CHICAGO – Northern Illinois football coach Dave Doeren stood at the podium in Soldier Field’s Skyline Suite and talked about seeing the jerseys of players such as Dick Butkus and Walter Payton inside the storied facility.

He mentioned that he will coach in the same stadium where Mike Ditka coached for 10 seasons, and went on about being able to get ready in the same locker room where NFL players prepare for games each fall.

“I think everyone that starts playing football when they’re a kid dreams about playing in pro stadiums as a pro athlete,” Doeren said. “Just to be here, to walk through the locker room, to put your helmet on and come down the tunnel. ... I know as a coach, walking down on that field, it’s a great feeling.”