May 2007 is Northeastern University Month at AGS! Read the "fact a day"!

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5/1

Thanks Huskies fans!!!

Northeastern Quick Facts...

Founded: 1898
Located: Boston, MA 02115
Enrollment: 14,492
Nickname: Huskies
Colors: Red & Black
Affiliation: NCAA Division FCS
Conference: Colonial
Home Field: Parsons Field
Capacity (Surface): 7,000 (Artificial)
Head Coach: Rocky Hager, Minot State ’74
Record at NU: 12-21, three years
Career Record: 103-46-1, 13 seasons

2006 Record
Record: 5-6, 4-4 Atlantic 10
SEPTEMBER
Sat. 2 at #17 Virginia Tech 0-38 L
Sat. 9 at Holy Cross 24-14 W
Sat. 16 at #17 North Dakota State 10-23 L
Sat. 23 at #17 James Madison* 14-52 L
Sat. 30 at #7 Richmond* 7-12 L
OCTOBER
Sat. 7 #18 DELAWARE* 27-24 W
Sat. 21 #6 NEW HAMPSHIRE* H 36-35 W
Sat. 28 #4 MASSACHUSETTS* 0-7 L
NOVEMBER
Sat. 4 #22 at Maine* 3-30 L
Sat. 11 at Hofstra* 34-24 W
Sat. 18 RHODE ISLAND* 45-31 W
*Atlantic 10 game
H - Homecoming

2007 Schedule
SEPTEMBER
Sat. 1 at Northwestern
Sat. 8 RICHMOND
Sat. 15 NORTHWESTERN STATE
Sat. 22 at UC Davis
OCTOBER
Sat. 6 JAMES MADISON
Sat. 13 at Delaware
Sat. 20 at Massachusetts
Sat. 27 MAINE
NOVEMBER
Sat. 3 at New Hampshire
Sat. 10 HOFSTRA
Sat. 17 at Rhode Island

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5/2


http://www.gonu.com/football/photos/hopkinsspring040707.jpg
Shane Hopkins accepts the Joe Zabilski Award.

Head coach Rocky Hager gave out Northeastern's team awards during the Chicken Lou's barbecue prior to the spring football game April 7, 2007. Murray and Kendrick Ballantyne were named the team's offensive co-MVPs, Lamar Gay was named defensive MVP and Jared White was named special teams MVP. The Huskies' rookie of the year was Kevin Newhall. The team's most improved players were Broomfield on offense and Jeanson on defense. Matt Campopiano received the Chris Midget Award as the team's lineman of the year and Shane Hopkins received the Joe Zabilski Award as the most dedicated player. Craig Kenney received the Chicken Lou Award for his heart and attitude. Strength & Conditioning Coach Joel St. Cyr gave Ballantyne the "Iron Man" award for his work in the weight room.
http://www.gonu.com/football/2007/spring040707.htm

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Northeastern University adopted the nickname Huskies in 1927 and the first Husky appeared on campus on March 4 of that year. He had come to Boston’s North Station by train from Alaska and was greeted by more than 1,000 students and the University band. Classes had been cancelled for the afternoon and the dog was paraded by police escort for the four miles to campus.

He was presented with an honorary degree by the University president and named forever more King Husky. His real name had been Sapsut and his lineage was sled dog royalty.

His father was Nonook of Marly, the lead dog on Leonhard Seppala’s famous team that rushed diptheria vaccine 645 miles from Alaska’s Nenana to Nome in 1925 to save the stricken village. His first athletic event was a track meet in which NU set three University records and was the decisive victor. King Husky I reigned for 14 years and his successors have appeared at countless athletic events, been the subject of television features, and won many honors at the most prestigious kennel club shows.

King Husky VII passed away in 1989 and there was no live mascot for 15 years. In 2005, another of Sapsut’s decendants was brought to Northeastern and crowned King VIII. He appears at games and is joined by Paws, the Husky mascot that was introduced in the fall of 2003. There are identical statues of King Husky in the foyer of the Ell Building and guarding the entrance to the field house at Parsons Field.

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5/4

Northeastern Hall of Fame

http://www.gonu.com/profiles/hall/eparsons.jpg

Edward S. Parsons
“Putty” Parsons was instrumental in the development of Northeastern athletics
Northeastern Class of ’22
Athletics Director 1925-53

As a member of the induction class of 1974, Parsons was one of the original six inductees into the Northeastern Hall of Fame.

Parsons is one of the most important and influential people ever associated with Northeastern athletics. During the 28 years he served as athletic director, the sports of football and hockey were established while the existing sports of track, basketball and baseball became in integral part of the New England sports scene. It was also under Parsons' regime that Northeastern teams became known as the "Huskies" when he brought King Husky I down from Wonolacet, N.H., as the first in a long line of mascot monarchs.

"Putty" first became associated with Northeastern in 1918 as a freshman. He graduated in 1922 after distinguishing himself as a fine student athlete and an adept sprinter on the track team. He graduated immediately to the University faculty where he taught math in the morning and coached track in the afternoon. In 1925 he became athletic director and served in that capacity until 1953 when he moved on as Business Manager of the University.

Always prominent in collegiate athletics, Parsons, during his career, held 37 different titles in various sports organizations. He helped organize the Eastern College Athletic Conference and served on the Eligibility Committee. He was named president of the College Track Coaches of America, vice president of the IC4A, chairman of the Olympic Marathon Committee for three Olympics, and helped manage the U.S. Olympic team in London in 1948.

In ceremonies held on May 12, 1969 Northeastern's outdoor athletic facility, which was previously known to generations of NU students as Kent St. Field and Northeastern University Field, was officially named Edward Snow Parsons Field.

