Donna Turner, Associate Athletic Director donnaturner@niu.edu Primary Contact...815-753-9513 (O); 815-793-5474 (C) 2015 SCHEDULE Day, Date Opponent (TV) Time (CT) Sat.., Sept. 5 UNLV (CBSSN) W, 38-30 Sat., Sept. 12 MURRAY STATE (ESPN3) W, 57-26 Sat., Sept. 19 at Ohio State (ABC) 2:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 26 at Boston College (ESPN3) 12 p.m. Sat., Oct. 3 at C. Michigan * 2 p.m. Sat., Oct. 10 BALL STATE* TBA Sat., Oct. 17 at Miami (Ohio)* 1:30 p.m. Sat., Oct. 24 E. MICHIGAN * 2:30 p.m. Tues., Nov. 3 at Toledo (ESPN2)* 7 p.m. Weds., Nov. 11 at Buffalo (ESPNU/ ESPN3)* 7 p.m. Weds., Nov. 18 W. MICHIGAN (ESPN2/ ESPNU)* 7 p.m. Tues., Nov. 24 OHIO (ESPNU/ ESPN3)* 6:30 p.m. Fri., Dec. 4 MAC Championship (ESPN2) 7 p.m. Detroit, Mich. *Mid-American Conference Game; All Times Central. HUSKIE FOOTBALL FACTS 2014 Record/MAC Record/Finish... 11-3/7-1/1st West Head Coach...Rod Carey Record at NIU/Years...25-6/3rd Career Record/Years...25-6/3rd Alma Mater/Year...Indiana/1993 Basic Offense/Defense...Multiple/4-3 First Year of Football... 1899 All-Time Record...560-470-51 Consecutive Bowl Appearances...7 Last Bowl Game...2014 Boca Raton Bowl...Marshall 52, NIU 23 MAC Championship Appearances, Last... 6, 2014 Last Championship Game... NIU 51, Bowling Green 17 Letterwinners Returning/Lost...49/19 Starters Returning... 15 (7 offense, 7 defense, 1 specialist) Starters Lost... 12 (6 offense, 4 defense, 2 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. Douglas D. Baker Assoc. VP/Athletic Director...Sean T. Frazier Alma Mater, Year... Alabama 92 Ticket Information... 815-753-PACK (7225) NIU Athletics Communications HUSKIE BITES Joe Summins, Associate Director Ath. Comm. jsummins@niu.edu Secondary Contact...815-753-9539 (O); 630-965-5213 (C) GAME 3 Saturday, September 19, 2015-2:30 PM CT - TV: ABC/ESPN2 Radio: AM 560 The Answer; WLBK 1360 AM, 98.9 FM DeKalb; TuneIn NIU Huskies (2-0) Head Coach: Rod Carey (25-6, Third Season) VS No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0) Head Coach: Urban Meyer (144-26, 14th Season) Columbus, Ohio Ohio Stadium: (104,944) The Northern Illinois University Huskies (2-0) face the nation s No. 1 team, the Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0), Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Ohio Stadium in a game that will be seen on ABC in the markets of the two teams and on ESPN2 through the rest of the country. NIU has taken on the top-ranked team twice before in its FBS history. NIU dropped a 35-12 decision at Ohio State in the 2006 season opener and lost to Miami (Fla.), 34-0, on Oct. 4, 1986. In the only previous meeting between the teams, the Huskies Garrett Wolfe ran for 171 yards on 26 carries and caught five passes for 114 yards and a score, and quarterback Phil Horvath completed 15-of-26 passes for 185 yards, but NIU was no match for the Troy Smith/Ted Ginnled Buckeyes, who took a 21-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back. NIU Head Coach Rod Carey is 25-6 since taking over prior to the Huskies 2013 Orange Bowl game, and has a 3-0 record as a head coach versus teams from the Big Ten Conference. NIU has played in 71 games since the start of the 2010 season, the most by any team in the nation. The Huskies and Oregon are the only two teams in the country to win 11 or more games in each of the last five seasons. NIU is the winningest Division I program in Illinois all-time. The Huskies have won three Mid-American Conference championships and are the only FBS team in the country to have played in five straight league championship games since 2010. Drew Hare became the first Huskie quarterback to throw for 300-ormore yards in back-to-back games since NIU became an FBS program in 1969 with 360 and 358-yard efforts versus UNLV and Murray State. North Dakota transfer Kenny Golladay has quickly become Hare s favorite target with 17 catches for 357 yards and two scores, including a nine-catch, 213-yard day versus UNLV to earn MAC Player of the Week honors, and five catches of 25 yards or more. 1983, 2011, 2012 & 2014 MAC Champions Seven Consecutive Bowl Appearances 1
NIU FOOTBALL 2015 COVERING THE HUSKIES ROD CAREY ON THE MAC COACHES TELECONFERENCE Mondays from 8:46-8:54 a.m. (Central). Sept. 14, 21, 28; Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26; Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23 Replay available Monday pm on www.mac-sports.com. For complete schedule and media call-in #, contact NIU. NIU WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE Tuesdays from 12:15-1 p.m. (CT) for Saturday games. Head Coach Rod Carey and 3-4 Huskies players. McCareins Auditorium, Yordon Center, DeKalb. Quotes, video available Tuesday pm on NIUHuskies.com For call-in #, contact NIU. NIU PLAYER & COACH AVAILABILITY Huskie players are available for interviews thru Wednesday s practice (Saturday games). NIU will not practice on Mondays and player availability is limited on that day. Please provide 24-hour advance notice for phone requests. Contact Donna Turner (for coaches) or Joe Summins (for players) to arrange interviews (contact info below). PRACTICE COVERAGE NIU practices, held at Huskie Stadium or the Chessick Practice Center, are open to the media. Confirm times with the Athletics Communications Office Media are asked to remain in the end zone. Video shooting times may be limited. INFORMATION CENTER, VIDEO & PHOTO REQUESTS To be added to the NIU Athletics Communications e-mail distribution list (media only), contact Donna Turner. Contact Joe Summins to request photos and/or video and for player interviews. Action shots from every Huskie football game are available for use by media; contact NIU for the URL. Media can find information on all MAC teams, including releases, depth charts, league stats, photos and more, online at CollegePressBox.com. Accredited media should contact the NIU or MAC Office to obtain login information. NIU ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS Donna Turner, Associate Athletic Director... (FB Primary Contact)...donnaturner@niu.edu...815-753-9513 (o); 815-793-5474 (c) Joe Summins, Assoc. Athletics Communications Director... (FB Secondary)... jsummins@niu.edu...815-753-9539 (o); 630-965-5213 (c) Matt Scheerer, Asst. Athletics Communications Director... mscheerer@niu.edu...815-753-1708; 360-931-1132 Jeremy Reid, Asst. Athletics Communications Director... jreid1@niu.edu...815-753-3706; 716-867-1908 RJ Sepich, Graduate Assistant... rsepich@niu.edu... 815-753-9572 CLIMBING THE CHARTS: NIU s 59 wins since the beginning of the 2010 season rank the Huskies fourth among all FBS teams behind Oregon (61), Alabama (60) and Florida State (60). NIU has amassed a 59-13 record since 2010 for a winning percentage of.819. THE LAST TIME WE MET: Garrett Wolfe rushed for 171 yards on 26 carries, and tallied 114 receiving yards in NIU s 35-12 setback to the topranked Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in the 2006 season opener. NIU s Phil Horvath threw for 185 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-26 passing. WINS SINCE 2010 Oregon... 