HR0009 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0009 LRB094 05998 HSS 36056 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, After going 10 and 2 in the 2003 season and missing a bowl game invitation, the Northern Illinois University Huskies finished the 2004 season with an overall record of 9 and 3, including a "stormy" December 30, 2004, win over Troy University in the Silicon Valley Football Classic by the score of 34 to 21; during the game, which was one of the most complete team victories ever played, quarterback Josh Haldi passed for 146 yards and ran for two touchdowns, running back Garrett Wolfe rushed for his 21st touchdown, running back A.J. Harris rushed for an additional 120 yards and another touchdown, and kicker Chris Nendick added two field goals for insurance; furthermore, the Huskies defense was able to shut down the Troy offense so effectively after they had scored two touchdowns in the first quarter of play that the Trojans looked as if they were "stuck in the mud" as they were not able to score until there was only 10:55 remaining in the fourth quarter; and

WHEREAS, For the first time in school history, Northern Illinois University football has cracked the major-college Top 30 barrier in back-to-back seasons; in the 2003 season, the Huskies wound up at number 26 in the ESPN/USA Today ranking and 29th in the AP polls; at the conclusion of the 2004 season, the NIU Huskies finished 29th in both the final Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today national rankings that were released on January 6, 2005; by reaching the Silicon Valley Football Classic, NIU made its initial bowl appearance in 21 years since California Bowl III, a 20 to 13 Huskies success versus Cal State University Fullerton of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association in 1983; and

WHEREAS, During 2004, Northern Illinois received votes for 14 of the 17 weeks in the ESPN/USA Today poll, reaching as high as number 22 on the week of November 9 through 15, 2004; in the AP balloting, the Huskies earned votes 10 times during the 17-week season, going as high as 26th during the week of November 2 through 8, 2004; and

WHEREAS, As evidence of the outstanding athletic program that has been established by head coach Joe Novak, the Northern Illinois University Huskies won a share of its third Mid-American Conference West Division title (2001, 2002, and 2004) in the last four years; defeated GMAC Bowl champion Bowling Green State University with a score of 34 to 17; plus led the league in all-conference selections (12), loop players of the week (10), all-MAC academic picks (five), and home attendance (27,052 spectators per game average); and

WHEREAS, During the 2003 season, the unbeaten Huskies (7-0) soared into the national limelight with triumphs over the University of Maryland, University of Alabama, and Iowa State University; Coach Novak's contingent ranked an unprecedented 10th in the first Bowl Championship Series standings, 12th in the AP, and 14th in the ESPN/USA Today at mid-season; furthermore, during the 2002 season, Northern Illinois posted an 8 and 4 record and received votes in both major polls for the first time since 1989; on November 18, 2002, the Huskies reached the number 35 spot in the AP poll and number 38 in the ESPN/USA Today version; and

