The awards keep piling up for NIU’s all-time leading rusher Michael Turner.

The 5-foot-10, 232-pound senior was named to the 2003 Associated Press All-American team. This is the sixth All-American team he has made this season. In two years, Turner made 11 teams, the most ever made at NIU.

“It was some times I’ll never forget here at Northern,” said Turner, who will not take classes during the spring semester, but instead will train for the NFL draft. “They were some of the greatest moments of my life.”

Turner, a second-team selection, and Miami (Ohio) junior quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who made the third team, were the only MAC players selected to the team.

“The AP All-American team is one of the most prestigious and most respected All-American teams,” NIU football coach Joe Novak said. “Again, and I sound like a broken record, that’s tremendous recognition for both Michael and our program. What a fitting climax to a great senior year and career here.”

NIU senior place-kicker Steve Azar was named All-American for the second time. Azar was made Honorable Mention All-American by Collegefootballnews.com.

As a sophomore, Azar made Honorable Mention Football News All-American.

Shafer Out

NIU defensive coordinator Scott Shafer has left NIU to be the secondary coach at the University of Illinois.

Shafer becomes the fifth former NIU coach to be on Illinois coach Ron Turner’s staff.

Shafer has coached the secondary since he came to NIU in 1996 and spent the last four years as defensive coordinator for the Huskies.

In 2002, Shafer’s defense set NIU records with 101 tackles for loss, 65 pass deflections and 47 sacks.

“The loss will mean a lot to the team,” NIU senior cornerback Randee Drew said. “We played a very aggressive defense and Coach Shafer was the mastermind behind it.”

NIU No. 26

In the final ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, NIU finished No. 26, the highest in the school’s history.

NIU also finished No. 29 in The Associated Press Poll.

The previous best finish for an NIU team was a tie for 30th place in 1989 in the United Press Association poll.

Miami finished No. 12 in the coaches poll and No. 10 in The AP poll, while Bowling Green finished No. 23 in both polls.

All-Star Games

NIU had five players picked to play in postseason all-star games.

Senior center Todd Ghilani became the fifth Huskie picked when he was a late addition to the East team roster of the 79th annual East-West Shrine Game.

The game was played Saturday at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, Calif.

Turner withdrew his name from the Shrine game after committing to the game before the season started.

Turner will play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Jan 24.

“That was the most important one and I wanted to get in,” Turner said. “I was just worried about getting injured; anything can happen.”

Azar was named to his school-record third postseason all-star game and will play in the Villages Gridiron Classic in Florida on Jan. 31.

Azar will join NIU teammate Akil Grant, who was picked for the game in December.

Senior cornerback Randee Drew will play in his second all-star game, the Las Vegas All-American Classic, on Saturday. Drew participated in the Blue-Gray Classic.

“It’s a pretty good feeling,” Drew said. “It lets you know all your hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Everyone is trying to get their name out, get seen and get their shot.”

MAC 2-0

NIU was the only 10-win team that didn’t get a bowl, but the MAC went 2-0 in bowl games after wins by Miami (Ohio) and Bowling Green.

Miami (13-1) beat Louisville 49-28 in the GMAC Bowl.

MAC Player of the Year Ben Roethlisberger threw for 376 yards and four touchdowns in his last collegiate game.

Roethlisberger will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

In the Motor City Bowl, Bowling Green (11-3) beat Northwestern behind 386 yards passing from Josh Harris.

Harris’ 38 completions were a Motor City Bowl record.

BGSU receiver Cole Magner also set a game record with 12 catches.