DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University football team hit the turf for its second practice of fall camp on a hot, humid and hazy day at Huskie Stadium Saturday afternoon.
NIU head coach
Rod Carey and his charges turned in an hour and a half workout, while still in helmets, shorts and jerseys as the acclimation process of camp continues. Much was of practice was spent on individual work and special teams with team sessions sprinkled in.
Following stretch, the Huskies warmed up with a couple periods of PAT/field goal before breaking off into individuals. NIU got together for a few team sessions and pass skelly. Cornerback
Jalen Embry (Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King) came up with an interception in the first team session, while
Dillon Thomas (Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill South) made another in the final team period.
The offense looked good in pass skelly with quarterback
Marcus Childers (Adairsville, Ga./Adairsville) connecting on his first three attempts, including a beautiful completion to
Mitchell Brinkman (Council Bluffs, Iowa/Lewis Central) on a seam route. The sixth-year head coach was pleased with the improvement he saw from the first practice of camp yesterday to today.
"The second was obviously a lot better, so now we can get down to the business at hand, which is knocking off some rust, and getting some stuff better that aren't there yet," Carey said. "That stuff is normal. When you haven't practiced from April 28th to August, that stuff you expect.
"Today was a huge leap and we have to stay there consistently so we can continue to keep getting better and continue to get that rust knocked off."
Building consistency will be a challenge with the Huskies' camp schedule this year. Following an off day Sunday, the Huskies return to the practice field Monday morning for three straight practices that start at 5:30 a.m. while summer school finishes.
"I haven't been through something like this before," he said. "On paper, it should be better. When you talk about rust factor and getting stuff knocked off, you have to practice football to be good at football. I like the rest part of it, but I don't know about the rust part."
There were a few more watchful eyes for Day Two of camp as it was also Fan Day at Huskie Stadium. Huskie fans were able to not only take in practice, but also load up on fresh Huskie apparel at the NIU Athletics Gear Sale. The NIU Athletics equipment staff cleaned out the closets and made excess new and used items for sale to Huskie fans.
The Huskies kick off the 2018 campaign at Iowa Saturday, Sept. 1 and will welcome Utah the following weekend to Huskie Stadium. Season ticket packages start as low as $55 in 2018 with the Huskie Stadium Family Pack (four tickets for $220), while a general admission ticket on the East Side is only $60. Mini-plans were introduced last week. Fans can pick two Saturday games and one midweek MACtion game for $70. Season tickets for all five 2018 NIU home football games are on sale NOW online at NIUHuskies.com or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225).
-NIU-
