NIU Huskies (0-0) at Wyoming Cowboys (0-0)
Laramie, Wyoming | War Memorial Stadium | 29,181
Saturday, September 3, 2016  | 9:30 p.m. (CT) | CBS Sports Network
Radio: AM 560 WIND  |  WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9  | SportsFan 1330  |  TuneIn
 
HUSKIE BITES

• The winningest Division I program in Illinois (all-time) and in the MAC over the last decade, the Huskies have played in a FBS record six straight Mid-American Conference Championship games.   
• NIU extended its MAC record for consecutive bowl games played to eight with its appearance in the 2015 SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl.
• With six championship game and six bowl appearances since 2010, NIU has played 84 games, the most by any team in the nation.
• Rod Carey embarks on his fourth season as NIU head coach with a 31-12 career record that includes the 2013 Orange Bowl; Carey has a school-record three wins over Big Ten teams and a 21-3 record in MAC games. He ranks sixth all-time at NIU in victories.
• NIU will host Toledo in the first football game ever to be played at Gauranteed Rate Field in Chicago on November 9, 2016 in the first Huskie Chi-Town Showdown. The game at the home of Major League Baseball's Chicago White Sox kicks off at 7 p.m. on an ESPN Network.
• The Huskies return 53 letterwinners and 16 starters for 2016 - six on offense, six on defense and four specialists, led by All-American cornerback Shawun Lurry, who led the nation in interceptions as a sophomore in 2015, and Freshman All-American offensive tackle Max Scharping. NIU's top passer, receiver, rusher and returner all return.
• Off the field, NIU owns the top Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in the Mid-American Conference, and one of the top GSR's in the Football Bowl Subdivision with an 86 percent mark. NIU leads the MAC in GSR by 12 percentage points over the second-highest MAC program and is 14 points above the FBS football average. The Huskies rank tied for 11th nationally among FBS programs and are tied for third among public FBS institutions.

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HUSKIE FOOTBALL FACTS
2015 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 8-6/6-2/T1st West
Head Coach: Rod Carey
Record at NIU/Years: 31-12/4th
Career Record/Years: 31-12/4th
Alma Mater/Year: Indiana/1993
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-3
First Year of Football: 1899
All-Time Record: 566-476-51
Consecutive Bowl Appearances:8
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 7, 2015
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 52/15
Starters Returning: 16 (6 off., 6 def., 4 spec.)
Starters Lost: 10 (5 offense, 5 defense, 0 specialist)
 
NIU FACTS
Location: DeKalb, Illinois
Founded: 1895
Enrollment: 21,138
Affiliation: NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision
Conference: Mid-American (West Division)
Colors: Cardinal and Black
Stadium: Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium
    Surface/Capacity: FieldTurf /23,595
President: Dr. Doug Baker
Assoc. VP/Athletic Director: Sean T. Frazier
    Alma Mater, Year: Alabama '92
Ticket Information: 815-753-PACK (7225)
 
NIU 2016 Schedule
 

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COWBOYS' FACTS
2015 Record: 2-10
Mountain West Record/Finish: 2-6/6th Mountain
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Craig Bohl (Nebraska/1982)
Record at Wyoming/Years: 6-18/2
Career Record/Years: 110-50/13
Location:  Laramie, Wyo.
Enrollment: 13,551
Conference: Mountain West
Colors: Brown & Gold
Stadium: War Memorial Stadium
    Surface/Capacity: FieldTurf /29,181
President:  Dr. Laurie Nichols
Athletic Director: Tom Bauman
Athletics Website: www.gowyo.com
Twitter: @wyoathletics
Ticket Information: 307-766-7220
 
WYOMING 2016 SCHEDULE
 
NIU-WYOMING SERIES HISTORY
First Meeting
 

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  FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
 
TV: NIU-Wyoming on CBS Sports Network

• The NIU-Wyoming game is the first of three consecutive Huskie games that will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network (CBSSN).
• Find the CBSSN channel in your area by using the Channel Finder at CBSSportsNetwork.com.
• The announce crew for the Wyoming game is Dwayne Ballen (play-by-play), Adam Archuleta (color analyst) and Cassie McKinney (sidelines).

 
RADIO: Huskie Sports Network

• The Huskie Sports Network broadcast for the Wyoming game begins at 9 p.m. CT, 30 minutes before kickoff.
• The game will be carried on NIU network affiliates WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 (DeKalb), AM 560 The Answer (Chicago) and SportsFan 1130 AM (Rockford). 
• The broadcast can be heard online via NIU All-Access (subscription), and on mobile devices via the TuneIn app. Search for the NIU Huskies channel.
• Bill Baker begins his 37th season as the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Huskies." Color analyst Mark Lindo is in his 31st season, while Andy Garcia begins his fourth season on the sidelines.

