Aug. 9, 2015
DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University Huskies practiced for just over two hours on the Huskie Stadium turf Sunday afternoon before taking time to sign autographs and play with the kids gathered for Huskie Family Fun Day.
NIU was in shorts and shoulder pads on day four as required by preseason acclimatization rules, before putting on full pads for Monday’s practice. The day’s dress did not stop the offense and defense from going up against each other throughout the workout in both seven-on-seven situations and between the offensive and defensive lines.
Head Coach Rod Carey continues to be pleased with the Huskies’ progress, but wants the players to focus on the details
“We’re further ahead in where we started [this camp] than we’ve been since I’ve been here [five seasons], so that’s been exciting, to be where we are,” Carey said. “With that, you can get sloppy. So we’ve got to concentrate on the details and the little things every day.”
The football team is using “Only Now Exists” or #ONEWay as one of its sayings this year and in terms of the 2015 training camp, that sentiment fits perfectly with what Carey and his coaches are trying to get the players to do
“Only Now Exists, #ONEWay, is kind of like ‘The Hard Way’, which we’ve had around here for a long time,” he explained. “It means not looking ahead and not looking back. For camp, it means you’ve got to concentrate on the smallest details, every day, every meeting, every practice, every rep. That’s how you build something.”
In addition to being ahead at the start than any previous NIU camp he has been a part of, the 2015 training camp will be different in that the Huskies will NOT hold any two-a-days this year. The Huskies had five days of two-a-days a year ago.
Carey said with just two full weeks of practice this training camp before classes start August 24th, the risks of two-a-days outweighed the benefits.
“We had so few [two-a-days] before school started anyway that by the time your body got used to it, they were over,” he said. “So our thinking going in this year was you might as well stick to one [practice a day] and get completely focused; have less risk of injury”
The team will hit the field in full pads at 3:40 p.m. Monday. NIU opens the season Saturday, Sept. 5 versus UNLV in Huskie Stadium. The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. and will air on CBS Sports Network.
NIU Football 2015 season tickets are still on sale and remain the best value in Chicagoland. Season ticket prices begin for as little as $99, a 61 percent discount off the single game price. Other ticket options include two different three-game mini-plans for just $75, the new Huskie Family Pack, which includes four season tickets in sections A, B, F or G of Huskie Stadium for just $299 or the Young Alumni Ticket, with two East Side season tickets for $115 for all 2014-15 NIU graduates. Faculty and staff, senior citizens (62 and over) and NIU Alumni Association members can purchase season tickets for just $115.
In addition to the Seats for Soldiers program for donated tickets, single game, three-game mini-plan and group tickets are on sale now. Check out the 50th Anniversary ticket special presented by Hy-Vee offering tickets in section A and G on the West Side of Huskie Stadium for $19.65 each. These tickets are available for purchase online only by using the promo code “1965”. CLICK HERE to order.
To become an NIU season ticket holder or to purchase mini-plans, the Family Pack or single game tickets, go online anytime to NIUHuskies.com/tickets or call 815-753-PACK (7225) Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
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