Football | August 1

DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University football team held its third and final split squad practice Friday at Huskie Stadium. Head Coach Thomas Hammock showed excitement for the development of his team after the first three days of preseason camp.
 
"That was a much better practice, the first three practices, than I could have anticipated," said Hammock. "That was like a pro practice. The guys understood staying up, they were physical. The execution was there because they had studied the schemes all summer. It was just a clean operation and I'm proud of our team and how it's all coming together."
 
Coach Hammock has spoken regularly on how his program is a developmental program. These first three days give an opportunity to the younger players on the team to show what they can do before the team practices as one on Saturday night. Last season NIU had 22 redshirt and true freshmen see action in games.
 
"We tell our players that they have to dominate your role," Hammock said. "It doesn't mean you have to like your role, but you have to dominate it whether it's a scout team player, starter, special teams player or third down pass rusher. When we give everybody reps now early in camp, they get a chance to prove what they can do and how they can help our football team."
 
The development extends beyond the players and to the coaching staff as well, which Hammock explained is another facet to the program's success.
 
"We have a structure in place as a development plan for where we want our coaches to be," said Hammock. "[Assistant] Coach [Travis] Moore has been with me the whole time and knows the structure of how I like things. He knows how I want things done and articulates that to the younger coaches and keeps them in line. That development lets us get younger coaches up to speed quicker."
 
"This is a young coaches game. They can relate to the players better. They have a lot more energy and urgency. I talked to the staff last year and realized I'm going to hire younger coaches. There's no complacency or entitlement. There's a lot more urgency to be good and we're going to continue to hire young coaches in this program and let them be as good as they can be and then move on to bigger and better opportunities.
 
"It's no different than when I was 22, 23 years old when I was first hired here. I was here for two years and then went to Minnesota. We're going to be a developmental program for players and coaches. As long as I can have some veteran coaches with me like Coach Moore and Coach [Luke] Meadows, guys that can help groom young coaches, we can be in good shape for a long time."
 
One of those young coaches is former NIU offensive lineman Brayden Patton who is starting his first year on Hammock's staff as the tight ends coach. Just as the players are trying to improve and develop on the field, Patton is working on getting better as a coach as well.
 
"With us getting to split the team into two groups, we get to coach every single player in the program," Patton said. "It's great for the younger guys because they're getting reps now. I get the opportunity to coach everybody in my group on the field, then get to the meeting room and show them corrections and teach. From going group to group each day, I'm able to mold myself as I'm learning through different processes and installs to help my guys continue to improve."
 
The Huskies will practice as a full team for the first time in camp on Saturday night before an off day on Sunday.
 
"Everyone will be together tomorrow and there will be a lot more energy with a night practice, "Hammock said. "That allows us to maximize our recovery. This is a time of year where you get a lot of bumps and bruises. We've got 36 hours before our next practice so we can do the things necessary from a preparation standpoint. It gives our coaches some time to look at the tape, make some corrections, study the film, and make the adjustments so we can have a cleaner practice Saturday night."
 
Season ticket prices for NIU's six 2025 home games begin at as little as $110 each for a general admission ticket. With the purchase of the Huskie 4-Pack (four or more tickets), pay $110 each for a reserved seat in sections A, B or F on the West Side. Reserved west side seats are priced at $152 or $170 with discounts available for NIU alumni, NIU faculty/staff, DeKalb County residents, seniors (62+) and members of the Varsity Club (former student-athletes).
 
Renew or purchase tickets for the 2025 NIU Football season anytime online at NIUHuskies.com/tickets. For more information, call the NIU Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225) weekdays between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or email huskiestickets@niu.edu.
 
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