Sept. 2, 2015

DeKALB, Ill. – Tailback Michael Turner, whose combination of power and speed made him one of the most dangerous runners in college football from 2000-03, ranks third 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 began with 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) and No. 6 defensive end Larry English in its first week. Quarterback Chandler Harnish earned the No. 5 spot, and tailback Garrett Wolfe checked in at No. 4 earlier this week. 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 big, physical runner listed at 6-0 and 228 pounds, Turner set the NIU single season and career rushing records while leading the Huskies to some of the greatest victories in school history between 2000 and 2003. The title “workhorse” only begins to describe Turner’s efforts in both 2002 and 2003 when he carried the ball – and the Huskie offense.

Named to four All-America teams following his junior season when he rushed for 1,915 yards on a school-record 338 carries, Turner turned around the next season and gained 1,648 yards on 310 totes. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry and 110 yards per game over his 45-game career. As a senior, “Turner the Burner” was named to five All-America teams, including the second team units by the Associated Press, the Sporting News and CNNSI.com. A promotional website, TurnertheBurner.com, can still be seen online today.

“Michael was a physical force and not only that, he was a lot faster than people gave him credit for,” said Novak, Turner’s head coach at NIU. “He was deceiving he was so thick, it didn’t look like he was moving as fast as he was. He was a physical, hard guy to tackle. For a kid as physical as he was, he doled out a lot of punishment, but he took a lot too. I don’t remember him ever missing playing time. His first year, he was a back-up, but he still rushed for 900-some yards.”

The North Chicago native out of North Chicago High School set a NIU school record with 21 100-yard games and had seven 200-yard days. Two of those came at the end of his freshman season of 2000 when he gained 230 yards on 31 carries versus Eastern Michigan and followed it up with a 281-yard rushing game on a school-record 52 carries versus Central Michigan. He ran for 200 yards or more six times in 2002 and had nine 100-yard games in both 2002 and 2003.

Turner, who will be inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame later this year (October 9), led the Huskies’ charge during a historic 2003 campaign that saw the Huskies collect September wins over Maryland, Iowa State and Alabama and reach a ranking as high as No. 10 in the country.

Novak’s favorite memories of Turner begin with two games.

“My favorite games of Michael’s starts at Alabama [in 2003],” Novak said. “Going in, we didn’t know if we could run the ball or not, we weren’t sure what we could do and he went for over 150 yards [156 yards on 27 carries]. The other is in 2002 against Miami (Ohio) when we beat [Ben] Roethlisberger’s team. We were losing 24-7 with about four minutes in the third [quarter] and Michael and Danny Sheldon took over the last quarter and a half and led us to the win.”

Turner went on to an All-Pro career in the National Football League, spending nine years with the San Diego Chargers (2004-07) and Atlanta Falcons (2008-12). He gained 7,338 yards and scored 66 touchdowns on 1,639 carries in 134 games while adding 70 catches for 528 yards. He finished second in the MVP voting in 2008 after gaining 1,699 yards on 376 carries for the Falcons.

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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