61 Alabama... 60 Florida State... 60 NIU...59 Ohio State*... 57 Boise State... 56 Michigan State... 56 Stanford... 55 LSU... 53 Oklahoma... 53 *12 2010 wins vacated by NCAA Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns with Ted Ginn, Jr. tallying 123 yards and two touchdowns on four receptions. SERIES HISTORY: Ohio State won the only other game played between the two schools when the Buckeyes posted a 35-12 victory over NIU in Columbus on Sept. 2, 2006. Ohio State was ranked No. 1 in that meeting as well, which came in the 2006 season opener. NIU AND NO. 1: This is the third time in NIU history the Huskies will face a No. 1 team. In addition to facing Ohio State in the 2006 opener, the Huskies traveled to Miami on Oct. 4, 1986 to take on the No. 1 Hurricanes. NIU lost that game, 34-0. NIU vs. THE AP TOP 25: The Huskies are 5-28 all-time against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. The last time NIU faced a ranked opponent was in the 2013 Orange Bowl when the then 16th-ranked Huskies fell to No. 13 Florida State, 31-10. The last victory for NIU over a ranked team was in the 2012 MAC Championship game when the Huskies, who were ranked 19th at the time, defeated No. 18 Kent State, 44-37, in overtime. NIU s last regular season road win over a ranked opponent came in 2003 when the Huskies knocked off then-no. 21 Alabama, 21-16. NIU vs. THE BIG TEN: The Huskies have enjoyed a nice run of success versus Big Ten foes of late. NIU has won five of its last eight games against Big Ten opponents since a 28-21 win at Purdue on Sept. 19, 2009. Last year, the Huskies won their third-straight game versus a B1G team, defeating Northwestern, 23-15, to improve to 7-36-1 all-time versus teams that currently make up the Big Ten Conference. In 2013, NIU became the first MAC school to defeat two Big Ten teams in one season when the Huskies defeated Iowa and Purdue. NIU knocked off the Hawkeyes, 30-27, in the 2013 season opener at Iowa and posted a 55-24 win over Purdue (Sept. 28, 2013) in West Lafayette, Ind. All the Huskies wins have come on the road. Date Score Site W/L Sept. 2, 2006 No. 1 Ohio St. 35, NIU 12 Columbus, Ohio L Sept. 1, 2007 Iowa 16, NIU 3 Chicago, Ill. L Aug. 30, 2008 Minnesota 31, NIU 27 Minneapolis, Minn. L Sept. 5, 2009 Wisconsin 28, NIU 20 Madison, Wis. L Sept. 19, 2009 NIU 28, Purdue 21 West Lafayette, Ind. W Sept. 18, 2010 NIU 22, Illinois 28 Champaign, Ill. L Sept. 26, 2010 NIU 34, Minnesota 23 Minneapolis, Minn. W Sept. 17, 2011 No. 7 Wisconsin 49, NIU 7 Chicago, Ill. L Sept. 1, 2012 Iowa 18, NIU 17 Chicago, Ill. L Aug. 31, 2013 NIU 30, Iowa 27 Iowa City, Iowa W Sept. 28, 2013 NIU 55, Purdue 24 West Lafayette, Ind. W Sept. 6, 2014 NIU 23, Northwestern 15 Evanston, Ill. W CHASING PERFECTION: NIU head coach Rod Carey is the only coach in the Mid- American Conference who is undefeated against teams from the Big Ten Conference. The Indiana University product led the Huskies to victories over Iowa (8/31) and Purdue (9/28) in 2013 as NIU became the first MAC school to defeat two Big Ten teams in a single season. Last year, NIU added a 23-15 win at Northwestern (9/6). NIU Huskies @NIUAthletics niuhuskies niuhuskiesdotcom (notes continued on page 4) 2 www.niuhuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies
NIU FOOTBALL 2015 NIU Head Coach Rod Carey Now in his third season as the head football coach at Northern Illinois University, Rod Carey has already made his mark on NIU. Since being promoted to head coach on December 2, 2012, just minutes before NIU learned that the team had earned a historic bid to the 2013 Orange Bowl, Carey has proven himself worthy of his promotion. His NIU teams are 25-6, giving the Wisconsin native more wins as a MAC head coach than the likes of Urban Meyer (Bowling Green), Gary Pinkel (Toledo), Jerry Kill (NIU) or Brian Kelly (Central Michigan) compiled in their first two years in the league. He entered this season tied for eighth on NIU s all-time coaching wins list, and now needs just one victory to surpass Bill Mallory and Jerry Ippoliti for sixth place. In 2013, his first year as head coach, Carey led NIU to an undefeated regular season that included two wins over Big Ten Conference teams a 30-27 lastminute win over Iowa in the season opener and a 55-24 blowout victory at Purdue. Last season, the Huskies recorded a win over Northwestern, and won NIU s fifth consecutive MAC Division title and the school s fourth MAC championship. Carey became the third NIU mentor to be named the MAC Coach of the Year, following in the footsteps of greats Mallory (1983) and Joe Novak (2002), and was a semifinalist for the Maxwell Football Club Coach of the Year Award. He is the first league coach to win two games over Big Ten Conference opponents in one season and has a school-record three Big Ten wins. Carey ascended to head coach rapidly during his tenure at NIU. He served as offensive line coach his first year in DeKalb. In his second season, Carey had to build an offensive line from scratch in 2012, before taking over offensive coordinator duties after the 2012 season opener. The Huskies went on to win their next 12 games. Prolific offensive production, leading to four consecutive 11-plus win seasons, has been a hallmark of Carey s five seasons in DeKalb. In his first season at NIU, he coached a pair of All-American offensive lineman as center Scott Wedige and left tackle Trevor Olson were named All-Americans. Tommylee Lewis joined Jimmie Ward and Jordan Lynch, earning All-America honors in 2013, while Lynch s historic career was capped by a third-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting. Carey joined the Huskies in 2011 after three seasons coaching the offensive line at the University of North Dakota. Prior to going to North Dakota, Carey spent the 2007 season as the offensive line coach at Illinois State. From 2000-06, Carey served on the coaching staff at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where he was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. In all, Carey coached 26 allconference selections and seven All-Americans during his time at UW-Stout. Carey began his collegiate coaching career at the University of Minnesota (1998-99) where he helped the Gophers to their first bowl game in over a decade with a trip to the 1999 Sun Bowl. Prior to UM, he spent four seasons in the high school ranks at his alma mater, Wayzata (Minn.) High School, from 1994-97. A three-year starter at center for Indiana during his collegiate playing days, Carey served as a team captain and won IU s Corby Davis Outstanding Offensive Player Award as a senior. He earned his bachelor s degree from Indiana in 1994. Carey and his wife Tonya have two children, daughter Kennedi (11) and son Charlie (8). 