown passes,
while his 64.7 percent (172-of-266) completion percentage is the highest
of his career. In fact, Harnish's numbers are the best in all
categories, and he has thrown a career low five INTs in 266 attempts for
an interception percentage of 1.9 percent and a touchdowns to
interceptions ratio of 4:1.
Moving On Up
In his third season as the Huskies' starting QB, junior Chandler
Harnish is now the school's all-time leader in total offense and has
moved into the top five of most of NIU's career passing records. The
Indiana native now has 6,960 yards of total offense to become NIU's
all-time leader in just three seasons. His 5,428 career passing yards
rank fourth on the Northern Illinois charts, while he is 25th all-time
in rushing at NIU. His 700 passing attempts and 39 touchdown passes
are fourth-most in school history and he is third all-time in pass
completions (433) and in career completion percentage (.619).
Harnish Racing
Chandler Harnish has rushed for a career-high 764 yards on 127 carries
for a 6.0-yard average in 2010 and ranks eighth in the MAC in rushing.
He had a career-long 69-yard run versus Toledo and has scored on runs of
37 and 40 yards. Harnish has five career 100-yard rushing games, with
three this season. He rushed for a career-high 178 yards against North
Dakota. With 117 yards on 11 carries at Illinois, Harnish passed the
1,000-yard mark in career rushing; he now has 1,532 yards on 334
attempts to rank 25th on NIU's all-time list. He is the third Huskie
quarterback to gain 1,000 rushing yards, joining Stacey Robinson (2,727
yards) and Marshall Taylor (1,971).
QB Times Three
Following his 149-yard rushing and 162-yard passing day versus Toledo,
Chandler Harnish earned the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week Award
for the third time this season. Harnish is the first QUARTERBACK in
Northern Illinois history to win the honor three times in one season and
became the first Huskie QB ever named first team All-MAC. Harnish also
picked up back-to-back MAC West weekly honors following the Akron (10-2)
and Temple (10-9) games earlier this season. Versus Toledo, Harnish
totaled 311 yards of total offense and recorded a career-long 69-yard
rush.
Long Distance
NIU's long plays chart shows the explosiveness of the 2010 Huskies.
Northern Illinois has recorded 64 plays of 25 yards or longer on the
year. Eight players have a rush of 30 yards or longer and six players
have rushes of at least 50 yards. Harnish not only has seven runs of 25
yards or longer, he has 18 long passes, including the season-long
69-yard touchdown pass to Martel Moore versus Miami. Tommy Davis has
eight kickoff or punt returns longer than 25 yards, while Nathan Palmer
is the long play specialist among the Huskie receivers with eight
catches longer than 25 yards.
Successful Conversions
The Huskies continue to enjoy success on third down and rank eighth in
the country in third down conversion percentage with a 51.22 mark.
Northern Illinois has not finished a season with a third down conversion
percentage over 50 percent since at least 1988 with the top mark since
that time in 1989 (49.7 percent). In the last 10 seasons, Northern
Illinois' best third down conversion percentage was 43.3 in 2008; the
Huskies nearly matched that mark last year with a 43.2 mark. NIU has
converted 50 percent or more of its third down tries in eight of 12
games, topped by a 71.4 conversion percentage (10-of-14) versus Akron.
Northern Illinois posted a third-down conversion percentage of 66.7
percent versus WMU and Toledo.
Pickoff Party
The Northern Illinois defense picked off at least one pass in 10 of the
team's 13 games this year. NIU ranks tied for 21st in the country in
interceptions with 16. This season's total is the most by an NIU
defense since 2003, when the Huskies intercepted 23 passes over 12
games. In addition to team leader Tyrone Clark's four pickoffs, Chris
Smith (three) and Rashaan Melvin (two) have multiple interceptions this
year. Overall, 10 different Huskies have intercepted passes. Northern
Illinois' four interceptions against CMU was the highest single-game
total since Nov. 20, 2004 when the Huskies picked off five passes versus
Eastern Michigan.
Interception Artist
NIU sophomore linebacker Tyrone Clark intercepted his team-leading
fourth pass of the season at Ball State and it was his prettiest pick of
the year, a one-handed grab that he returned 16 yards for his first
career touchdown. Clark has four interceptions in 2010, the most by a
Huskie in a season since Lionel Hickenbottom picked off five passes in
2004. In addition to the INT versus Ball State, Clark had two
interceptions in the Central Michigan game and one against Iowa State.