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5/5

http://gonu.com/facilities/parsons.jpg

The Northeastern football team has a premier facility for its practices and home games: Parsons Field in Brookline. In the summer of 2001, the entire field was resurfaced with AstroPlay, an artificial turf that is very similar to natural grass. The new surface also services Northeastern’s soccer and baseball teams. Combined with comprehensive renovations completed in 1992, the field now enjoys the look of a major facility. Gone are the wooden grandstands that had served Northeastern fans since the football program’s inception. Gone is the open press box that for 60 years tested the fortitude of New England’s hardiest sportswriters. In their place are aluminum grandstands capable of accommodating 2,000 more fans and a press facility serving the needs of a burgeoning print and electronic media following.

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The seven-acre Zabilski Field House facility contains not only the multipurpose turf surface and grandstand, but also the adjacent Friedman Diamond with new dugouts and new scoreboard. The venerable athletic facility dates back to the turn of the century when as a public playground it played host to a young Red Sox pitcher and Kent Street resident by the name of Babe Ruth, who would occasionally drop by to play a game of catch with the locals. Later, the field became the property of Huntington Prep School and in the 1920s hosted the NU baseball, soccer and track teams. In 1930, NU purchased the property and in 1969 dedicated it in the name of former athlete, coach and Athletics Director Edward S. Parsons.

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5/7

Northeastern Hall of Fame

http://gonu.com/profiles/hall/jzabilski.jpg

Joseph P. Zabilski

Inducted in 1976
Football

Joseph P. Zabilski was elected to the Hall of Fame for his outstanding career at Northeastern as both a coach and an administrator.

In his 24 years as head coach of football between 1948 and 1971 his teams won 101 games against 77 losses and 6 ties. These years included undefeated seasons in 1951, 6-0-1; and in 1963, 8-0; and celebrated autumns like 1953, 6-1; and 1967, 7-1. His 1963 undefeated team went on to participate in post season bowl competition. Zabilski was honored as the New England Coach of the Year in 1953 and 1963 and as District I Coach of the Year by his peers in the American Football Coaches Association in 1963 and 1967. In 1974 he received the prestigious George C. Carens Award for outstanding contribution to New England football.

Zabilski came to Northeastern in 1948 as head coach of football and basketball and assistant coach of track. He was relieved of his basketball and track duties in 1958 to become assistant athletic director and upon his retirement as football coach was elevated to associate athletic director. He also became secretary and treasurer of both the Greater Boston and New England Collegiate Athletic Associations.

A 1937 graduate of LaSalle Academy in Providence, Zabilski captained the football, basketball and track teams. Playing guard for Boston College, Zabilski distinguished himself in the 1940 Cotton Bowl and the 1941 Sugar Bowl in which Boston College upset Tennessee, 19-13. In World War II he served aboard the first anti-submarine carrier pressed into action in the Atlantic and was discharged from the Navy a much decorated lieutenant.

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5/8

Northeastern Hall of Fame

http://gonu.com/profiles/hall/caylward.jpg


Christopher R. Aylward

Inducted in 1992
Football

Chris Aylward was elected to the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sport of football.

Aylward established himself as one of the dynamic quarterbacks in the eastern college football ranks and Northeastern as one of the nation's scoring machines. He graduated Northeastern holding most of the school's passing records, including most touchdown passes in a career, 31 which he threw in only three seasons. His junior season he tossed a school record 11 TD passes, only to break that mark the following year, when he threw 15 TD strikes. In his final two seasons, he connected for 2,891 of his career total 3,516 passing yards. As a senior, Aylward reached iconic proportions on the gridiron. He shattered every passing mark in the University's history, both career and season, earned the prestigious Gold Helmet in a miraculous comeback victory over Bridgeport, and was named the team's Most Valuable Player. In that Bridgeport game, he drew Northeastern back from an 18-0 deficit, directing the Huskies on three magnificent passing drives culminated by TD passes and a 19-18 victory.

Aylward, an avid golfer, bowler, softball and basketball player, resides in Westwood, Mass., with his wife Susan and their son Christopher.

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5/9

Northeastern Hall of Fame

http://gonu.com/profiles/hall/abalerna.jpg

Alfred J. Balerna

Inducted in 1984
Football and Track


Alfred J. Balerna was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sports of football and track.

Although most noted for his runs from scrimmage as a slashing tailback in the Huskies undefeated 1951 team, Balerna also earned three letters as a 100 and 200-yard dashman. Football was Balerna's bread and butter however. When he wasn't making coast to coast runs with the pigskin, he was jarring it loose from prospective receivers as a punishing defensive back. During a time when Joe Zabilski's Husky teams were filled with stars, Balerna was one of his greatest assets on both sides of the ball. His football career began on the right note, as he led his freshman squad of 1948 to an unbeaten, untied season. He enjoyed many outstanding individual accomplishments, including scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter alone against Tufts in the 1951 season, helping to ensure the Huskies' undefeated season. Balerna truly went out with a rush, as he gained over 600 yards in just seven games in 1951, when he was also the Huskies' leading receiver out of the backfield.

Recognizing his many contributions to Northeastern, the University dedicated the locker room at Parsons Field in the name of Balerna during football homecoming ceremonies on October 18, 1982.

With his degree from the University in Accounting, Balerna began an immensely successful business career after Northeastern. He went on to become president of the Federal Distillers Inc., of Cambridge.

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5/10

Northeastern Hall of Fame

http://gonu.com/profiles/hall/barone.jpg


Ralph Barone

Inducted in 2004
Football and Baseball

Ralph J. Barone has been elected to the Northeastern University Hall of Fame for excellence in the sports of football and baseball.

