Aug. 28, 2012

Complete Release in PDF Format

Northern Illinois Football 2012
Game 1 - Iowa (0-0) at Northern Illinois (0-0)
Sept. 1, 2012 | 2:30 p.m. | ESPNU | Chicago, Ill. |Soldier Field | 61,500

HUSKIE FOOTBALL FACTS
2011 Record: 11-3
MAC (Regular Season) Record/Finish: 7-1/1st West
Head Coach: Dave Doeren
Record at NIU/Years: 11-3/One
Career Record/Years: 11-3/One
Alma Mater/Year: Drake/1994
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-3
First Year of Football: 1899
All-Time Record: 523-463-51
Last Bowl Game: 2012 GoDaddy.com; NIU 38, Arkansas State 20
MAC Championship Game Appearances: 3 (last, 2011, 23-20 W)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 49/24
Starters Returning: 18 (4 offense, 10 defense, 4 specialists)
Starters Lost: 11 (7 offense, 4 defense, 0 specialists)

2012 NIU SCHEDULE

NORTHERN ILLINOIS FACTS
Location: DeKalb, Illinois
Founded: 1895
Enrollment: 23,850
Affiliation: NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision
Conference: Mid-American (West Division)
Colors: Cardinal and Black
Nickname: Huskies
Stadium: Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium
Surface/Capacity: FieldTurf /24,000
President (Alma Mater, Year): Dr. John Peters (John Carroll `67)
Assoc. VP/Athletic Director: Jeff Compher
Alma Mater, Year: James Madison `80
Ticket Information: 815-752-6800

HAWKEYES' FACTS
2011 Record: 7-6
Big Ten Record/Finish: 4-4/4th Legends
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Kirk Ferentz (Connecticut/1978)
Record at Iowa/Years: 96-66/14th
Career Record/Years: 108-87/17th
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Enrollment: 30,893
Conference: Big Ten (Legends Division)
Colors: Black and Gold
Stadium: Kinnick Stadium
Surface/Capacity: FieldTurf /70,585
President: Sally Mason
Athletic Director: Gary Barta
Athletics Website: www.hawkeyesports.com
Twitter: @TheIowaHawkeyes
Ticket Information: 1-800 424-2957
UI SCHEDULE

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Iowa leads 7-0
In Chicago: Iowa leads 1-0
At Iowa City: Iowa leads 6-0
Streak: Iowa, 7
Last Meeting: Iowa 16, NIU 3 (9/1/07 in Chicago)
The Last Time: Iowa used a stout defense and an efficient ground attack to outlast Northern Illinois 16-3 in front of a sellout crowd of 61,500 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Iowa running backs Albert Young (145) and Damian Sims (110) each tallied over 100 yards rushing while the Hawkeyes held NIU to 21 yards on the ground. Young put UI on the scoreboard with a seven-yard touchdown run in the second quarter; the PAT was missed. Iowa extended their lead to 13-0 on a five-yard pass from Jake Christensen to Brandon Myers following an eight-play, 95-yard drive. NIU responded with a 33-yard field goal by Chris Nendick for the Huskies' lone points on the game. Iowa intercepted three passes in the game, including one inside the Huskies' 10-yard line. Aside from a 22-yard Iowa field goal, there was little offense in the second half as only one of the teams' combined 13 possessions ended in a score.

NIU HEAD COACH Dave Doeren
In his first season as head coach of the Northern Illinois University football program, Dave Doeren and his Huskies achieved milestones rarely reached over the course of a career, let alone a single season. Doeren's first year at the helm of a program saw NIU win the school's first Mid-American Conference Championship since 1983, triumph in the GoDaddy.com Bowl and close out the year with nine straight victories en route to tying the school record with 11 wins. Doeren became the winningest first-year head coach in school history.

A 17-year collegiate coaching veteran who helped take teams to eight bowl games and two national championship contests as an assistant coach at Wisconsin (2006-10), Kansas (2002-05), Montana (2000-01), USC (1998-99) and Drake (1995-97), Doeren was named the 21st head football coach in NIU history on Dec. 13, 2010.

Doeren came to NIU after completing his fifth season at Wisconsin in 2010 at the Rose Bowl where the Big Ten champion and 11-2 Badgers met TCU. After spending his first two seasons in Madison as the Badgers' co-defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator, he added defensive coordinator duties in January 2008. During Doeren's time at Wisconsin, the Badgers posted a 49-16 overall record and played in the Champs Sports (twice), Outback and Capital One bowls. At Wisconsin, Doeren's defenses were consistently ranked in the top 25 in the nation; while there he coached current National Football League defenders Jonathan Casillas (Saints), DeAndre Levy (Lions) and J.J. Watt (Texans).

Doeren arrived at UW after four seasons (2002-05) at the University of Kansas. He was the linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator for three seasons at KU before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2005.

Prior to his time at Kansas, Doeren coached the secondary at NCAA FCS power Montana for two seasons. Montana won the I-AA national championship in 2001 and went 28-3 with two conference titles in his time there.

