With opening kickoff for the 2003 college football season just over six months away, NIU still is searching for a fourth non-conference game.

“We haven’t finalized a fourth school yet,” NIU coach Joe Novak said. We have it down to three or four. It was supposed to be finalized last Friday.”

The Huskies tentatively are scheduled to play Maryland on Sept. 6, at Alabama on Sept. 20 and Iowa State on Sept. 27.

NIU will play at Buffalo and home against Ohio for its games against the East Division.

Draft Day

While the NFL currently is holding its combine in Indianapolis, a few Huskie seniors are waiting for a chance.

“It is usually three or four weeks after [the combine] that they come around and work the kids out,” Novak said.

Over the last two years, the Huskies have had three players drafted into the NFL.

Offensive lineman Ryan Diem was drafted in the fourth round by Indianapolis in 2001. Six picks later, wide receiver Justin McCareins was picked up by the Tennessee Titans.

In last year’s draft, wide receiver Darrell Hill joined McCareins on the Titans when he was selected in the seventh round.

Offensive lineman Tim Vincent, defensive back Vince Thompson, linebacker Larry Williams and defensive lineman Anthony Falbo are players that could be worked out by NFL scouts.

Redshirts

All NIU players who applied for redshirts for last season were granted them by the NCAA.

Rumors that wide receiver P.J. Fleck was not granted a redshirt were denied by Novak.

Defensive back Lionel Hickenbottom, who missed the whole season with a knee injury, also will be given back a year of eligibility.

Ideally, Novak said he’d like to redshirt all of the incoming freshman class next fall.