Barone, Class of '94, was a junior college transfer from Hudson Community College, where he was an All-League quarterback. While at HCC, he re-wrote the school record book. When new NU coach Barry Gallup inherited a Husky football team that had gone 1-10 in 1990, he looked for a QB for his "run and shoot" offense. Barone was his answer.

In Barone's very first outing, the Huskies opened the Gallup era by routing Colgate, 35-10. Barone won the New England Gold Helmet Award as the Division I-A/I-AA Player of the Week by completing 12-of-21 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns. His first-ever pass was intercepted but he rebounded to complete an 84-yard TD strike on his second. That season of 1991 saw NU improve to 4-7. He finished the year with 1,899 passing yards and 314 yards on the ground.

Barone's senior season earned him team MVP honors and the New England writers Gold Helmet Award as the Outstanding Division I-A/I-AA Player of the Year, the first NU player so honored. During the 5-5-1 season, he won two weekly Gold Helmets. In a 47-36 win over Maine, he set NU single-game records for passing yards (318) and touchdown passes (six). He was awarded the Gold Helmet following a bizarre 33-32 loss to Towson, in which he threw for 293 yards, ran for 87 and scored on a 32-yard run with four seconds left, only to have Towson respond with no time left to win. That campaign also featured one of Northeastern's greatest upsets. NU upended Youngstown State, the defending I-AA national champions, 28-23. Barone ran for 148 yards, two Tds, passed for 218 yards and two more scores.

He ended his career with a host of records. That 1992 season he threw 355 passes, completing 183 for 2,285 yards and 20 touchdowns, all new Northeastern season marks. More remarkable was his career record of 38 touchdown passes in only two years of competition.

Barone also won two baseball letters as a pitcher, outfielder and designated hitter. In 1993 he was voted All-America East for his work on the mound.

He currently resides in his native Schenectady, N.Y., and has been both playing and coaching in the Arena Football League.

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5/11

Northeastern Hall of Fame

http://gonu.com/profiles/hall/tburke.jpg

Thomas F. Burke, III

Inducted in 2001
Baseball and Football


Thomas F. Burke III has been elected to the Northeastern Hall of Fame for his heroics in baseball and football.

Burke, Class of '76, was one of the last of the great two-sport athletes and one of only two Huskies ever to win team most valuable player awards in both baseball and football. Before his college days, he was a two-sport star at North Quincy High School.

As a freshman, he entered NU in September and was too late to play football. However, in the spring, he immediately made his mark with the baseball team. As a slick-fielding outfielder he batted .315 with four home runs and 26 RBIs to help lead the team to a 15-8 season and a place in the NCAA District I playoffs.

In his sophomore year, Burke established himself on the football team as a speedy kickoff returner with a 22.9-yard average. He then excelled again in baseball, hitting .309 with 15 RBIs. That year an unusual pattern started to emerge; Burke stole 20 bases in 20 tries as a freshman and added 16 more steals in 16 tries as a sophomore.

Burke had one of the finest football seasons ever by a Husky in his junior campaign. He carried the ball 60 times for 375 yards, four touchdowns and an average of 6.3 yards per carry. Burke also caught 20 passes for 474 yards, five touchdowns and an 18.2-yard average. Add 249 yards on kickoff returns, and Burke totaled 1098 all-purpose yards. In the final game of the year, his 80-yard touchdown run triggered a 39-14 romp over C. W. Post and the Huskies finished with a 6-4 record. For his great efforts he was named Team MVP. In baseball, he hit .307 with 15 RBIs and broke his own record of 20 steals set as a freshman by swiping 24 bases in 24 attempts. That summer, Burke had to make a big decision. The Montreal Expos wanted him badly. However, he chose college and the Huskies.

Used only as a receiver in his senior football season, he caught 20 passes for 334 yards. In baseball, Burke batted .344 with five homers and 20 RBIs. A groin pull limited his base stealing to six, but he completed his career a perfect 66 for 66. He was voted Team MVP, All-Greater Boston League for the fourth time, and All-New England for the second time.

Upon graduation, Burke was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and played in the Pirates' organization for three seasons. Burke's professional baseball career was ended by a shoulder injury, but he put his degree in Criminal Justice to work and is currently Commander of the Bedford, N.H. Police Department. He and wife Barbara live in Manchester, N.H. with sons Tom IV and Tyler.

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5/12

Northeastern Hall of Fame

http://gonu.com/profiles/hall/rcappadona.jpg

Robert J. Cappadona

Inducted in 1977
Football


Robert J. Cappadona was elected to the Hall of Fame for outstanding achievements in football both collegiate and professional.

Cappadona, was the legendary type fullback with size, speed and strength. He bulled Northeastern to its first undefeated season in 1963 as a sophomore, to a 5-3 record in 1964, and a 6-2 record in 1965. He set the Northeastern rushing records for most rushes in a season, 189; most rushes in a career, 443; most yards gained in a season, 842; and most yards gained in a career, 2064. He still holds the Northeastern career records for rushing touchdowns, 23, and total touchdowns, 24. He averaged nearly five yards per carry and 100 yards a game, and more than a touchdown a game. He was the annual All City, All New England and All ECAC fullback and received several All America mentions.

After Northeastern enjoyed its 1963 undefeated season, the team was invited to play in the Eastern Bowl. Because Cappadona was ineligible due to the transfer rule the team voted it down. Cappadona implored the team to reconsider. They did and Northeastern played in its first bowl game. For this unselfish act he won the prestigious Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Sportsmanship Award.

