Northern Illinois University to Face Troy University in 5th Annual Silicon Valley Football Classic.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The Silicon Valley Football Classic (SVFC) today introduced Northern Illinois University (NIU) and Troy University as participants in the 5th annual college bowl game, to be played on Thursday, December 30 at 8:00 p.m. (PST) at Spartan Stadium.

For the first time since its inception, the SVFC will not have Western Athletic Conference member Fresno State University as a participant. Instead, the game will pit Sun Belt Conference runner-up Troy University Trojans (7-4, 5-2) against Mid-American Conference (MAC) member NIU Huskies (8-3, 7-1). This will be the first ever meeting between Troy and NIU, even though Troy began play in 1909, and NIU in 1899.

"This is a great opportunity for local college football fans to see two quality programs that do not get much publicity here in the Bay Area," noted SVFC Executive Director Chris Hutchins.

Northern Illinois will be making a bowl appearance for the first time since 1983. NIU, ranked as high as 12th in the nation during the 2003 season, is coming off of its fifth winning season in a row. The Huskies feature a MAC high 12 All-Mid-American Conference performers, including sophomore tailback Garrett Wolf -- one of only three backs in NCAA Div. IA to rush for over 300 yards this season.

"We're thrilled and appreciate the invitation to play in the Silicon Valley Football Classic," said Joe Novak, Head Coach for Northern Illinois University. "It's a great opportunity and has been a long time for our program. Troy's a good football team. It beat Marshall and Missouri this year. We'll have our hands full."

In just its fourth season at the Division 1-A level, the Trojans will be making their first trip to a bowl game since their transition from Division 1-AA status in 2001. This season the Trojans pulled a major upset defeating then-No. 19 ranked Missouri, 24-14, on Sept. 9. The Trojans also threw a scare into No. 13 LSU, falling 24-20 on Oct. 23 in Death Valley.

A highly successful program at the Division 1-AA level, the Trojans made eight playoff appearances. The school also captured two Division II National Championships and an NAIA title in over ninety years of football tradition.

"It is a great reward for these kids who worked and struggled so hard throughout the year," said Larry Blakeney, Head Coach of Troy University. "This gives us another chance to make an impression on the national scene. We had a good feeling things would shape up for us, and now that we are in the Silicon Valley Football Classic, we are excited for ourselves, all of Troy University and its supporters."

About Northern Illinois University

Founded in 1895, Northern Illinois University (NIU) opened its doors in 1899 with a single building, 16 full-time faculty and 173 students pursuing teaching careers. Northern Illinois is one of 117 1-A football programs in the country since being elevated to University Division status in 1969. NIU's football program has won three of the last four Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division titles (2001, 2002 and 2004) and has topped the Mid-Am with 12 all-conference players on the coaches' 2004 all-star team, including a school-record eight first-team performers. NIU led the MAC in football attendance this season (27,052 spectators per game in five Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium home dates). For more information on NIU, visit http://www3.niu.edu/athletics/.

About Troy State University

Since its founding in 1887, Troy State University has been recognized for the quality of its academic programs and its focus on the individual student. The Troy football program has been in the most successful program in the state of Alabama since head coach Larry Blakeney arrived on campus in 1991. Since that time, the Trojans have posted a 115-52-1 record (.684), which ranks ahead of both Auburn and Alabama. The Trojans football program won two Division II National Championships during the 1980s, and since moving to Division 1-A in 2001, the Trojans have played against some of the biggest names in college football. For more information on Troy, visit http://www.troystate.com/football.htm.

About The Silicon Valley Football Classic (SVFC)

The Silicon Valley Football Classic (SVFC) was conceived in 2000, to form an NCAA Division IA Football Bowl in San Jose, California. The mission of the SVFC is to utilize college football as the ultimate social platform to positively impact the City of San Jose and its surrounding communities on both an economic and philanthropic level. SVFC seeks to invest and give back to our communities by establishing long term partnerships with businesses, civic groups, schools, families and football fans through a series of year round festival of events highlighting our December Bowl. Bowl V of SVFC is scheduled for Thursday, December 30, 2004 at 8:00 p.m. PT. The game will be held at San Jose State University's Spartan Stadium, and will be televised nationally on ESPN2. For more information on the SVFC, visit http://www.svfootballclassic.com.