2012 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

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]

2012 Northern Illinois Huskies football
MAC champion
MAC West Division champion
Orange Bowl, L 10–31 vs. Florida State
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 24
APNo. 22
Record12–2 (8–0 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMike Dunbar (1st season, game 1 and bowl game)
Rod Carey (1st season, games 2–13)
Defensive coordinatorJay Niemann (2nd season)
Co-defensive coordinatorRyan Nielsen (1st season)
MVPJordan Lynch
CaptainNabal Jefferson, Jordan Lynch, Sean Progar, Jason Schepler
Home stadiumHuskie Stadium
Seasons
← 2011
2013 →
2012 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Kent State x   8 0     11 3  
Bowling Green   6 2     8 5  
Ohio   4 4     9 4  
Buffalo   3 5     4 8  
Miami (OH)   3 5     4 8  
UMass   1 7     1 11  
Akron   0 8     1 11  
West Division
No. 22 Northern Illinois x$   8 0     12 2  
Toledo   6 2     9 4  
Ball State   6 2     9 4  
Central Michigan   4 4     7 6  
Western Michigan   2 6     4 8  
Eastern Michigan   1 7     2 10  
Championship: Northern Illinois 44, Kent State 37
  • $ – Conference champion and BCS representative as top non-AQ school to meet automatic qualification criteria
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • UMass not eligible for conference title or bowl game as part of FBS transition
Rankings from AP Poll

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

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DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 12:30 p.m.vs. Iowa*ESPNUL 17–1852,117[7]
September 86:00 p.m.UT Martin*ESPN3W 35–716,010[8]
September 1511:00 a.m.at Army*CBSSNW 41–4030,176[9]
September 222:30 p.m.Kansas*
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
ESPN3W 30–2318,374[10]
September 292:30 p.m.Central Michigan
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
ESPN3W 55–2416,292[11]
October 61:00 p.m.at Ball StateESPN3W 35–2311,238[12]
October 132:30 p.m.Buffalo 
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
CSNCW 45–314,419[13]
October 2011:00 a.m.at AkronESPN PlusW 37–77,074[14]
October 2711:00 a.m.at Western MichiganESPN PlusW 48–3412,974[15]
November 32:30 p.m.UMass
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
W 63–011,114[16]
November 148:00 p.m.Toledo
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
ESPN2W 31–2417,813[17]
November 2312:00 p.m.at Eastern MichiganNo. 24ESPN3W 49–71,349[18]
November 306:00 p.m.vs. No. 18 Kent State*No. 19ESPN2W 44–37 2OT18,132[19]
January 1, 20137:30 p.m.vs. No. 13 Florida State*No. 16ESPNL 10–3172,073
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRVRVRVRVRV24191622
CoachesRVRVRVRVRVRV23181624
HarrisNot releasedRVRVRVRV241916Not released
BCSNot released2115Not released

Roster

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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 DunbarOffensive coordinator
  • Ryan NielsenCo-defensive coord./defensive line/recruiting coord.
  • Jay NiemannDefensive coordinator/safeties
  • Rod CareyAssistant coach/offensive line/run game coordinator
  • Bob Cole – Assistant coach/quarterbacks
  • Frisman JacksonAssistant coach/wide receivers
  • Kevin KaneAssistant coach/linebackers
  • Richard McNutt – Assistant coach/cornerbacks
  • Joe Tripodi – Graduate assistant/tight ends & Fullbacks
  • Mike UremovichAssistant 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
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 7/14/12

Game summaries

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vs Iowa

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1 2 3 4 Total
Hawkeyes 3 3 3 9 18
Huskies 0 10 7 0 17

UT Martin

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1 2 3 4 Total
Skyhawks 0 0 0 7 7
Huskies 7 14 7 7 35

@ Army

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1 2 3 4 Total
Huskies 14 14 0 13 41
Black Knights 7 12 15 6 40

Kansas

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1 2 3 4 Total
Jayhawks 3 7 7 6 23
Huskies 6 7 0 17 30

Central Michigan

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1 2 3 4 Total
Chippewas 7 7 10 0 24
Huskies 14 10 10 21 55

@ Ball State

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1 2 3 4 Total
Huskies 7 7 7 14 35
Cardinals 3 13 7 0 23

Buffalo

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1 2 3 4 Total
Bulls 3 0 0 0 3
Huskies 7 21 14 3 45

@ Akron

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1 2 3 4 Total
Huskies 10 10 10 7 37
Zips 0 7 0 0 7

@ Western Michigan

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1 2 3 4 Total
Huskies 7 10 14 17 48
Broncos 14 7 0 13 34

Massachusetts

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1 2 3 4 Total
Minutemen 0 0 0 0 0
Huskies 14 21 21 7 63

Toledo

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1 2 3 4 Total
Rockets 7 7 0 10 24
Huskies 0 7 21 3 31

@ Eastern Michigan

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1 2 3 4 Total
#23 Huskies 14 14 7 14 49
Eagles 7 0 0 0 7
1 2 3 4OT2OT Total
#19 Huskies 3 14 10 737 44
#18 Golden Flashes 10 0 3 2130 37

#12 Florida State (Orange Bowl)

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1 2 3 4 Total
#16 Huskies 3 0 7 0 10
#12 Seminoles 7 7 3 14 31

References

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  1. ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Florida State - Game Recap - January 1, 2013 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  2. ^ "Florida State solves Northern Illinois offense in win". USA Today. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  3. ^ "NC State hires N. Illinois' Doeren as next coach". December 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  4. ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Kent State - Game Recap - November 30, 2012 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  5. ^ "BCS selection procedures". ESPN.com. July 25, 2013. Archived from the original on December 28, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  6. ^ "Northern Illinois is a BCS team years in the making". USA Today. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  7. ^ "Iowa vs. Northern Illinois - Box Score - September 1, 2012 - ESPN".
  8. ^ "Tennessee-Martin vs. Northern Illinois - Box Score - September 8, 2012 - ESPN".
  9. ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Army - Box Score - September 15, 2012 - ESPN".
  10. ^ "Kansas vs. Northern Illinois - Box Score - September 22, 2012 - ESPN".
  11. ^ "Central Michigan vs. Northern Illinois - Box Score - September 29, 2012 - ESPN".
  12. ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Ball State - Box Score - October 6, 2012 - ESPN".
  13. ^ "Buffalo vs. Northern Illinois - Box Score - October 13, 2012 - ESPN".
  14. ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Akron - Box Score - October 20, 2012 - ESPN".
  15. ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Western Michigan - Box Score - October 27, 2012 - ESPN".
  16. ^ "UMass vs. Northern Illinois - Box Score - November 3, 2012 - ESPN".
  17. ^ "Toledo vs. Northern Illinois - Box Score - November 14, 2012 - ESPN".
  18. ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Eastern Michigan - Box Score - November 23, 2012 - ESPN".
  19. ^ "Northern Illinois vs. Kent State - Box Score - November 30, 2012 - ESPN".