Four individuals and one team were named inductees into the NIU Hall of Fame last week.

Adam Dach (football 1987-91), Kevin Ekberg (men’s gymnastics 1982-84), Joe Plaskas (football 1956-59, baseball 1957-61) Niki Van Hoorweghe (softball 1992-96) and the 1989-90 women’s basketball team will be honored at halftime during Oct. 15 homecoming football game.

ESPNU to air two NIU games

ESPN’s new 24-hour college sports television network, ESPNU, will host a “MAC Cram Session” on Wednesday of next week..

The programming series will telecast the best moments of the 2004-05 year from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

NIU’s post-season victory at the 2004 Silicon Valley Football Classic and men’s basketball’s first-round loss to Buffalo in this year’s MAC tournament will be aired at 9 a.m. and noon, respectively.

Showing off his arm

Joe Novak got to show off skills he doesn’t often get to showcase while leading the NIU football team from the sidelines.

The 60-year old Huskie coach threw the first pitch and sung “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch at Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs matchup against the Colorado Rockies on May 27.

This isn’t the first time Novak has made an appearance at a major-league game in Chicago. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Chicago White Sox last spring prior to the south sider’s matchup against the New York Yankees.

Novak led the Huskies to a 34-21 win in the 2004 Silicon Valley Football Football Classic in December, NIU’s first bowl game since playing in the California Bowl following the 1983 season.