A great high school player at Watertown, Mass., he was the state's leading scorer and is still Watertown's all-time leading scorer and rusher. Cappadona played three years professionally with the Boston Patriots and Buffalo Bills and was the Patriot's Rookie of the Year in 1966. He is currently the owner of the Robert J. Cappadona Insurance Agency in Burlington, and he is also active with the Northeastern Varsity Club.

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5/13

College Football Hall of Fame

http://www.collegefootball.org/playerimages/90040_1.jpg

Daniel R. Ross

Position: Tight End
School: Northeastern
High School: Everett, MA (Everett HS)
Years: 1975-1978
Inducted: 2004
Place of Birth: Malden, MA
Date of Birth: 2/9/1957
Place of Death: Haverhill, NH
Date of Death: 5/16/2006
Jersey Number: 84
Height: 6-4
Weight: 235

Member Biography
Perhaps the greatest player in Northeastern University history, Dan Ross is the first Huskie to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. After his final game, the school retired his #84 jersey. As a senior, he was elected as a first team All-America and became one of the few tight ends to lead the nation in receiving. He also received awards as the best player in New England. While a stellar blocker, he set school records for single-season receptions (58), career catches (153), single season reception yardage (988) and career reception yards (2,343). In the professional ranks, Ross played for 10 seasons in the NFL and USFL. He earned All-Star honors in both leagues. In a Super Bowl contest with the Cincinnati Bengals he set a Super Bowl record by catching 11 passes.

Northeastern Hall of Fame Biography
Inducted in 1986
Ross re-wrote the Northeastern record books as an All America tight end, and went on to star in the National Football League, where he earned All Pro status in both the NFL and USFL, and caught a Super Bowl record 11 footballs in the 1983 Super Bowl when his Cincinnati Bengals lost against San Francisco. Ross, whose last full season of college ball was in 1978, still holds several records at Northeastern. Ross holds the University marks for receiving yardage in one season, 988, and the record for career yardage, 2,343. The New England and University records for passes caught in a season and in a career were also set by Ross with 68 and 143 respectively. In Ross' collegiate heyday, few would argue that he was the area's premier receiver, and perhaps the best at his trade in the East. His specialty was attracting crowds and still hanging onto the football. His tremendous power, concentration, hands, blocking ability and open field running added up to one of the most exciting athletes to ever take the gridiron in New England.

He blossomed as a junior when he caught 60 passes for 913 yards and four touchdowns, followed by 988 yards and seven touchdowns a year later, as he copped both of New England's highest football honors, the Bulger Lowe (Outstanding Player) and Harry Agganis (Outstanding Senior) Awards. After his final game, Northeastern officially retired his jersey, number 84. Professional scouts were aware of Ross' talents and he was selected in the second round by the Cincinnati Bengals for whom he had 41 catches resulting in All Rookie team selection. He would go on to play 10 pro football seasons in the NFL and USFL.

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5/14

Northeastern Hall of Fame

http://gonu.com/profiles/hall/bjohnson.jpg

Bradford L. Johnson
Class of 1935
Inducted in 1974
Football

Bradford L. Johnson, who passed away in January 1997, was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sport of football.

As a member of the induction class of 1974, Johnson was one of the original six inductees into the Northeastern Hall of Fame.

Johnson captained the first Northeastern football team in 1933. An outstanding offensive and defensive end, he scored Northeastern's first touchdown on a pass reception against St. Anselm. In 1968, Johnson served as president of the Northeastern Varsity Club. A graduate of the Class of 1935, he also lettered in baseball and hockey.

He served in Europe with the Allied armies in World War II and then worked in the Dedham Post Office until retiring in 1978. He was active in the Northeastern Varsity Club, the Dedham American Legion and the Dedham Retired Men's Club.

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5/15

Northeastern Hall of Fame

http://gonu.com/profiles/hall/swatson.jpg

Sidney J. Watson
Class of 1956
Inducted in 1975
Football and Ice Hockey

Sidney J. Watson was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sports of football and ice hockey.

Before graduating in 1956, Watson starred on Northeastern's 1951 undefeated team, and was chosen Little All America in 1953 and captained the 1954 team. He set the Northeastern record for most points in a career with 191, that stood until 1997. His 74 points in 1953 set the Northeastern record that still stands today. In addition to lettering in football for three years, he also received one letter in basketball and three in hockey. On skates, Watson was an All New England defenseman.

After playing three years of professional football with the Pittsburgh Steelers and one year with the Washington Redskins, he became the head hockey coach at Bowdoin College. Bowdoin was happy to have him aboard. His teams won the ECAC Division II title four times, 1971, 1975, 1976 and 1978. Only one other small college hockey coach, Bob Priestly of Norwich, won more games than Watson did at Bowdoin. He was voted New England Coach of the Year in 1969 and 1970 and on a national level received College Division Coach of the Year honors in 1970 and 1971. He also coached golf and was an assistant football coach at Bowdoin. He spent 24 years as men's ice hockey coach before becoming athletic director in 1983, a position he held until 1997. During his athletic director reign, Bowdoin grew to 29 varsity sports

He was a member of the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee from 1968 to 1974. In 1969 he became secretary-treasurer of the American Hockey Coaches Association, before being promoted to vice president in 1973, and eventually president in 1975.

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5/16

Northeastern Hall of Fame

http://gonu.com/profiles/hall/slombardo.jpg

Salvatore J. Lombardo
Class of 1953
Inducted in 1978
Football and Basketball

Salvatore J. Lombardo was elected to the Hall of Fame for outstanding achievements as a player and a coach in the sports of football and basketball.