 
INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW

• Airs LIVE Mondays from 7-8 p.m. CT with host Bill Baker, football head coach Rod Carey, two Huskie players and other head coaches and administrators each week.
• The hour-long live show can be heard on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb and Sportsfan 1130 AM in Rockford.
• Listen online via NIUTube and on the TuneIn app.
• Fans are invited to attend the show at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy)

 
NIU WEEKLY RADIO SHOW

• Airs Friday nights at 10 p.m. CT in Chicago on AM 560 The Answer and Saturday mornings at 8 a.m. CT on WLBK AM 1360 and FM 98.9 in DeKalb
• Also hear it on NIUTube (subscription).
• The show hosts are NIU football sideline reporter Andy Garcia and NIU Associate Vice-President/Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier.
• The 30-minute show features interviews with football head coach Rod Carey, as well as other NIU head coaches and administrators.

 
NIU All-Access

• See weekly and post-game press conferences, video features, Huskie Olympic sports and special events.
• Hear all NIU live radio broadcasts, including football and basketball games and NIU radio shows.
• Purchase a daily, monthly or annual subsciption.
• Go to www.NIUHuskies.com for rates and information.

 
GETTING SOCIAL

• Twitter: @NIUAthletics, @NIUScores, @NIU_Football
• Facebook: NIU Huskies, NIU Football
• Instagram: niuhuskies, niuhuskiefootball
• YouTube: niuhuskiesdotcom
• See NIU Athletics' social media hub online to see all of the Huskie team and coaching staff accounts.

 

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NIU NEWS & NOTES
 
LID LIFTERS:  As a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program, NIU is 18-29 in season-opening games. The Huskies have won each of their last three season openers. The Cardinal & Black defeated UNLV, 38-30, in the 2015 season opener at Huskie Stadium, opened the 2014 season with a 55-3 win over Presbyterian at home, and knocked off Iowa, 30-27, at Kinnick Stadium in 2013.
 
SERIES HISTORY: This is the first meeting between the Huskies and Wyoming on the gridiron. However, the two schools have met on the volleyball and basketball courts. The NIU volleyball team faced Wyoming Nov. 23, 1985, while the Huskie men's basketball team took on the Cowboys Dec. 27, 1986 in the Wyoming Cowboy Shootout in Casper, Wyoming.
 
DON'T CHANGE THAT CHANNEL: NIU's first three games of the season will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network. NIU's game at South Florida (Sept. 10) and the home opener versus San Diego State (Sept. 17) will also be shown on CBS Sports Network.
 
ROAD WARRIORS: The Huskies own a 22-4 record in true road games since a 31-30 victory at Buffalo on Oct. 22, 2011. Three of those four losses came last season as NIU went 3-3 away from home.
 
ROAD TRIP: After opening the past two seasons at Huskie Stadium, NIU takes to the road for the 2016 season opener. In fact, NIU is on the road for its first two games of the season. The last time the Huskies played their first two games away from home was 2013 when NIU defeated Iowa, 30-27, at Kinnick Stadium in the season opener before traveling to Idaho where the Huskies scored a 45-35 win at the Kibbie Dome.
 
NIU vs. THE MOUNTAIN WEST: The Huskies' loss to Boise State in the 2015 San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl to even their record to 10-10 versus teams that currently comprise the Mountain West Conference. NIU owns winning records against UNLV, Fresno State and San Jose State. In addition to facing Wyoming this season, NIU will play host to San Diego State Sept. 17 in the 2016 home opener. NIU defeated UNLV in the 2015 season opener to improve to 5-0 vs. the Rebels.
 
School                    NIU vs.       Last Meeting
Boise State              0-1             BSU W, 55-7, Dec. 23, 2015
Fresno State            3-2             NIU, W, 40-17, Dec. 18, 2010
Nevada                   1-1             UNR, W, 35-31, Oct. 1, 1994
San Diego State       0-4             SDSU, W, 30-10, Oct. 2, 1971
San Jose State         1-0             NIU, W, 18-17, Sept. 16, 1995
UNLV                      5-0             NIU, W, 38-30, Sept. 5, 2015
Utah State               0-2             USU, W, 21-14, Dec. 26, 2013
 
POWER OF "19": Double numbers are common on college football teams, but rarely do two players star wear the same number. At NIU, that is the case as the duo of All-American cornerback Shawun Lurry and NIU's leading receiver from 2015, Kenny Golladay both wear No. 19. Other than playing on opposite sides of the ball, there is another "big" difference between the two. Golladay stands 6-4, 213, while Lurry has a 5-8 180-pound frame.
 
