In bowling, throwing a strike means little if it’s followed up with a couple gutter balls.

Three weeks ago, the NIU football team threw the equivalent of a booming strike; taking down MAC East favorite Temple. Two weeks later, the Huskies have soundly beaten two more opponents at home; removing any threat of a let-down game.

More importantly, the two wins have come against teams that would have been easy to underestimate. Buffalo came into last week’s game at 2-3. While Central Michigan came into Saturday’s contest a paltry 2-5 under first year head coach Dan Enos.

Even though both contests ended with a lopsided scoreboard, each game stood in question at halftime. Refusing to panic in either instance, the Huskies turned both games into laughers with strong second half performances.

The ability to keep both feet on the ground at all times has not always been a strong suit for the Huskies under Jerry Kill though. Events of 2009 proved that humbleness is a trait best acquired from experience.

After defeating Purdue 28-21 in West Lafayette last year, the Huskies were riding high. They had taken down a Big Ten opponent for the first time in ages and people around the program were excited.

Upon returning home the following week, though, NIU came out with a lackluster effort against Idaho; losing to the Vandals 34-31.

Dead-set on preventing the events of last year from repeating themselves, Kill has stressed to take the games as they come in 2010.

While that tiresome old adage is preached by football coaches across the country every year, it has been different for this NIU team.

“The guys are actually buying into the one game at time, one week at a time mantra,” Kill said. “For that you have to give credit to the seniors and the consistency of our assistant coaches.”

The Huskies started their current five-game winning streak with a win at Minnesota; NIU’s second victory against a Big Ten team in as many years. Instead of being content with the victory, however, the Huskies have improved noticeably every week since.

“Every week we look at film of the opponent, but we really talk about what we as a team need to do to get better,” Kill said. “We still have to work on getting consistent with those things, but we’re getting better and that’s what counts.”

Now that the Huskies are again on an emotional high, they’re left to search for even more reasons to stay humble as they approach the ensuing weeks.

Sophomore linebacker Tyrone Clarke has at least one reason.

“We have a chance to be real good,” Clarke said. “Which is why we have to keep it in our heads to always stay humble.”