Lombardo was one of the finest ends both offensively and defensively in Husky football history. As a received, he was on the other end of Hall of Famer John Connelly's passes and as a tackler, his coach Joe Zabilski rates him as the best. He was on everyone's All New England squad as a senior. He captained the undefeated 1951 Northeastern football team that enjoyed a 6-0-1 record. In fact, he captained most all the teams he played on. He captained the Charlestown High School football team his senior year in 1945, then captained the Huntington Prep team in 1947 and the Northeastern freshman team in 1948. While at Northeastern he earned three varsity football letters and two in basketball. At Charlestown High School he was awarded two football letters and three in both baseball and basketball. He captained the Charlestown basketball team his junior and senior years. At Huntington Prep he won two letters in both football and basketball.

Since graduating from Northeastern in 1953, he taught and coached at St. Michael's College, Northeastern University, Dean Jr. College, Fairhaven High School and New Bedford High School. He coached both football and basketball and in more than 20 years of coaching basketball has enjoyed over 200 victories.

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5/17

Northeastern Hall of Fame

http://gonu.com/profiles/hall/rlyons.jpg

Robert "Bo" Lyons
Class of 1959
Inducted in 1980
Football

Robert "Bo" Lyons was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his achievements as an athlete, coach and administrator.

From 1955-57 Lyons won three football letters as an offensive center and linebacker. As a junior and senior, he was named to the Associated Press, United Press, Boston Globe and Boston Record All New England teams. He was elected captain his senior year and went on to be named to seven of eight All Opponent teams. In his sophomore and junior years, he was also the starting catcher for the baseball team.

Lyons returned to Northeastern as an assistant coach of football in 1963 after several years of high school teaching and coaching. His first season back, the Huskies enjoyed their first perfect season with an 8-0 record. He served as Joe Zabillski's chief assistant coach for nine seasons before taking over the head coaching chores in 1972. In his nine years as head football coach, Lyons moved the football program forward from Division II to Division I status. His most outstanding seasons came in 1972, 6-2; 1974, 6-4; and 1978, 6-5. In 1977 he was promoted to the position of assistant director of athletics and was made an administrative assistant to the vice president of the University. He also served as the president of the New England Football Coaches Association.

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5/18

Northeastern Hall of Fame

http://gonu.com/profiles/hall/thourihan.jpg

Thomas J. Hourihan
Class of 1957
Inducted in 1980
Football

Thomas J. Hourihan was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his achievements in the sport of football.

Hourihan earned three varsity football letters from 1953-55. In 1952, he was captain of the freshman football team. As an offensive end, Hourihan led his four Northeastern teams in pass receptions. In his junior year, he caught a Dick Carter pass against Rhode Island and went 95 yards for a touchdown. The touchdown gave Northeastern a 13-13 opening game tie. The team went on to a 4-1-1 record. The 95-yard reception was the longest in the NCAA that season and set a Northeastern record that has lasted for over 40 years. On defense, he played at end and was annually the team leader in tackles. Hourihan was selected All New England and Little All America in both his junior and senior seasons. In those two seasons he also was voted to all but one All Opponent team.

At Brookline High School, he earned two baseball letters, two basketball and three football, plus All Scholastic honors in football. In the U.S. Navy he rose to the rank of captain and was selected for the All Navy football team.

He graduated from Boston University in 1965 with an MBA degree and has lectured at Northeastern, Boston College, Clark, Worcester State and Harvard.

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5/19

Northeastern Hall of Fame

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James M. Thornton
Class of 1966
Inducted in 1982
Football

James M. Thornton, who has since passed away, was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sport of football, where he was a triple threat for Coach Joe Zabilski from 1963 to 1965.

Thornton was Mr. Outside in one of Northeastern's bench-mark offensive backfields, Mr. Inside being All America fullback and also a member of the Hall of Fame, Bob Cappadona. Thornton broke the starting lineup as a sophomore, as Northeastern posted an 8-0-0 record and earned an Eastern Bowl bid against powerful East Carolina. With Thornton in the lineup, the Huskies won 20 games and lost just five in three seasons. In that span, the explosive halfback was also the team's best pass catcher and a dangerous man on the option play. If there wasn't enough work on the offensive end, he was deployed to punt and kickoff return, where he was particularly dangerous.

So far as one-two punches were concerned, the Huskies enjoyed one of the very best in the small college ranks in Cappadona and Thornton. Cappadona gained the tough yardage up the middle, while Thornton, a slashing, darting back, often tore away for big gainers around the end.

Thornton took an indirect route coming to Northeastern, as after high school, he spent two years in the Army and then two more in private business before matriculating at Northeastern. He took the direct route, though, through Northeastern's five year co-operative education program and graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education.

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5/20

Northeastern Hall of Fame

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Alfred M. McCoy
Inducted in 1982
Baseball, Basketball and Football

Alfred M. McCoy, who has since passed away, was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his achievements as a coach of baseball, basketball and football.

McCoy arrived on Huntington Avenue in 1929 and coached baseball and basketball for eight years and after founding the sport of football at Northeastern in 1932, coached varsity for four years. McCoy himself was an outstanding football player, and played both offensive and defensive end for the 1922 Penn State team that lost to USC 14-3 in the Rose Bowl; the first game ever played in the present Rose Bowl.

He had many fine seasons as a coach of basketball and baseball. His 1931-34 basketball teams compiled records of 12-9, 10-5, 9-7 and 10-3 respectively. In baseball, his 1934 team finished 12-2, the best winning percentage in Northeastern baseball history. His first varsity eleven on the gridiron, captained by NU Hall of Famer Brad Johnson, was 1-3-1. The next year they were 6-1-1 and in 1935, the Huskies enjoyed their first undefeated season with a 5-0-3 record. His last year of 1936 they were 5-4 and already playing teams of the caliber of Boston College. In between coaching all these sports, McCoy also taught a full load of hours as an English instructor, and wrote for the popular magazine, The Open Road for Boys.

