NORTHERN ILLINOIS AT A GLANCE

COACH: Charlie Sadler. 1993 RECORD: 4-7, 3-3 in Big West. STARTERS RETURNING: 12: 5 offense, 7 defense. PLAYERS TO WATCH: FB Dante Wharton, TB Brian Grimes, DB Eddie Davis,LBs Gerald Nickelberry and C.J. Rose. BEST NEWCOMERS: QB Aaron Gilbert, WR Brandon Willis, CB MarceoHaywood, G Ira Fane, G Keith Schulte. IT'S GOOD NEWS IF: Wharton and Grimes can overcome the loss of NCAArushing leader LeShon Johnson. IT'S BAD NEWS IF: Redshirt transfer Gilbert doesn't live up toexpectations. OUTLOOK: A tough nonconference schedule should get the Huskies readyto challenge for the league title in this season's wide-open BigWest. QUICK STAT: Northern ended last year with a disastrous four-gamelosing streak by a combined 148-55 points and was 1-6 on the road. '94 SCHEDULE '94 SCHEDULE (All Chicago times) Date Opponent Time Sep. 1 Okla.St. 7 p.m. Sep. 10 at SW La. 7:05 p.m. Sep. 17 at Illinois 1 p.m. Sep. 24 E.Illinois 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 Nevada 1 p.m. Oct. 8 NMex St. 1 p.m. Oct. 15 at Pacific 5 p.m. Oct. 22 La. Tech 1 p.m. Oct. 29 at Vndrblt 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at Ark. St. 1:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at Arkansas 1 p.m. '93 RESULTS '93 RESULTS (4-7, 3-3 in Big West) Date Opponent Result Sep. 2 at Iowa St. L, 54-10 Sep. 11 at Indiana L, 28-10 Sep. 18 Ark. St. W, 23-7 Sep. 25 at Nevada W, 46-42 Oct. 2 S. Illinois W, 45-15 Oct. 9 at NMx.St. L, 24-17 Oct. 16 Pacific W, 21-16 Oct. 23 SW La. L, 33-19 Oct. 30 at La. Tech L, 17-16 Nov. 6 at Iowa L, 54-20 Nov. 13 at Miss. L, 44-0