Jake Coffman News

True to form, Ball State kept it close. Northern Illinois, veering from its recent winning script, still managed to hold on Thursday for a 26-20 Mid-American Conference victory.

Last updated on 11/11/2009 at 9:33 p.m. Athletes will say it without batting an eyelash: Every game is as important as the next.

Members of the NIU defense including Jordan Delegal, Kiaree Daniels and Tracy Wilson tackle Western Michigan running back Aaron Winchester.

DeKALB – One of the most pressing questions for Northern Illinois – aside from who plays quarterback, which won't be revealed until just before kickoff this morning – is how the NIU offense will bring a little more balance today against Akron.

TV/radio: 11 a.m., WPWR-Ch. 50, WSCR-AM 670. Records: Northern Illinois 4-3, 2-1 MAC; Akron 1-6, 0-3. Last meeting: Akron won 31-30 on Dec.

By BEN GROSS Last updated on 10/30/2009 at 12:51 a.m. DeKALB It will be tempting for NIU to overlook its next three games.

After watching the film of Saturday's 27-22 victory at Miami , Northern Illinois football coach Jerry Kill says quarterback DeMarcus Grady's comfort level grew as the game progressed.

Last updated on 10/26/2009 at 6:55 p.m. It is said that records are made to be broken.

Chad Spann had two long touchdown runs to lead Northern Illinois to a 27-22 win over Miami on Saturday.

When Jake Coffman got the itch to get serious about football again after four years away from the game, he brought a unique perspective back to the field.

Last updated on 10/19/2009 at 9:52 p.m. For the second straight week, an NIU football player earned the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week award.

NIU defensive lineman Jake Coffman intercepted a pass and returned it for a 79-yard touchdown on Satuday.

Turnover-free for the past 10 quarters, Northern Illinois unsurprisingly finds itself as one of the best teams in the country when it comes to turnover margin.

Tim Hiller consistently puts up big numbers. On Saturday, one of those inflated digits wasn't all too flattering.

DeKALB – Alex Kube nodded as he said it, but the words themselves didn't need any reassurance in the aftermath of that performance.

" Running back Chad Spann rushed for a career-high 132 yards and three touchdowns, and the Huskie defense forced four turnovers, leading to NIU's convincing 38-3 win over Mid-American Conference West Division rival Western Michigan at Huskie Stadium Saturday afternoon, as NIU celebrated its 103rd Homecoming.

Last updated on 09/28/2009 at 9:32 p.m. While NIU is surely disappointed in its play Saturday, the real season begins this week when MAC conference play starts.

The numbers may not wow, but they're measuring up. When D.J. Pirkle goes to work each week in the trenches for the Northern Illinois football team, the 6-foot, 290-pound junior defensive tackle is often giving up 10-30 pounds and up to 7 inches in height to the player opposite him.

Last updated on 09/24/2009 at 7:41 p.m. After NIU football broke through against a BCS conference team for the first time since 2003, fans may expect to see changes around the program.

DeKALB – After working his way up the depth chart and catching his first collegiate touchdown pass this month, Jason Schepler is going to have to watch from the sidelines for a little while.