Huskies Ready For Hawkeyes 8/31/12
By: Scott Leber
Updated: August 31, 2012
DeKalb, Illinois-The NIU Huskies are set to play at Soldier Field Saturday for the second year in a row and for the third time in six years. They'll take on the Iowa Hawkeyes.
The Huskies lost their previous two games at Soldier Field to Iowa and to Wisconsin.
Doeren took his guys to Soldier Field a couple weeks ago for a walk-through to help them get accustomed to the stadium. Playing on an NFL field is a big deal for the Huskies.
"Such a great venue. We're so appreciative of the fact that they allow us to come down there and play in their stadium," said NIU Coach Dave Doeren. "For our recruits to be able to witness a game on that field, for our players and families and coaches to be able to play a game in that stadium and be in that lockerroom that a lot of our heroes were in is a big deal to us."
The Huskies think they've got a shot to get their first win at Soldier Field Saturday, but they know they have to play a crisp game to upend the Hawkeyes.
"I think if we can play with them and not beat us ourselves, I think that's a huge key," said Doeren. "When you play a fundamentally sound team you just don't give them opportunities. You have to make them earn everything."
"It's one of our goals this year, a boneyard victory," said NIU defensive end Sean Progar. "To beat at least one of these BCS teams we're going to play. We've beaten them (BCS teams) in the past. It's just going to take execution and everyone doing their job."
Saturday's game will kickoff at 2:30.
The Huskies lost their previous two games at Soldier Field to Iowa and to Wisconsin.
Doeren took his guys to Soldier Field a couple weeks ago for a walk-through to help them get accustomed to the stadium. Playing on an NFL field is a big deal for the Huskies.
"Such a great venue. We're so appreciative of the fact that they allow us to come down there and play in their stadium," said NIU Coach Dave Doeren. "For our recruits to be able to witness a game on that field, for our players and families and coaches to be able to play a game in that stadium and be in that lockerroom that a lot of our heroes were in is a big deal to us."
The Huskies think they've got a shot to get their first win at Soldier Field Saturday, but they know they have to play a crisp game to upend the Hawkeyes.
"I think if we can play with them and not beat us ourselves, I think that's a huge key," said Doeren. "When you play a fundamentally sound team you just don't give them opportunities. You have to make them earn everything."
"It's one of our goals this year, a boneyard victory," said NIU defensive end Sean Progar. "To beat at least one of these BCS teams we're going to play. We've beaten them (BCS teams) in the past. It's just going to take execution and everyone doing their job."
Saturday's game will kickoff at 2:30.