HUSKIE HIGH FIVE: The Huskies face three opponents from the "Group of 5" in 2016 with games at Wyoming (Mountain West) and South Florida (American) to open the season, followed by a visit from Mountain West champion San Diego State to Huskie Stadium to open the season Sept. 17.
 
PLAYING THE PERCENTAGES: NIU returns 94.9 percent of its 5,579 yards of total offense from 2015. The Huskies bring back 5,295 yards from last season's total, led by Drew Hare's 2,214 yards of total offense. The Huskie quarterback rushed for 252 yards and passed for 1,962 in just nine games last year. Running back Joel Bouagnon tallied 1,285 yards rushing, while quarterback Ryan Graham and tailback Jordan Huff added 795 and 653 yards, respectively.
 
WELCOME BACK: NIU quarterback Drew Hare returns to the field after missing the last five games of the 2015 season following an Achilles injury suffered in the first half of NIU's 32-27 victory at Toledo. Hare threw for 1,962 yards and 14 touchdowns with just four interceptions, completing 164 of 257 passes. He also rushed for 252 yards and one touchdown in nine games in 2015. The O'Fallon, Mo. native is one four Huskie signal callers to win a MAC championship and is looking to become the first to win two in his career.
 
MILLENNIALS: For the first time in school history, NIU returns a 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver from the previous season. Senior tailback Joel Bouagnon rushed for 1,285 yards on 283 carries in 2015. After sitting out the 2014 season after transferring to NIU from North Dakota, redshirt senior Kenny Golladay amassed 1,129 yards receiving on 73 receptions. Both players also had at least 10 touchdowns on the year, with Bouagnon scoring 18 TDs, while Golladay reached the end zone 10 times last season.
 
NIU'S ALL-AMERICAN: In addition to returning a 1,000-yard receiver and a 1,000-yard rusher, NIU also returns an All-American in cornerback Shawun Lurry.  Last season as a sophomore, Lurry led the nation in interceptions with nine and in interception return yards. He earned first team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America, second team accolades by the Walter Camp Foundation and third team honors from the Associated Press.
 
SWEET HOME CHICAGO: The NIU football team returns to Chicago this season when NIU plays host to Mid-American Conference rival Toledo, Nov. 9 at Guaranteed Rate Field. It will be the first college football game played at the home of the Chicago White Sox.

STATE CHAMPS: With a 566-476-51 overall record, NIU boasts a .541 winning percentage which is tops among all seven of Illinois' Division I (FBS and FCS) football programs. At the end of September, NIU will take on the team ranked second on the list, Western Illinois.
 
School                GP        W-L-T            Pct.
NIU                 1,093        566-476-51     .541
W. Illinois         1,041        535-470-36     .531
Illinois             1,211        594-566-51     .512
E. Illinois          1,058        503-513-43     .496
Illinois St.         1,061        477-521-63     .479
S. Illinois            976        439-505-32     .466
Northwestern   1,214        518-652-44     .444
 
DEGREES IN HAND: Five Huskies – Ladell Fleming, Clayton Glasper, Drew Hare, Lincoln Howard and Levon Myers – were among the 58 NIU student-athletes to walk across the stage at graduation and receive their degrees in May. Glasper and Howard earned their degrees in kinesiology, Fleming graduated with a degree in organizational & corporate communications, Hare and Myers earned degrees in leadership and management and marketing, respectively. The five are all in postgraduate studies or grad school this fall.
 
MAKING THE GRADE: The NIU football program continues to be as successful in the classroom as it is on the field. The Huskie football program matched its multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 970, a school record, which it set last year.  The multi-year APR for each NCAA Division I team is based on the past four year' totals for eligibility and retention of each scholarship student-athlete. NIU's 970 ranks above the national average of 964 for Football Subdivision schools and tied for second in the MAC.
 
SENIOR SALUTE: The Huskies' 2016 roster includes 22 seniors, with 19 listed on the depth chart entering the Wyoming game and 12 slated to start. Quarterback Drew Hare headlines the group and plays behind an offensive line featuring Levon Myers, Lincoln Howard and Josh Ruka with reserve guard Ron Brown. Tailback Joel Bouagnon and wide receivers Kenny Golladay, Clayton Glasper, Aregeros Turner, and Anthony Maddie round out the NIU seniors on the offensive side of the ball. Defensive linemen Mario Jones, Corey Thomas and Ladell Fleming, linebackers Jamaal Payton and Sean Folliard, and cornerback Anthony Brooks comprise the Huskie seniors on the defense. Punter Jake Ambrose, kicker Josh Orne and long snapper Bobby Ramlet provide experience on the special teams.
 
