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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Hartman proves he’s more than just a backup

By Bob Grant | September 22, 2004

When NIU men’s soccer’s starting goalie Steve Goletz went down Sept. 10, backup Brent Hartman was there for the Huskies. In the three games Hartman started, he has a 3-0 record, giving up only two goals. His save percentage of .842 puts him on top...

Unlike 2002, this year’s Falcons squad is ready for loud and rowdy Huskies crowd

By Elliott Schreiner | September 22, 2004

Editor’s note: The sports editor of the Bowling Green student newspaper submitted this column. The Northern Illinois-Bowling Green game: where dreams have gone to die the past two years. Bowling Green headed into DeKalb two seasons ago with an 8-0 record...

NIU vs. BG rivalry continues on Friday

By Steve Brown | September 21, 2004

Riding the wave of momentum from victories over Maryland, Alabama, Iowa State and everyone else they faced, NIU looked unstoppable going into Bowling Green last season.

With its 7-0 start, the Huskies pounded their way to a No. 12 ranking in Division I-A college football.

True, the Huskies had squeaked by with some of their victories. A win against the No. 15 ranked Maryland came down to overtime, and one could argue that NIU just barely nabbed wins against Alabama and Ohio.

But still, the record stood. The Huskies were unbeaten.

After edging out other ranked teams, why would Bowling Green -- a simple MAC opponent -- be any problem? Sure, BG was ranked No. 23, but NIU had spoiled Bowling Green’s season the previous year by topping the 20th-ranked Falcons in DeKalb.

The stage was set for a matchup between two of the MAC’s biggest names: BG quarterback Josh Harris and NIU running back Michael Turner.

Every seat in the Falcon’s Doyt Perry Stadium was filled. A crowd of 31,007 looked on. The nation watched on ESPN’s GameDay.

After the first three minutes, Huskie fans lay stunned. The Falcons sprinted to a 14-0 lead. By the third quarter, NIU was down 27-3 and didn’t look like the No. 12 team in the nation.

Turner was shut down, totaling his second-lowest rushing performance of the season with 87 yards and the passing game wasn’t any better.

NIU quarterback Josh Haldi was sacked six times, and NIU gave up three interceptions.

On the other side of the ball, Bowling Green’s quarterback could do nothing but shine. Harris threw 27-of-43 passes for 438 yards with two touchdowns. To top that off, he rushed for 89 yards -- more than Turner.

For Bowling Green, it was vengeance. NIU couldn’t find a way to stop Harris, and was handed a painful 34-18 loss.

It was tough to watch the analysis of the game the next day. People started to question how good NIU really was.

NIU ended up losing two games later, to Toledo, finishing 10-2 and missing the MAC West title to Bowling Green. The Falcons ended up topping Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl, while the Huskies sat at home to watch on TV and take claim to being the best team in Division I-A football without a bowl game.

For the last two years, each team has broken the other’s dream season, making Bowling Green one of NIU fans’ toughest opponents and biggest rivalries.

This time, both teams start their MAC season against each other. Both teams won’t have forgotten the agony of defeat; both teams will remember revenge.

Test your Huskies IQ

By Frank Rusnak | September 21, 2004

Try your hand at quiz No. 2, which should seem easier than the No. 1 1) Who is Phil Horvath’s backup at quarterback? 2) Who is the only true freshman on NIU’s defense? 3) If NIU punter Anthony Gallagher goes down, which quarterback is his backup?...

Team needs 12th man for Friday

By Colin DeCair | September 21, 2004

Editor’s note: From the bleachers is a column to run every Wednesday. It is meant to give a fan’s view of all major happenings on campus relating with NIU athletics. A typical football season consists of 11 games or 660 minutes. Yet with all that...

NIU’s energized tackler

By Sean Ostruszka | September 21, 2004

Strong safety Ray Smith has a lethal combination: football on the brain and Red Bull running through his veins. P The “Energizer battery” as his roommate and cornerback, Deon Smith, calls him, Smith has used his unending energy to torment opposing...

Harris’ right shoulder is “fine”

By Steve Brown | September 20, 2004

Anxious fans who watched NIU running back A.J. Harris leave Saturday’s Iowa State game in the fourth quarter can breathe a sigh of relief. “He’s fine,” NIU coach Joe Novak said of the Huskies leading running back. “[His shoulder] just popped...

Hopefully Horvath case can turn out like Haldi

By Ian Waddick | September 20, 2004

Josh Haldi, please get healthy. NIU desperately needs you back A.S.A.P. The Huskies have Bowling Green at home just three days from now and they can’t be embarrassed on national TV for the second-consecutive year. These are the pleas that can be heard...

High scoring shootout not what was expected

By Ian Waddick | September 19, 2004

AMES, Ia. - Heading into Saturday’s game with NIU, the Iowa State defense was tied for No. 7 in the nation. After the shootout, the Cyclones fell to No. 16 in the nation defensively, yet still won the rematch with the Huskies 48-41 at Jack Trice Stadium....

Cyclones finish in a flurry

By Ian Waddick | September 19, 2004

AMES, Ia - Even a Papa John’s pizza for the bus ride home couldn’t hide the disappointment on the faces of the NIU football team Saturday. After recovering from an early 13-point deficit, the Huskies crumbled in the fourth quarter, blowing a two-touchdown...

Cyclones try to get swirling once again

By Ian Waddick | September 16, 2004

Before the 2000 season, the Iowa State football team lay dormant in college football for nearly 21 years. The Cyclones had just five winning seasons in that span without a single bowl appearance. In 2000, ISU changed its losing ways, making its first...

Iowa State looks for revenge

By Steve Brown | September 16, 2004

When the NIU football team heads to Ames, Iowa to face Iowa State at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Huskie coach Joe Novak will take three things into account: “One, they just got beat by Iowa, so they won’t be too happy,” Novak said. “Two, we beat them...

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