2015 HUSKIE COACHING STAFF Offensive Coord./Quarterbacks...Bob Cole... Coaches Booth Defensive Coord./Safeties... Jay Niemann... Coaches Booth Offensive Line... Joe Tripodi... Coaches Booth Defensive Line/Recruiting Coord....Brett Diersen... Field Wide Receivers... Thad Ward... Field Linebackers...Ross Watson#... Field TEs/FBs /Special Teams Coord....Craig Harmon... Field Running Backs... Kelton Copeland... Field Cornerbacks...Kelvin Sigler... Field Director of Sports Performance... Brad Ohrt... Field #New to NIU in 2015 FOLLOW THE HUSKIES WATCH NIU-OHIO STATE ON ABC/ESPN2 ABC will carry the NIU-Ohio State game in both teams respective local markets with an ESPN2 reverse mirror for the national broadcast. The broadcast will also be available to mobile users via WatchESPN. Mike Patrick (play-by-play) and Ed Cunningham (color analyst) will call the game with Dr. Jerry Punch on the sidelines. WatchESPN requires an active subscription from an affiliated provider. HUSKIES-BUCKEYES ON RADIO The Huskie Sports Network broadcast versus Ohio State begins at 2 p.m. CT, 30 minutes before kickoff. NIU network affiliates for 2015 are WLBK 1360 AM and 98.9 FM (DeKalb) and AM 560 The Answer (Chicago). NEW! Hear the broadcast online or on your mobile device for FREE on TuneIn. Download the app or go to tunein.com and search NIU Huskies. Bill Baker enters his 36th season as the play-by-play voice of the Huskies and is joined for the 30th straight year by color analyst Mark Lindo. Andy Garcia is in his third season on the sidelines. INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL WITH ROD CAREY Airs Mondays from 7-8 p.m. CT. The host is Voice of the Huskies Bill Baker. The hour-long live show can be heard on AM 560 The Answer in Chicago (WIND) and WLBK AM 1360 & FM 98.9 in DeKalb. NEW! Hear the broadcast online or on your mobile device for FREE on TuneIn. Download the app or go to tunein.com and search NIU Huskies. Fans are invited to attend the show at Fatty s Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy) Hear from head coach Rod Carey, two Huskie players and other head coaches and administrators each week. NIU WEEKLY Airs Friday nights at 10 p.m. CT in Chicago on AM 560 The Answer and Saturday mornings at 10 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. Features interviews with football head coach Rod Carey, as well as other NIU head coaches and administrators. NIUTube Hear all NIU live radio broadcasts, including football and basketball games and NIU radio shows. See weekly and post-game press conferences, video features, Huskie Olympic sports and special events. Cost is $9.95/month or $99.95/year Go to www.niuhuskies.com/allaccess to sign up. GETTING SOCIAL Twitter: @NIUAthletics, @NIUScores, @NIU_Football Facebook: NIU Huskies, NIU Football Instagram: niuhuskies, niuhuskiefootball YouTube: niuhuskiesdotcom See the social media hub online at NIUHuskies.com. 1983, 2011, 2012 & 2014 MAC Champions Seven Consecutive Bowl Appearances 3
NIU FOOTBALL 2015 2015 TEAM STATS COMPARISON Huskies Category Buckeyes 47.5 Points/G 40.0 12 (6-6) TDs (Rush-Pass) 10 (7-3) 54 First Downs 47 594.0 Total Yards/G 467.5 219.5 Rush Yards/G 270.5 374.5 Pass Yards/G 197.0 2 Turnovers Lost 3 25:40 Time of Possession/G 31:20 42% 3rd Down Conversions 42% 33% 4th Down Conversions 50% 36.7 Net Punting Avg. 40.8 40.5 Kickoff Return Avg. 25.0 13.2 Punt Return Avg. 11.6 12-113 Penalties-Yards/G 13-173 28.0 Points Allowed/G 12.0 (8-8) 100% Red Zone Scores (6-7) 86% (8-8) 100% Red Zone TDs (5-7) 71% 5 (1-4) TDs Allowed (Rush-Pass) 3 (0-3) 50 First Downs Allowed 30 433.0 Total Yards/G Allowed 242.5 128.0 Rush Yards/G Allowed 104.0 305.0 Pass Yards/G Allowed 138.0 42% 3rd Down Conv. Allowed 32% 67% 4th Down Conv. Allowed 50% 4 Turnovers Gained 4 BY THE NUMBERS 3 Straight wins vs. Big Ten teams 4 MAC Championships in school history 5 Consecutive MAC West titles 7 Current streak of consecutive bowl appearances All-time wins by NIU over Big Ten teams 10 Number of players from the state of Florida on the 2015 roster 13 Seniors on the 2015 NIU football roster 15 Huskie returning starters in 2015 27 Freshmen or sophomores on NIU s two-deep 44 Wins in the last 45 games when holding opponents to 24 points or less 46 Players from Illinois on NIU s 2015 roster 50 Years the Huskies have played at Huskie Stadium 72 Games played by NIU since 2010, most in the country 107 Wins for NIU since 2003 359 Passing yards per game for Drew Hare 560 Wins for the Huskies all-time 1,081 Intercollegiate football games played by Northern Illinois, beginning in 1899 1965 The year Huskie Stadium opened ON THE WATCH Four 2015 Huskie seniors were named to one or more of the preseason Watch Lists released by members of the National College Football Awards Association. Paris Logan, CB, Sr....Jim Thorpe Award Perez Ford, DE, Sr....Rotary Lombardi Award Boomer Mays, LB, Sr....Rotary Lombardi Award Andrew Ness, C, Sr....Outland Trophy...Rotary Lombardi Award... Rimington Trophy ROAD WARRIORS: Since a 31-30 victory at Buffalo on Oct. 22, 2011, NIU has posted a 19-1 record in true road games. The only loss for the Huskies during that time was a 52-14 setback at Arkansas last year. In that time, NIU recorded road wins over Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue and Army. In 2013, NIU was the only FBS school to win all seven of its road games. HITTING THE ROAD: Saturday s contest with Ohio State is the first of three-straight road games for NIU and the Huskies will play four of the next five games away from home. Following the game in Columbus, the Huskies travel to Chestnut Hill, Mass. to face Boston College on Sept. 26, before heading to Mount Pleasant, Mich. to face the CMU Chippewas Oct. 3 in their 2015 league opener. NIU plays host to Ball State Oct. 10 before traveling to Oxford, Ohio to play Miami Oct. 17. BACK TO THE BUCKEYE STATE: NIU has put together quite a run since the start of the 2010 season and that includes games played in Ohio. Entering Saturday s contest with Ohio State, the Huskies have a seven-game winning streak in games played in the Buckeye State. During that stretch, NIU has tallied two victories each against Toledo and Akron, along with one each at Bowling Green, Kent State and Ohio. The Huskies last loss in Ohio came on Nov. 21, 2009 when NIU suffered a 38-31 setback to Ohio in Athens. LONG TIME NO SEE: This will be the first time the Huskies have faced Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer since Oct. 25, 2003 when Meyer was the head coach at Bowling Green State University; Meyer is 1-1 vs the Huskies. Meyer and the then- No. 23 Falcons