ORANGE YOU GLAD YOU CAME TO NIU: The 22-man 2016 NIU senior class, the largest in Rod Carey's tenure as head coach of the Huskies, boasts 15 redshirt seniors. Of those 15 redshirt seniors, 11 made the trip to South Beach for NIU's appearance in the 2013 Orange Bowl. They are the last remaining Huskie class who had the orange Bowl experience.
 
CLIMBING THE CHARTS: NIU has amassed a 65-19 record since 2010. That win total puts NIU in some esteemed company. The Huskies rank tied for sixth in wins over the last six years, behind Alabama (72), Oregon (69), Florida State (68), Ohio State (68) and Stanford (66) . The Huskies are tied with Michigan State, one win ahead of the next most successful "Group of Five" team – Boise State. 
 
SOME STRETCH: No FBS team in the nation has played more football games since 2010 than NIU. With appearances in six straight conference championship games and bowl games, the Huskies have played in 14 football contests in each of the last six seasons for a total of 84 games. Florida State and Alabama have each played in 82 games, while Stanford and Michigan State tallied 81 games played the last six seasons.
 
NEW ADDITIONS: NIU head coach Rod Carey welcomed five new coaches to his staff (see chart on page 3) during the offseason. Three of those five coaches are very familiar to Huskie fans. Kevin Kane, who was with the Huskies from 2011-14, returns to serve as NIU's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Mike Uremovich, the Huskies' running backs coach 2012, comes back to DeKalb as offensive coordinator, assistant head coach and running backs coach. Meanwhile, Melvin Rice, who lettered at NIU from 2005-08, returns to coach his old position group, cornerbacks. Veteran line coach Bob Bostad and longtime successful NAIA mentor Josh Homolka have signed on to coach the NIU tight ends/fullbacks and safeties, respectively.
 
SUNSHINE STATERS: The 2015 Huskie roster includes 13 players from the state of Florida. Freshmen Lance Deveaux, Jr., and Andrew Parchment, and junior college transfer Damarius Brinson, Jr. join 10 returning Florida Huskies – juniors Christian Blake, Renard Cheren, Shawun Lurry, Ezra Saffold, and Albert Smalls, redshirt junior Bobby Jones IV and redshirt freshman Antonio Davis-Jones, Jeffrey Hill and Trequan Smith.   With two of Huskies' last four bowl games taking place in Florida, the 2013 Orange Bowl and 2014 Boca Raton Bowl, NIU football is well-known in the Sunshine State. NIU returns to the Sunshine State Sept. 10 when the Huskies travel to Tampa, Fla. to face South Florida.
 
Christian Blake                 Jr.        WR         Ft. Lauderdale (Cardinal Gibbons)
Damarius Brinson, Jr.      Jr.-R       CB                  St. Petersburg (Boca Ciega)
Renard Cheren                 Jr.         LB                        Lake Worth (Park Vista)
Antonio Jones-Davis       Fr.-R       LB                      Vero Beach (Vero Beach)
Lance Deveaux, Jr.        Fr.         LB   Pompano Beach (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Bobby Jones IV           Jr.-R       LB         Miami Gardens (Monsignor Pace)
Shawun Lurry               Jr.         CB              West Palm Beach (W.T. Dwyer)
Alton Meeks               Jr.-R       DE                            Orlando (Dr. Phillips)
Andrew Parchment       Fr.        WR              Fort Lauderdale (Cypress Bay)
Ezra Saffold                 Jr.        WR                   Riviera Beach (W.T. Dwyer)
Albert Smalls                Jr.         CB                   Miramar (Monsignor Pace)
Trequan Smith            Fr.-R        S              Boynton Beach (Boynton Beach)
Jeffrey Hill                   So.        CB                                  Miami (Miramar)
 
GIVING BACK: Senior linebacker Sean Folliard is one of seven players from the Mid-American Conference named as a nominee for the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. Established in 1992 by the American Football Coaches Association, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® recognizes a select group of college football players who have made a commitment to service and enriching the lives of others. There are 165 nominees for the 25th anniversary of the award, which selects 22 players, 11 from the Football Bowl Subdivision.
 
MAC PRESEASON MEDIA/COACHES POLL: The six-time defending Mid-American Conference West Division champion NIU Huskies, who won three of the last five conference titles and made six consecutive trips to the MAC Championship game as MAC West Division Champions, were picked to finish in third place in the division in 2016 by the MAC Media Association, while the league coaches selected NIU to finish second. Both the MAC Media Association and MAC Coaches picked Western Michigan and Bowling Green to win the MAC West and East divisions, respectively. It is the third year in a row the MAC Media Poll has not picked the defending MAC West champions to win its division.