After coaching stops at Colby, Harvard, Washington and the professional Boston Yanks, it was to English he would return in the end. He wrote sports for the San Diego Tribune from 1964-1974.

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5/21

Northeastern Hall of Fame

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E. "Foxy" Flumere
Class of 1939
Inducted in 1989
athlete and coach

Emmanuel A. Flumere, who has since passed away, was elected to the Hall of Fame for his achievements as an athlete and coach.

Flumere was an outstanding multiple sport athlete at Northeastern, and was captain of the Huskies first intercollegiate football team, the freshman squad of 1932. He was the first alumnus to become head football coach of football in 1942. Following a multiple sport undergraduate career (football, basketball, baseball), Flumere became freshman coach of football, basketball and baseball at Northeastern in 1941. He would take over as head coach a year later. "Foxy", as he was fondly referred to by teammates, friends and classmates, was credited with preparing many of Northeastern's athletes in the early 1940's for college competition and the inevitable delay for the war, as athletics were suspended from 1943-45.

Flumere, after Northeastern, was a pioneer of sorts at Brandeis University, where in addition to being the Associate Athletic Director, he was the head coach of football, baseball and basketball. He later directed the Brandeis Physical Education and Intramural Departments and also coached the golf team. His athletic bailiwick is considerable and impressive. In 1963, Flumere received the Walter Brown Sportsmanship Award for significant contribution to New England College basketball; he accepted the Distinguished Contribution Award from the Friends of Brandeis Athletics in 1974, the George C. Carens Award for Outstanding Contribution to Football in 1981, and the Contribution to Amateur Football Award from the Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame.

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5/22

Northeastern Hall of Fame

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Joesph G. Davis
Class of 1965
Inducted in 1989
Football

Joseph G. Davis was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sport of football.

Davis was an All New England and All America selection as a lineman and captain of the 1963 undefeated, untied squad coached by Joe Zabilski. He is considered one of the greatest two-way football tackles in Northeastern history. Growing up in the shadow of Parsons Field in Brokline, Davis was the irreplaceable cog in an offensive and defensive line that helped the Huskies to their first post-season bowl bid in the University's history. Post season honors capped a brilliant career in 1963 when Davis earned a spot on the AP and UPI All New England teams, the ECAC All East squad, and Little All America. A 6'3, 240 pound tackle, Davis played both sides of the football as Northeastern outscored its opponents by a healthy 237-42. With Davis rampaging both sides of the line of scrimmage, the Huskies posted a record three shutouts, en route to a berth in the prestigious Eastern Bowl Contest. After four seasons, where the Huskies record over that time was 16-7, Davis's career was capped off with the Most Valuable Player Award from the Varsity Club.

After a fruitful cooperative career at Gillette, upper management there made the astute observation that Davis was himself management material. Davis has been Manager of Information Systems, Personal Care Group for over 30 years.

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5/23

Northeastern Hall of Fame

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Robert A. Connors
Class of 1972
Inducted in 1990
Football

Robert A. Connors was selected to the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sport of football.

As a straight T quarterback with a rifle arm, Connors was a baffling obstacle to opposing defenses, and particularly so in 1967 and 1968, when the Huskies of Joe Zabilski were a combined 13-4-0. Connors set a record for yards passing in a single season in 1969, the year after he was the leading rusher for the Huskies out of the quarterback position. Connors left Northeastern with career football records for passes thrown and completed, touchdown passes and yards gained in a season. Connors punctuated his career with 11 touchdown strikes in 1969, and another six rushing the football. His final offensive line read like that of the premier double threats of his era: 608 yards rushing, 2,581 through the air, and 24 career passing TD's. Connors was also the team's regular punter and earned one letter hurling the javelin in outdoor track in the spring of 1968. His athletic ability was conspicuous, so much so that the New York football Giants tried him out at defensive back in 1970. He went on to play professional -- at defensive back -- with the Long Island Bulls of the Atlantic Coast League in the fall of 1970.

After his professional football stint ended, Connors earned a faculty position at Waltham High School in the fall of 1972. He became head football coach at WHS in 1976. After leaving Waltham in 1981, he went directly to the sidelines at Wakefield High School until 1989.

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5/24

Northeastern Hall of Fame

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Christopher R. Aylward
Class of 1975
Inducted in 1992
Football

Chris Aylward was elected to the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sport of football.

Aylward established himself as one of the dynamic quarterbacks in the eastern college football ranks and Northeastern as one of the nation's scoring machines. He graduated Northeastern holding most of the school's passing records, including most touchdown passes in a career, 31 which he threw in only three seasons. His junior season he tossed a school record 11 TD passes, only to break that mark the following year, when he threw 15 TD strikes. In his final two seasons, he connected for 2,891 of his career total 3,516 passing yards. As a senior, Aylward reached iconic proportions on the gridiron. He shattered every passing mark in the University's history, both career and season, earned the prestigious Gold Helmet in a miraculous comeback victory over Bridgeport, and was named the team's Most Valuable Player. In that Bridgeport game, he drew Northeastern back from an 18-0 deficit, directing the Huskies on three magnificent passing drives culminated by TD passes and a 19-18 victory.

Aylward, an avid golfer, bowler, softball and basketball player, resides in Westwood, Mass., with his wife Susan and their son Christopher.

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5/25

Northeastern Hall of Fame

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Allen K. Deary
Class of 1981
Inducted in 1993
Football

Allen Deary was elected to the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sport of football.