WHEREAS, For the first time since the mid-1960s, Northern Illinois has strung together five winning grid seasons (6 and 5 in 2000 and 2001, 8 and 4 in 2002, 10 and 2 in 2003, and 9 and 3 in 2004); historically, one has to go back to the highly successful Howard Fletcher era to match such a Huskies streak when (then) College Division Northern Illinois went 8 and 2 (1962), 10 and 0 (1963), 7 and 2 (1964), 9 and 1 (1965), and 8 and 2 (1966); therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the 2004 Northern Illinois Huskies are to be congratulated on their phenomenal season, their first bowl trip and victory in the last 21 years, and for being the finest example of Illinois collegiate athletics in the sport of college football; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the 2004 Northern Illinois Huskies shall be remembered for their outstanding accomplishments as a team, and we recognize the 2004 Northern Illinois Huskie Football Roster as follows: Josh Ballard from Park City, Utah; Garrett Wolfe from Chicago; Andy Lothson from DeKalb; MacArthur White from Waukegan; Phil Horvath from Naperville; Dossie Jennings from University City, Missouri; Zach Ullrich from Winfield; Adam Erickson from Rochelle; Dan Sheldon from Elgin; Brandon Beal from Kirkwood, Missouri; Saul Ibarra from Elmwood Park; David McDermott from Southfield, Michigan; Jason Kwasigroch from Mundelein; Lionel Hickenbottom from Dolton; Josh Haldi from Madison, Ohio; Alvah Hansbro from Madison, Wisconsin; Cole Spencer from Powell, Ohio; Adriel Hansbro from Madison, Wisconsin; Evans Adonis from Miami, Florida; Jarret Carter from Florissant, Missouri; Joe Pomaranski from East Troy, Wisconsin; Kyle King from Omaha, Nebraska; Shedrick Mossman from Chicago; Mark Reiter from New Lenox; Britt Davis from Broadview; Troy Cogdill from East Moline; Dan Nicholson from Chicago; Robert Wallace from Chicago; Jeremy Pugh from Black River Falls, Wisconsin; Jason Hawkins from Schaumburg; Devron Francis from Jacksonville, Florida; A.J. Harris from Wheaton; Tom Kelly from Elgin; Chris Nendick from Naperville; Anthony Gallagher from Davidson, Michigan; Rob Lee from Port Washington, Wisconsin; Andre Morris from Chicago; Deon Smith from University Park; Cas Prime from Janesville, Wisconsin; Kevin Woods from Farmington Hills, Michigan; Montell Clanton from Rockford; Daniel Hilby from Rockford; Keenan Blalark from Elgin; Ken West from Calumet City; Dustin Utschig from Winneconne, Wisconsin; Matt Simon from Farmington, Minnesota; Bill Ikegwuonwu from Madison, Wisconsin; Brian Atkinson from Chicago; Jon Hedges from Rockford; Adrian Davis from Kenosha, Wisconsin; Antonio Tribble from Riverdale; Marlon Watson from Bolingbrook; Joseph Hilby from Rockford; T. J. Griffin from Carol Stream; Justin Johnson from Rochelle; Luke Athans from Manhattan; Vincent Matthew from Miami, Florida; Jason Labus from Chicago; Javan Lee from Michigan City, Indiana; Ray Smith from Crown Point, Indiana; Brad Benson from Sycamore; Kursten Strothman from Rochelle; Larry English from Aurora; Dallas Bassett from Round Lake; Tim McCarthy from Neenah, Wisconsin; Bob McLearen from Wheaton; Erek Benz from Park Ridge; Travis Moore from Robbins; Dan Holzapfel from Coral Springs, Florida; George Daglas from Palos Heights; Brent Blaschka from Verona, Wisconsin; Jon Brost from Maple Grove, Minnesota; Matt Rogers from Lockport; Doug Free from Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Zach Holycross from Georgetown; Jon Ellison from Rockford; Brian Van Acker from Crystal Lake; Jake VerStraete from Atkinson; Kevin Serfort from Oak Creek, Wisconsin; Jake Ebenhoch from Sussex, Wisconsin; Alex Krutsch from Schaumburg; Chris Acevedo from Lyons; Matt McGhghy from Keokuk, Iowa; Arian Bagheri from O'Fallon, Missouri; Adam Schlamp from Freeport; Matt Biondi from Geneseo; Ryan Tuggle from Geneseo; Mark Orszula from Lisle; Dan Keller from Racine, Wisconsin; Ben Lueck from Oswego; Pat Raleigh from Evergreen Park; Marcus Perez from Elkhart, Indiana; Edgar Rodriguez from Woodstock; Shatone Powers from Broadview; Sam Hurd from San Antonio, Texas; Jason Hutton from Chicago; Jake Nordin from Lake Lillian, Minnesota; Brandon Davis from Broadview; Keafta Dokes from Hazel Crest; Brad Cieslak from Long Grove; Martin Wilson from Lisle; David Koronkiewicz from Goshen, Indiana; Adam Schroeder from Loves Park; Zach Osburn from Holland, Michigan; Bryan Holicek from Waupaca, Wisconsin; Robert Oruche from Bensenville; Quince Holman from Woodridge; Grant Dungan from Elmhurst; Eric Pittman from Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Craig Rusch from Hilbert, Wisconsin; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution shall be presented to the 2004 Northern Illinois University Huskies Football team as an expression of our esteem and with best wishes for its continued success.