DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University football team is two-thirds of the way through spring ball as the Huskies wrapped up their 10th practice of spring Wednesday.
After practicing under a brilliant blue sky and in warm temps at Huskie Stadium on Monday, cold and damp conditions forced the Huskies inside the Chessick Center today. The team turned in a brisk work out for a little over an hour and a half in shorts, shoulder pads and helmets.
One position group that has been fun to watch develop this spring has been the tight ends. First-year tight ends coach Tony Sorrentino brings a wide receiver's mentality to the unit. A four-year letterwinner at The College of New Jersey, Sorrentino played wide receiver for the Lions and spent four seasons as an assistant wide receivers coach and offensive quality control coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"I'm a technician when it comes to routes," he said. "Receiving is my background. When we run routes, be overly technical, doing the right things, dropping their weight, getting out of breaks for the route runners. When we're on the line, it's all about being physical. I want them to take on the mentality of their coach. I believe in being physical and tough."
Mission accomplished.
"They always say your room should take on the mindset of your coach," Crawford said. "Basically, he's made all of us better route runners, better blockers, more versatile in every aspect. He also teaches us the offense very well. The standards are very high with him but at the same we time we understand what we need to get done and he makes sure we get it done."
In addition to taking on his mentality, the Huskies tight ends have noticed of doing the little things right as well.
"His attention to detail, everything from presnap, to your first step to reading coverages," Brinkman said. "The littlest details are what he cares about most and that's what's making us successful."
"Everything matters with coach Sorrentino, to the steps of your routes, all the way to how you're finishing the play to how you're leaving the huddle," Crawford said. "He's a great coach when it comes to the details."
Coming to NIU after spending a year as director of football operations at FAU, Sorrentino walked into a tight ends room that is the deepest position group on the offensive side of the ball and one of its most talented.
"First of all, they're great kids, great students of the game," Sorrentino said. "They love football. They're all taking coaching really well and learning the offense and a lot of guys are getting on the field so a lot of guys are happy right now."
Sorrentino has been happy with the way the room has taken to him and his coaching.
"They've adapted to coaching really well. I know it sounds cliché, but I really do love coming to work and they've bought in to what we're doing. We still have a long way to go, no doubt about it."
With Wednesday's practice in the books, NIU moves ever closer to the 2019 Huskie Bowl practice on Saturday, April 20 at 9 a.m. That day's events also include the annual Huskie Gear Sale from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Chessick Practice Center and the Huskies Athletic Fund Appreciation Luncheon. The Huskie players will also sign autographs after practice. The Huskie Bowl and Gear Sale are both free, as is parking, and open to the public.
Season tickets for the 2019 NIU Football season are now available for renewal, and the Huskies are also taking deposits for new season tickets. Prices start at just $125 for individual reserved season tickets, but can be purchased for as little as $55 through the Family Pack, or for $60 for general admission tickets. The renewal deadline is Friday, April 26.
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