Coach Rod Carey
Northern Illinois head football coach Rod Carey has accepted an invitation from the Chicago Cubs to throw out the first pitch and sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch Wednesday, April 17, of the Cubs’ game with the Texas Rangers.
First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. and the game will be televised by Comcast SportsNet on its Plus channel. Carey will spend a few minutes in the booth with announcers Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies prior to making his singing debut.
“I am super-excited to go down to Wrigley Field, who wouldn’t be? It’s an awesome place, steeped in tradition,” Carey said.
“Chicago is our backyard, it’s the home of so many of our students and alumni and fans. Whenever we have the chance to be there, it’s a huge opportunity. I know what an honor and a privilege it is to be invited to sing the seventh-inning stretch; we look forward to continuing the great relationship between NIU and the Cubs.”
Carey, who was named head coach on the day NIU received the BCS bowl bid, and the 2013 Huskies are currently in the midst of spring football practices.
Northern Illinois returns 14 starters (8 offense, 5 defense, 1 specialist) in 2013, led by dual-threat quarterback Jordan Lynch (Chicago, Ill./Mt. Carmel HS), a 2012 second-team All-American who accounted for nearly 5,000 yards of total offense while setting NCAA records for rushing by a quarterback with 12 100-yard rushing games. Leading tackler Jimmie Ward and the Huskies’ entire offensive line are among the 55 returning letter winners for 2013.
For more information on NIU football and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
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