Geneva's Schiller on Wild NIU Bowl Ride

When NIU lines up against Fresno State at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the 2010 uDrove Humanitarian Bowl, tune in to ESPN and be sure to look for a Husky linebacker wearing No. 53.

That would be Pat Schiller of Geneva, who is pictured here, courtesy of NIU's excellent sports information team.

Schiller is one of three Genevans on the Northern Illinois University football team, which just announced that they've hired Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Doeren as their new head coach—starting next year.

NIU linebacker coach Tom Matukewicz will serve as interim head coach for the Saturday afternoon game.

Two other Geneva Vikings, , are also on NIU's team but didn't see action this season.

According to the NIU website, Schiller's profile tells us he's had 18 tackles in eight games this season. He missed the first four games recovering from an ACL injury. His best game was Nov. 26 against Eastern Michigan, which he mad six stops, including five solo tackles.

Here are more fun facts on tomorrow's Humanitarian Bowl, word-for-word courtesy of NIU:

NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOTBALL 2010
2010 uDrove Humanitarian Bowl
NIU (10-3, 8-0) vs. Fresno State (8-4, 5-3)
December 18, 2010 | 4:30 p.m. (CT) | ESPN
Boise, Idaho | Bronco Stadium | 32,000

HUSKIE FOOTBALL FACTS
2010 Record: 10-3
MAC (Regular Season) Record/Finish: 8-0/1st West
Interim Head Coach:Tom Matukewicz
Alma Mater/Year: Ft. Hays State (KS)/1994
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-3
First Year of Football: 1899
All-Time Record: 511-460-51
Last Bowl Game: 2010 International Bowl (Toronto): USF 27, NIU 3
All-Time Bowl Record: 3-7 Overall/2-3 FBS

FSU BULLDOGS' FACTS
2010 Record/Conference Record: 8-4/5-3
Head Coach: Pat Hill
Alma Mater/Year: UC Riverside '73
Record at FSU/Year: 108-70/13th
Career Record/Year: Same
Location: Fresno, Calif.
Enrollment: 19,000
Conference: Western Athletic
Colors: Red & Blue
Stadium: Bulldog Stadium/Jim Sweeney Field
Surface/Capacity: FieldTurf/41,031
President: Dr. John D. Welty
Athletic Director: Thomas Boeh
Ticket Information: 559-278-3647
Athletics Website: www.gobulldogs.com
FB Media Relations Contact: Steve Weakland
Phone: 559-278-2509 (O); 559-287-3304 (C)
E-Mail Address: sweaklan@csufresno.edu

SERIES HISTORY
Overall Series: Tied 2-2
In Fresno: Series Tied 1-1
In DeKalb: Series Tied 1-1
Streak: FSU, 1
Series History:
1972: FSU 9, NIU 6 (H)
1973: NIU 24, NIU 15 (A)
1990: NIU 73, FSU 18 (H)
1991: FSU 55, NIU 7 (A)

NIU BOWL HISTORY
2009 ^International (Toronto, Canada) L, South Florida (27-3)
2008 ^Independence (Shreveport, La.) L, Louisiana Tech (17-10)
2006 ^Poinsettia (San Diego, Calif.) L, TCU (37-7)
2004 ^Silicon Valley Classic (San Jose, Calif.) W, Troy (34-21)
1983 ^California (Fresno, Calif.) W, Cal State Fullerton (20-13)
1965 Mineral Water (Excelsior Springs, Mo.) L, North Dakota (37-20)
1963 Mineral Water (Excelsior Springs, Mo.) W, SW Missouri St. (21-14)
1962 Mineral Water (Excelsior Springs, Mo.) L, Adams State (23-20)
1947 Refrigerator (Evansville, Ind.) L, Evansville (20-0)
1946 Turkey (Evansville, Ind.) L, Evansville (19-7)

^As a Division I FBS school. (NIU made transition in 1969.)

INTERIM HEAD COACH Tom Matukewicz
Assistant coach Tom Matukewicz will serve as interim head football coach for Northern Illinois University when the Huskies take on Fresno State in the 2010 uDrove Humanitarian Bowl. Matukewicz, who will also continue to coach the NIU linebackers while serving as head coach, is a former Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Assistant Coach of the Year (2007).

Matukewicz has done an outstanding job mentoring NIU's linebacking corps. Devon Butler and Alex Kube garnered Third Team All-MAC recognition from league coaches this season. Sophomore Tyrone Clark led the team in interceptions, and was named the Huskies' defensive MVP by his teammates.

Matukewicz spent seven seasons at Southern Illinois under Jerry Kill from 2001-07.