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  DOG TREATS  

• The NIU Huskies open their 122nd season of college football - and 55th as a Football Bowl Subdivision program - on Saturday, Sept. 2 when they take on Boston College in the fourth meeting all-time between the teams. 
• The Huskies were ranked third in the West Division in the Mid-American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. See the complete poll on page 2.
• Huskie alum and 2022 NIU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Thomas Hammock begins his fifth season at the helm of the NIU program in 2023. He guided the Huskies to the 2021 MAC Championship following a winless, six-game COVID-19 campaign in 2020. 
• Among the eight returning starters on offense for NIU in 2023 are Rocky Lombardi (QB) and Trayvon Rudolph (WR). Rudolph, a 2021 all-MAC selection as a receiver and kickoff returner who ranked second in the country in combined kick return yards and 10th in all-purpose yards per game, suffered a season-ending injury during preseason camp last year. Lombardi was injured in the third game of the 2022 season and returned to play limited plays before missing the rest of the year. 
• The Huskies' 2023 roster includes players from 18 different states from coast to coast, as well as Canada, represented. Among the newcomers on the roster are players from California, Oregon and Texas. Georgia has outpaced Florida with 12 Peach state natives compared to five from the Sunshine State.
• The Huskies return six starters off the 2022 offensive line that ranked 10th in the country in fewest sacks allowed with just 12 sacks surrendered in 12 games. 
• The defensive line trio of James Ester (Detroit, Mich.), Ray Thomas (Milwaukee, Wis.) and Devonte O'Malley (Midlothian, Ill.) have 100 combined games of experience with 78 starts between them. They accounted for 22 tackles for loss a year ago.
• Since 2010, NIU is the winningest football program among the state of Illinois' seven Division I - 3 FBS -  football programs with a 103-64 record for a .617 winning percentage. 
• Over the last 15 years - since 2008 - every freshman class has left NIU with at least one MAC Championship ring. The Huskies' five MAC Championship game victories are more than any other current league member and NIU has made a record nine appearances in the game,  
• Following Saturday's season opener, NIU returns home to take on in-state foe Southern Illinois at Huskie Stadium on Sept. 9.

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  NIU FOOTBALL FACTS 

Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-2-5
First Year of Football: 1899
2022 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 3-9/2-6/6th
All-Time Record: 604-521-51
Last Bowl Game: 2021 Tailgreeter Cure Bowl (Coastal Carolina 47, NIU 41)
Bowl Appearances (FBS): 14
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 9, 2021
MAC Championships, Last: 6, 2021
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 49/27
Starters Returning: 17 (8 offense, 7 defense, 2 specialist)
Starters Lost: 11 (4 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist)
 

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  EAGLES' FACTS 

Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Jeff Hafley (Siena, 2001)
Record at Boston College/Years: 15-20/4th
Career Record/Years: Same
2022 Record: 3-9
Conference Record/Finish:  2-6/7th-Atlantic
Location: Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Enrollment: 14,513
Conference: Atlantic Coast
Colors: Maroon and Gold 
Stadium: Alumni Stadium
Surface/Capacity: AstroTurf/44,500
Chancellor: Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J.
Athletic Director: Blake James
Athletics Website: BCEagles.com
Twitter: @BCFootball

Boston College 2023 Schedule
 

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  NIU-BC SERIES 

Overall: Boston College leads 3-0
In DeKalb: Boston College leads 1-0
In Chestnut Hill: Boston College leads 2-0
Streak: Boston College, 3
First Meeting: at Boston College 20, NIU 10 (11/13/71)
Last Meeting: Boston College 23, at NIU 20 (9/1/17)
 

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  FOLLOW THE HUSKIES 

TV: NIU-BOSTON COLLEGE ON ACC NETWORK

• The NIU-Boston College game will air live on ACC Network (ACCN), available on cable and streaming systems across the country.
• ACCN can be streamed live online in the ESPN App with access through your TV provider.
• Chris Cotter (play-by-play) and Mark Herzlich (analyst) will be on the call for ACCN Saturday with sideline reporter Ashleigh Stroehlein.

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK

• The Huskie Sports Radio Network coverage for the Boston College game begins 90 minutes before kickoff, at 9:30 a.m. (CT), on 94-9 WDKB with the Toyota Pre-Game Tailgate Show.
• Coverage on NIU network affiliate SportsFan AM 1330 and on The Varsity Network app begins 30 minutes before the game, at 10:30 am (CT).
• Hear the broadcast on mobile devices via the free NIU Huskies mobile app or The Varsity Network app. 
• Bill Baker begins his 44th and final season (see note) as the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Huskies." Color analyst Mark Lindo is alongside for the the 39th consecutive season, while Andy Garcia begins his 11th year on the sidelines. 

INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW

• Fans are invited to attend the one-hour weekly show every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy).
• Listen live on the NIU Huskies or The Varsity Network mobile app and hear the show live on 94-9 WDKB and on SportsFan AM 1330 in Rockford.
• Host Andy Garcia welcomes NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock each week, along with Huskie players and special guests. 

NIU WEEKLY ON YOUTUBE

• Host Andy Garcia talks NIU football, basketball and more with the Huskie head coaches and administrators, including a weekly visit during football season from head coach Thomas Hammock. Get all the latest news and updates in this fast-paced 30 minute show.
• Also, hear from Huskie legend Bill Baker in each episode with a special "Looking Back with Bill Baker" segment.  
• Watch new episodes on the NIU Athletics YouTube Channel on Thursdays. 

NIU HUSKIES MOBILE APP

• Download the free NIU Huskies mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play.
• Link to the NIU radio broadcasts, live stats, complete team rosters, digital game programs and more.
• Connect to the NIU social media channels and sign up for notifications on any Huskie team.

NIU ATHLETICS ON YOUTUBE

• See weekly and post-game press conferences, special features, game highlights, NIU Weekly and more.
• Subscribe for FREE and click the bell to be notified every time NIU posts a new video.
• Search "NIU Athletics" on YouTube or go to YouTube.com/NIUAthleticsOfficial. 
• Archived videos and highlights, replays of some of the greatest games in school history and special features are also available 24/7 on YouTube.  

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  NOTING NIU 

KICKING OFF: The Northern Illinois University Huskies open their 122nd season of intercollegiate football, and 55th as a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly "Major College") team in 2023. NIU opens the season on the road versus an ACC opponent for the second time in the last three years.

AGAINST THE ACC: The Huskies are 3-8 all-time versus teams who were members of the Atlantic Coast Conference at the time the game was played. NIU last played an ACC opponent in the 2021 season opener, a 22-21 win over Georgia Tech in Atlanta. NIU's ACC wins came versus Wake Forest, 42-41, in Huskie Stadium in 2002 and over 15th-ranked Maryland, 20-13, in overtime in 2003 at home. NIU is 1-1 against Wake Forest, 0-2 against both Boston College and FSU and lost its only meetings with N.C. State and Duke. NIU's most recent clash versus an ACC opponent was on Sept. 22, 2018 at Florida State. 

LID LIFTERS: NIU is 21-33 in season-opening games as a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program and is 3-1 in lid-lifters under Thomas Hammock. NIU defeated Georgia Tech, 22-21, in Atlanta in 2021,  won Hammock's debut as head coach to open the 2019 campaign and defeated Eastern Illinois, 34-27, a year ago.

FILLING THE BONEYARD: With a 22-21 win over Georgia Tech in the 2021 season-opener, NIU claimed its 17th "Boneyard Win," which are ?wins over prominent opponents and teams from leagues now designated?as "Power 5." The Boneyard tradition began in 1983 and NIU has collected nine Boneyard Wins in the last 13 years. The Huskies have Boneyard Wins over teams from the ACC (3), SEC (1), Big 12 (5) and Big Ten (7), as well as over independent BYU. 

THE LAST TIME: Boston College kicker Colton Lichtenburg made a 37-yard field goal with 2:13 to play and NIU's last second 39-yard field goal attempt hit the cross bar as the Eagles earned a 23-20 win over the Huskies on Sept. 1, 2017 in Huskie Stadium. Boston College led 13-10 at halftime and took a 20-10 lead midway through the third quarter before NIU came back to tie the game on a seven-yard touchdown pass from starting quarterback Ryan Graham to Shane Wimann, and a 21-yard field goal by Christian Hagan. Graham gained 99 rushing yards and threw for 190, and the Huskies held BC to 148 rushing yards.

LEADERS OF THE PACK: Five players were named 2023 permanent team captains this week. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi, offensive tackle Nolan Potter, safety C.J. Brown, linebacker Jaden Dolphin and defensive tackle James Ester were chosen in voting by the Huskie team. Lombardi and Ester were named captains for the third consecutive season, while Potter is in his second year in the role. They will be joined by a different teammate selected each game.

WATCH-LISTED: Five Huskies were named to a preseason watch list in August. Running back Antario Brown earned a spot on the Doak Walker Award Watch List for the second consecutive year. Wide receiver and return man Trayvon Rudolph collected recognition on the Paul Hornung Award list, while defensive tackle Devonte O'Malley and offensive tackle Nolan Potter were named to the Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophy Watch Lists, respectively. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi earned a spot on the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List. 

LAND OF LINCOLN LEADERS: Since 2010, NIU is the winningest football program among the state of Illinois' seven Division I football programs. The Huskies are 1-1 versus their fellow in-state FBS programs with a 2014 win over Northwestern and a 2010 loss at Illinois, and are 4-1 versus in-state FCS opponents over the last 12 seasons, including wins over Illinois State (2019) and Eastern Illinois (2022) under Thomas Hammock. 

