DeKALB – Northern Illinois learned it was in the Orange Bowl the night of Sunday, Dec. 2. It didn’t take too long for Huskies coach Rod Carey, who was named to the position earlier that day, to feel the effect NIU’s season had on recruiting.

Carey introduced his recruiting class of 2013 on Wednesday afternoon at the Yordon Center and said he felt the positive effects the Orange Bowl had on recruiting right away.

“When did we find out we were in the Orange Bowl, was that Sunday night? Monday morning,” Carey said.