Saturday’s final home football game against Murray State will mark the last time that 23 Huskies seniors will suit up and run onto the field at the “Doghouse.”

The 23 seniors, who will be honored before kickoff, have compiled a school-record 12 consecutive victories at Huskie Stadium and a 14-1 mark over the last three years.

“There’s a lot of tradition here, a lot of memories here at the Doghouse,” cornerback Earl Upton said. “I think the best thing that I can remember about being here is that we haven’t lost here in two years. That’s a big thing for a lot of seniors, there’s a lot of pride. When we go out to play, we know we’re not going to lose here.”

“They’re a great group of young men. They’ve never been on a losing team since they’ve been here,” NIU head coach Jerry Pettibone said. “It’s going to be a real emotional time for me, and I know the rest of the coaching staff, to see these guys run out onto the field and know that’s the last time they’re going to play here. They’ve really been the backbone of the building of the winning traditions here.”

Fourteen of the 23 seniors are starters this season, including tri-captain free safety Kevin Cassidy, who will miss the game due to a knee injury suffered last week against Arkansas State.

“It’s going to be hard to sit through a game and not be able to play,” he said. “The last four years have been great here. There have been some highlights and some lowlights, but overall I’ve had a great time and I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

Only one member of the defensive line, Cary Caliendo, will be playing in his last home game.

“It’s hard to leave, but everything comes to an end,” he said. College football was a blast, especially with these guys. Paul Rogan is an experience to have as a friend, so is Eric White, Scott Van Bellinger and Phil Bucaro. I didn’t know if I was going to enjoy college football that much, but I did.”

For some of the seniors, their careers at NIU went by faster than they had expected.

“When I first got here I didn’t think this day would come,” split end Mark Clancy said. “When I was a freshman, I saw seniors running out there for their last game and I thought ‘That’s a long way away.’ And now it’s me. It’s probably going to be an eerie feeling knowing that it’s the last time I’ll put on a uniform in Huskie Stadium.”

Offensive guard Scott Elliot put the final home game of 1990 in perspective.

“We’ve got three more road games to play, so by no means is this the end of the season,” he said. “But I think at the time it might finally hit me. Right now it’s not that big of a deal. Once I’m out there, and Mom and Dad are there, I’m sure it will sink in.”

Placekicker John Ivanic had the same feeling.

“It’s kind of bittersweet, because even though it’s our last home game, we’ve still got three more road games,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it, and when it comes I’m just going to savor the moment.”

Tri-captain linebacker Paul Rogan felt that he will always remember his years here.

“The players around me are very special to me. I’ve made a lot of good friends here on the team,” he said. “I’ll always remember that I played here and I was a captain. I’ll always know that in the back of my mind I was a Huskie.”

“It will be the last game for what I consider a group of young men who have established the winning tradition of Huskies football,” Pettibone said.