Aug. 26, 2015
DeKALB, Ill. – Dominating offensive tackle Ryan Diem, a three-time All Mid-American Conference offensive lineman and 2000 third team All-American who was one of the key figures that helped head coach Joe Novak revive the NIU football program at the turn of the millennium, is the No. 8 player on the Top 10 Countdown of the 50 Greatest Players in Huskie Stadium history, presented by Compass Mortgage.
NIU announced the first 40 players on the 50 Greatest Players list in random order daily this summer before counting down the Top 10 in reverse order from August 24 through September 4, the day before NIU opens the 2015 football campaign at home versus UNLV. The Top 10 Countdown to date features No. 10 wide receiver Justin McCareins (1997-2000) and No. 9 split end John Spilis (1966-68). The Huskies will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Huskie Stadium throughout the 2015 season with special ticket pricing, 1965 Throwback Uniforms for the first game and more.
A two-time first team All-MAC choice in each of his last two seasons, Diem paved the way for the NIU offense throughout his career, beginning his freshman season when he started seven games. The Huskies improved every year during his tenure and eventually posted its first winning season in a decade in his senior season of 2000. Diem started 35 consecutive games along the offensive line for the Huskies and served as a team captain in each of his last two seasons. His blocking helped William Andrews and Thomas Hammock rush for over 1,000 yards in 1999 and 2000, respectively.
“The ‘road-grader’ is what they called him,” Novak remembered. “He was just dominating at the point of attack. When we recruited him, it was a year where some of the Big 10 schools we traditionally went up against were going through coaching changes so we felt fortunate to get him in one of our first recruiting classes. He weighed about 260 when he came in. He just developed and became a dominating presence with his size at 6-6 and 310-315 pounds.”
The Carol Stream, Ill. native and Glenbard North High School product earned third team All-America honors in 2000 from Football News and played in the Senior Bowl following his senior season. He became the first Huskie to be drafted by the an NFL team since LeShon Johnson in 1994 when he was selected in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Diem played 11 seasons with the Colts, and won a Super Bowl as the team’s starting right tackle in 2007, becoming the first Huskie to ever start a Super Bowl game. Diem was inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.
“We all thought he had a chance to be pretty good [at the next level],” Novak said. “He was extremely intelligent and that’s a great characteristic for an offensive lineman, especially in the NFL. Great student, he got a [mechanical] engineering degree and had all those characteristics to be successful in the pros.”
Diem, who carried a 3.23 cumulative grade point average in mechanical engineering, was a 1999 Academic All-District choice by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and a member of the MAC Honor Roll each of his last two seasons.
The 50 Greatest Players, including the Top 10 in order, were selected by vote of a 13-member committee of current and former staff members, NIU’s long-time radio broadcast team, Huskie Hall of Famers like George Bork and Joe Novak and individuals whose affiliation with the NIU football program collectively dates back hundreds of years. In order to qualify to be considered, players must have competed in Huskie Stadium, which opened Nov. 6, 1965.
See the entire list here.
Each of the living 50 Greatest Players has been invited to return to Huskie Stadium for a game of their choice this season, at which time they will be honored on the field as “Huskie Legends”.
In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Huskie Stadium, NIU is offering special $19.65 ticket pricing, presented by Hy-Vee, for all Huskie home football games this year. Purchase tickets in section A and G on the West Side of Huskie Stadium online for $19.65 each. These tickets are available for purchase at this special price online only by using the promo code “1965”. CLICK HERE to order now or go to NIUHuskies.com/tickets.
The Huskie team will wear 1965 Throwback uniforms for its 2015 season opening game versus UNLV on Sept. 5 at Huskie Stadium. The uniforms, including the helmet decals, jerseys and socks, replicate those worn by the 1965 NIU squad that posted a perfect 9-0 regular season record. More than 20 members of the 1965 team will hold a 50-Year Reunion on Sept. 4-5 and will be honored during the NIU-UNLV game. The Throwback jerseys will be auctioned off on the Huskies’ official athletics website at NIUHuskies.com.
NIU Football 2015 season tickets are still on sale and remain the best value in Chicagoland. Season ticket prices begin for as little as $99, a 61 percent discount off the single game price. Other ticket options include two different three-game mini-plans for just $75, the new Huskie Family Pack, which includes four season tickets in sections A, B, F or G of Huskie Stadium for just $299 or the Young Alumni Ticket, with two East Side season tickets for $115 for all 2014-15 NIU graduates. Faculty and staff, senior citizens (62 and over) and NIU Alumni Association members can purchase season tickets for just $115.
To become an NIU season ticket holder or to purchase mini-plans, the Family Pack or single game tickets, go online anytime to NIUHuskies.com/tickets or call 815-753-PACK (7225) Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
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