won the 2003 contest, 34-18. NIU defeated Meyer and BGSU the year before, 26-17, at Huskie Stadium when the Falcons were ranked No. 20. RARE COMPANY: Entering 2015, the Huskies are one of only two teams in the nation to post five consecutive 11-win seasons. NIU recorded 11-3 marks in 2010, 2011 and 2014 and 12-2 records in both 2012 and 2013. Oregon is the only other school to match that mark. SOME STRETCH: No FBS team in the nation has played more football games since 2010 than NIU. Two games into the 2015 season, the Huskies have now played in 72 games. Florida State has played in 71 games, while Oregon (70) and LSU (69) rank third and fourth in games played since 2010. With appearances in five straight conference championship games and bowl games, the Huskies played 14 football games in each of the last five seasons. OHIO NATIVE: NIU junior wide receiver Aregeros Turner is the lone Ohio native on the Huskie roster. Turner hails from Copley, Ohio and went to Copley High School. He has 52 yards rushing on four carries and 12 yards receiving on one catch. The list of NIU s former players currently on NFL rosters in 2015 stands at eight. Cowboys tackle Doug Free enters his ninth NFL season and is the longest tenured Huskie on a NFL roster. Dallas Cowboys...Doug Free (OL)...Ken Bishop (DT) San Francisco 49ers...Jimmie Ward (S) Baltimore Ravens... Rashaan Melvin (CB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers...Larry English (DE)^ New England Patriots...Nathan Palmer (WR)** Kansas City Chiefs...Da Ron Brown (WR)** Miami Dolphins...Tim Semisch (TE)** ** - Practice Squad ^ - Injured Reserve MOST GAMES PLAYED Since 2010 NIU...72 Florida State... 71 Oregon... 70 LSU... 70 Alabama... 69 Ohio State*... 69 Stanford... 69 Michigan State... 69 Boise State... 68 Oklahoma... 68 HUSKIES IN THE NFL 4 www.niuhuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies
NIU BONEYARD WINS Year Opponent H/A Score Opp Rank 1983 Kansas A 37-34 1988 Wisconsin A 19-17 1989 Kansas State A 37-20 1990 Kansas State H 42-35 2002 Wake Forest H 42-41 2003 Maryland H 20-13 15 2003 Alabama A 19-16 21 2003 Iowa State H 24-16 2009 Purdue A 28-20 2010 Minnesota A 34-23 2012 Kansas H 30-23 2013 Iowa A 30-27 2013 Purdue A 55-24 2014 Northwestern A 23-15 FILL THE BONEYARD: The Huskies have 14 wins over teams from larger conferences since 1983, which NIU calls Boneyard Victories, with six of those wins in the last six years. NIU s first boneyard win came versus Kansas on Sept. 3, 1983. THREE DEGREES OF SEPARATION: Former NIU Head Coach Bill Mallory (1980-83) went on to serve 13 seasons as head coach at Indiana University. One of his former players was Rod Carey a standout center for the Hoosiers from 1989-93. Before becoming a head coach, Mallory was an assistant at Ohio State from 1966-68 under legendary Buckeye head man Woody Hayes. STATE CHAMPS: With a 560-470-51 overall record, NIU boasts a.542 all-time winning percentage which is tops among all seven of Illinois Division I (FBS and FCS) football programs. Since 2010, NIU has compiled a 59-13 mark and a.819 winning percentage, which ranks among the best in the nation. School GP W-L-T Pct. NIU 1,081 560-470-51.542 Western Illinois 1,030 529-465-36.531 Illinois 1,201 591-559-51.513 Eastern Illinois 1,048 496-509-43.494 Illinois St. 1,050 468-519-63.475 Southern Illinois 967 436-499-32.467 Northwestern 1,203 510-649-44.442 TOP OF THE CHARTS: Excluding NIU s 2013 Orange Bowl appearance, head coach Rod Carey has amassed a 25-5 record in his first two seasons at the helm of the NIU football program. Of the seven current coaches at the five larger conferences who have been a head coach at a school in the Mid-American Conference, Carey surpassed his predecessor, Dave Doeren in both wins and winning percentage as a MAC coach. Head Coach, Current School MAC School (Years) Record Pct. Rod Carey, NIU NIU (2013-14) 25-5*.833 Jerry Kill, Minnesota NIU (2008-10) 23-16.590 Brian Kelly, Notre Dame Central Michigan (2004-06) 19-16.543 Gary Pinkel, Missouri Toledo (1991-2000) 17-15-1.530 Dave Clawson, Wake Forest Bowling Green (2009-13) 14-23.378 * - Does not include 2013 Orange Bowl loss to Florida State MATCHING HIS MENTOR: With NIU s victory over Murray State, NIU Head Coach Rod Carey tied his mentor Bill Mallory (1980-83) and Jerry Ippoliti (1971-75) in career victories at NIU. Mallory posted a 25-19 mark in his four seasons in DeKalb, and won a MAC title, while Ippoliti tallied a 25-29-1 record as Huskie head man. NIU FOOTBALL 2015 DOWN BUT NOT OUT: With the Huskies 38-30 win over UNLV, NIU head coach Rod Carey leveled his record at 5-5 when trailing at halftime. Under Carey, the Huskies are 15-1 when leading at halftime and are 5-0 when the score is tied. CALL IT A COMEBACK: NIU quarterback Drew Hare has directed four career game-winning drives in the fourth that led to NIU victories. All four occurred last year and all four came on the road. Date Opponent Final Score Go-Ahead TD Scored 9/13/14 at UNLV NIU 48, UNLV 34 8:23 left 10/25/14 at E. Michigan NIU 28, E. Michigan 17 11:55 left 11/18/14 at Ohio NIU 21, Ohio 14 6:00 left 11/28/14 at W. Michigan NIU 31, W. Michigan 21 11:37 left HARE-RAISING PERFORMANCE: Drew Hare followed up his careerhigh 360-yard passing performance versus UNLV in the 2015 season opener by throwing for 358 yards against Murray State. His 360 yards, the most by a Huskie since Jordan Lynch threw for 407 yards versus Toledo on Nov. 14, 2012, are the ninth-highest single game total in school history, while his total against the Racers ranks 10th. He is the first quarterback in NIU s history as a major college or FBS football program (since 1969) to throw for 300 or more yards in back-to-back games. FOUR FOR HARE: NIU quarterback Drew Hare threw a career-high four touchdowns in the Huskies 57-26 victory over Murray State. His previous best was three touchdown throws versus UNLV last year. Hare s four TD passes are the most by a Huskie since Jordan Lynch threw four against Eastern Michigan on Oct. 26, 2013. Hare completed his touchdown passes to two targets as tight end Shane Wimann and Kenny Gollady each caught two touchdown passes. MODEL OF EFFICIENCY: Through two games, Drew Hare leads the MAC and is fifth in the nation in passing efficiency with a 203.3 rating. He has completed 50 of 64 passes for a.781 completion percentage to lead the league and rank sixth in completion percentage. The junior has thrown for 718 yards and six touchdowns this season. ALREADY MAKING HIS MARK: Junior Kenny Golladay, a transfer from North Dakota, ranks second in the nation and leads the MAC in both receiving yards and receiving yards per game. The Chicago native is averaging 178.5 yards a game and tallying 357 yards receiving on the season. His 213 yards against UNLV in the season opener tied for the sixth-most