Huskie Stadium
Encyclopedia
Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium
in DeKalb, Illinois
is the home field of the Northern Illinois University
"Huskies." It is primarily used for American football
. Huskie Stadium opened in 1965 and seats 30,076 people.
In 2005 it was announced that the NIU Academic and Athletic Performance Center, a new field house and athletic training facility, would be built in the north end zone.
The stadium was also the site of a few NCAA records. On October 6, 1990 against Fresno State, quarterback Stacey Robinson rushed for 287 yards (262.4 m) in the 1st half, and finished with 308 overall, as the Huskies upset then-24th ranked Bulldogs, by a final score of 73–18. In that game, the Huskies established school records for rushing yards(733), total offense (806), and First Downs (36). It was also the first victory over a ranked opponent at the stadium. Since then, the Huskies have experienced large amounts of success in the national spotlight, defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Iowa State Cyclones
and the Maryland Terrapins
. Because of the Huskies success, NIU has averaged the highest attendance per game in the MAC between 2004-2006.
In recent years, the football program has generated national headlines for the institution. With 7 consecutive winning seasons (best in the MAC), Northern Illinois has the 25th best record in the nation since 2000 (53–30)---including triumphs over Bowl Championship Series programs such as the Wake Forest, University of Alabama, University of Maryland, Purdue University (2009), and Iowa State University. The Huskies finished ranked in the Top 30 during the 2003 and 2004 seasons and defeated Troy University, 34–21, in the 2004 Silicon Valley Football Classic
. In 2006, NIU faced off against TCU
in the Poinsettia Bowl
in San Diego, California making it the second time in the last three years NIU has gone to a postseason bowl game. The Huskies made it four bowls in six years with a trip to the International Bowl
in 2010 against the University of South Florida
.
Inside the Jeffrey and Kimberly Yordon Center is a new 3150 sq ft (292.6 m²) football locker room with a 780 sq ft (72.5 m²) gathering area, a 12505 sq ft (1,161.8 m²) strength and conditioning center (largest in the MAC), an academic support center, athletic training room with rehab pools, a 150-seat meeting room, video editing room, all 10 coaches' offices, football equipment room, coaches' locker room, and state-of-the-art computer classrooms for student-athletes.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in DeKalb, Illinois
DeKalb, Illinois
DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 43,862 at the 2010 census, up from 39,018 at the 2000 census. The city is named after decorated German war hero Johann De Kalb, who died during the American Revolutionary War....
is the home field of the Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
"Huskies." It is primarily used for American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
. Huskie Stadium opened in 1965 and seats 30,076 people.
Location
Huskie Stadium is on the west end of the campus, bordered by Stadium Drive to the south, the Yordon Athletic Center to the north, Mary Bell softball field to the east, and Ralph McKinzie baseball field to the west.Stadium History
Before the 1966 college football season, the Huskies played at Glidden Field, a 5,500 seat facility on the east end of campus. On September 20, 1969, the game between Northern Illinois and Idaho marked the state’s first major-college gridiron contest played on artificial turf; the Huskies won, 47–30. The field was re-carpeted in 1980 and 1990 before being replaced by a new FieldTurf surface in 2001. The stadium originally consisted of the main concrete west stands (which used to contain practice facilities for the gymnastics and wrestling teams) and much smaller temporary stands on the east side. The east side was completely redone in 1995, creating a steel structure to mirror the concrete one. The university has maintained and enhanced the institution’s all-around athletics facility, updating the scoreboard and video display system in both 2000 and 2001, and creating the South End Zone berm in 2002. In 2003, the field was renamed Brigham Field in honor of Robert J. Brigham, a former player, coach, and athletic director at the school.In 2005 it was announced that the NIU Academic and Athletic Performance Center, a new field house and athletic training facility, would be built in the north end zone.
The stadium was also the site of a few NCAA records. On October 6, 1990 against Fresno State, quarterback Stacey Robinson rushed for 287 yards (262.4 m) in the 1st half, and finished with 308 overall, as the Huskies upset then-24th ranked Bulldogs, by a final score of 73–18. In that game, the Huskies established school records for rushing yards(733), total offense (806), and First Downs (36). It was also the first victory over a ranked opponent at the stadium. Since then, the Huskies have experienced large amounts of success in the national spotlight, defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Iowa State Cyclones
Iowa State Cyclones
The Iowa State Cyclones are the athletic teams of Iowa State University. The university is a member of the Big 12 Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 16 varsity teams in 12 sports.*Men's sports...
and the Maryland Terrapins
Maryland Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 27 men's and women's athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
. Because of the Huskies success, NIU has averaged the highest attendance per game in the MAC between 2004-2006.
In recent years, the football program has generated national headlines for the institution. With 7 consecutive winning seasons (best in the MAC), Northern Illinois has the 25th best record in the nation since 2000 (53–30)---including triumphs over Bowl Championship Series programs such as the Wake Forest, University of Alabama, University of Maryland, Purdue University (2009), and Iowa State University. The Huskies finished ranked in the Top 30 during the 2003 and 2004 seasons and defeated Troy University, 34–21, in the 2004 Silicon Valley Football Classic
Silicon Valley Football Classic
The Silicon Valley Football Classic , sometimes referred to as the Silicon Valley Bowl or Silicon Valley Classic, was an NCAA-certified Division I-A post-season college football bowl game that was played at Spartan Stadium on the South Campus of San Jose State University in San Jose, California,...
. In 2006, NIU faced off against TCU
TCU
TCU is an abbreviation for:* Tauranga City United, a New Zealand association football club* Telecommunication Control Unit* Texas Christian University, a private university in Fort Worth, Texas** TCU Horned Frogs, the athletic program of the school...
in the Poinsettia Bowl
Poinsettia Bowl
The Poinsettia Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that was created in 2005. The game was created by the organizers of the Holiday Bowl and is played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The game is currently sponsored by the San Diego...
in San Diego, California making it the second time in the last three years NIU has gone to a postseason bowl game. The Huskies made it four bowls in six years with a trip to the International Bowl
2010 International Bowl
The 2010 International Bowl was the fourth and final edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The game started at 12:00 PM US EST on Saturday, January 2, 2010. The game was telecast on ESPN2 and the South Florida Bulls defeated the...
in 2010 against the University of South Florida
South Florida Bulls
The South Florida Bulls are the athletic teams for the University of South Florida. The university competes in NCAA Division I, USF is a member of the Big East Conference, and has been since 2005...
.
Yordon Athletic Center
The $14-million NIU Academic and Athletic Performance Center, which is located at the north end zone, opened in August 2007. At a press conference in conjunction with the annual Northern Illinois Spring Football Game, first-year Athletics Director Jim Phillips announced on April 23, 2005, that Huskie Intercollegiate Athletics would embark on the largest capital project in its history. NIU began breaking ground for the new all-purpose facility in the fall of 2006 and was finished in August 2007.Inside the Jeffrey and Kimberly Yordon Center is a new 3150 sq ft (292.6 m²) football locker room with a 780 sq ft (72.5 m²) gathering area, a 12505 sq ft (1,161.8 m²) strength and conditioning center (largest in the MAC), an academic support center, athletic training room with rehab pools, a 150-seat meeting room, video editing room, all 10 coaches' offices, football equipment room, coaches' locker room, and state-of-the-art computer classrooms for student-athletes.