The sophomore in his first year as a starter was selected as the
team's defensive MVP by his teammates and has 66 tackles on the
year.
Thousand-Yard Huskies
With 146 yards at Western Michigan, Chad Spann hit the 1,000-yard mark
for the second consecutive season and became Northern Illinois' first
back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher since Garrett Wolfe in 2005 and 2006.
Spann has 1,293 yards on 243 carries this year, his career highs in both
categories. Northern Illinois has now had a 1,000-yard rusher in 11 of
the last 12 years dating back to 1999; the only exception was 2008 in
Jerry Kill's first year. Spann's 1,000-yard season is the 23rd in
Huskie football history.
It's Better to Receive
Northern Illinois' top four receivers - senior Landon Cox, juniors
Nathan Palmer and Willie Clark and sophomore Martel Moore - have
accounted for 132 of NIU's 191 receptions for 1,838 yards and 20
touchdowns on the year. Clark has caught touchdown passes in the past
two games and leads the Huskies with seven, the most by a NIU receiver
since Sam Hurd caught 13 in 2005. He also leads Northern Illinois in
catches (38) and yards (514). Palmer is enjoying the best, and most
consistent year, of his career a team-leading 18.2 yards per catch and
six scores. Versus Miami, it was Moore's turn to shine with TD
catches of 69 and 37 yards to up his season total to four TDs.
Some Love for the Line
With three new starters in 2010, the Huskie offensive line was a
question mark entering the season, but the play up front has been one of
the keys to NIU's offensive success. Northern Illinois leads the MAC
and ranks 14th in the country in fewest sacks allowed, having given up
13 in 13 games. Huskie backs have 11 100-plus yard efforts while running
behind tackles Trevor Olson and Keith Otis, guards Logan Pegram, Ed
Jackson and Joe Pawlak and center Scott Wedige. Otis, Pegram and Wedige
are all first-time starters, while Olson has started all 39 games of his
NIU career. Pawlak, a former walk-on, is a two-year starter. Olson,
Wedige and Pawlak all earned league honors on either the first or second
team.
Team D
One key to Northern Illinois' defensive success so far in 2010 is
depth. NIU is regularly playing 10 defensive linemen, five linebackers
and seven defensive backs. No Huskies are ranked in the Top 30 in
tackles in the Mid-American Conference, and there are not any NIU names
in the league's top 10 for tackles for loss or fumbles forced.
Twenty-three Huskie defenders have at least 10 tackles, 27 have been in
on a tackle for loss, 14 have sacks and 10 different players have
intercepted passes.
Top of His Game
Senior noseguard Mike Krause is quietly putting together the best
season of his Huskie career. The senior, who was sidelined by a heart
condition in 2009, established new career highs with five tackles and
two tackles for loss in the Toledo game and his season totals now stand
at a career-best 24 stops and five TFLs. NIU coaches have named Krause
Northern Illinois' defensive lineman of the week three times this
year, including versus Toledo and Western Michigan.
Coffman Comes Back
After announcing his "retirement" from college football following
the 2010 International Bowl, defensive end Jake Coffman decided after
sitting out spring drills that he could not abandon his Huskie teammates
or leave NIU without "finishing" when he had started with the
football program. There is no doubt the 26-year-old Marine Corps veteran
has brought experience, leadership and proven credentials to the
defensive line and the "old man" has proven he can still play, too,
as he leads the team with 12 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks on the year.
His 40 tackles are a career high and he ranks seventh in the MAC in
sacks. In NIU's last three games, Coffman recorded 16 tackles, four
quarterback sacks and five tackles for loss, capped by a career-best
eight-tackle day versus Miami.
A Career to Commemorate
Jake Coffman will leave Northern Illinois having played in three bowl
games, with a pair of national awards and the admiration and respect of
everyone he has come in contact with - from the media who interviewed
him to the coaches who he played for, opponents he faced and teammates
he inspired. In addition, Coffman now ranks fifth all-time at Northern
Illinois in quarterback sacks with 17 and has totaled 28.5 tackles for
loss.
