2011 Northern Illinois Huskies Football Preview

Northern Illinois was dealt a blow at the end of last season, a stomach punch that many if not all of its MAC foes have felt at one time or another in recent years. After a program- defining season, the head coach was on his way to bigger and better things. For the folks in De Kalb, Illinois, it was coach Jerry Kill’s turn to leave for greener pastures at the University of Minnesota. Kill infused the Huskies with vigor and intensity, all while presiding over an offense that lit up the MAC in 2010. Northern Illinois played with an edge, a fiery dimension not seen in any other conference team with the exception of Miami University. The Huskies finished with 11 victories, running roughshod over almost all of their conference opponents. A loss to Miami in the MAC Championship Game hurt this team, and when Kill then departed before the Humanitarian Bowl against Fresno State, it was easy to think that the Huskies were going to slog through the motions in a typical display of emotional woundedness. Instead, NIU drilled Fresno State, ringing up 40 points to claim a very satisfying postseason triumph. The Huskies will find it hard to match last year’s journey under new leadership this season, but as incoming head coach Dave Doeren will try to follow the success-laden path carved by Kill, it is worth noting that NIU did win without Kill the last time it took to the field. That reality needs to fuel this team as the 2011 season approaches.

The Huskies return seven starters from an offense that was terrific last season, especially on the ground. Behind the prowess of 1,300-yard rusher Chad Spann, the Huskies rushed for over 260 yards per contest, good enough for seventh best in all of FBS. Northern Illinois also scored 38 points per game, a stat made possible by five outings with 45 points or more and three games with at least 59 points. This team got decked a few times by opponents from the BCS conferences, but in the MAC, it went 8-1 by drilling opponents left and right.

However, Spann will be gone this season. It looks like Jasmine Hopkins will be asked to fill his shoes. Quarterback Chandler Harnish, who threw for over 2,500 yards last season, is back for his senior season. That’s the biggest reason to trust NIU. Harnish made plays when the pocket broke down, but he also proved to be a devastatingly quick open-field runner who could flummox defenses with his ballhandling skills and his underrated passing. With Harnish at the controls once more, the Huskies shouldn’t miss too much of a beat on offense.

It wasn’t simply the offense which excelled last year, the defense was every bit as formidable. Northern Illinois gave up only 18 points per game. This season, however, the Huskies return just two starters from last year’s squad. The offense will be expected to pick up the slack. Harnish, though, is a man who can do just that.

After nearly upsetting the Badgers in Madison in 2009, Northern Illinois will be privileged to host Wisconsin during week three. Two weeks prior, the Huskies open up the regular season, hosting Army. A week later, the Huskies will travel to Lawrence to take on Kansas. The Huskies do not play either Ohio, Miami (Ohio), or Temple during the regular season.

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