Football | August 11

DeKALB, Ill. – "That was the most intense practice in my three years here."
 
That was Northern Illinois University head coach Thomas Hammock's assessment after putting his Huskies through their first practice in full pads this preseason for more than two hours Wednesday night inside a hot and humid Chessick Practice Center.
 
"What I saw was two competitive sides of the ball get after it for two hours plus, and that was impressive to see," Hammock continued. "(Tuesday) the offense won. We'll see how the grades come out today, but the defense came back with a chip on their shoulder and a fire to knock the offense back. I was impressed and I'm not impressed very easily."
 
Hammock and his coaching staff may have to give out multiple yellow "juice" jerseys – usually given to the one player who brings the most energy to practice - when the Huskies return to the practice field Friday after Thursday's off day.  The Huskie defense was physical in both individual situations, whether it was defensive line versus offensive line, linebackers versus running backs and tight ends or defensive backs versus wide receivers. Meanwhile the offense displayed both its physicality in the inside run game and speed to the outside and downfield. The intensity carried over to the team periods as a delighted Hammock watched both sides make plays.
 
"Defensively, I think the line is really stout," he said. "You saw guys like James Ester and Ray Thomas getting after it on the pass rush. Demond Taylor is a guy that's playing very physical right now. Our linebackers – like Lance Deveaux – are playing downhill. Devin Lafayette is playing at a high level; Eric Rogers was making plays out there. There are a lot of guys and we've got some young guys [newcomers] stepping up as well."
 
While the defense was flying around, the offense made its share of plays with Rocky Lombardi and Ethan Hampton taking the majority of the reps at quarterback with the first and second team units, respectively. Clint Ratkovich, Jay Ducker, Miles Joiner and Tyrice Richie were just a few of the skill players who turned short gains into touchdowns on the night.
 
"We have playmakers, there are no ifs, ands or buts about that," Hammock said. "We have receivers, we have backs – we can go nine deep in the backfield.  We have an opportunity to really have a deep, physical and explosive backfield. We have a tight end who is dynamic, who can be very explosive in the run game and who can take it to the house in the passing game. That [talent] gives us an edge, it gives us an opportunity to be the type of offense we want to be."
 
NIU returns to the practice field Friday morning and will hold its first extensive scrimmage on Saturday. Practices are open to the public and fans in attendance are asked to remain in the West Stands and not to post any photos or videos of practice. For a complete preseason camp schedule, go to 2021 Camp Central on NIUHuskies.com.
 
NIU opens the season at Georgia Tech on September 4 before welcoming fans back to the stands at full capacity in Huskie Stadium beginning with the home opener versus Wyoming on September 11. Kickoff for the game is at 12:30 p.m. (CT) and the game will honor First Responders and Health Care Heroes, while also serving as a Welcome Back Fans celebration.
 
Single game and season tickets, as well as mini-plans and Family Packs, are on sale for the six 2021 NIU Football home games with season ticket prices as low as $85. Purchase a minimum of four tickets for all six games via the Family Pack for just $90 per ticket (in sections B and F) or $66 per ticket (in sections A and G). Three-game or four-game mini-plans are also available with Mission's 3-Game Mini-Plan priced at $79 (including processing), while Victor E.'s 4-Game Mini-Plan is $107. Single game ticket prices vary depending on location and game (Saturday or MACtion). In 2021, the cost of parking in the NIU Convocation Center is included in the price of tickets, making Huskie Football tickets an even greater value than ever before.
 
To see all the ticket options and prices, and for more information on premium seating, see the Football Ticket Page at NIUHuskies.com. To purchase tickets, call 815-753-PACK (7225) or go to NIUHuskies.com/MyHuskies.
 
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