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Game 7: Northern Illinois vs. Toledo
Oct. 14, 2008
Northern Illinois Football 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format HUSKIE FACTS
ROCKETS' FACTS
NORTHERN ILLINOIS HEAD COACH Jerry Kill Jerry Kill, a college coaching veteran who has spent 14 years as head coach of programs at Saginaw Valley State (Mich.), Emporia State (Kansas) and, most recently, Southern Illinois, is in his first season as head coach of the Northern Illinois Huskies in 2008. Now in his 15th season as a head coach, he has an all-time record of 107-60-0 for a winning percentage of .641. Kill, who led SIU to five straight appearances in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs, compiled a mark of 55-32 in seven seasons in Carbondale for a winning percentage of .632. He was named the 2007 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year after leading the Salukis to a 12-2 record and the semifinals of the FCS playoffs. Kill was also honored as the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year following the 2004 season. His SIU teams won three straight Gateway (now Missouri Valley) Football Conference titles in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and were ranked in the 20 for 64 straight weeks beginning in 2003. At Southern Illinois, Kill coached five first-team All-Americans and four Walter Payton Award finalists; four of his former players are currently on NFL rosters, led by N.Y. Giants tailback Brandon Jacobs and Ravens linebacker Bart Scott. Prior to going to SIU, Kill spent two seasons as head coach at Emporia State in his home state of Kansas. In his first collegiate head coaching job, at Saginaw Valley State from 1994-98, he won 38 games and a 9-2 record in each of his last two seasons there. A native of Cheney, Kansas, Kill began his career at Pittsburg State, a powerhouse program in NAIA and then Division II. He was the offensive coordinator for the 1991 PSU team that won the NCAA title while the 1992 Gorillas earned a runner-up finish with a 14-1 mark.
HUSKIE NEWS & NOTES OctoberFest: Northern Illinois continues its October homestand with a Homecoming match-up versus MAC West Division foe Toledo. After opening the three-game stretch with a 17-13 victory over Miami (Oct. 11), the Huskies will take on Toledo this Saturday, followed by Bowling Green (Oct. 25) during the month as NIU plays five of its last seven games at home. Homecoming History: Northern Illinois celebrates its 102nd Homecoming this weekend and the Huskies' celebration is acclaimed as the oldest major college alumni gathering in the state and one of the longest such traditions in the country. The NIU homecoming dates back to an alumni football game played on Oct. 10, 1903. All-time, Northern Illinois is 62-29-10 in Homecoming contests and has won nine of its last 10 games in front of the alums. In Huskie Stadium, NIU is 28-13-2 in homecoming games. Hall of Fame Game: As part of Homecoming activities, Northern Illinois will add four individuals and one team to the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame Friday night at the Hall of Fame banquet. Wrestling's Jeremy Goeden (1996-98), women's basketball player Tammy Hinchee (1986-90), Anne Mucci (Iwinski) of women's soccer (1995-98) and Larry Satchwell (1974-75), representing men's track and field, will be inducted as individuals while the 1972 Northern Illinois baseball team becomes the 14th team in the Hall of Fame. For more complete information on the 2008 class, see the attachment at the back of this release. Kill-er Credentials: The 20th head coach in Northern Illinois history, Jerry Kill arrived at NIU in December 2007 after seven seasons at Southern Illinois, where he led SIU to five straight appearances in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. Southern Illinois advanced to the FCS semifinals in 2007 and the Salukis were ranked in the Top 20 for 64 straight weeks during his tenure. Kill owns a head coaching record of 107-60 (.641) in 15 seasons as the head coach at NIU, SIU, Emporia State and Saginaw Valley State. He was 55-32 at Southern Illinois and won the 2007 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award. Last Time Out: The Huskies claimed a 17-13 win over Miami (Ohio) thanks to a defensive stand in the final two minutes that included back-to-back pass break ups in the end zone. NIU took a 10-0 lead on a Mike Salerno 38-yard field goal and a three-yard TD toss from DeMarcus Grady to Landon Cox before Miami stormed back with 13 straight points powered by a 63-yard punt return TD by Eugene Harris. After the RedHawks took a 13-10 lead, Me'co Brown, who had 123 yards on the day, led a 63-yard drive for the game-winning score. Home Field Advantage: In 42 seasons and 223 games, Northern Illinois is 129-93-2 all-time at Huskie Stadium for a winning percentage of 58.0 percent. NIU has won 38 of its last 49 home contests (77.5 percent), including a 2-0 mark in 2008, and is 22-8 on Brigham Field since the beginning of the 2003 season. MAC Mark: With the win over Miami, NIU evened its all-time record in