Fearless Freshmen
When the all-freshman duo of quarterback Jordan Lynch and wide out
Akeem Daniels take the field in NIU's version of the popular
"Wildcat" package, opponents have taken notice. All Daniels -
the younger brother of senior cornerback Kiaree Daniels - has done is
score three touchdowns on 11 touches (nine rushes, two catches),
including a 50-yard score versus Toledo. Lynch has touchdown runs of
90, 81 and 61 yards and a 11.7-yard rushing average (362 yards on 31
carries) to rank third on the Huskie team in rushing. Lynch recorded his
first career 100-yard rushing game at Eastern Michigan with a team-best
142 yards on only two carries. His 90-yard score versus Buffalo stands
as the fourth-longest in school history, the longest ever by an NIU
quarterback and the longest since LeShon Johnson had a 92-yard carry
versus Southern Illinois (10-2-1993). Lynch also threw his first career
touchdown pass - a two-yard toss to Kyle Skarb - at Ball State.
Kiel Honored
NIU junior offensive lineman Adam Kiel is one of only 11 players from
an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program to be named to the 2010
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. He is the second Huskie to earn the
honor in the last three years, joining 2008 honoree Matt Simon. The team
is selected by a voting panel of former honorees, coaches and media
members, and honors players who demonstrate outstanding commitment to
service and volunteerism. The team will be introduced on the field at
halftime of the Allstate Sugar Bowl and spend two days in New Orleans.
Kiel participated in 11 different activities over the past year, and
also coordinated many of the team's community service efforts. He
serves as Vice-President of NIU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
(SAAC).
Here's the Kicker
NIU senior kicker Michael Cklamovski had never tried a field goal in a
collegiate game prior to this year. Now, the University of Illinois
graduate, former Illini kickoff man and current NIU law student is in
the Huskie record books as he has tied the NIU school record for PATs
made in a season (51) and broke the mark for PAT attempts (53).
Cklamovski has scored 96 points on the year with 51 PATs and 15 field
goals, at least one in nine of the Huskies' last 11 games. He is tied
for third all-time in points scored by kicking in a single season.
Second-Half Huskies
When Western Michigan scored a fourth-quarter touchdown to take a 21-20
lead on NIU on Oct. 30, it marked the first touchdown given up by the
Huskie defense in the second half of a game since the Akron game on Oct.
2. Toledo then became the first Northern Illinois opponent to score
MORE THAN one touchdown in the second half of a game on the year.
Despite the Rockets' 30-point second-half, NIU outscored its opponents
by 130 points in the second half this year, 241-111. In all, the Huskie
defense has five shutout halves in 2010.
Rehab Results
Senior safety Mike Sobol returned to the field for the season opener
versus Iowa State, just four months after surgery to repair a torn left
anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Sobol was allowed to practice on a
limited basis 3 1/2 months after surgery and was given the "full go"
two weeks later. He came back nearly two months sooner than normal after
averaging two-plus hours of rehab per day. Expected to be used primarily
in a back-up role, Sobol has started 10 games at strong safety and ranks
seventh on the team with 39 tackles.
Smith's Season
Cornerback Chris Smith is one of two players to earn first team All-MAC
honors on the Huskie defense after an excellent senior season in which
the senior has made 63 tackles, 3.5 for loss, with three interceptions
and a team-best nine tackles for loss. Smith ranks tied for third in
the MAC in passes defended with 12, despite playing nearly all season
with a cast on his fractured right hand. Smith's total of three INTs
and nine pass break-ups ranks tied for third all-time at NIU in passes
defended and is the most since Randee Drew set the all-time record in
2003 with 15.
Preseason Predictions
Northern Illinois was a popular choice to win the MAC West Division by
the pollsters this preseason as the Mid-American Conference Preseason
Poll, USA Today, Athlon, Sporting News, CBS Sports.com, and Sports
Illustrated, among others, tabbed the Huskies as the MAC West favorites.
The last time NIU was picked to win the West was in 2006 prior to
Garrett Wolfe's senior season. The Huskies were also named one of the
top 50 teams in the country by Sporting News and Phil Steele's
Magazine.
High-Scoring
In its last three regular season games, Northern Illinois posted three
of the top 12 point totals in school history and averaged 65 points per
game. NIU's 71 points versus Eastern Michigan is the most scored by
the Huskies since a 73-10 win over Buffalo on Oct. 28, 2000 and is the
fifth-highest scoring game in school history. That makes the 65-point
total versus Toledo on Nov. 9 the sixth-most scored by the Huskies
all-time, while the 59-point outburst at Ball State tied for the
11th-highest in school history. The last time NIU recorded even two of
its highest scoring games in one SEASON was in 1921 with 91 points
versus Elmhurst (Nov. 5) and 64 versus Mount Morris (Oct. 22).
