The 2012 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Northern Illinois compiled an overall record of 12–2 with a mark of 8–0 in conference play, winning the MAC West Division title. The Huskies advanced to the MAC Championship Game, where they beat Kent State to win the program's third MAC championship. Northern Illinois was invited to the Orange Bowl, where they lost to Florida State.[1][2] Second-year head coach Dave Doeren led the team during the regular season and the MAC title game before resigning to become the head football coach at North Carolina State University.[3] Rod Carey was appointed interim head coach for the bowl game. The team's 12 wins was the most in any of the program's 113-year history.[4]
Since the MAC was a non-automatic qualifying (non-AQ) conference for the Bowl Championship Series, its conference champion had to finish 16th or higher in the BCS rankings and be ranked ahead of at least one AQ conference champion to qualify for a BCS game.[5] With their win in the MAC Championship Game, the Huskies moved to No. 15 in the final BCS rankings, while Louisville, champion of the Big East Conference, was ranked No. 21. As a result, Northern Illinois received a BCS bid to the Orange Bowl.[6] It was the first major-bowl appearance in program history and the first major-bowl appearance for any MAC team.
The season marked the Huskies' fifth consecutive trip to a bowl game. The team played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|
September 1 | 2:30 p.m. | vs. Iowa* | | | ESPNU | L 17–18 | 52,117 | [7] |
September 8 | 6:00 p.m. | UT Martin* | | | ESPN3 | W 35–7 | 16,010 | [8] |
September 15 | 11:00 a.m. | at Army* | | | CBSSN | W 41–40 | 30,176 | [9] |
September 22 | 2:30 p.m. | Kansas* | | | ESPN3 | W 30–23 | 18,374 | [10] |
September 29 | 2:30 p.m. | Central Michigan | | | ESPN3 | W 55–24 | 16,292 | [11] |
October 6 | 1:00 p.m. | at Ball State | | | ESPN3 | W 35–23 | 11,238 | [12] |
October 13 | 2:30 p.m. | Buffalo | | | CSNC | W 45–3 | 14,419 | [13] |
October 20 | 11:00 a.m. | at Akron | | | ESPN Plus | W 37–7 | 7,074 | [14] |
October 27 | 11:00 a.m. | at Western Michigan | | | ESPN Plus | W 48–34 | 12,974 | [15] |
November 3 | 2:30 p.m. | UMass | | | | W 63–0 | 11,114 | [16] |
November 14 | 8:00 p.m. | Toledo | | | ESPN2 | W 31–24 | 17,813 | [17] |
November 23 | 12:00 p.m. | at Eastern Michigan | No. 24 | | ESPN3 | W 49–7 | 1,349 | [18] |
November 30 | 6:00 p.m. | vs. No. 18 Kent State* | No. 19 | | ESPN2 | W 44–37 2OT | 18,132 | [19] |
January 1, 2013 | 7:30 p.m. | vs. No. 13 Florida State* | No. 16 | | ESPN | L 10–31 | 72,073 | |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Central time
|
Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes | Week |
---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
---|
AP | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | 24 | 19 | 16 | 22 |
---|
Coaches | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 23 | 18 | 16 | 24 |
---|
Harris | Not released | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | 24 | 19 | 16 | Not released |
---|
BCS | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 15 | Not released |
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Game summaries
vs Iowa
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Hawkeyes
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
9 |
18 |
Huskies
|
0
|
10
|
7
|
0 |
17 |
UT Martin
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Skyhawks
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
7 |
7 |
Huskies
|
7
|
14
|
7
|
7 |
35 |
@ Army
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Huskies
|
14
|
14
|
0
|
13 |
41 |
Black Knights
|
7
|
12
|
15
|
6 |
40 |
Kansas
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Jayhawks
|
3
|
7
|
7
|
6 |
23 |
Huskies
|
6
|
7
|
0
|
17 |
30 |
Central Michigan
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Chippewas
|
7
|
7
|
10
