Hope.

In 1983 the Huskie football team shared hope with NIU. The result: a 10-2 season, a bowl win over Cal State Fullerton and a MAC championship.

On Monday, members of the 1983 Huskies came to DeKalb to share that hope again.

“A few of the players started an e-mail,” said Dan Graham, former NIU center and Tampa Bay Buccaneer. “I thought it was a great idea to show [the students] a little love.”

Former nose guard Jim Mukite started the e-mail to his fellow alumni. Though just an informal buzz, Mukite’s e-mail received a huge response.

Over 15 former players, athletic staff and former NIU head coach Joe Novak and his wife stood in King Memorial Commons Monday. The group walked around the area welcoming students back to class.

For Mukite, the act was the only way he could think to show support to current Huskies.

“There’s no magical answer, but it’s the least we could do,” Mukite said. “We wanted to come back and welcome them.”

And welcome them is what the team did. Every entrance to the Commons was covered by the group.

With boxes of cookies in one hand, and the other open, the former players shook hands, gave hugs and passed out free cookies to students.

For over two hours, the group stood out in the Commons giving support to students at their former university.

“It’s a shame a tragedy caused this,” former place kicker Vince Scott said. “But through tragedy, something good always comes out of it. It’s hard to see a day, a week or a month later. These kids will become stronger because of this.”

Heads were hung low as students walked into the Commons. But after greetings from the former players many looked up.

Many saw a smile greet them, followed by a friendly hello, with a firm handshake or warm hug to end the meeting.

The students had hope. Hope for a better tomorrow, hope things would get better, hope normalcy would return.

In 1983, the Huskie football team brought hope to DeKalb. In 2008, they brought hope back.