December Grads
Five Huskie seniors earned their undergraduate degrees from Northern
Illinois University on December 12. Ed Jackson, Alex Kube, Chris Smith,
Darnell Bolding and Mike Sobol all completed their bachelor's degrees
and for Smith, the achievement had extra meaning as the junior college
transfer became the first member of his family to earn a college degree.
Smith's twin brother, Donald, is a redshirt junior for the Huskies.
Academic Achievement
The Huskies' five December grads give NIU 55 total graduates in the
past two and a half years. In addition, the football team's Academic
Progress Rate (APR), the instrument used by the NCAA to measure the
eligibility, retention and graduation of student-athletes, ranked tied
for 10th in the country among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
schools in the most recent rankings. NIU's 975 APR put it in elite
company with schools like Air Force, Rice, Duke, Vanderbilt and
Stanford.
Follow the Leaders
Prior to the 2010 season opener, Northern Illinois Head Coach Jerry
Kill introduced the Huskies' 2010 Leadership Council, the group of
players selected to serve as liaisons for the players to the coaching
staff and perform additional leadership functions. Members of the
Leadership Council are: Jake Coffman (Sr., DE), Alex Kube (Sr., LB),
Tracy Wilson (Jr., FS), Trevor Olson (Jr., OT), Ricky Crider (Sr., TB),
Landon Cox (Sr., WR) and Jason Schepler (Jr., TE) along with all five
Huskie quarterbacks. Players in this group will serve as team captains
during the Huskies' games this season.
Huskies in the NFL
Six Huskies spent time on NFL active rosters in 2010, led by 2008
senior Larry English, who became the highest NFL Draft choice in school
history when he was selected with the 16th pick of the first round by
the San Diego Chargers. English is joined in the pro ranks by running
backs Garrett Wolfe (Chicago Bears) and Michael Turner (Atlanta
Falcons), offensive linemen Ryan Diem (Indianapolis Colts) and Doug Free
(Dallas Cowboys), and receiver Sam Hurd (Dallas Cowboys). In addition,
fullback/tight end Jake Nordin is on injured reserve for the Lions.
In a Rush
Leading 37-3 at halftime versus Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois
pulled starting quarterback Chandler Harnish and tailback Chad Spann,
and the Huskies threw just one pass in the second half while playing
every available player on its 65-man travel roster. Still, Northern
Illinois ran for 544 yards to record the second-most single game rushing
yards in school history behind only a 733-yard outburst in a 73-18 win
over Fresno State on Oct. 6, 1990. The Huskies' 646 yards of total
offense tied for the fourth-most in school history and the most since
NIU gained 646 yards versus Buffalo on Oct. 28, 2000.
"Big" Win
The Huskies' 71-3 win over Eastern Michigan will go down in the NIU
record books as the biggest win in NIU's history as a Division I FBS
program in terms of margin of victory. The 68-point win is the
Huskies' most dominant MAC win ever and is the largest win, in
terms of point differential, since 1921 when NIU defeated Elmhurst
91-10. The Huskies also tied the school's "modern" record for
touchdowns in a game with 10.
No Passing Zone
In addition to the Huskies' offensive prowess at Eastern Michigan,
the NIU defense was dominant. NIU completely shut down the EMU passing
game, allowing only four completions (on nine attempts) for 11 yards.
It was the fewest passing yards allowed by a Huskie defense since Oct.
23, 1971 when Ball State passed for just 11 yards (on two completions)
in a game that ended in a 10-10 tie. Northern Illinois also held the
Eagles to 160 total yards, the lowest for a Huskie opponent since
Indiana State had 154 yards in 2008.
Run, Run as Fast as You Can
Northern Illinois' offensive outburst at Eastern Michigan included
five touchdown runs of 61 yards or longer by four different players,
eight total touchdown runs by five players, five players who gained at
least 50 rushing yards and eight who had 20 yards or more. Chad Spann
(71), Jordan Lynch (81, 61), DeMarcus Grady (61) and Jasmin Hopkins (74)
recorded the long runs, with Lynch's 81-yard effort tying for the
ninth-longest run in school history. NIU had five one-play drives and
two two-play drives in the game.
Coffman Saves the Day
Defensive end Jake Coffman was named the Mid-American Conference West
Division Defensive Player of the Week after recording four tackles and
an interception in NIU's 28-21 victory over Western Michigan.