Mid-American Conference play at 84-84-2 all-time. The Huskies have spent 20 total seasons as a member of the league. Since beginning its second stint in the MAC in 1997, NIU is 49-39 (.557) versus conference teams. Welcome MAC: At home, Northern Illinois is 47-37-1 (.559) in MAC games all-time and has a 26-18 mark versus league foes at Huskie Stadium since rejoining the MAC in 1997. The Huskies were just 1-3 versus its league foes at home a year ago, its first losing campaign versus Mid-American Conference teams at home since 1998. Rockets `n Dogs: The Huskies and Rockets meet for the 36th time and for the 17th time in DeKalb. NIU is 5-11 versus Toledo in DeKalb and has won only seven of the previous 35 games overall. UT has claimed the last two meetings and has won 13 of the last 14 games between the teams dating back to 1990. Northern Illinois' lone win during that time came in 2005 when QB Dan Nicholson led the Huskies to a 35-17 win in Toledo. The series began in 1967 and the teams played every year from 1974-1992. The Last Time: Toledo handed Northern Illinois its worst loss of the 2007 season and one of the worst MAC losses in school history with a 70-21 win in the Glass Bowl. The Rockets scored 21 points in each of the first three quarters as a bruised and battered Huskie team was on the wrong side of a record-setting evening. Justin Anderson gained 116 yards on 24 carries to provide one of the few bright spots for NIU while UT QB Aaron Opelt threw for four TDs and 296 yards in the first half. 107 and Counting: In its 107th season of intercollegiate football, Northern Illinois owns an all-time record of 491-447-51 in 989 games for a winning percentage of .522. The Huskies played their first game in 1899 and moved into the "major college" ranks in 1969. Back-to-Back-to-Back: Northern Illinois will play three straight games at Huskie Stadium for the first time since September 9-16-23, 2006 when NIU took on Ohio, Buffalo and Indiana State. The Huskies have not played three consecutive Mid-American Conference games at home since 1997. Fight Song Time Again: In posting its third victory of the season, and second MAC win, Northern Illinois surpassed its 2007 totals in both categories, leading to more post-game fight song celebrations. The Huskies won just two games, and picked up one league victory, last season, but have three wins in six games so far this year. Prior to 2007, NIU had recorded seven consecutive winning campaigns from 2000 to 2006. Four-Game Stretch: Over the last four games, the NIU defense has played as well as it has during any stretch in the school's history as a major college program (since 1969). In games versus Indiana State, Eastern Michigan, Tennessee and Miami, the Huskies have surrendered 29 total points (3, 0, 13 and 13, respectively) for an average of 7.25 per game, and are allowing just 91 net rushing yards and 233 yards of total offense per game. Take away Miami's touchdown, scored on a punt return, and the NIU defense has given up just 22 points (5.5 per game) since Sept. 20. Comparable: The last time NIU enjoyed a comparable stretch of defensive dominance was in 1963, the year that Northern Illinois went 10-0 and claimed the NCAA College Division Championship. For the season, Huskie opponents scored 9.7 points per game over nine games with three shutouts. Northern Illinois held opponents to 10 points or less five times that season. From Oct. 5 through Oct. 26, NIU defeated Nebraska-Omaha (18-7), Hillsdale (19-13), Illinois State (43-0) and Eastern Illinois (43-0). Defensive Dominance: Northern Illinois leads the MAC in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense, and ranks second in pass efficiency defense. The Huskies rank 15th in the country in scoring defense and are 26th in total defense. NIU has never finished a season as the MAC leader in scoring or total defense and last led the league in rushing defense in 2002. Breaking Through: After losing eight games by margins of seven points or less over the last two seasons, including all three of their 2008 defeats, Northern Illinois broke through in a close game with its 17-13 win over Miami. The Huskie offense came from behind with a third-quarter touchdown drive, while the defense stymied the RedHawks' final drive by breaking up two passes in the end zone. Prior to Saturday's win, the Huskies' suffered a three-point loss to Western Michigan and fell by four points at both Minnesota and Tennessee. A year ago, Northern Illinois suffered losses by seven, two, one, four and six points. Go Go Me'co: Tailback Me'co Brown continues to impress as the freshman gained a career and team-season high 123 yards on 16 carries versus Miami to average 7.7 yards per carry. On the Huskies' game-winning drive, during which all 63 yards came on the ground, Brown broke free for a career and season long 36-yard run to the RedHawks' 17-yard line to set up the score. Brown also returned two punts for 33 yards in the game with a season-long 19-yard effort, and he had a four-yard pass reception. His 160 all-purpose yards in the game were season-and career highs for the Mississippi