Four votes.

Doesn’t sound like much until it is put into perspective.

This week NIU’s football team received four votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll.

The votes received by the poll are the first votes since 1989 when the Huskies finished 9-2 as an independent.

While number one Miami (Fla.) garnered 1,525 votes, coach Joe Novak was happy with the recognition.

“It’s nice to think somebody or some group of people thinks we’re in the top 25,” Novak said. “That’s really great to get recognition, especially from the coaches.”

For the 61 voters in the Coach’s Poll, a first place vote garners 25 points, a second 24, a third 23, etc.

Novak, who has a vote in the coaches poll, didn’t vote for his own team.

MAC matchup

Tuesday night’s game between MAC East Division foes Miami (Ohio) and Marshall could go a long way in determining the MAC East champion.

The two teams currently occupy the top of the East standings with one conference loss apiece. The winner of the contest will have control of their own destiny.

If Marshall is to claim its sixth consecutive East crown, it may have to do it without the services of quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Byron Leftwich. Leftwich, the nation’s passing leader, injured his left shin in the Thundering Herd’s 34-20 loss to Akron on Nov. 2.

If NIU was to win its final two games, it very well could play the winner of Tuesday night’s game.

“I’m not sure who I want to win yet,” Novak said. “I’d rather play in Oxford (Ohio) than in Huntington (W.Va.) but playing Miami (Ohio) doesn’t play favorable to us.”

If the Huskies do win the West Division, they will have to travel to the Eastern Division champion’s campus for the MAC Championship game on Dec. 7.

Taking it personal

In Saturday’s win over Bowling Green, NIU was whistled for three personal fouls.

This number marked a season high for the Huskies and is highly unlike Novak-coached teams.

Novak said that two of the penalties were stupidity on the part of his players and one was just being too aggressive.

Though Novak said he doesn’t like any penalties, he said he prefers those kind of penalties to those that are the result of mental mistakes or pre-snap penalties.

Three-time Turner

For the third time this season, Michael Turner was named MAC West Division Player of the Week.

Turner finished with 192 yards on 40 carries against Bowling Green’s fourth-rated MAC rush defense.

Turner’s first player of the week honor came against Western Illinois when he rushed for a career high 286 yards.

The second award came against Miami (Ohio) when he rushed for 222 yards and five touchdowns.

The North Chicago native is one of eight Huskies to win a conference player of the week award.