Coffman's second career interception came on the Huskie 12-yard
line with the Broncos driving for the game-tying score. He added five
solo tackles, a sack and caused a fumble to set the tone in the Eastern
Michigan game and earn his second MAC POTW honor.
Going Long
The Huskies scored five of their nine touchdowns versus Toledo on plays
of 25 yards or longer with only one the first of those scores - a
33-yard strike from Chandler Harnish to Nathan Palmer - coming via the
pass. NIU got touchdown runs of 28, 50 and 55 yards from Harnish, Akeem
Daniels and Jasmin Hopkins as five players rushed for 40 or more yards
in the game. Tommy Davis accounted for the other long touchdown play
with an 83-yard kickoff return score.
Return Record
Huskie sophomore Tommy Davis tied the Northern Illinois career record
for kickoff return touchdowns with an 83-yard return for a score to
close out the third quarter of the NIU-Toledo game. Davis' kickoff
return touchdown was the second of his career, tying him with Michael
Turner (2000-03) and John Spilis (1966-68) for the NIU record. In just
two seasons, Davis ranks tied for third all-time at NIU in kickoff
returns with 49 and is third in kickoff return yards with 1,173.
Unstoppable
The Northern Illinois offense fit that description at Akron as the NIU
offense scored on EIGHT straight possessions (in which it ran a play)
and did not punt until less than seven minutes remained in the game.
The Huskies' first three drives each resulted in field goals, while
the next five ended in the end zone.
Dashing Versus Dakota
In his first start of 2010, NIU junior quarterback Chandler Harnish ran
like he never had before. Versus North Dakota, Harnish rushed for a
career-best 178 yards on 21 carries to compile the most rushing yards by
a Northern Illinois quarterback since Huskie great Stacey Robinson ran
for 308 yards versus Fresno State on Oct. 8, 1990. Robinson and
Marshall Taylor are the only Northern Illinois quarterbacks to run for
more yards in a game.
Non-Conference Review
NIU wrapped up its 2010 non-conference schedule in September as the
Huskies started the season with four straight non-conference games for
the second straight year. Northern Illinois finished its non-league
slate with a 2-2 record for the second straight season. The Huskies lost
to Iowa State and Illinois while defeating Minnesota and North Dakota in
this year's non-conference match-ups. Under Jerry Kill, NIU is 5-7 in
non-conference games over the last three years, with three of the losses
by four points or less.
Teaming Up
Chandler Harnish and Chad Spann combined to rush for 318 yards on 42
carries versus North Dakota to record the fifth-highest two-back total
in school history. It was the most yards by a Northern Illinois duo in
15 years, since Charles Talley and Scott Florence went for a
school-record 357 rushing yards in 1995.
Offensive Explosion
Northern Illinois exploded for 65 points, 422 rushing yards and 584
yards of total offense in its win over Toledo. The Huskies' 37
second-half points in that game tied for the seventh-most overall and
fourth-most in a MAC game while the 28 third-quarter points tied for the
second highest total for a quarter versus the MAC. In addition, NIU's
nine total touchdowns ranks third all-time. Northern Illinois surpassed
the 500-yard mark in total offense for the second time this season en
route to the ninth-highest yardage total in school history and most
since the 2006 Ball State game (610). The Huskies' 422 rushing yards
also ranks as the 11th-best rushing game at Northern Illinois and is the
most rushing yards for an NIU team in 15 years, since the 1995 squad had
426 yards on Nov. 11 versus Arkansas State.
Four Threes
Michael Cklamovski put his name in the Northern Illinois single-game
record book by making four field goals in six attempts versus Central
Michigan. The four field goals made tied for the third-highest total in
school history, while the six attempts tied for the second-most in a
game. Cklamovski made field goals of 25, 21, 24 and 19 yards. The last
NIU kicker to try or make more field goals in a game was Chris Nendick,
who went five-of-seven on threes versus Temple in 2006. Cklamovski's
15 points in that game is tied for the seventh-highest total in Huskie
history.
Looking Ahead
Northern Illinois' 2011 schedule is highlighted by a Sept. 17 game
versus Wisconsin at Soldier Field as well as home games with Army (Sept.
3) and Cal Poly (Sept. 24) and a Sept. 10 match-up at Kansas. The
Huskies will open the 2012 season at Soldier Field versus Iowa (Sept.
1).