He started his college coaching career as an assistant at Drake from 1995-97 where he coached linebackers, before becoming defensive coordinator in 1997. A four-year letterwinner at Drake (1990-93), Doeren earned Academic All-America honors as a senior and graduated with a bachelor's degree in pre-medical biology and a master's in educational leadership.

HUSKIE MULTIMEDIA

NIU-Iowa on Television
-- The NIU-Iowa game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
-- Tom Hart will handle play-by-play with John Congemi alongside as color analyst.

NIU-Iowa on Radio
-- The Northern Illinois IMG Sports Network broadcast begins 30 minutes before kickoff.
-- NIU network affiliates in 2012 are: WLBK 1360 AM (DeKalb), WSCR 670 AM (Chicago), WTJK 1380 AM (Janesville, Wis.) and WYLL 1160 AM (Chicago)* alternate Chicago station
-- WYLL 1160 AM is the Chicago station for the NIU-Iowa game
-- Bill Baker is in his 32nd season as the play-by-play voice of the Huskies. He is joined by 27-year color analyst Mark Lindo and 6-year sideline reporter Casey Kahler.

"Inside Huskie Football" Radio Show
-- Thursdays from 7-8 p.m. (Central)
-- Aug. 30; Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27; Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25; Nov. 1, 8, 20
-- Airs on WLBK 1360 AM (DeKalb), WTJK 1380 AM (Janesville) and Huskie All-Access
-- NIU Head Coach Dave Doeren, two Huskie players and an NIU Athletics special guest will join us live each week at Cabana Charley's on Peace Rd. in Sycamore, Ill. -- The public is invited

"NIU Weekly" Radio Show
-- 30 minute show highlighting the best of Huskie Athletics
-- Airs Saturday mornings on WSCR 670 AM (Chicago) beginning 9/8
-- Hosted by Andy Garcia and NIU Associate Vice-President/Director of Athletics Jeff Compher
-- Features a weekly interview with football head coach Dave Doeren, other NIU head coaches and the latest Huskie news

Huskies All-Access
-- Hear all NIU live radio broadcasts, including football and basketball games, Inside Huskie Football
-- Watch live Huskie games, including the UMass football game, volleyball, soccer, basketball, wrestling and gymnastics
-- Also see weekly and post-game press conferences, video features and special events (Signing Day) streamed live.
-- Cost is $6.95/month or $49.95/year
-- Go to www.NIUHuskies.com/allaccess

Getting Social
-- On Twitter: @NIUAthletics, @NIUScores, @PrideinthePack
-- On Facebook: NIU Huskies, Northern Huskie
-- On YouTube: niuhuskiesdotcom
-- See NIU Athletics' social media hub online to see all of our coaches' and teams' Facebook and Twitter accounts

NEWS & NOTES - The Top Ten

1. Northern Illinois carries the longest Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) winning streak in the country (nine games) into its 2012 season opener versus Iowa.
2. NIU will play a home game at Chicago's Soldier Field for the second year in a row and for the third time overall.
3. The Huskies are one of 10 FBS programs to win at least 11 games in each of the last two years,
4. On defense, NIU has 10 returning starters (9 who started at least 7 games in 2011 and one who started in 2010). By contrast, the Huskies have eight NEW starters on offense in 2011.
5. At quarterback, junior Jordan Lynch takes over for Chandler Harnish, a four-year starter who set 30 school records and is the most successful QB in the school's FBS history (since 1969).
6. NIU is 0-7 all-time versus Iowa, including a 16-3 loss to the Hawkeyes at Soldier Field in the 2007 season opener.
7. Northern Illinois is 2-3 in its last five games versus Big Ten teams dating back to 2009 with victories at Minnesota (2010) and at Purdue (2009).
8. Over the last 10 years, Northern Illinois is the winningest program in the Mid-American Conference (78-49, a 61.4 winning percentage) and leads all Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the state of Illinois since 2002.
9. Head coach Dave Doeren enters his second season at the helm of the NIU program after posting the best record by a first-year coach in school history.
10. Northern Illinois' 2011 Mid-American Conference Championship was the school's first MAC football title in 28 years (since 1983).

THE HUSKIES...
At Soldier Field: 0-2
Vs. the Big Ten: 3-35-1
In Season Openers: 52-54-2
Last Season Opener: NIU 49, Army 26
Dave Doeren at NIU: 11-3
Doeren vs. the Big Ten: 0-1
Doeren vs. Iowa: 0-0
Last Loss: 10/1/11 at Central Michigan
Last Home Loss: 9/17/11 vs. Wisconsin at Soldier Field
Last Huskie Stadium Loss: 9/26/09 vs. Idaho

NOTING NIU

OPENING DAY: The Huskies play host to Iowa at Soldier Field in Chicago to open the 2012 campaign. It is the second straight season, and third time overall, that NIU has played at the Chicago landmark. Northern Illinois lost to No. 7 Wisconsin last September (49-7) and fell to Iowa, 16-3, on Sept. 1, 2007.