|
0 |
24 |
Huskies
|
14
|
10
|
10
|
21 |
55 |
@ Ball State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Huskies
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
14 |
35 |
Cardinals
|
3
|
13
|
7
|
0 |
23 |
Buffalo
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Bulls
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
3 |
Huskies
|
7
|
21
|
14
|
3 |
45 |
@ Akron
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Huskies
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
7 |
37 |
Zips
|
0
|
7
|
0
|
0 |
7 |
@ Western Michigan
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Huskies
|
7
|
10
|
14
|
17 |
48 |
Broncos
|
14
|
7
|
0
|
13 |
34 |
Massachusetts
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Minutemen
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
0 |
Huskies
|
14
|
21
|
21
|
7 |
63 |
Toledo
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Rockets
|
7
|
7
|
0
|
10 |
24 |
Huskies
|
0
|
7
|
21
|
3 |
31 |
@ Eastern Michigan
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
#23 Huskies
|
14
|
14
|
7
|
14 |
49 |
Eagles
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
| | |
Total |
#19 Huskies
|
3
|
14
|
10
|
7 | 3 | 7 |
44 |
#18 Golden Flashes
|
10
|
0
|
3
|
21 | 3 | 0 |
37 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
#16 Huskies
|
3
|
0
|
7
|
0 |
10 |
#12 Seminoles
|
7
|
7
|
3
|
14 |
31 |
Roster
2012 Northern Illinois Huskies football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
OL
|
74
|
Dustin Adams
|
Fr
|
OL
|
64
|
Sal Arceo
|
Fr
|
WR
|
7
|
Perez Ashford
|
Sr
|
OL
|
66
|
Matt Battaglia
|
Sr
|
RB
|
25
|
Giorgio Bowers
|
So
|
WR
|
82
|
Juwan Brescasin
|
Fr
|
WR
|
86
|
Jacob Brinlee
|
Fr
|
WR
|
4
|
Da'Ron Brown
|
So
|
OL
|
68
|
Ron Brown
|
Fr
|
OL
|
78
|
Ryan Brown
|
So
|
OL
|
61
|
Aidan Conlon
|
Fr
|
FB
|
48
|
Ricky Connors
|
So
|
RB
|
3
|
Akeem Daniles
|
Jr
|
QB
|
19
|
Johnny Eagan
|
Fr
|
TE
|
83
|
Luke Eakes
|
So
|
RB
|
44
|
Perez Ford
|
Fr
|
C
|
59
|
Michael Gegner
|
So
|
WR
|
81
|
Clayton Glasper
|
Fr
|
QB
|
12
|
Drew Hare
|
Fr
|
RB
|
20
|
Keith Harris
|
Fr
|
TE
|
98
|
Lincoln Howard
|
Fr
|
OL
|
62
|
Patrick Husain
|
Jr
|
OL
|
73
|
Matt Killian
|
Fr
|
OL
|
79
|
Matt Krempel
|
Jr
|
WR
|
80
|
Tommylee Lewis
|
So
|
OL
|
75
|
Tyler Loos
|
So
|
QB
|
6
|
Jordan Lynch
|
Jr
|
TE
|
44
|
DeVonte' Majors
|
Fr
|
TE
|
37
|
Desroy Maxwell
|
Fr
|
QB
|
16
|
Matt McIntosh
|
Fr
|
WR
|
13
|
Charlie Miller
|
Fr
|
WR
|
1
|
Martel Moore
|
Sr
|
RB
|
26
|
Alex Morrow
|
Fr
|
OL
|
71
|
Levon Myers
|
Fr
|
OL
|
55
|
Andrew Ness
|
Fr
|
OL
|
65
|
Wes Ott
|
So
|
OL
|
70
|
Logan Pegram
|
Sr
|
OL
|
67
|
Tyler Pitt
|
So
|
OL
|
72
|
Josh Ruka
|
Fr
|
TE
|
87
|
Jason Schepler
|
Sr
|
WR
|
85
|
Angelo Sebastiano
|
Fr
|
TE
|
88
|
Tim Semisch
|
So
|
RB
|
23
|
Leighton Settle
|
Jr
|
RB
|
34
|
James Spencer
|
So
|
OL
|
76
|
Brad Steger
|
Fr
|
FB
|
47
|
Rob Sterling
|
So
|
RB
|
42
|
Cameron Stingly
|
So
|
TE
|
43
|
Jess Striedl
|
So
|
OL
|
57
|
Scott Taylor
|
Fr
|
TE
|
84
|
Kevin Tennenbaum
|
Fr
|
OL
|
77
|
Jared Volk
|
Jr
|
WR
|
22
|
Jamison Wells
|
Jr
|
QB
|
12
|
Matt Williams
|
Fr
|
RB
|
5
|
Jamal Womble
|
Sr
|
|
Defense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
DL
|
51
|
Zach Anderson
|
Jr
|
DE
|
53
|
Matthew Baltimore
|
Fr
|
LB
|
6
|
Jamaal Bass
|
So
|
DE
|
90
|
Alan Baxter
|
Sr
|
DT
|
93
|
Ken Bishop
|
Jr
|
CB
|
31
|
Anthony Brooks
|
Fr
|
LB
|
36
|
Tyrone Clark
|
Sr
|
DE
|
54
|
Cameron Clinton-Earl
|
Fr
|
LB
|
58
|
Mike Cotton
|
Fr
|
S
|
21
|
Dechane Durante
|
So
|
CB
|
2
|
Sean Evans
|
Jr
|
CB
|
28
|
Jhony Faustin
|
Jr
|
LB
|
8
|
Ladell Fleming
|
Fr
|
S
|
34
|
Connor Gavin
|
Fr
|
DT
|
94
|
Donovan Gordon
|
So
|
DE
|
50
|
Ryan Gorrell
|
So
|
DE
|
56
|
Daniel Green
|
Sr
|
CB
|
17
|
Marckie Hayes
|
So
|
LB
|
41
|
Cody Hazelett
|
Fr
|
DT
|
57
|
Cornellus Henry
|
Fr
|
DE
|
96
|
Michael Ippolito
|
Fr
|
CB
|
16
|
Charles Ivory
|
Fr
|
LB
|
40
|
Victor Jacques
|
Sr
|
DL
|
99
|
Nabal Jefferson
|
Sr
|
DT
|
92