by an NIU receiver in a single game and are the most by a receiver in his NIU debut. DAZZLING DEBUT: North Dakota transfer Kenny Golladay picked up MAC West Offensive Player of the Week honors after his first game as a Huskie. Golladay, who sat out the 2014 season due to NCAA transfer rules, caught nine passes for 213 yards, including catches of 41 and 48 yards (twice) in NIU s 38-30 victory over UNLV. His 213 receiving yards were the most by a Huskie receiver since Martel Moore s 224 yards versus Arkansas State in the 2012 GoDaddy Bowl on Jan. 8 and was the best game by a NCAA FBS receiver on the opening weekend. He recorded just the ninth 200-yard receiving game in NIU history. HITTING THE CENTURY MARK: Kenny Golladay recorded his secondconsecutive 100-yard receiving day with eight catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns, the first of his career at NIU, in the Huskies victory over Murray State. He is the first Huskie receiver to have back-to-back 100-yard games since Da Ron Brown had 128 and 138 yards versus Northwestern and UNLV, respectively, last season. TIGHT END ZONE: Huskie tight ends scored NIU s first two touchdowns of the season on a 16-yard catch and run by Shane Wimann and a 16- yard shovel pass to Desroy Maxwell in the victory over UNLV. It was the first time two different tight ends scored in the same game for NIU since 1983, 2011, 2012 & 2014 MAC Champions Seven Consecutive Bowl Appearances 5
HUSKIE STADIUM S 50 GREATEST PLAYERS As part of the celebration surrounding the 50th Anniversary of Huskie Stadium, NIU has selected the Top 50 NIU Players in stadium history and announced one player each day over a 10-week period. The first 40 players were revealed in random order via the Huskies social media outlets. The 50 Greatest Players in Huskie Stadium history were presented by Compass Mortgage. NIU then counted down the Top 10 players in reverse order leading up to the 2015 season opener on September 5th. On Friday, Sept. 4, 2013 Heisman finalist and Orange Bowl quarterback Jordan Lynch was named the top player in the 50-year history of Huskie Stadium. Each player selected played at least one season in Huskie Stadium, the 50-year old facility on the west side of the NIU campus that opened Nov. 6, 1965 with a 48-6 NIU win over Illinois State on Homecoming. The stadium was named Huskie Stadium in 1974 as part of NIU s 75th Anniversary celebration. On August 28, 2003, the facility was rededicated as Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium in honor of the late Dr. Robert J. Brigham, an institutional icon who carried the school s colors for more than 50 years as a student-athlete, assistant coach, head coach, director of athletics, and special assistant to the president before his retirement in June 2001. Huskie Stadium has played host to 263 NIU football games, where the Huskies own a 165-96-2 record all-time and have won 32 of their last 33 games. HUSKIE STADIUM s 50 GREATEST PLAYERS (First 40 Announced) Steve Azar, PK (2000-03) Doug Bartlett, DT (1983-86) Ken Bishop, DT (2012-13) Scott Bolzan, OT (1980-83) Cary Caliendo, DE (1987-90) Brad Cieslak, TE (2002-04) Randy Clark, OL (1977-79) Larry Clark, LB (1970-72) Jake Coffman, DT (2007-10) Adam Dach, FB (1988-91) Randee Drew, CB (2000-03) P.J. Fleck, WR (1999-2001, 2003) Doug Free, OT (2003-06) Max Gill, DT (1979-82) Bob Gregolunas, QB-LB (1973-75) Thomas Hammock, TB (1999-2002) Mitch Jacoby, TE (1993-96) Scott Kellar, DT (1982-85) John Lalonde, FB (1968-70) Frank Lewandoski, LB (1976-79) Tommylee Lewis, WR-KR (2011- ) Jerry Meyers, DT (1973-75) Deon Mitchell, WR (1995-98) Martel Moore, WR (2009-12) Trevor Olson, OT (2008-11) Curt Pardridge, WR (1982-85) Dave Petway, S (1977-80) Todd Peat, OT-OG (1983-86) Dave Petzke, WR (1977-79) Stacey Robinson, QB (1989-90) Vince Scott, K (1980-83) Dan Sheldon, WR (2001-04) Chad Spann, TB (2007-10) Mike Terna, LB (1977-80) Hollis Thomas, DT (1992-95) Tim Tyrrell, QB (1982-83) Clarence Vaughn, LB (1983-84, 86) Jimmie Ward, DB (2010-13) Scott Wedige, C (2009-11) Tom Wittum, P-PK (1969-71) (Top 10 announced in order Aug. 24-Sept. 4) No. 10 Justin McCareins WR (1997-2000) No. 9 John Spilis, SE (1966-68) No. 8 Ryan Diem, OT (1997-2000) No. 7 Mark Kellar, FB (1971-73) No. 6 Larry English, DE (2005-08) No. 5 Chandler Harnish, QB (2008-11) No. 4 Garrett Wolfe, TB (2004-06) No. 3 Michael Turner, TB (2000-03) No. 2 LeShon Johnson, TB (1992-93) No. 1 Jordan Lynch, QB (2010-13) NIU FOOTBALL 2015 Nov. 16, 2005 when Jake Nordin and Pat Raleigh each tallied a receiving TD in a 35-17 victory over Toledo. During the entire 2014 season, NIU tight ends scored one touchdown, a five-yard reception by Luke Eakes in the MAC Championship game. TWO FOR ONE: After scoring on touchdown catches of four and three yards versus Murray State, Shane Wimann became the first Huskie tight end to score two touchdowns in a game since Mitch Jacoby grabbed two TDs on Nov. 9, 1996 at Louisiana Lafayette (formerly Southwestern Louisiana). Wimann has three touchdown receptions on the season, the most since Reed Cunningham hauled in three TDs during the 2008 campaign. DOUBLE TROUBLE: Huskie tight ends Shane Wimann and Desroy Maxwell have been a potent combination for NIU this season. The tight end duo has combined to catch 13 passes for 109 yards and four touchdowns in the first two games of 2015. Last year, NIU tight ends accounted for 19 receptions for 177 yards and one TD. FIVE FOR WIMANN: Shane Wimann s two touchdown receptions were part of a five-catch, 27-yard receiving day for the redshirt sophomore from Wisconsin Dells, Wis. It s the most receptions by a Huskie tight end in one game since Brad Cieslak tallied six catches at Eastern Michigan on Nov. 20, 2004. ANOTHER PICK FOR P-LO: NIU cornerback Paris Logan made his fifth career interception when he picked off Murray State s K.D. Humphries in the end zone to preserve a 13-10 Huskie lead in the second quarter. It was his first interception since the 2014 MAC Championship game. The redshirt senior also ranks sixth at NIU all-time in passes broken up with 25. IN A RUSH: Since the beginning of the 2010 season, NIU is 33-1 when the Huskies run the ball 45 times or more in a game. The only loss for the Huskies during that stretch was to Marshall in the 2014 Boca Raton Bowl, when NIU ran the ball 50 times for 200 yards in a 52-23 loss. The Huskies rushed 43 times for 254 yards in their win over Murray State to improve to 46-3 when rushing 40 or more times. Since 2010, NIU is 12-10 when rushing less than 40 times a game. Record Scoring Average Rushing 40 or more times 46-3 41.1 Rushing 45 or more times: 33-1 41.6 Rushing 50 or more times: 23-1 36.6 Rushing 55 or more times: 9-0 34.3 Rushing 60 or more times: 4-0 44.0 COMING OUT PARTY: Junior tailback Joel Bouagnon recorded his first career 100-yard rushing game with 152 yards on 21 carries in NIU s season opener. Bouagnon s 100-yard day was the first by a Huskie back since Cameron Stingily s 116-yard day versus Bowling Green in the MAC Championship game and is the most since Drew Hare rushed for 180 yards versus Ball State last season. He also rushed for three touchdowns in the game. WEIGHING IN: The 10 offensive linemen on the 2015 NIU two-deep weigh in at a collective 3,114 pounds for an average of 311.4. Center Andrew Ness and left guard Aidan Conlon made their first career starts for the Huskies in the 2012 season opener and were members of a line that weighed in at 2,919 pounds, a 291.9 average. Ness and Conlon have contributed to the 20.5 average increase by adding on 28 and 18 pounds, respectively, during their careers. Ness tipped the scales at 286 pounds when he started against the Hawkeyes, while Conlon was 267. Ness is now 314, while Conlon is 305. Only redshirt freshman Luke Shively (288) weighs in at less than 300 pounds. Total Weight Average 2012 NIU O-Line Two-Deep 2,919 291.9 2015 NIU O-Line Two-Deep 3,114 311.4 6 www.niuhuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies
NIU FOOTBALL 2015 HUSKIES IN THE POLLS USA TODAY DATE AP (Pts) COACHES BCS 2015 Preseason T39(2) 2014 Week 4 (Sept. 14) 39 (10) Week 3 (Sept. 7) T41 (5) Week 2 (Aug. 31) T44 (2) Preseason T44 (2) 2013 Final 28 (22) 28 (21) Week 16 (Dec. 8) 24 (144) 23 (149) 23 Week 15 (Dec. 1) 16 (596) 18 (547) 14 Week 14 (Nov. 24) 18 (470) 20 (459) 14 Week 13 (Nov. 17) 20 (426) 21 (418) 16 Week 12 (Nov. 10) 20 (396) 21 (445) 15 Week 11 (Nov. 3) 22 (322) 20 (409) 18 Week 10 (Oct. 27) 21 (290) 20 (373) 17 Week 9 (Oct. 20) 23 (220) 22 (298) 18 Week 8 (Oct. 13) 23 (185) 23 (224) Week 7 (Oct. 6) 23 (138) 23 (169) Week 6 (Sept. 29) 26 (104) 23 (131) Week 5 (Sept. 22) 31 (9) 30 (21) Week 4 (Sept. 15) 29 (24) 33 (26) Week 3 (Sept. 8) 30 (21) 30 (27) Week 2 (Sept. 3) T30 (27) 30 (31) Preseason 35 (16) T37 (19) 2012 Final 22 (227) 24 (156) Week 15 (Dec. 2) 16 (534) 16 (495) 15 Week 14 (Nov. 25) 19 (349) 18 (377) 21 Week 13 (Nov. 18) 24 (144) 23 (149) Week 12 (Nov. 11) 27 (77) 26 (105) Week 11 (Nov. 4) 26 (64) 26 (88) Week 10 (Oct. 28) 32 (12) 29 (39) Week 9 (Oct. 21) T37 (5) 35 (14) Week 8 (Oct. 14) T36 (2) Preseason T41 (1) 46 (2) 2011 Final 28 (33) 26 (36) Week 15 (Dec. 4) 30 (7) 26 (14) Week 14 (Nov. 27) 36 (1) 30 (19) Week 13 (Nov. 20) T31 (10) Week 12 (Nov. 13) T36 (2) Week 2 T44 (5) T38 (13) Preseason T41 (4) T44 (4) 2010 Final 29 (47) 26 (82) Week 15 (Dec. 5) 31 (7) 28 (13) Week 14 (Nov. 28) 24 (130) 23 (130) 25 Week 13 (Nov. 21) 26 (72) 26 (67) Week 12 (Nov. 14) 29 (37) 29 (30) Week 11 (Nov. 7) 34 (9) T34 (8) Week 10 (Oct. 31) 38 (1) 36 (2) Week 9 (Oct. 24) T37 (1) T39 (1) Preseason T49 (1) 2004 Week 12 (Nov. 7) 22 (205) Week 11 (Oct. 31) 24 (110) 2003 Week 12 (Nov. 9) 21 21 (298) 21 Week 11 (Nov. 2) 23 23 (211) 22 Week 10 (Oct. 26) 21 22 (174) 23 Week 9 (Oct. 19) 12 14 (760) 10 Week 8 (Oct. 12) 12 16 (694) Week 7 (Oct. 5) 16 18 (438) Week 6 (Sept. 28) 17 20 (413) Week 5 (Sept. 21) 20 22 (238) TOPPING LAST YEAR: Joel Bouagnon has reached the end zone five times already this season, which matches his season total for rushing touchdowns from 2014. He scored three touchdowns in the season opener against UNLV and added two more against Murray State. Bouagnon ranks first in the conference and third in the nation rushing touchdowns. He leads the MAC and is fifth in the country in scoring as well, averaging 15 points a game. ALL PURPOSE LEWIS: In his first action since NIU s 23-15 win at Northwestern (Sept. 6, 2014), Tommylee Lewis tallied 64 all-purpose yards versus UNLV. Lewis had 44 yards receiving, 17 yards on a kick return and a rush of three yards before leaving the game with an injury in the first quarter. The Riviera Beach, Fla. native now has 3,681 career all-purpose yards, eighth all-time at NIU. HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: With a 57-12 record since 2003, Northern Illinois has raised its all-time record at Huskie Stadium to 165-96-2 for a.631 winning percentage. Five of those 12 home losses occurred in just one season - 2007. The Huskies have won 32 of their last 33 games at Huskie Stadium, dating back to a 38-3 victory over Western Michigan, Oct. 3, 2009. NIU s only loss during that stretch was a 34-17 setback to Central Michigan last season. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: Throughout the 2015 season, NIU will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Huskie Stadium. The Huskies won their first contest in their new home, scoring a 48-6 Homecoming triumph over Illinois State on November 6, 1965. A multi-use every day facility, Huskie Stadium has seen many additions to its footprint over the years. In 1995, the East Grandstand was constructed and the Yordon Center, located in the North end zone, opened its doors in August of 2007. The Chessick Center opened on October 26, 2013. SENIOR SALUTE: The Huskies 2015 roster includes 13 seniors, with 11 listed on the depth chart entering the Ohio State game and nine slated to start. The Huskies are tied with eight other schools with 13 seniors to rank ninth in the nation in fewest seniors. Offensive linemen Aidan Conlon and Andrew Ness have started all 43 games during their NIU careers and anchor the Huskie front five. Wide receivers Tommylee Lewis, Juwan Brescacin, and tight ends Desroy Maxwell and Kevin Tennenbaum round out the NIU seniors on the offensive side of the ball. Defensive linemen Cameron Clinton-Earl, Perez Ford, Siosifa Malolo and Ben Compton, cornerback Paris Logan, safety Marlon Moore and linebacker Boomer Mays comprise the Huskie seniors on the defense. MAKING THE GRADE: NIU football student-athletes truly are student-athletes, excelling on the field, and in the classroom. The Huskie football program s multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 970, up two points from a year ago, led the Mid-American Conference. 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 every year for the past four years. In order to compete in the 2015-16 postseason, teams must achieve a 930 multi-year APR, which predicts to roughly a 50 percent graduation rate. SUNSHINE STATERS: The 2015 Huskie roster includes 10 players from the state of Florida. Three true freshmen defenders, Antonio Davis-Jones, Jeffrey Hill and Trequan Smith, join seven returning Florida Huskies redshirt senior Tommylee Lewis, redshirt sophomore Bobby Jones IV and sophomores Christian Blake, Shawun Lurry, Ezra Saffold, and Albert Smalls and redshirt freshman Renard Cheren. With two of Huskies last three bowl games taking place in Florida, the 2013 Orange Bowl and 2014 Boca Raton Bowl, NIU football is well-known in the Sunshine State. Tommylee Lewis Sr.-R WR Riviera Beach (W. T. Dwyer) Bobby Jones IV So.-R LB Miami Gardens (Monsignor Pace) Christian Blake So. WR Ft. Lauderdale (Cardinal Gibbons) Renard Cheren So. LB Lake Worth (Park Vista) Shawun Lurry So. CB West Palm Beach (W.T. Dwyer) Ezra Saffold So. WR West Palm Beach (W.T. Dwyer) Albert Smalls So. CB Miramar (Monsignor Pace) Trequan Smith Fr. S Boynton Beach (Boynton Beach) Antonio Davis-Jones Fr. LB Vero Beach (Vero Beach) Jeffrey Hill Fr. CB Miami (Miramar) Top 25 in Bold 1983, 2011, 2012 & 2014 MAC Champions Seven Consecutive Bowl Appearances 7
