Glidden Field

Last updated
Glidden Field
Glidden Field
Location Northern Illinois University
Lucinda Ave. and Gilbert Way
DeKalb, Illinois, U.S.
Coordinates 41°56′07″N88°45′42″W / 41.9354°N 88.7616°W / 41.9354; -88.7616
OwnerNorthern Illinois University
OperatorNorthern Illinois University
Capacity 5,500 (final; 1965)
SurfaceNatural grass
Opened1903
ClosedOctober 9, 1965
59 years ago
Tenants
NIU Huskies (NCAA) (1903–1965)
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DeKalb
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Location in the United States
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DeKalb
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Location in Illinois

Glidden Field was an athletic venue located on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. Opened in 1903, it was the home field of the Northern Illinois Huskies, primarily for football and track and field.

Contents

Location

Glidden Field was located on the east end of campus, bordered by Lucinda Avenue to the north and Gilbert Way (along with Gilbert Hall and Still Gym) to the west; the Kishwaukee River provided a natural border to the east. The playing field had a conventional north–south alignment at an elevation of 850 feet (260 m) above sea level.

About

The field dated back to NIU's origins, as the site originally was used as a harness racing track for the annual DeKalb Agricultural Fair. Joseph Glidden, a prominent farmer in the area and community benefactor, donated the land to help the institution expand. It was quickly put to use as a recreational field for the university's sports teams. Early iterations of the field included a covered grandstand boasting "400 strong" supporters in a 1904 football game. During the 1920s, the field was encircled by a cinder track, and even more bleachers were added after World War II.

Northern Illinois' football accomplishments, such as winning three consecutive Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships and a national title, in the late 1950s and early 1960s prompted not only over-capacity crowds (some as large as 10,000), but also talks of a new stadium to accommodate the team's needs.

In 1964, construction began on Huskie Stadium for use at the start of the 1965 football season, but constant delays with the construction crew, and prolonged cold weather from the previous winter, kept the Huskies at Glidden Field for the first three home games of the season. After Huskie Stadium was completed, the bleachers and track were removed from Glidden and it became a public park. [1]

The site is now shared by the Jack Arends Visual Arts Hall and the Boutell Memorial Music Hall.

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The 1933 Northern Illinois State Evansmen football team represented Northern Illinois State Teachers College—now known as Northern Illinois University—as a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1933 college football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Chick Evans, the Evansmen compiled an overall record of 5–4 with a mark of 4–3 in conference play, placing 13th in the IIAC. The team played home games at the 5,500-seat Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus, in DeKalb, Illinois.

The 1963 Northern Illinois Huskies football team was an American football team that represented Northern Illinois University in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1963 NCAA College Division football season. In their eighth year under head coach Howard Fletcher, the Huskies compiled a perfect 10–0 record, won the IIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 337 to 97. They appeared in the Mineral Water Bowl, defeating Southwest Missouri State. The team was recognized by the Associated Press as the 1963 small college national champion. However, the United Press International recognized Delaware as the small college champion. Northern Illinois played home games at the 5,500-seat Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus, in DeKalb, Illinois.

The 1954 Northern Illinois State Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois State Teachers College—now known as Northern Illinois University—as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1954 college football season. Led by Chick Evans in his 26th and final season as head coach, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 2–7 with a mark of 1–5 in conference play, tying for sixth in the IIAC. The team played home games at the 5,500-seat Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus, in DeKalb, Illinois.

The 1962 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1962 NCAA College Division football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Howard Fletcher, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 8–2 with a mark of 3–1 in conference play, plaching second in the IIAC. Northern Illinois was invited to the Mineral Water Bowl, where they lost to Adams State. The team played home games at the 5,500-seat Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus, in DeKalb, Illinois.

The 1965 Northern Illinois State Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1965 NCAA College Division football season. Led by tenth-year head coach Howard Fletcher, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 9–1 with a mark of 4–0 in conference play, winning the IIAC title. Northern Illinois was invited to the Mineral Water Bowl, where they lost to North Dakota. The Huskies playing their first three home games at Glidden Field before opening the newly constructed Huskie Stadium on November 6 against Illinois State.

The 1966 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as independent during the 1966 NCAA College Division football season. Led by 11th-year head coach Howard Fletcher, the Huskies compiled a record of 8–2. Northern Illinois played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.

The 1945 Northern Illinois State Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois State Teachers College—now known as Northern Illinois University—as a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1945 college football season. Led by 17th-year head coach Chick Evans, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 4–3 with a mark of 2–2 in conference play, placing third in the IIAC. The team played home games at the 5,500-seat Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus, in DeKalb, Illinois.

The 1952 Northern Illinois State Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois State Teachers College—now known as Northern Illinois University—as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1952 college football season. Led by 24th-year head coach Chick Evans, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 3–6 with a mark of 2–4 in conference play, tying for fourth place in the IIAC. The team played home games at the 5,500-seat Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus, in DeKalb, Illinois.

The 1953 Northern Illinois State Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois State Teachers College—now known as Northern Illinois University—as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1953 college football season. Led by 25th-year head coach Chick Evans, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 1–8 with a mark of 1–5 in conference play, placing sixth in the IIAC. The team played home games at the 5,500-seat Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus, in DeKalb, Illinois.

The 1957 Northern Illinois State Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1957 NCAA College Division football season. Led by second-year head coach Howard Fletcher, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 2–7 with a mark of 1–5 in conference play, placing sixth in the IIAC. The team played home games at the 5,500-seat Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus, in DeKalb, Illinois.

The 1960 Northern Illinois State Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1960 NCAA College Division football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Howard Fletcher, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 7–2 with a mark of 4–2 in conference play, placing third in the IIAC. The team played home games at the 5,500-seat Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus, in DeKalb, Illinois.

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The 2016 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Rod Carey, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 5–7 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing third in the MAC's West Division. The team played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.

References

  1. ↑ "2005 Northern Illinois University Football" (PDF). NIU Athletics. August 1, 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.


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