DeKalb, Ill. – From early morning photos to a two-plus hour practice, the Northern Illinois University Huskies put in a productive day under new head coach Thomas Hammock as 2019 preseason camp officially got underway in DeKalb.
 
The Huskies held the first of 20 preseason practices Friday afternoon on the Huskie Stadium turf and announced plans for two open practices later this month.  On Sunday, August 11, NIU will welcome all 2019 season ticket members to an exclusive session that will include a team practice at 2:30 p.m., followed by a post-practice Q&A with Hammock in the West Stands of Huskie Stadium.  Buy season tickets today to take advantage of this special preseason opportunity.
 
On Sunday, August 18, NIU will hold its annual Family Fun Day with fans invited to bring the entire family out to watch practice beginning at 2:30 p.m. with the Huskie inflatables (bounce house, obstacle course, ball toss) available for the kids and an autograph session with NIU players following the workout.
 
The action on the field got underway early as the team gathered in full uniform for the annual photo day with individual photos, position group, senior class and team photos. Friday's first practice featured two-plus hours in shorts and helmets, per the NCAA acclimatization policy, but was fast-paced and involved both team and individual sessions. Following Friday's practice, Hammock said he was pleased with the progress the Huskies have made since spring practices in April.
 
"As a team we are much further ahead than where we were in the spring," Hammock said. "You can see the execution has been a lot crisper, the definition and the detail has been a lot sharper so I'm excited about where we are. Anytime you come out for the first day you want to see all the things we taught them in the classroom, can they come out and execute."
 
With a roster featuring 35 newcomers in addition to the 51 returning letterwinners, 16 of whom were starters, the Huskies ran two separate fields during team periods with the starters and veterans on one half while most of the newcomers, along with other younger players, get a chance to take reps and learn the offensive and defensive sets on the other side.
 
"Part of the way we practice this way to develop the young guys is to have two fields," Hammock said. "I think it's important when we talk about the next man in, so if someone goes down, you want to make sure those guys are fully developed to where they can have an opportunity to come in and play and help us.  I'm trying to find the young guys that are going to help us have a chance to compete."
 
Hammock said the work that the team did – both in the weight room under football strength and condition coach Ryan Napoli – and on the field during player-led workouts, showed in Friday's practice.
 
"I thought Nap did a great job this summer of getting the guys developed, getting them in shape," Hammock said. "To practice like we did today for two hours, you couldn't do that if you weren't in shape. 
 
"The receivers and the quarterbacks have a nice rapport going, which was developed this summer," he said. "Understanding how guys run routes, the one thing we talk about is know your personnel.  I think we have that type of chemistry that's starting to be developed from day one.  Now we have 24 other opportunities to continue that before we get to the first game."
 
While encouraged by what he saw on Friday, Hammock said the bigger tests are still to come.

"[We've gotten past] the initial excitement of the first practice, so now you have to come out tomorrow and meet that same standard and begin to stack days," Hammock said. "You want to see constant improvement, see guys get better, make steps, make jumps, continue to learn the offense because we're going to continue to install. The defense is going to show us some more looks but can you still apply your fundamentals to be great when it's time to make a play."
 
NIU returns to the practice field in shorts and helmets on Saturday. Follow all the stories and links from 2019 NIU Preseason Camp at 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, including the ability to purchase tickets at those rates for additional people. 
 
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.
 
-- NIU --