Deary dominated New England passing lanes in the late 1970's as the premier quarterback . In 1978, the connection of Deary to Dan Ross, who would go on to the Pro Bowl, would connect 68 times as the Huskies surge to a 6-5 record- Deary completed 138 passes that season. Deary was the top passer in the ECAC, Division IAA, and the fourth best in the NCAA. When Deary graduated, he held the University career records for passes attempted, completed, and yards gained (4895), and the career total offense figures of 5,720. In addition to his passing, he also rushed for 318 yards as a senior. A Dan Marino-type release and a Tazmanian Devil running style made Deary one of the top dual threats in the nation. His career high 10 touchdown strikes in 1980 led to a tryout with the Boston Breakers of the erstwhile USFL.

Football and springboard co-op experiences at Bank of Boston and General Electric paved the way for exciting post college professional opportunities. Currently, Deary is one of the founders of Peritus Software Services, a multi-million dollar enterprise in Burlington, Mass. Deary resides in Saugus, Mass., with his wife, Risha Jane, son Luke and daughter Alisha.

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5/26

Northeastern Hall of Fame

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Craig A. MacDonald
Class of 1969
Inducted in 1994
Football

Craig A. MacDonald has been elected to the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sport of football.

MacDonald was a defensive end known for his tenacity as he captained the Huskies through one of their signature fotball campaigns, the 1967 season. With MacDonald spearheading a defense that remains one of the program's best ever, the Huskies posted a 7-1 record, complete with a statistical portrait of opponent frustration. The Huskies allowed just 34 points in eight games, and the fewest rushing yards (329), while chalking up the most shutouts-five- in a single season. The "D" of 1967 was ranked second in the nation and MacDonald earned his second straight First Team All New England kudos. Also, he was honored with Associated Press All East selections in consecutive years, and named several times to the ECAC Division II Team of the Week.

In 1965, as a sophomore, MacDonald and his linemates helped the Huskies begin to stamp the mid-sixties as springboard gridiron years. NU went 6-2 that year. As a junior, MacDonald and the Huskies posted another 6-2 season. MacDonald led the team in tackles, heading a defense that held opponents under 10 points on four occasions. Finally as a senior, MacDonald was elevated to captain as the Huskies finished 7-1.

Since 1980, MacDonald has been Construction Coordinator for the New England Company. Craig and his wife, Maureen, have raised two children while residing in Hanover, Amy and Craig.

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5/27

Northeastern Hall of Fame

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Angelo P. Toyias
Class of 1956
Inducted in 1995
Football, Baseball and Track

Angelo Toyias has been elected to the hall of Fame for his three-sport accomplishments as a Husky.

Toyias provided major fireworks as a kicker, halfback, free safety and linebacker. He also starred in baseball as a shortstop, and in the dash, relay and javelin for the Red and Black.

Toyias's primary contributions came on the gridiron, where he helped NU maintain a string of winning football seasons, including the 1953 campaign when the Huskies took six straight after losing the opener to Rhode Island. As a sophomore, he teamed with Sid Watson, Joe DeRosa and Ralph Barisano to form one of NU's greatest backfields. Toyias was voted Most Improved Player. As a football half back he snagged a 54-yard touchdown pass from Barisano to propel NU to a 41-14 victory over powerhouse Massachusetts at Parsons Field. In track and field, he piled up the points in the dash, relay and javelin events. Later that spring he earned a spot on the New England collegiate baseball all-star team of 1953. As a senior, he was instrumental in a huge shutout victory over Massachusetts, 39-0, handling all the kicking duties, helping shut down the Minuteman attack and catching a TD pass from Barisano.

Toyias has enjoyed a fruitful career in the business world, where he now works as a representative of Metropolitan Life. He lives in Chestnut Hill, Mass., with his wife Thalia.

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5/28

Northeastern Hall of Fame

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Sean Jones
Class of 1985
Inducted in 1996
Football

D. Sean Jones, a leader among socially responsible professional athletes, was elected to the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sport of football.

As a defensive end for head coach Paul Pawlak, Jones was one of New England's top quarterback stalkers en route to being stalked himself by the NFL combine.

At Northeastern, he was a tour de force on both sides of the football, serving his collegiate apprenticeship as an offensive lineman in his freshman and sophomore seasons. Jones made a cataclysmic switch to the other side of the football for his junior and senior years. Jones played in the NFL for 13 seasons, first with the Los Angles Raiders (19984-87) then with the Houston Oilers (1988-93) and finishing his career with the Green Bay Packers. Jones's left the NFL on top, after helping to lead the Packers to a Super Bowl victory in 1997. Jones is a stockbroker and the president of two firms, Amaroq Systems, Inc. and Daylight Capital L.L.C. He is also a member of the National Council at Northeastern. He and his wife reside in Beverly Hills, Calif. with their son Dylan.

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5/29

Northeastern Hall of Fame

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William LaFreniere
Class of 1985
Inducted in 1999
Football

William LaFreniere, a native of Marlboro and current resident of Northboro, has been elected to the Northeastern University Hall of Fame for excellence in the sport of football.

A 1985 graduate, LaFreniere's name can be found 27 times in the NU football record book. As a wide receiver and kick return specialist from 1978-1981 he was the most exciting player in New England. It didn't take LaFreniere long to achieve success on the gridiron. He arrived at NU having played only two years of football at Marlboro High School and one at Worcester Academy. Due to his lack of experience LaFreniere was used only on special teams his freshman year. He blossomed as a sophomore, catching 22 passes for 503 yards and four touchdowns, and returning 26 kickoffs for 603 yards, including a 102-yarder versus Springfield that remains a Husky record. For his many heroics LaFreniere was dubbed the "Flying Frenchman."