native. Rookie Rusher Rocks: Me'co Brown has risen to the top of the Huskie rushing list with two 100-yard games as the true freshman leads Northern Illinois in rushing (348 yards on 64 carries), kickoff returns (19.5 yard average), punt returns (10.7 yard average) and all-purpose yards (116.3 yards/game). He has 698 all-purpose yards on the season with a career-best 160 versus Miami last week, which included a career-long 19-yard punt return. His 100-yard rushing days have come against Eastern Michigan (111 yards) and Miami (123) and he compiled 108 all-purpose yards at Tennessee with a career-long 29-yard kickoff return. Speaking English: With 27 career sacks, including a team-leading 3.5 this season, Larry English leads all active NCAA FBS players in sacks and in sack yardage with 198. His 54 career tackles for loss are currently second in the country and he has thrown opponents for 251 yards in losses to rank as the nation's current career leader in that category. The senior from Aurora ranks second all-time at NIU in quarterback sacks, just four behind Cary Caliendo (1987-90), and is eighth on the league charts. He also holds the Northern Illinois record for career tackles for loss with 54 which is good for 11th in the MAC record book. English has six tackles for loss in 2008 and is tied for the team lead. In Any League: Defensive end Larry English proved that he would be a force in any league with his performance versus the huge offensive line of Tennessee. In that game, English had a season-high 2.5 sacks for losses totaling 26 yards to earn MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors. He made one of the biggest defensive plays of the game when he sacked UT QB Nick Stephens in the third quarter to force a fumble that NIU recovered on the Tennessee nine yard line and later converted into a field goal. Sharing the Ball: The Northern Illinois running game is more than healthy and features more threats than ever before. Nine Huskie backs, running behind a veteran offensive line, have racked up 1,021 rushing yards with 4.5 yards per carry and 170.2 yards per game. NIU ranks fourth in the league in rushing offense as its five tailbacks have combined for 789 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 149 carries, while four quarterbacks have totaled 247 yards on 71 rushes and three scores. Five players - tailbacks Me'co Brown (348), Justin Anderson (140), Chad Spann (134) and Montell Clanton (111) and quarterback DeMarcus Grady (187) - have more than 100 rushing yards each. Balanced Attack: Through the first half of the schedule, the Northern Illinois offense is the definition of "balanced". The Huskies have gained 1,021 yards on the ground (49.7 percent of their total) and 1,034 yards (50.3 percent) through the air. NIU has run the ball 226 times versus just 140 passes, and have scored 11 touchdowns rushing compared to only seven passing. The Huskies are averaging 5.6 yards per play in 2008 with 4.5 per rush and 7.4 per pass attempt. First downs are also nearly equal as NIU has picked up 49 rushing first downs and 44 through the air. Sweet 16: Four Huskie quarterbacks have hit 16 different teammates with passes so far in 2008 as nine different wide receivers, three tight ends, a fullback and three tailbacks have caught passes. Northern Illinois is tied for fourth in the country as teams with the most players with a reception behind Troy and Tulane (1st with 18) and Indiana (17). NIU has had different receivers step up in nearly every game this season as Marcus Perez currently leads the Huskies in catches with 15, followed by freshman Nathan Palmer with 12 grabs. Landon Cox has come on to catch five passes in the last two weeks, including a touchdown versus Miami. Academic Accolades: Huskie offensive tackle Jon Brost, NIU's most consistent offensive lineman this season, picked up a couple of academic accolades last month. An electrical engineering major with a 3.6 grade point average, Brost was named a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy, which goes to the senior who combines the best in academic and athletic accomplishment. The 15 finalists for the Draddy Trophy, which will be named Oct. 29, earn National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete honors and each receives an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. Huskie quarterback Josh Haldi was an NFF Scholar-Athlete in 2004. Brost, a native of Maple Grove, Minn. also earned MAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week honors for his play Sept. 27 versus Eastern Michigan. He is the second Huskie football player to win the Scholar-Athlete of the Week honor this season, joining quarterback Chandler Harnish. Good Hands and Good Works: During his NIU career, Northern Illinois receiver Matt Simon has displayed both good hands and good works, making the senior a perfect choice for the 2008 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Members of the Good Works team are selected based on their commitment to community service, which Simon displayed in leading his teammates, and organizing their participation with outside