I would have linked this but not sure if the link would work...this is from our main rivals site but is public information. FYI...

Northern Illinois Practice Quotes
December 26, 2012

It was a long day for the Northern Illinois football team. The Huskies team flight departed from Illinois at 6:30 a.m. (CT) and arrived in Miami around 11:30 a.m. (ET). They then traveled directly to Barry University where they practiced for a little over two hours and thirty minutes. The Huskies had a fast paced practice in shorts and shoulder pads on a warm and breezy afternoon. It was team's first of five practices at the Miami Shores campus.

Head Coach Rod Carey:
On today's practice
Really good, last year [in the GoDaddy.com Bowl] we came out and it was one of the worst practices of the year. Today, it was sharp. I pulled them up about half way through and told them "you have the chance to have a really special practice" and we did.

Any difference in practicing in the humudity and heat?
Yeah a lot, just ask the O and D lines. They were sweating.

On balancing the experience of being at the Orange Bowl with practicing and getting ready for the game
You have to remember this is a reward and you have to treat it that way, but you also have to do your work. Our team, because of its senior leadership does a great job of just snapping in. They love coming off and seeing their picture on the bus, but then we got to the field and they snap right back into it and got to work. That's because of our seniors and that's how you balance it, with the leadership on your team.

On how prior bowl experience has helped this time around
Yeah we've been to a lot lately, so these kids are use to it, but this one is obviously different.

What does this game mean for the players from Florida coming down here and getting a chance to play in front of their loved ones?
Well obviously it's big. I don't know you quantify it but I know they'll be ready to go.

On NIU as a school and as a team
[On the school] NIU is a great university, it stands apart from athletics, has a fantastic business school and all the majors are good. It's a fine institution, big school but it's a well kept secret but we're trying to let people in on the secret. [On the team] Our kids are blue collar, chip on their shoulders, play hard guys.

Health wise how is the backfield looking?
Keith Harris will not playing this game, Akeem [Daniels] will be fine; he's just got some soreness to work through. That kid has played a ton of football, and he isn't the biggest kid in the world so bumps and bruises are going to happen.

On the importance of TB Akeem Daniels to the team's success
He's really important, he does everything. He lines up at fullback, tailback, he could line up at quarterback too but we have a pretty good kid there. He lines up at outside receiver, Z and X slots, inside. I love that kid. He ran the ball for 100 yards in the last two games and had some catches in there too, he's a work horse. He plays on every special teams play and he's a stud there too, so he is very key [to our team].

On the need to still watching film and preparing mentally this late in the season
We got to get in there and keep doing it. Our guys like football and watching film, so we'll get plenty of it this week.

Jordan Lynch - r-JR, QB:

How would you characterize today's practice?
Intense, it was a normal Tuesday practice, it was about 20 periods. We came out to do what we had to do; I thought we looked pretty crisp for a long day.

What was the reaction of the team both to being at the Orange Bowl and in decent weather?
Everyone was excited. Got a great welcome when we got off the plane, the weather was great and a lot of people saw the new buses driving with the players on it [on the side]. Everyone's excited and we have great facilities here [at Barry University], it's good to play on normal grass too.

What the feeling amongst the team to finally be down here and practicing now that's it has started?
A lot of guys are flying around, warm weather is something we're not use to, and usually we're out in 20 degrees weather. A lot of the guys are loosened up, flying around and having fun out there.

On NIU as a team and its handling of the excitement of the Orange Bowl
We're physical, we like to fly around and have fun. [On the excitement of the Orange Bowl] We've got to be smart, and responsible, we have a great senior class and leadership council. Everyone should be fine in handling it.

On being in a BCS bowl and how it compares to prior bowls NIU has participating in.
It's the best bowl you can be in outside of the National Championship game. It's just different, [from] the way we were greeted coming off the plane, the [police] escort shutting down the whole highway that was pretty cool. There's just a few things that are different.

Jamaal Bass - r-So, OLB:

How does it feel to be back in Miami and did you ever feel that you would be playing at Sun Life Stadium?
Honestly, it was unexpected but it's great to be home, especially playing in front of family and friends. It's been a long time since I've done that so it's a great feeling.

On the excitement of the team
It's a good change in atmosphere for the team. I've been introduced to the cold and snow so for the rest of them to be introduced to what I've been use to my whole life is good.

How does being in a BCS bowl compare to your prior bowl experiences?
You just know this is a big opportunity, the opportunity to play in the Orange Bowl is bigger than the last two we played, but we're still coming out and practicing hard, running hard, and running through our plays. We understand that the opportunity in front of us is bigger than the last two bowls we've played int.

How on the players from Florida are taking this chance
We always practice hard but we don't get to come home often especially being up in Illinois, other players are able to have their families come there and watch them play or practice, so we finally get our chance to have our families see us practice and come to the game, so it's just a little different.

Martel Moore - Sr, WR:

On getting used to the heat and humidity
It's going to be a little bit of an adjustment. It was pretty hot out their today, but it we had a great practice. Everyone was pretty sharp and we got down to business.

On the Florida State defense
They are very good. They are quick and very talented. It's going to be a tremendous challenge for us. They are a very aggressive defense. Probably one of the fastest defenses we've played all year. It's going to be tough going against them.

The Huskies Next Workout …
The team will conduct their second practice at Barry University on Thursday beginning at 12:20 p.m. It will be an open practice with interviews at approximately 2:45 p.m.