As a junior in 1980 he teamed with quarterback Allen Deary to form one of the most productive pass-catch combos in NU history. LaFreniere snagged 42 Deary passes for 882 yards and eight touchdowns. He added 598 kick return yards and 115 on punt runbacks. The total all-purpose yardage of 1602 was good for sixth in the nation and is still an NU season record.

LaFreniere was elected a captain as a senior and continued to excel. He returned 27 kicks for 697 yards and 12 punts for 166 more. He finished his career with 4,275 all-purpose yards, a school record that has now stood for nearly two decades. Also, his return averages of 13.6 per punt and 15.0 per kick have been untouchable Husky marks. However, the most remarkable statistic is that every time the "Flying Frenchman" touched the ball over his four-year career, it resulted in an average of 21 yards for Northeastern.

His collegiate career ended with many honors. LaFreniere earned All New England, All-ECAC and All America honorable mention distinction, while the football team awarded him the 1981 Zabilski Award as the program's most dedicated member.

LaFreniere would go on to play five years of semi-pro football in the Eastern Football League before becoming a member of the New England Patriots in 1987. His achievements in the EFL earned him enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the minor league category.

LaFreniere received a degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in 1997 and now works for Walgreen's Pharmacy. He resides in Northboro with his wife Marianne and the couple's three children.

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5/30

Northeastern Hall of Fame

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Stan Hillier
Class of 1978
Inducted in 2001
Football

Stan Hillier has been elected to the Northeastern Hall of Fame for his achievements in the sport of football.

Hillier, Class of '78, was one of the greatest defensive linemen ever to play for the Huskies. A former star at Holbrook High School and Tilton Academy, he became an impact player as a freshman and went on to win four varsity football letters from 1973-76.

After sensational seasons as a freshman and sophomore, his junior year was marred by an ankle injury on the opening day of practice that haunted him for the entire year. Despite the injury, he was voted All-New England.

In March of 1976, Hillier underwent surgery to repair the ankle and by preseason camp in August he was back at 100 percent. By then, the 215-pounder that had started as a freshman had become a 6'3, 238-pound standout with surprising agility.

During that period of time, the Northeastern football program was in the process of upgrading from Division II to a new level (eventually known as Division IAA) and was trailing a number of its opponents in resources. The situation made Hillier's senior season all the more remarkable as the Huskies' final record was 2-7. In that nine-game season he earned ECAC Player of the Week certificates eight times.

Hillier's most remarkable afternoon of his senior campaign came against AIC in a game the Huskies would win 53-31. However, at halftime the score was 41-0. In those first 30 minutes of football he was credited with nine unassisted tackles, 10 assisted, four blocked passes and one quarterback sack. For that incredible performance, Hillier won the weekly Gold Helmet Award from the New England Football Writers. It is an honor that remains a rarity for defensive players.

When the season ended, the statistical achievements proved remarkable. Over 125 total tackles, 15 quarterback sacks, 10 blocked passes, nine caused fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one blocked punt. The honors started to pour in. He was voted All-New England for the second straight year and then received ECAC All-East Division II honors. At the team banquet, Hillier was selected the Most Valuable Player. Then came the crowning honor when he was voted first team Division II All America. Hillier became only the seventh Northeastern football player to receive that distinction.

The next spring Hillier signed as a free agent with the New England Patriots, but after a month in training camp he opted to go into business. He is currently an executive with Consumer Home Mortgage. He lives in Marshfield with his son Andrew.

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5/31

Northeastern Hall of Fame

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Darin Jordan
Class of 1988
Inducted in 2002
Football

Darin Jordan has been elected to the Northeastern Hall of Fame for excellence in the sport of football.

Jordan, Class of '88, was one of the premier defensive linemen in Husky history. He came to NU from Stoughton High School where he captained the football team and was selected All Hockomock League as both a junior and senior. He was redshirted as a freshman in 1983, but was in the starting lineup by the fourth game of 1984. In his rookie season, Jordan previewed what was to come with his totals of 24 tackles and two quarterback sacks.

The next two seasons, Jordan became a defensive stalwart while playing through several injuries, including a broken arm and two broken thumbs. He missed very few snaps and played some games with hands so heavily taped he could not grasp the opponent. Still, he continued to rack up the tackles. In his sophomore season he had 49 stops and three sacks. He then recorded 65 tackles and seven sacks as a junior. The 6'2, 250-pounder could run 40 yards in 4.6 seconds and bench press 420, qualities that were attracting a lot of attention. As a junior he was voted both All New England and All East. However, the Huskies were not doing well in the win column. In his first three seasons the team had gone 3-7, 2-8 and 4-6.

Jordan was elected the team captain in his senior year of 1987 and vowed to lead the Huskies to a winning season. He would enjoy the most productive season ever by an NU downlineman. Jordan led the team in tackles with 79 and added 12.5 sacks. It remains the only time in Husky football history that a defensive lineman has topped the tackle charts.

In the crucial game of the year with NU's record at 5-3, Jordan smothered the Rhode Island offense with an 11-tackle, four-sack effort as the Huskies downed the Rams 21-3 to cement a winning campaign. The Huskies finished at 6-5 and Jordan once again was voted All New England and All East as well as Team MVP. His career sack total of 24.5 still lists second in the NU record book and his 217 tackles are the most ever by a downlineman.

Jordan went on to play six seasons in the NFL, culminating with a Super Bowl championship in 1994 as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. He currently resides in Toronto, Ontario with his wife Andrea, who is a surgeon, and the couple's two children: Jonah, age 5, and Jenelle, 6.

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And on that note we complete the fact a day from Northeastern.

THANKS HUSKIES FANS!

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