Central Florida football coach George O’Leary began his coaching career at Syracuse in 1980. The 58-year-old wrote on his resume, among other things, that he lettered in football three times at New Hampshire and earned his master’s degree in education....

Ken West has a message for the haters: “When we found out the defensive line could be a question mark, we took that very, very personally,” the Huskies’ defensive end said. “Every game we just try to go out and let people see what potential we...

NIU free safety Lionel Hickenbottom was surprised when he found out he was one of four players chosen to captain the NIU football team. Off the field, the senior is a calm, quiet guy that might not seem like the leader type. On the field, though, it’s...

NIU offensive tackle Doug Free is part of a line that has produced two of this season’s five top rushers in the MAC. Free gained recognition after his freshman year and anchors the offensive line that has been a strong point for the Huskies football...

Some might find NIU senior linebacker Brian Atkinson a bit of a paradox. Football coach Joe Novak called the senior captain a quiet, less-vocal leader; but at the same time, Atkinson’s nickname is “The Beast.” Atkinson provided clarity to the confusion....

It’s 8 p.m., and a graduate assistant for the Penn State football team named Mike Sabock is killing time, waiting for his wife to get off her job at the local dentist’s office. On a whim, he picks up the phone and dials the NIU football office in...

Saturday’s game against the Akron Zips proved several things. The most important of which was what should be done in the north end zone. There used to be stands occupying the area that now has what looks like a couple of parked semis. However, the university...

Intramural flag football signups begin at 2 p.m. today and are expected to fill up within two to three hours, said NIU Intramural and Sport Club Director Galen Mahle. The lobby of the Office of Campus Recreation will host the signups. There will be six...

Running back A.J. Harris practiced Sunday with the NIU football team, but still may not play Saturday at Central Florida, Huskies coach Joe Novak said. “We had a light workout last night and he participated in it,” Novak said. “He’s not 100 percent...

Things are finally starting to come around for the NIU football team. The Huskies played closely in each of the season’s first three games, but a frustrating display of inexperience was evident. After a loss to Iowa State, things looked especially bleak....

Someone is mistaken. The Ohio State Web site says that the NIU football team is slated to play Ohio State in 2006. Ohio State Associate Athletic Director Bill Myles backed that up Monday morning, saying the Huskies will face Ohio State in Columbus on...

It didn’t take long for NIU quarterback Josh Haldi to adjust to starting again for the Huskies. After NIU safety Ray Smith recovered an Akron fumble on the second play of the game, Haldi connected with Dan Sheldon for a 23-yard touchdown pass on his...