|
Mario Jones
|
Fr
|
S
|
38
|
Rasheen Lemon
|
Fr
|
DE
|
63
|
Larry Lloyd
|
So
|
CB
|
29
|
Paris Logan
|
Fr
|
LB
|
45
|
Boomer Mays
|
Fr
|
CB
|
41
|
Nate McNeal
|
Jr
|
DE
|
49
|
Jason Meehan
|
So
|
CB
|
11
|
Rashan Melvin
|
Sr
|
CB
|
30
|
Marlon Moore
|
Fr
|
S
|
33
|
Tre' Moore
|
Fr
|
LB
|
35
|
Videl Nelson
|
Fr
|
DE
|
89
|
Stephen O'Neal
|
Jr
|
DE
|
95
|
Sean Progar
|
Sr
|
DE
|
46
|
George Rainey
|
Jr
|
LB
|
52
|
Michael Santacaterina
|
So
|
S
|
14
|
Courtney Stephen
|
Sr
|
S
|
19
|
Demetrius Stone
|
Sr
|
DT
|
69
|
Corey Thomas
|
Fr
|
DB
|
15
|
Jimmie Ward
|
Jr
|
CB
|
24
|
Dominique Ware
|
Jr
|
DL
|
91
|
Anthony Wells
|
Jr
|
DE
|
97
|
Joe Windsor
|
Jr
|
LB
|
27
|
Bobby Winkel
|
So
|
|
Special teams
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
DS
|
84
|
Brian Mayer
|
So
|
P
|
18
|
Ryan Neir
|
Sr
|
DS
|
|
Bobby Ramlet
|
Fr
|
K
|
99
|
Mathew Sims
|
Jr
|
P
|
39
|
Mark Strbjak
|
Fr
|
PK
|
26
|
Tyler Wedel
|
So
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Mike Dunbar – Offensive coordinator
- Ryan Nielsen – Co-defensive coord./defensive line/recruiting coord.
- Jay Niemann – Defensive coordinator/safeties
- Rod Carey – Assistant coach/offensive line/run game coordinator
- Bob Cole – Assistant coach/quarterbacks
- Frisman Jackson – Assistant coach/wide receivers
- Kevin Kane – Assistant coach/linebackers
- Richard McNutt – Assistant coach/cornerbacks
- Joe Tripodi – Graduate assistant/tight ends & Fullbacks
- Mike Uremovich – Assistant coach/running backs/special teams coord.
- Brad Ohrt – Director of sports performance
- Matt Lipman – Director of football operations
- Joe McKillip – Graduate assistant/Operations
- Zach Opsal – Graduate assistant/Video
- Peter Roley – Asst. Dir. Football Operations/Video
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Roster Last update: 7/14/12
|
References
- ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Florida State - Game Recap - January 1, 2013 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ "Florida State solves Northern Illinois offense in win". USA Today. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ "NC State hires N. Illinois' Doeren as next coach". December 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Kent State - Game Recap - November 30, 2012 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ^ "BCS selection procedures". ESPN.com. July 25, 2013. Archived from the original on December 28, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ "Northern Illinois is a BCS team years in the making". USA Today. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ "Iowa vs. Northern Illinois - Box Score - September 1, 2012 - ESPN".
- ^ "Tennessee-Martin vs. Northern Illinois - Box Score - September 8, 2012 - ESPN".
- ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Army - Box Score - September 15, 2012 - ESPN".
- ^ "Kansas vs. Northern Illinois - Box Score - September 22, 2012 - ESPN".
- ^ "Central Michigan vs. Northern Illinois - Box Score - September 29, 2012 - ESPN".
- ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Ball State - Box Score - October 6, 2012 - ESPN".
- ^ "Buffalo vs. Northern Illinois - Box Score - October 13, 2012 - ESPN".
- ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Akron - Box Score - October 20, 2012 - ESPN".
- ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Western Michigan - Box Score - October 27, 2012 - ESPN".
- ^ "UMass vs. Northern Illinois - Box Score - November 3, 2012 - ESPN".
- ^ "Toledo vs. Northern Illinois - Box Score - November 14, 2012 - ESPN".
- ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Eastern Michigan - Box Score - November 23, 2012 - ESPN".
- ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Kent State - Box Score - November 30, 2012 - ESPN".
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore |
- "Huskie Fight Song"
- Huskie Band
|
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |