Football | August 11

DeKALB, Ill. – One day after the first extended scrimmage of 2019 preseason, the Northern Illinois University Huskies put in a spirited and fast-moving practice in shorts and helmets Sunday in front of a crowd of season ticket members invited to attend the workout.
 
Following Sunday's practice, the season ticket members in attendance were invited onto the field for a Q&A session with Thomas Hammock and a chance to meet the Huskie players. The next opportunity for fans to see the NIU football team in action, and secure autographs from the Huskies, takes place next Sunday, August 18^th beginning at 2:30 p.m. when NIU will hold its annual Family Fun Day, open to all NIU fans and members of the community. Following the open practice, during which the Huskie inflatables will be available for kids in the North End Zone, the players will be available for autographs.
 
NIU head coach Thomas Hammock was happy with the effort and said Sunday's practice proved an important point.
 
"They definitely came out with the right attitude," Hammock said. "I was prepared to send them back inside and get the pads on, but they came out with the right attitude. We really want them to understand that you don't have to put full pads on to get quality work at practice. Tomorrow will be another day where we will go back to a very physical practice, but today was important for us for our maturity and our development as a team."
 
Sunday's workout included individual drills, a passing circuit with the quarterbacks throwing different routes as the receivers rotated, and turnover and ball security drills. The Huskies spent 30 minutes on special teams, including punt return and "gunner" sessions. The practice concluded with seven-on-seven work, with tight end Mitchell Brinkman recording a highlight reel catch between two defenders, and a two-minute situational 11-on-11 period.  
 
After reviewing the video from Saturday's scrimmage, Hammock said a handful of players stood out, including tailback Tre Harbison, the starting linebacking trio of Antonio Jones-Davis, Kyle Pugh and Lance Deveaux Jr., and center Christopher Perez. 
 
"There were certainly some big plays on both sides of the ball," Hammock said. "I wanted to let plays carry on and we tried to do that; the defense had a few sacks which is good to see, and then I thought our receivers made some plays and the quarterback threw some nice balls. I think we have a lot that we can clean up. It's good to keep putting our players in those situations where they have to go out there and play on their own without the coach being able to help them on the field, so we're going to try to get that a couple more times."
 
In fact, Hammock said a concentration on situations, decision-making and seeing how players on both sides of the ball respond to plays – both good and bad – would be a point of emphasis for the Huskies in practice this week.
 
"We're going to really put an emphasis on moving the ball, getting the coaches off the field and letting the players play," he said. "We want to see how they respond and react to different situations throughout the course of practice on their own. On August 31st, they are the ones that are going to have to go out there and play, so we are going to try and put them in situations this week. With a bad play, how do you respond, good plays, can you put a couple of good plays together."
 
For a complete recap of Saturday's scrimmage, as well as the 2019 position preview series - which continues Monday - visit Camp Central on NIUHuskies.com. 
 
Season Tickets for all five 2019 NIU home games are still available, starting at as little as $60 for an East Side (general admission) season ticket. Purchase four tickets for family or a group of friends on either the East or West Side for as little as $55 or $75 per person with the Huskie Family Pack. 
 
Three-game Mini-Plans, which include a choice of any two Saturday and either #MACtion (weeknight) game are just $70 each for all three games, while the new Huskie Flex Pass offers the chance to purchase a minimum of five tickets to any game or combination of games for $75, or just $15 each. The new Saturdays Special includes a ticket to all three Saturday home games as well as a voucher good for a hot dog, chips and a soda for each game for just $110.
 
To renew or purchase new season tickets and #JointhePack for 2019, click the links above, which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Tickets are also available by calling 815-753-PACK (7225), emailing huskiestickets@niu.edu or stopping by the NIU Athletics Ticket Office in the Convocation Center, which is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
The Huskies open the season Saturday, August 31 versus Illinois State with kickoff set for 6 p.m. as NIU celebrates Ag Day and the opening of the Thomas Hammock era with a special Hammock retro jersey giveaway to the first 1,000 fans in the stands, courtesy of First Midwest Bank.
 
-- NIU --