NIU FOOTBALL 2015 BUCKEYES FACTS 2014 Record...14-1 Big Ten Record/Finish... 8-0/1st Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year)...Urban Meyer... (Cincinnati/1986) Record at Ohio St./Years... 40-3/4th Career Record/Years...144-26/14th Location... Columbus, Ohio Enrollment...64,868 Conference...Big Ten Conference Colors...Scarlet and Gray Stadium... Ohio Stadium Surface/Capacity...FieldTurf /104,944 President...Dr. Michael V. Drake Athletic Director... Gene Smith Athletics Website... www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com Twitter...@OhioStAthletics Ticket Information...614-292-2624 Ohio State Athletic Communications Name...Contact Information Jerry Emig (FB Primary)...emig.2@osu.edu... (614) 203-2766 Adam Widman (FB Secondary)... widman.12@osu.edu... (614)572-6903 2015 OHIO STATE SCHEDULE Day, Date Opponent (TV) Time (CT) Mon., Sept. 7 at Virginia Tech (ESPN) W, 42-24 Sat., Sept. 12 Hawaii (BTN) W, 38-0 Sat., Sept. 19 NIU (ABC) 2:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 26 Western Michigan 2:30 p.m. Sat., Oct. 3 at Indiana* TBA Sat., Oct. 10 Maryland* 12 p.m. Sat., Oct 17 Penn State (ESPN)* 8 p.m. Sat., Oct. 24 at Rutgers (ESPN)* 8 p.m. Sat., Nov. 7 Minnesota (ESPN)* 7/8 p.m. Sat., Nov. 14 at Illinois* TBA Sat., Nov. 21 Michigan State* TBA Sat., Nov. 28 at Michigan* TBA *Conference Game NIU-OHIO STATE. SERIES HISTORY Overall... 0-1 In Columbus, Ohio... 0-1 Streak...Ohio State, 1 Series History:...Sept. 2, 2006; NIU 12, Ohio St. 35 (A) NIU OPPONENTS THIS WEEK UNLV... at Michigan Murray State... at Western Michigan Boston College...vs. Florida State Central Michigan...at Syracuse Ball State... at Eastern Michigan Miami...vs. Cincinnati Eastern Michigan... vs. Ball State Toledo...vs. Iowa State Buffalo...at Florida Atlantic Western Michigan...vs. Murray State Ohio...vs. Southeastern Louisiana THE LAST MEETING No. Ohio State 35, NIU 12 Sept. 2, 2006 2:30 p.m. (CT) Columbus, Ohio Ohio Stadium 103,896 Garrett Wolfe put the nation on notice by amassing 285 all-purpose yards, recording 171 on the ground and 114 receiving, but NIU could not overcome an early 28-0 deficit at top-ranked Ohio State in the season opener at The Horseshoe. OSU got on the scoreboard first when Troy Smith threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn, Jr., to cap an eight-play, 66-yard drive as the Buckeyes scored touchdowns on their first four possessions. When OSU regained the ball, Smith and Ginn again combined for a touchdown pass, this time via the big play on a 58-yard strike. On the next drive, the Buckeyes started at the NIU 20-yard line and three plays later, Smith completed his third TD pass of the quarter, connecting with Anthony Gonzalez from 15 yards out. After a Larry Grant interception and 49-yard return, OSU completed a five-play, 43-yard drive with a Chris Wells eight-yard scoring run to put the home team ahead 28-0 early in the second quarter. Chris Nendick put the Huskies on the scoreboard midway through the second quarter by booting a 35-yard field goal to cap a nine-play, 48-yard scoring drive. NIU took the second half kickoff and put together its second scoring drive of the game, going 60 yards on 10 plays before Nendick connected on a 37-yard field goal, making it a 28-6 game. Antonio Pittman extended the OSU lead back to 35-6 with a one-yard touchdown plunge on the first play of the fourth quarter. On the ensuing possession, the Huskies mounted their longest scoring drive of the game, marching 71 yards on 10 plays before Wolfe caught a four-yard TD pass from Phil Horvath to make it 35-12. NIU s two-point conversion failed, providing the game s final outcome. For the first time in his career, Wolfe topped the century mark in rushing and receiving yards in the same game, posting his 15th 100-yard rushing effort and second 100-yard receiving effort as a Huskie. Also in the game, Wolfe moved into fourth-place on the career rushing yardage list, passing LeShon Johnson. SCORING BY QUARTERS 1 2 3 4 Total NIU 0 3 3 6-12 Ohio State 21 7 0 7-35 SCORING SUMMARY OSU - Ginn, Jr. 5 pass from Smith (Pettrey kick), 1st 8:24 (8-66, 3:53) OSU - Ginn, Jr. 58 pass from Smith (Pettrey kick), 1st 6:38 (1-58, 0:13) OSU - Gonzalez 15 pass from Smith (Pettrey kick), 1st 3:15 (3-20, 1:34) OSU - C. Wells 8 run (Pettrey kick), 2nd 14:55 (5-43, 1:11) NIU - Nendick 35 FG, 2nd 6:16 (9-48, 3:05) NIU - Nendick 37 FG, 3rd 8:39 (10-60, 5:06) OSU - Pittman 1 run (Pettrey kick), 4th 14:58 (6-38, 2:15) NIU - Wolfe 4 pass from Horvath (run failed), 4th 10:27 (10-71, 4:31) NIU...OSU First Downs (R-P) 15 (9-5). 22 (11-11) Rushes-Net Yards 33-151...36-173 Passing Yards 192...315 Passes (C-A-I) 16-30-1... 20-27-0 Plays-Total Yards 63-343...63-488 Fumbles-Lost 1-0... 2-2 Penalties-Yards 4-35...3-40 Kickoff Returns-Yards 3-66...4-73 Punt Returns-Yards 0-0...3-55 3rd Down Conversions 1 of 13... 6 of 10 4th Down Conversions 3 of 3...1 of 1 Punts-Average 6-37.8... 1-43.0 Possession Time 31:04... 28:56 Team & Individual Statistics Rushing - Wolfe 26-171, Clanton 2-12, Nicholson 1-(-8), Horvath 4-(-21). OSU: Pittman 19-111, C. Wells 10-50, M. Wells 5-15, Smith 1-(-1), Zwick 1-(-2). Passing - NIU: Horvath 15-26-1, 185, Nicholson 1-4-0, 7. OSU: Smith 18-25-0, 297, Zwick 2-2-0, 18. Receiving - NIU: Wolfe 5-114, Britt Davis 5-23, Nordin 3-37, Clanton 2-4, Carter 1-14. OSU: Ginn, Jr. 4-123, Gonzalez 4-53, Robiskie 3-32, Small 3-19, Nicol 2-14, Hartline 1-32, M. Wells 1-30, Dukes 1-12, Pittman 1-0. Tackles - NIU: Al. Hansbro 9, McCarthy 9, Ad. Hansbro 8, Pruitt 6, Utschig 6, Blalark 6. OSU: Mitchell 10, Freeman 9, Russell 6, Gholston 5. 8 www.niuhuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies
NIU FOOTBALL 2015 PLAYERS TO WATCH 55 ANDREW NESS C 6-3 314 Sr. 3L O Fallon, Mo. Christian Brothers HS On the preseason watch lists for the Rimington Award, Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award. Started 44 consecutive games at center. 2014 first team All-MAC selection. Huskies gained 545 yards on 68 plays in win over UNLV and tallied 643 in game two. NIU ranks in Top 15 nationally in passing offense, total offense and scoring offense. 10 TOMMYLEE LEWIS WR/KOR 5-7 168 Sr.-R 3L Riviera Beach, Fla. W.T. Dwyer HS Sat out the Murray State game due to injury. Has at least one catch in 29 straight games. In just one series versus UNLV, caught two passes for 44 yards, had a three-yard rush and a 17-yard kickoff return. 2013 honorable mention All-American and first team All-MAC. Received a medical redshirt in 2014 after playing in just two games. 29 PARIS LOGAN WR 5-9 195 Sr.-R 3L Columbia, Mo. Rock Bridge HS Intercepted Murray State QB in the end zone to spur the Huskies last week and had six solo stop to tie for team lead. Made his fifth career INT. Recorded six tackles with two pass breakups versus UNLV; added a 37-yard kickoff return, his longest since 2013. Thorpe Award watch-lister for 2015. Sixth on NIU career list for pass break-ups with 25. 45 BOOMER MAYS LB 6-0 244 Sr.-R 3L Lawrence, Kan. Eudora HS Registered four tackles versus Murray State with one for loss and leads NIU with 17 on the season. In his third year as NIU s starter at middle linebacker Made a career-high 13 tackles with careerbest 10 solo, to lead NIU versus UNLV. One of three Huskies named to the Rotary Lombardi Award preseason Watch List. Named second team All-MAC as a junior. 2 MARLON MOORE FS 5-9 197 Sr.-R 3L Mobile, Ala. C.F. Vigor HS Registered five tackles in each of the Huskies first two games. Led NIU in tackles with a career-high 99 in 2014. Totaled 3.5 tackles for loss, forced two fumbles, recovered one, intercepted one pass and broke up three last season. Credited with 182 career stops, 18 pass break-ups and four career INTs. 61 AIDAN CONLON OG 6-3 305 Sr.-R 3L Flossmoor, Ill. Homewood-Flossmoor Started 44 consecutive games at guard. One of two returning starters on offensive line for NIU in 2015. Huskies are averaging 7.8 yards per play, 594 yards and 47.5 points per game. NIU has two 300-yard passing games, a 200-yard and 100-yard receiving games and a 100-yard rusher. NIU gave up only 14 sacks in 2014 to rank eighth in the country in fewest sacks allowed. 12 DREW HARE QB 6-1 218 Jr.-R 2L O Fallon, Mo. Fort Zumwalt West HS Passed for 358 yards and four TDs, completing 29-of-38 throws vs. Murray State. Completed 21-of-26 passes for a careerhigh 360 yards and two TDs versus UNLV. First NIU QB to post back-to-back 300-yard passing games since NIU became FBS (1969). Has led NIU to four come-from-behind, fourth-quarter victories in 13 starts. Ranks in the Top 10 in FBS in 9 NCAA categories, including passing efficiency, total offense, completion %. 19 KENNY GOLLADAY WR 6-4 200 Jr.-R TR Chicago, Ill. St. Rita HS Caught nine passes for 213 yards in his Huskie debut versus UNLV, the 6th-highest single game yardage total in NIU history. Named MAC West Offensive Player of the Week after averaging 27.8 yards/catch. Came back with eight catches for 144 yards and touchdowns of 55 and 33 yards. Catches of 41, 48 and 48 yards set up three NIU touchdowns vs. UNLV. Ranks second in the country in receiving yards (357) and receiving yards per game (178.5). Four Consecutive Seasons with 11 or More Wins Six Consecutive Bowl Appearances 9
NIU FOOTBALL 2015 PLAYERS TO WATCH 90 WILLIAM LEE DT 6-2 304 So.-R 1L Indianapolis, Ind. Arsenal Tech HS In on a sack and two tackles vs. Murray State, giving him three tackles this year. Started all 14 games at defensive tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2014. Made 22 stops with nine solo, recorded 2.5 sacks and three tackles for loss. Sacks came versus Northwestern, UNLV and Western Michigan. Also forced a fumble at Eastern Michigan. 28 JOEL BOUAGNON TB 6-2 226 Jr. 2L Aurora, Ill. Aurora Christian HS Gained a career-high 152 yards on 21 carries vs. UNLV with three TDs. Scored twice more and gained 55 yards on 15 carries vs. Murray State. Averaging 5.7 yards/rush and 102/game. Huskies leading returning rusher from the tailback spot gained 655 yards on 113 carries (5.8 average) in 2014 and had 13 catches for 70 yards. 7 DESROY MAXWELL TE 6-2 255 Sr. 3L Evanston, Ill. Amundsen HS Caught a career-high four passes for 42 yards and rantwice for eight yards vs. UNLV. Scored his second career touchdown on a 16-yard reception that tied the game at 17. Had 3 grabs for 23 yards vs. Murray State. Made nine catches for 90 yards in 2014 and now has 27 career receptions for 268 yards. Abilities as a blocker key to NIU s running attack. 44 PEREZ FORD DE 6-0 227 Sr. 3L Romeoville, Ill. Romeoville HS Tied his career high with six tackles vs. Murray State, and had a tackle for loss. Recorded five sacks, nine tackles for loss, en route to second team All-MAC honors in 2014. Named to the preseason Watch List for the Rotary Lombardi Award. Career stats include 93 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. 11 JUWAN BRESCACIN WR 6-4 230 Sr.-R 3L Mississauga, Ont. Culver [ind.] Acad. Caught four passes for 66 yards versus Murray State with a long of 27 yards. Topped all NIU returning receivers with 445 receiving yards on 31 receptions in 2014. Averaged a team-leading 14.4 yards per catch and tied for the team lead with six TD grabs. Career totals include 1,238 yards on 80 grabs for a 15.5-yard average and 12 scores. 35 SHANE WIMANN TE 6-4 254 So. 1L Wisconsin Dells, Wis. Wisconsin Dells Caught two TD passes versus Murray State, of four and three yards. Has six catches for 43 yards on the season with three for touchdowns. Made five receptions for 27 yards vs. Murray State. Excellent blocker who helps power the NIU running game. Member of multiple special teams units. 2015 NIU PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Name...Pronunciation Jackson Abresch... Obb-RESH Mycial Allen...My-KALE Chad Beebe...B-B Joel Bouagnon...Joe-ELL Bwon-NYO Juwan Brescacin...juh-WAHN bress-cuh-sin Adam Buirge... BURJ Renard Cheren...reh-NARD shur-wren Aidan Conlon...AY-den Tommy Fiedler...FEED-lurr Ladell Fleming...luh-DELL Mason Fleury... Flurr-EE Sean Folliard... FAHL-yerd Christian Hagan... HAY-gin (hard g) Marquise Howard... Mahr-KWEESE Jake Hlava...LA-vuh Tifonte Hunt... Tih-FON-TAY Name...Pronunciation Jawaun Johnson...Juh-WAHN Robert Kraklow...CRACK-loh Shawun Lurry...Sha-WAHN LURR-ee Josh Mailloux...MAY-loo Siosifa Malolo... SEE-oh-SEE-fuh Muh-LO-LO Taylor Mashack... MAY-shak Desroy Maxwell... DEZ-roy Malik Mitchell...muh-LEEK Skyler Monaghan...MON-uh-HANN Rajshawn Mosley...Ruh-SHAWN MOHS-lee Levon Myers...LEE-von Mayomi Olootu...MAY-YO-mee uh-loh-too Josh Orne... (rhymes with Corn) Charlie Rotherham...RAH-thurr-HAM Josh Ruka... RUKE-uh Hayden Sak...SACK Name...Pronunciation Daniel Santacaterina...san-tuh-CAT-err-EEN-uh Alex Schlee...SHLAY Luke Shively...SHIVE-lee Austin Smaha...SMAH-ha Draco Smith... DRAKE-oh Trequan Smith... TRAY-qwon Spencer Tears...TEERS Scott Topole...TOPE-ul Aregeros Turner... are-gair-oce Nathan Veloz... vell-ohs Shane Wimann... WHY-men Quintin Wynne...WIN Coaching Staff Brett Diersen...DEAR-sin Jay Niemann... KNEE-min Joe Tripodi...Trih-POE-dee 10 www.niuhuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies