Sept. 4, 2015

DeKALB, Ill. -- Jordan Lynch, a history-making, dual-threat quarterback who led the Northern Illinois University Huskies to a historic appearance in the Orange Bowl as a junior and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting as a senior, has earned the top spot on NIU's list of Huskie Stadium's 50 Greatest Players.

Over the last 10 weeks, NIU has introduced the Top 50 players in stadium history as part of its celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Huskie Stadium, culminating with a Top 10 Countdown over the last two weeks. Huskie Stadium's 50 Greatest Players has been presented by Compass Mortgage.

After the first 40 players were introduced in random order beginning June 29, 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, tailback Garrett Wolfe checked in at No. 4, just behind tailback Michael Turner at No. 3. Consensus All-American tailback LeShon Johnson was announced Thursday as the No. 2 player on the list.

See the entire list Top 50 list, with biographies, here. The Huskies 50th Anniversary of Huskie Stadium will be celebrated throughout the 2015 season with special ticket pricing, 1965 Throwback Uniforms for the first game, a reunion of the 1965 team and more.

A Chicago native from Mt. Carmel High School, Lynch led NIU to a 24-4 record with three wins over Bowl Championship Series (BCS) teams, as the Huskies spent 15 weeks in the national rankings during his tenure as a starter. A threat as both a passer and a rusher, Lynch set five NCAA and 25 NIU career, single season and single game records from 2010-2013 and ranks in the Top 10 in 24 career categories. He accounted for 100 total touchdowns (51 passing, 48 rushing, one receiving) and averaged 7.1 yards every time he touched the ball.

A finalist for the 2013 Heisman Trophy, Lynch's third-place finish ranks as the best ever by a Mid-American Conference player. He received 558 votes and was first on 40 ballots. Lynch was also a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, the AT&T All-America Player of the Year, the Senior CLASS Award and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He earned first-team All-America accolades from the Associated Press, Phil Steele, and Lindy's and was named to the second team units by CBSSports.com and USA Today. He won back-to-back Vern Smith Leadership and MAC Offensive Player of the Years honors. Lynch was a second-team AP All-American as a junior and garnered All-America honors from Phil Steele, CBSSports.com and SI.com as well.

Lynch had 12 career games with at least 100 rushing and 200 passing yards and 22 100-yard rushing games. In two seasons as a starter, he accounted for 348.8 yards of total offense per game with averages of 133.4 rushing and 215.4 passing yards. He is the first player in FBS history to rush for 1,500 and pass for 2,500 yards in a season. Lynch ran for 300 yards or more twice, and in 2012 ran for 100 yards in 12 of the Huskies' 14 games.

Perhaps more impressively, Lynch never lost a game at Huskie Stadium (11-0) or a road game (12-0) as a starter.

"The first thing about Jordan is, as good a football player as he is, he's a better person," said NIU Head Coach Rod Carey, who was Lynch's head coach in 2013 and the Huskies' offensive coordinator in 2012. "When you have those two things together, you have greatness. There's no doubt in my mind, he's the best football player I've ever coached. His determination, how he would play as hard as he could and get up, not talk and line up for the next play, set him apart. As a quarterback, his ability to throw the ball -- which was completely under-rated -- and then you could run `QB power' 30 times and he'd still be able to throw the exact same ball."

Carey struggled to single out just one or two of his favorite Lynch moments, but finally identified two.

"I'll give you two that typified [Jordan] and how he played. First, the Ball State game in 2013. You knew from pregame warm-ups that this [one] was different and there was no doubt. The second was after his first [career] start versus Iowa at Soldier Field, when he threw for about 50 yards and ran for 115 [in a Huskie loss], I never saw a man so mad the next week in practice. The whole next week, he was mad."

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.

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 are being 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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