Illinois' Division I Schools Since 2010

Team	W	L	Pct.
NIU	103	64	.617
Illinois State	89	60	.597
Northwestern	83	78	.515
Southern Illinois	67	80	.456
Illinois	61	96	.388
Eastern Illinois	55	89	.382
Western Illinois	52	94	.356

NEW FACES: Four members of the coaching staff will be making their debuts on the Huskie sideline at Boston College. Cornerbacks coach D.J. Bland, tight ends coach Cory White, linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Adam Breske, and running backs coach and passing game coordinator Wesley Beschorner are the newest members of the NIU staff. Bland joined the Huskies from Eastern Illinois, White was at San Diego and Breske came from Washington State. Beschorner was the head coach at Wisconsin-Eau Claire for the last three seasons.

GRADS: NIU's 2023 roster includes 16 players who have already earned their undergraduate degrees - either at NIU or from another institution. James Ester (DT), Tom Foley (P), J.J. Lippe (OL), Nolan Potter (OT), Kacper Rutkiewicz (WR), Demond Taylor Jr. (DT) and Tristen Tewes (TE) are all Huskie graduates while transfers Gabe Amegatcher (CB), Keshon Artis (LB), Chris Carter (TE), Kendrell Flowers (RB), DaRon Gilbert (LB), Tyler Jackson (LB), C.J. Jordan (QB), Rocky Lombardi (QB) and Davis Patterson (WR) all arrived at NIU with their degrees. 

BACK IN ACTION: A pair of impact players returned to the Huskie offense during the 2023 preseason camp. Wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph, who missed the 2022 season after sustaining a season-ending injury during training camp, caught a team-leading 51 passes for 892 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021. He also led the Huskies in all-purpose yards with 1,462. Lombardi led NIU to the 2021 MAC Championship while throwing for 2,597 yards on 200-of-343 passing with 15 touchdowns and rushing for 473 yards and nine touchdowns. He played in just four games in 2022 and was granted a seventh season via a medical redshirt. 

HUSKIE LEGEND: The 2023 season marks the 44th and final year behind the mic for the "Voice of the Huskies," legendary play-by-play man Bill Baker. Baker will call his 508th football game at Boston College, and has missed just one football game since calling his initial game between the Huskies and Long Beach State in Anaheim, Calif. on Sept. 5, 1980. He also has called more than 1,200 NIU basketball games – including several years when he called both men's and women's games. Baker, who ranks tied for sixth in longevity for FBS play-by-play voices, will be honored during halftime of the Huskies' 2023 home opener versus Southern Illinois on Sept. 9.
 
THE POWER OF THREE: Over the years, good things have happened for NIU Football in years that have ended in the number "3". 

• The 1963 Huskies finished 10-0, won the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship and were voted College Division National Champions by the Associated Press.
• In 1983, NIU won its first Mid-American Conference Championship and finished the season with a 10-2 record after winning its first bowl game as a "Major College" (now FBS) program.
• In 1993, running back LeShon Johnson led the NCAA Division I-A in rushing with 1,976 yards on 327 carries with 2,028 all-purpose yards to become the first consensus All-American in school history; Johnson finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting.  
• The 2003 Huskies defeated No. 15 Maryland (20-13 OT), No. 21 Alabama (19-16) and Iowa State (24-16) to open the season and were ranked as high as No. 12 in the country (AP) behind eventual All-Pro running back Michael Turner. 
• Quarterback and Heisman finalist Jordan Lynch finished third in voting for the Trophy in 2013. He earned AP All-America honors after leading NIU to an undefeated regular season, setting NCAA quarterback records for rushing (1,920) and touchdowns (23).

PAVING THE WAY: NIU returns six offensive linemen who started at least seven games a year ago and the group boasts 118 career starts which ranks first among all FBS starting offensive lines. Junior Logan Zschernitz leads all Huskies with 32 career starts, followed closely by sixth-year senior offensive tackle Nolan Potter. Junior utility man J.J. Lippe, who started games at guard, tackle and center a year ago, has 21 career starts while junior John Champe has started 15 games. The "youngster" of the group is sophomore center Pete Nygra who started 11 games a year ago. Junior Evan Buss stepped into the left tackle spot and started nine games there in 2022. The most experienced starting units in the FBS heading into 2023:   

Starts on Offensive Line by 2022 Returning Starters
    1.    NIU    118
    2.    Kansas State    116
    3.    West Virginia    111
    4.    Clemson    95
        Duke    95

OFF THE FIELD: Huskie kicker Kanon Woodill is a member of the ROTC program at NIU. Over the summer, the Huskies once again participated in a Habitat for Humanity build in Rockford, Illinois, the second year in a row the team has collectively participated.