Sept. 1, 2015
DeKALB, Ill. – Dynamic running back Garrett Wolfe, who set multiple Northern Illinois University and NCAA records en route to All-America honors and other accolades during a spectacular three-year Huskie career, comes in at No. 4 on NIU’s 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), No. 9 split end John Spilis (1966-68), No. 8 offensive tackle Ryan Diem (1997-2000), No. 7 fullback Mark Kellar (1971-73), No. 6 defensive end Larry English and No. 5 quarterback Chandler Harnish. 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.
In just three seasons and 33 games, Wolfe set the NIU records for career rushing yards (5,164) and rushing touchdowns (52), while breaking the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision record for yards per carry with 6.4 per attempt. At the end of his career, his per game average of 156.5 yards per game ranked fourth in NCAA history and his total rushing yards were 11th on the NCAA all-time list and second among three-year players.
Wolfe, a Chicago native and Holy Cross High School product, led the FBS in rushing and all-purpose yards as a senior with marks of 148.3 and 167.5 yards per game, respectively. He set the NCAA record with 1,181 yards in the first five games of the season and finished the year with a MAC record 1,928 yards on the ground.
His postseason bio and awards list rivaled that of any Huskie in school history, and for his head coach, Joe Novak, so did Wolfe’s abilities.
“In my mind, Garrett is one of the best football players I’ve ever been around,” Novak said of the 5-7, 175-pound back. “The game came natural to Garrett. He could run, catch, block. Everything seemed to be so instinctive with him. We gave him the football and things happened. He wasn’t a big guy but he wasn’t afraid to block. He was probably the best football player while I was there.”
Wolfe’s knack for the end zone led him to score 57 career touchdowns, 52 on the ground and five receiving. He opened his senior year versus No. 1 Ohio State by rushing for 171 yards and totaling 285 all-purpose yards and in a historic performance at Ball State, he ran for 353 yards on 31 carries with three touchdowns to average 11.4 yards per carry.
“I will always remember Garrett and what he did down at Ball State that night,” Novak said. “[Then BSU Head Coach] Brady Hoke came up to me after the game and his eyeballs were spinning. Then both at Ohio State and at Michigan [the year before], he showed what he could do running behind a MAC offensive line versus a Big 10 defense. Those two games showed what kind of player he was.”
Wolfe won the Vern Smith Award as MAC MVP and collected third-team All-America honors from the Associated Press and CollegeFootballNews.com. SI.com named him an honorable mention All-American and he was a semifinalist for the Doak Campbell and Maxwell awards. He was a third-round draft choice of the Chicago Bears in the 2007 NFL Draft and played four years for his hometown team from 2007-2010.
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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