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Northern Illinois was a juggernaut coming down the stretch last season, but the heavy favorites fell to Cinderella Miami, 26-21, in the Mid-American Conference Championship game. That setback ended a nine-game NIU winning streak.
 Although Northern Illinois took out some of its frustrations on Fresno State in a 40-17 Humanitarian Bowl rout, the Huskies, no doubt, feel they have unfinished business in Detroit. With a wealth of talent returning, the Huskies will be intent on finishing 2011 as the MAC’s lead dog.

“If I even bring up the (MAC Championship) game, everyone in the room gets angry,” new head coach Dave Doeren said.  “Every competitor is the same; they want to win.  These guys went through the regular season 8-0, and went out there [in the championship game] and lost on a botched almost interception, and every single one of them wants to redeem it.   That’s part of the passion they carried into the bowl game was the anger from that one.  The best way to get a bad taste out of your mouth is to go win.”

New coaches often walk into situations where programs are down or graduation has decimated the experienced ranks. Doeren, who replaced Jerry Kill (now at the University of Minnesota ), takes over a winning program that is hungry for more success.  Graduation and a few other issues did take a toll on the NIU defense, which ranked first in the MAC and 14th nationally last year. However, the offense – also ranked first in the MAC (12th nationally) – is primed for another productive campaign.

“It’s not very often you get a new job with nine seniors returning, including a fifth-year senior (quarterback) like Chandler (Harnish),” NIU offensive coordinator Matt Canada said. “Obviously Chandler is the leader of that group and he did a great job last season.

OFFENSE
One big loss on the offensive side of the ball is running back Chad Spann.  The two-time First Team All-MAC selection and 2010 MAC Offensive Player of the Year logged 258 carries for 1,388 yards (99.1 ypg) and 22 touchdowns on the year.  At 6-1, 220-pounds, Spann was the workhorse in an offense that finished seventh nationally in rushing.

While NIU figures to get a little lighter at the running back spot (e.g. possibly 5-9, 172-pound senior Jasmin Hopkins), an experienced line will likely provide plenty of seams for Huskies runners. 

“NIU has a tremendous tradition at tailback.,” Doeren said at MAC Media Day. “Jas Hopkins has started where he left off in the spring.  He’s a very competitive guy.  I’m proud of the way he’s working. 

“Jamal Womble, Leighton Settle and Akeem Daniels all have had good camps,” Doeren continued.  “There’s some great competition, and we will share the rock in the backfield.  There will be times when we have two or three running backs in the game.”

One of those backs could be freshman Luke Eakes, a 6-4, 246-pound fullback who fits right into the Northern Illinois tradition of physical football.

With its multiple sets, a new no-huddle offense, and senior quarterback Chandler at the helm, opposing defenses could once again face a long day at the office. 

Even with a punishing ground game, the Huskies 2010 Huskies were certainly capable of throwing the ball effectively. Harnish finished fifth (MAC games) in passing yardage and led the conference with a 66.1 completion percentage for eight regular season tilts. 

Northern Illinois came up just short in the MAC championship game. However, Harnish demonstrated he was a clutch player by completing 15-of-28 passes for 281 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions for a quarterback rating of 173.2. He followed that up with another solid performance in the Humanitarian Bowl (17-for-26, 1 TD, 0 interceptions).  Over NIU’s 13 games, he had a league-low five interceptions.

His 2010 performances earned Harnish a spot on the All Mid-American Conference First Team, and he is on watch lists for the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Quarterback Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year honor.

“The expectations are very high, not just for myself, but for the team in general.” Harnish said. “The MAC Championship is the only thing in our minds. If we’re able to complete that goal, many individual goals will follow.”
“He’s a great leader, and the kids follow him, and they do a great job responding to the way he leads,” Canada said. “He’s everything you want as far as a leader. He wants to be good; he’s a student of the game and certainly a great guy to … lead the team.”

When it comes to the passing game, Harnish has plenty of experienced targets, led by Willie Clark (42 catches, 7 TDs), Nathan Palmer 29 catches, 6 TDs, and Martel Moore (40 catches, 4 TDs).  The latter had four catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the MAC Championship game.

DEFENSE
Most of the questions regarding NIU football this season are on the defensive side of the ball, where Doeren and defensive coordinator Jay Niemann must find replacements at nearly every level. Nabal Jefferson, a 5-11, 287-pound junior nose guard, and Sean Progar (6-3, 260, Jr, DE) return to anchor a line that Nieman hopes can develop depth.

“The best defensive lines I’ve coached have been the ones that have depth and that you can continue to roll those guys through the game and keep ’em fresh so they have the same ability to disrupt for four quarters.  That’s our goal,” Doeren said.  We’ll play 10 guys on game day on the defensive line if we’re capable. “

Senior Jordan Delegal is back at one linebacker spot and Doeren recently noted Pat Schiller (6-4, 234, Sr) would be moving back into the middle.

Junior safety Tommy Davis had 47 solos among his 73 tackles (fourth on team) last year. He tied for the MAC lead with four fumbles and was an All-MAC Third Team selection as a return specialist. Rashaan Melvin, meanwhile, started two games at one corner, registering 39 tackles and picking off two passes over appearances in 14 games as a redshirt sophomore.

SPECIAL TEAMS
As with the defense, special teams will feature some new faces. Place kicker Michael Cklamovski connected on 17-of-27 field goal attempts and 55-of-61 PAT efforts last year. Matthew Sims and Josh Gallington figure into competition as replacements. The latter ranked No. 1 in California Junior College football last year, making 50-of-52 PATs and 17-of-20 field goals, with a long of 46.
Ryan Neir could be the heir for the Huskies punting job.
Davis is a bright spot in the return game after averaging 24 yards per kickoff return in 2010. One of his biggest moments was an 83-yard return against Toledo, a team picked to win the MAC West.

NOTES
- As if the Huskies needed any more motivation after coming within a missed interception of the MAC championship, the media selected Toledo as the 2011 West and, eventually, MAC preseason favorite. The Nov. 1 matchup between NIU and Toledo in the Glass Bowl may well be a classic.
- NIU opens its campaign Sept. 3 at home against Army. It then hits the road for two weeks. After a game at Kansas, the Huskies take on Wisconsin in a game at Soldier Field in Chicago. A home contest against Cal Poly follows, and then the Huskies embark on their Mid-American Conference mission with a game at Central Michigan.
“These guys want to prove that they are the best,” Doeren said. “This is a team that has one of the winningest records – if not the winningest –  in the conference over the last 10 years, but they haven’t hoisted a championship yet and they want to do that.“