Going into last Saturday’s game against Iowa State, the NIU football team had been basically injury-free.

Not any more.

Weak side linebacker Javan Lee and defensive end Travis Moore will miss at least next week’s game against Ohio, NIU coach Joe Novak said.

Lee partially tore his hamstring and Moore sprained his ankle in the win over the Cyclones.

“They will be out for a while,” Novak said. “Javan was feeling better yesterday but Travis is a little more serious.”

Lee stepped in this year as the starting linebacker for Larry Williams, who graduated.

Moore, a converted linebacker and former walk-on, was a First Team All-MAC selection last season.

The two have combined for 35 tackles and two sacks this season.

Another week, another honor

NIU running back Michael Turner was named co-offensive Player of the Week for the West Division.

Turner rushed for 134 yards on 30 carries and added 30 yards receiving and 15 return yards in the Huskies’ fourth win of the season.

Turner broke school records for career rushing and all-purpose yards.

Phil Reed from Western Michigan was the other recipient of the award.

Blackout

Fans attending the football game on Saturday saw a change at Huskie Stadium.

Pieces of black tarp lined the fence around the stadium, making it nearly impossible to see either in or out.

“We’ve always wanted a darker background for the players,” assistant athletics director Robert Collins said. “We’ve wanted to enclose the stadium for a while. Cosmetically, it made sense.”

The athletics department had a tarp earlier this season but it wasn’t heavy enough, so a different tarp had to be brought in, Collins said.

Piece of history

With NIU’s win over Iowa State, it became the second MAC team in history to beat three BCS conference schools in one season.

Last year, Bowling Green beat Kansas and Missouri from the Big 12 and Big East entry Temple for the BCS sweep.

“Those are the three best BCS teams,” Novak said. “We’ve come a long way from six or seven years ago. It’s amazing.”

Golden Flash to Bolt

Former Kent State All-MAC basketball player Antonio Gates has had a change of heart.

He decided to try out for the San Diego Chargers of the NFL.

And he made the team.

Gates did not play football for Kent State, but is listed as the No. 3 tight end for the Chargers.

During his first semester in college, Gates played at Michigan State. Then he transferred to Eastern Michigan for the spring semester. Gates then made his way to College of Sequoias in California, but did not play basketball.

Gates was part of back-to-back East Division champs at KSU for hoops and was runner-up to Chris Kaman for conference Player of the Year honors.