NIU Football
Postgame Quotes
NIU vs. Western Michigan
November 26, 2019
 
NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock
Opening Statement…
"How about it? Great win. Won one for our seniors and I thought our young guys played inspired football. Our seniors led the way. Just a great week of practice. I couldn't be more proud of group of men. In 17 years of coaching, this is the proudest I've ever been on the sideline because guys stuck together through adversity."
On coming out and beating Western Michigan…
"That's what we talked about. Dealing with adversity and coming out on the other side. We certainly did that and knocked them out of the MAC Championship game and that was a great accomplishment."
 
On the defensive effort…
"Having Heflin back in the middle made a big difference and we had guys fighting back to the ball. Guys were laying out for one another and playing hard for each other and that's what it takes."
 
On competing…
"In life, winning matters. So anytime you go there you want to win. If you're competing for a job you want to win. And if you go out there you've got pride for your family, for your university, for your teammates and for everything you've grown up doing, you go out there and play as hard you can to win a football game and that's what they did."
 
On the season…
"You either win or you learn and we did some learning this year. But it came at the right time. You look at it and it could've gone the other way. We fumbled the ball after a first down, but then the defense comes back out there and creates a turnover. That's playing complimentary football, and our guys did that. They didn't flinch."
 
 
NIU RS-Sophomore CB Dillon Thomas
On his positional flexibility…
"Every day I try and go out and show the coaches where I can be of use… I came to the coaches and said 'let me just try to see what I can do to get on the field.'"
 
On his fumble recovery…
"I thought Jordan Cole was about to tip it, and it just went right above his fingers and it was right there. I love, personally, peanut-punching and stripping so I made the play."
 
NIU RS-Junior DT Jack Heflin
On NIU's defensive effort…
"We played complimentary football. We got sacks because the coverage from the corners and safeties was on point. We just got after it and wanted to send the seniors out the right way. There's too many guys here where the year didn't go the way they wanted it, and they put their heart and soul in this program."
 
On the youth in the NIU defense…
"We have true freshman Nick Rattin and the man is a baller. I didn't know he was a walk-on until like week four here. For him to step up, because I walked on too, and you never know where you're going to be at and that man just went about his business. At the end of the year he's the starting Mike linebacker and the quarterback of the defense. That's maturity beyond his years. We just all bought into each other and we know where we're going and where this program is going to be."
 
Western Michigan Head Coach Tim Lester
Opening Statement…
"Extremely disappointed obviously.  We knew tonight was going to be a tough offensive night with the wind and rain.  I don't think we played well and we made mistakes.  We missed a field goal and had one blocked and turned the ball over in the red zone.  We had three turnovers.  We are a top-20 team in the country not turning the ball over.  Defense kept us in it, they played great.  To lose by three with two missed field goals, a turnover and then a touchdown, and running into the official, so many things had to go perfect to lose and to only lose by three, and they did.  They guys are down, and now we're in wait mode.  We have one game left, maybe two, and there is a lot we can work on.  I'm proud of the growth of our defense and the way they played.  They put us in a really good position to win the game, and the offense we relied on a lot this year just didn't get it done."
 
On offensive struggles coming from the weather or NIU…
"Most of it was weather.  They did load the box, and there were two or three calls I wish I had back.  I do think we could have called a better play once or twice.  The dropped passes are tough.  A couple of them right through the hands when it's soaking wet out there.  Jon [Wassink] missed two or three throws.  One was a touchdown we had on a scramble where he just pulled the string on.  Worst thing we can have is have these guys wide open and you don't grip the ball.  You don't need many things, you just need one thing to go your way.  You need one field goal to go your way, one of those passes to go your way, or just hold onto the ball.  I think the weather had something to do with it, but we are good enough to execute in this weather and we have to do a better job."
 
On rooting for Toledo to beat Central Michigan…
"We normally root against Central Michigan anyway.  But we're going to root for Toledo.  Obviously we would like to play one more game.  We put ourselves in a position, unfortunately, to see what happens.  We are excited about a bowl game, and having extra practices with these guys, and continue to get better.  We have a couple of guys banged up, but they'll be okay, they all came back.  It's unfortunate that we have to play a waiting game, but I'd rather play a waiting game than be done right now."
 
On running back Levante Bellamy's injury during the game…
"I was just hoping for him and his future.  He slipped and twisted his knee more than anything.  I think it's just a sprain.  It wasn't a forced injury, nobody hit him on the side or anything like that.  I was hopeful, and he's tough as nails.  The adjustments we made at halftime in our run game really got him going."
 
On the regular season now that it is over…
"Frustrated obviously.  I'm frustrated with the two close road losses.  Those losses in the last few minutes between Eastern Michigan and here (NIU).  Those are games I think we are good enough to win.  I think we had a chance to stop Eastern Michigan and we couldn't.  And in this one we needed to score and we couldn't.  I thought we competed, played hard, and continued to improve.  We were in every single game which is a great sign.  I like where we are headed.  I wish today would have ended differently, but we are going to watch that game Friday and see if we can get two more games instead of one."