Football | April 18

DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University football team will close out its 2017 spring football workouts on Saturday, April 22 with its final practice at Huskie Stadium at 2 p.m. as the team will play an abbreviated and modified "Huskie Bowl." The action gets started with the Communiversity Block Party beginning at noon, and continues following the practice when all donors and season ticket members who have renewed for 2017 are invited to an appreciation reception.
 
The Communiversity Block Party and practice are both free to attend and open to the public with parking available in all paved areas around Huskie Stadium. At this time, grass lots are not scheduled to be open. The Block Party will be held in the area between Ralph McKinzie Baseball Field and the Chessick Practice Center, and will feature food, music, the NIU spirit groups, kid-friendly activities and more. 
 
At the Block Party, kids can enjoy the Huskie inflatable bounce house, try their hand at the bubble ball and quarterback toss, or take on a Huskie student-athlete in one of the interactive games and activities stations. D.J. Toxic will provide the music and NIU concessionaire Sodexo will have food and drinks available for sale (including beer). There will be a table with information and tickets available for the Victor E. Ball, NIU's premier fundraising event, which is set for April 29 in the Chessick Practice Center. Get involved with the Victor E. Ball now as the online silent auction is underway with hundreds of items and experiences up for bid.
 
Meet Victor E. Huskie, Mission, the NIU cheerleaders and Silverettes and hear the NIU Pep Band. Pick up a free 2017 NIU Huskie Football limited edition schedule poster, and following the Huskie Bowl, use it to get autographs of your favorite players.
 
Inside Huskie Stadium, the NIU football team will take the field at 2 p.m. for a short final spring practice involving periods of special teams work, seven-on-seven and offensive line versus defensive line drills as well as several periods of 11-on-11 "thud" scrimmaging (no tackling). Note the change in format for this year's final practice which has been modified and shortened. Following the Huskie Bowl, fans are invited to come to the North End Zone where the football team will be available for autographs.
 
With the 2017 NIU Football season ticket renewal deadline on that day, the final day of spring practice provides a great opportunity to talk to a NIU Athletics representative about any football season ticket questions, or to become a season ticket member for the first time. Several, new family-friendly pricing options have been added for 2017 with tickets for all six home games available for less than $50 with the new $199 Family Pack, or the $60 East Side General Admission ticket.  NIU will have a football ticket sales table at the Block Party.  Renew or purchase on the spot or anytime at NIUHuskies.com (see link above)!
 
All season ticket members and Huskie Athletic Fund donors who have renewed their tickets or donations for the 2017 season are invited to the Post Huskie-Bowl Reception in the Barsema Hall of Champions (between the Yordon Center and the Chessick Practice Center) to meet and talk with the coaching staff and NIU administrators, enjoy appetizers and a cash bar.
 
The Huskie Stadium Premium Areas will be open during the Block Party and Huskie Bowl, and fans are invited to check out the Sky Box and Sky Club seats, walk through the Coaches Club and head down to the End Zone Club, located in the South End Zone, to see just how close you could be to the action this year. Even more fans will be able to enjoy the End Zone Club in 2017 with a limited number of bleacher seats added to the area and pricing lowered to just $115, which includes a general admission ticket for the East Side! In addition, every Coaches Club pass provides access to the End Zone Club in 2017.
 
Registration for the 2017-18 Kish Kids Pup Club is also now available for children 13 and under. Membership is just $10 and includes free admission to all NIU non-football home athletic events, a membership credential, opportunity to form the tunnel at football and basketball games and more. Register today (link above) or at the table during the Communiversity Block Party.
 
-- NIU --