Michael Turner had a night to remember on Saturday against Western Illinois University.

The junior running back’s 282 yards marked the top single game rushing performance in college football this season.

Turner was rewarded for his performance Monday by being named the MAC West Division Player of the Week.

“Michael is a big, strong, fast kid,” coach Joe Novak said. “If he gets in the secondary, he is a load to tackle. Frankly, I don’t think people realize how fast he is once he gets going.”

Turner’s night also ranked as the fourth-best game in NIU history and tied for eighth all-time in MAC history.

The North Chicago native also collected three touchdowns and six runs of 10 yards or longer against WIU.

Two of Turner’s touchdown runs were 82 and 65 yards, which were good for the fifth and 16th longest runs in NIU history.

Student support

Novak couldn’t be happier with the attendance at the Huskies’ first two home games.

Spectators numbering 43,251 have entered the gates for the two games at Huskie Stadium this season.

“I was really proud of the students and the way they support us,” Novak said. “I hope they stay, because that means a lot to our team.”

NIU has averaged more than 20,000 spectators a season three times, all of which happened in the 1980s.

From 1981-1985, Huskie Stadium had the five highest attendances in school history.

Williams gone

Former Indiana-transfer Stephen Williams no longer is with the team.

Williams flunked out of school and no longer is on the Huskies’ roster.

After spending one season at IU, Williams sat out last season and was expected to play for the Huskies in 2003.

Williams also was a state champion wrestler in high school and entertained thoughts of going out for the NIU team.

Williams was a standout for Bolingbrook High School, collecting 85 tackles, four sacks and two fumble recoveries during his senior season.

Hammock to undergo testing

Senior running back Thomas Hammock is scheduled to undergo further testing Thursday on a cardiac condition.

Hammock will travel to the University of Minnesota to see a specialist for his condition.

Hammock hasn’t seen action since the season opener against Wake Forest University when he rushed 172 yards.

Slow-starting Huskies

A 1-3 record is not exactly how the Huskies wanted to start the season. However, slow starts are familiar territory for Novak’s teams.

“I think we all forget that last year our team was 2-4,” Novak said. “Our back was to the wall then, too. We were 0-3 in the MAC at that time and our kids came back and won four in a row.

“Every team is different, but last year’s team had their back to the wall and they responded,” Novak said. “Now it’s up to us to see what we do with our backs to the wall.”

In Novak’s tenure, the Huskies have a combined 6-22 record in the first four contests of the season.