While many of the big names were missing from Huskie Stadium for Thursday’s Spring Game, two of the biggest names at the game will be suiting up on a slightly bigger stage this fall.

Former NIU standouts and current NFL players Ryan Diem (Indianapolis Colts) and Justin McCareins (Tennessee Titans) made appearances at chilly Huskie Stadium Thursday night.

While success has flooded NIU’s football team in recent years, coach Joe Novak credits these two among others for laying the foundation for today’s success.

“I was getting calls from the New York Times about losing,” Novak said. “I didn’t like it. Now people are excited about Huskie football. These kids don’t remember the tough times. But guys like Thomas [Hammock] … Diem, McCareins they were about winning.”

While NIU record books are filled with the names of these two, their careers have taken them to a higher level. A level that takes a little extra work.

“The most difficult part was mentally there is so much more stuff to do,” Diem said. “With our offense and Peyton Manning checking plays at the line of scrimmage all the time you just have to be a lot more sharp as far as knowing what to do in every situation.”

Diem, who is in charge of protecting Manning from his offensive guard position, is entering his third season with the Colts.

“I feel good about the start of the season,” Diem said. “We’re just getting back in the swing of things working out and running and we’re starting to get prepared.”

While Diem was a full-time starter with the Colts last season, McCareins’ playing time was limited because of injuries and a talented Titans receiving corps.

But, two catches for the second-year receiver on what proved to be the game-winning drive in last year’s playoff game against the Steelers have given McCareins a renewed sense of confidence.

“I’m very excited to start the season,” McCareins said. “We’ve been working out and trying to gradually get back into shape. I feel like I should have done that earlier in the season.

“I only see myself improving and making more plays when I get the opportunity.”

With all of the attention the NIU football team is getting, Diem and McCareins can’t help but get caught up in Huskie fever.

When the two played their first season at NIU, the team was winless. By the time they left, a 6-5 season was considered good by many.

Now, with back-to-back MAC West Co-Championships under Novak’s belt, the two are proud of their old coach.

“I think Coach Novak has done a good job recruiting and getting good guys here,” Diem said. “He has really turned this thing around. We didn’t win a game my freshman year. Now they are tied for the MAC Championship. You’ve got to give it to them. They’ve done a great job.”

McCareins agreed.

“This is the first I’ve had the chance to come back since I graduated,” McCareins said. “The team is so talented. It really makes me proud to say I was part of this team.”

While the two make a living by playing in front of 60,000 people every Sunday, Diem was just a little jealous of NIU’s recent fan support.

“They got this new field in and it looks sweet,” Diem said. “My freshman year here we didn’t win a game and things were ugly. I wish I could have played in front of the crowds that these guys are playing in front of.”