STREAKING: Northern Illinois enters the 2012 season with the longest winning streak in the nation (FBS) after winning its last nine games of 2011, including the MAC Championship game and 2012 GoDaddy.com Bowl. NIU's last loss was to Central Michigan (48-41) on Oct. 1, 2011 in Mt. Pleasant,

BACK-TO-BACK: Northern Illinois is one of 10 FBS programs to win at least 11 games in each of the last two years, joining Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, TCU, Boise State, Oregon, Stanford, LSU and Alabama. NIU and Stanford are the only teams whose 11-win seasons came under different head coaches.

HAPPY AT HOME: When Northern Illinois plays host to Tennessee-Martin at Huskie Stadium on Sept. 8, NIU will be looking to extend its winning streak at Huskie Stadium to 16 games. The Huskies have not lost a game in DeKalb since Sept. 26, 2009 (vs. Idaho). Northern Illinois has won 12 straight Mid-American Conference games at home dating to a 33-30 overtime loss to Central Michigan on Nov. 12, 2008.

THEY'RE BACK: After losing its lone returning offensive lineman to a fractured leg during camp, NIU returns 13 starters on offense and defense, including two players (LB Tyrone Clark, TE Jason Schepler) who were starters in 2010 but missed last season. The Huskies have three starters returning on offense and 10 on defense.

MOST EXPERIENCED: The Huskies' 10 returning starters on defense have made 133 total starts with DE Sean Progar's 34 career starts over the last three seasons topping the list, followed by CB Rashaan Melvin and LB Tyrone Clark with 15 starts apiece.

BACK ON O: NIU's three remaining returning starters on offense have started 48 total games, led by WR Martel Moore with 25. In addition to WR Perez Ashford's nine starts, six other players on offense have started at least one game for the Huskies.

WATCH LISTER: For the second consecutive season, Huskie DE Sean Progar was named to the preseason watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award, presented to the top lineman/linebacker in college football. The senior made a career high 52 tackles, 22 solo, a year ago with 11 tackles for loss and 5.5 quarterback sacks. In 40 career games, Progar has 121 tackles, 29 tackles for loss and 15.5 quarterback sacks.

SERVICE MAN: Tight end Jason Schepler is one of 117 nominees for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. Schepler didn't let a season-ending injury slow his community involvement as he tallies at least 14 hours of community service projects per semester, A member of NIU's Leadership Council, he also excels in the classroom, maintaining a 3.85 grade point average in electrical engineering.

NOT AROUND HERE: Chandler Harnish went from setting 30 Northern Illinois records and winning the MAC's Vern Smith Award as league MVP a year ago to "Mr. Irrelevant" when he was the 253rd and final pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Harnish was selected in the seventh round by his home state Indianapolis Colts. As the last pick, Harnish was feted in California at the annual Mr. Irrelevant festivities.

FIRST TEAMER: Kicker Mathew Sims is the only returning Huskie who was named to the first team All Mid-American Conference squad a year ago. Sims set the school record for kick scoring, PATs made and PATs attempted as a sophomore. He made a pair of game-winning field goals, including one versus Ohio to win the Mid-American Conference Championship on the final play. The Huskies return all of its specialists in 2012.

RECEIVING VOTES: For the second consecutive preseason, Northern Illinois is receiving votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls. NIU earned one vote in the AP poll and two points in the USA Today rankings. The Huskies finished 2011 ranked 28th and 26th, respectively by AP and USA Today, the second straight year Northern Illinois ended up in the Top 30. NIU was the only MAC team to earn preseason votes.

IOWANS: While the Huskies do not have any players from Iowa on the roster in 2012, two of the Huskie coaches have ties to the Hawkeye state. NIU head coach Dave Doeren was an Academic All-American at Drake University in Des Moines and began his coaching career there in 1995. He was the linebackers' coach in 1995 and 1996 before becoming defensive coordinator in 1997. NIU defensive coordinator Jay Niemann, a native of Avoca, Iowa, played at Iowa State (1979-82) and coached in the state from 1989-2007 at Drake (1989-96), Northern Iowa (1997-2001) and Simpson (2002-07). He was head coach at Simpson and compiled a 32-29 record in six seasons.

YOUNG BUT TALENTED: Northern Illinois' offensive line will feature five new starters in 2012. Redshirt juniors Jared Volk and Matt Krempel bring the most experience to the group with Volk, who is recovering from a knee injury, the only offensive lineman who has previously started a game. Volk has played in 23 games with two starts (both last year), while Krempel has seen action in 18 games. The Huskies will play, and may start three redshirt freshmen in the middle of the line in Andrew Ness (C), Aidan Conlon and Matthew Killian (G).

NAME CHANGE: Northern Illinois' 2012 roster includes three (unrelated) Moores and three Browns with DBs Marlon (CB) and Tre' (S) Moore, expected to see action this season, not to be confused with receiver Martel. On the offensive line, NIU features both Ryan and Ron, the latter a freshman who was in danger of being mixed up with receiver Da'Ron Brown. That's because Ron Brown, a Detroit native, came to NIU as Daron Brown. During a photo shoot for freshmen this past June, Daron (OL) decided to avoid confusion, he would be known as simply Ron.