groups like Hope Haven Homeless Shelter, the American Red Cross and the Special Olympics, as well as at on-campus events like the April 16 Virginia Tech Vigil at NIU. Simon, a Farmington, Minn. native who led Northern Illinois in receiving a year ago, was one of just 11 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players selected to the 2008 Allstate Good Works Team. With CLASS: NIU defensive end Larry English, who was selected the Most Valuable Player (Vern Smith Award winner) in the Mid-American Conference by MAC coaches last year, was named one of 30 candidates for the 2008 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for football. The honor goes to an NCAA FBS senior who has notable achievements in four areas of excellence: Classroom, Character, Community and Competition. English is also on the watch lists for the 2008 Bronko Nagurski (defensive player), Rotary Lombardi (down lineman) and Ted Hendricks (defensive end) awards. After leading the MAC in sacks a year ago, the Aurora, Ill. native became the eighth underclassmen, and the second defensive player ever (the first since Ray Bentley won the inaugural award in 1982), to be named the MAC MVP. Third and Good: A key to Northern Illinois' success on both offense and defense in 2008 has been the Huskies' proficiency on third down. Defensively, the Huskies lead the MAC and rank 21st nationally as NIU opponents have converted just 26 of 83 third down tries for a conversion percentage of 31.3. Offensively, NIU has extended drives on third down 35 times in 79 tries so far this year for a third down conversion percentage of 44.3 percent. That ranks third in the MAC and 38th in the nation and is a far cry from the Huskies' 32 percent mark in 2007 (55 of 171). Putting the Special in Specialists: Punter Andy Dittbenner and kicker Mike Salerno have been a potent one-two punch, er kick, on special teams for the Huskies this year. Dittbenner has punted 22 times for a 40.9-yard average this season. He has forced opponents into six fair catches and dropped seven punts inside the 20 yard line. He was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Specialist of the Week following the Eastern Michigan game, when he punted four times for a 47.2-yard average with all four of his punts pinning EMU inside its own 20-yard line. Salerno, meanwhile, leads NIU in scoring with 18 PATs and 10 field goals on the year but his greatest contribution has come on kickoffs. The transfer from Winona State is averaging 67.1 yards on 34 kickoffs with 11 touchbacks. Three of his four kickoffs versus Miami were downed in the end zone. He made a season-best three FGs at Tennessee.
Huskie Quick Hitters:
HUSKIE MULTIMEDIA TELEVISION The Northern Illinois-Toledo game will be broadcast by Comcast SportsNet Chicago, which will air the Huskies' first four home games in 2008. Tom Dore joins the broadcast team to call play-by-play while Dave Kaplan and Bob Chmiel will serve as color analysts and Jim Blaney handles sideline reporting duties. The game will also be available nationally through ESPN GamePlan and online at www.ESPN360.com, but will not be available via GamePlan in the CSN coverage area. 2008 marks the fifth season of Northern Illinois' football game broadcasts on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, which reaches most of Illinois, Iowa and Indiana. RADIO The Huskie Sports Radio Network will carry the Toledo game beginning with the pregame show at 2:30 p.m. (Central). Bill Baker is in his 29th year as the play-by-play voice of the Huskies and he is joined in the booth by 24-year veteran Mark Lindo and third-year sideline reporter Casey Kahler. The 2008 Huskie Radio line-up includes WSCR-AM 670 (Chicago), WTMJ-AM 1380 (Beloit, Wisc.) and the flagship station, WLBK-AM (1360) in DeKalb. The Score also is the home of "NIU Live," the weekly 30-minute radio show that is all about Huskie Sports. NIU Director of Athletics Jeff Compher joins host Andy Garcia and Huskie coaches for the show, which airs Wednesday nights at 8:30 p.m. on WSCR 670 AM. ON LINE To hear every Huskie Radio Network broadcast and SEE live video of select NIU games, sign up for the Huskie All Access package at www.niuhuskies.com. Purchase the monthly package for $6.95 or a year-long pass for $49.95. Fans can also enjoy more FREE video content than ever before including Inside Huskie Sports, Jerry Kill's weekly and post-game press conferences and other special events. Also go to www.niuhuskies.com for the latest statistics, feature stories, player Q&As as well as weekly and daily updates. WEEKLY TV For complete game highlights as well as commentary from Head Coach Jerry Kill and special features, watch "Inside Huskie Sports" weekly on Comcast SportsNet Chicago and on my Network TV in Rockford. The 30-minute highlight show airs on Comcast at 4 p.m. Thursdays in September and October. In Rockford, catch IHS at 10:30 a.m. Saturdays on myNetworkTV. Fans are also invited to the live taping of the show Mondays at 5:30 p.m. at Fatty's Pub and Grille, 1312 West Lincoln Highway in DeKalb.
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