For those of you who haven’t kept up with NIU sports for the summer, worry no more.

This is your link to all the new signings, players drafted, hirings, transfers and arrests with current and former Huskies.

Football

NIU hall-of-famer arrested

Former NIU and NFL player LeShon Johnson was arrested in May and more than 80 pit bulls were seized from his Oklahoma residence.

The 1994 NIU graduate was charged with racketeering and conspiracy following a 17-month investigation into dogfighting.

Johnson, 33, was among 22 people accused of participating in gambling on pit bull fights.

The former Heisman Trophy finalist was drafted No. 84 by the Green Bay Packers in the 1994 NFL Draft. He finished his pro career with the XFL’s Chicago Enforcers in 2000.

New Huskies in NFL

Although running back Michael Turner was the only player drafted from the 2003 NIU football team (by the San Diego Chargers), two others remain on rosters.

The Tennessee Titans picked up safety Akil Grant. The San Francisco 49ers got wide receiver P.J. Fleck and cornerback Randee Drew as free agents. Fleck and Grant are still with their respective teams trying to make roster spots. Drew was released toward the beginning of training camp.

On July 28, Turner signed a standard three-year rookie contract with the Chargers.

Making a mess

The north end zone of Huskie Stadium had its bleachers removed and construction work is ongoing.

Fans may now rent out portable truck suites, where the bleachers used to be, to tailgate on and view the game from. They are expected to be ready after the Sept. 11 game against Southern Illinois, said Robert Collins, NIU associate athletics director.

O-line even deeper

With two Huskies returning, the strongest part to the NIU football team got even better.

Matt McGhghy and Mark Orszula returned from a combined three years away from the team.

McGhghy was on probation when he allegedly punched two 20-year-old men at a party Nov. 24, 2002.

Orszula was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA after nearly losing his leg in a forklift accident in the summer of 2002.

Baseball

MLB calls NIU players

In the June Major League Baseball Draft, five Huskies were selected.

In order, seniors Rob Marconi (Baltimore Orioles), Zach Minor (Orioles), Trevor Wohlgemuth (San Francisco Giants) and Mike Santoro (Giants) were drafted.

Brett Scarpeta of Hononegah High School, an NIU signee and the first Huskie drafted, was picked in the 18th round by the Chicago White Sox. Scarpeta opted to go to a junior college to try and be drafted again next year.

In his first two seasons at NIU, head coach Ed Mathey has had six players drafted by MLB organizations. Last season, Joe Mazzuca was a 12th round selection by the Florida Marlins. Mazzuca has since been released.

Pitcher Joe Piekarz later signed a free-agent contract with the Oakland Athletics.

Basketball

Two gone, two more brought in

After the NIU men’s basketball team lost sophomore Rome Sanders and recruit Cyrus Tate, coach Rob Judson found two replacements.

Added to the team are Iowa transfer Ben Rand, who won’t be eligible until the 2005-’06 season because of NCAA transfer rules, and junior college point guard Cory Sims.

Sanders will transfer to Florida A&M after a battery charge at NIU. Tate did not qualify academically and will attend Vincennes (Ind.) Junior College.

Representing his country

Al Sewasciuk, a 2004 NIU graduate, made the Polish national basketball team.

He is currently touring Europe and competing for the European Championships. Poland did not qualify for the Olympics.

Sewasciuk averaged three points while receiving 8.8 minutes of playing time during the 2003-’04 season.

Leaving American soil

The NIU women’s basketball team played in a five-game tournament in Europe May 16 to 26.

The Huskies finished 4-1 against professional Italian teams.

The Huskies were led in scoring by the departed Joi Scott, who transferred to Murray State in Kentucky, and Mary Basic.

Coaching flip

NIU Director of Basketball Operations Steve Christiansen left DeKalb to take the head coaching job at Triton College in River Grove.

As a replacement, Judson brought in one of his former players, Sean Harrington, from when he was an assistant at the University of Illinois.