Just six days from now we’ll have actual football as the 2013 college football season begins. The Northern Illinois football team officially “broke camp” as the NIU Huskies went through their traditional “mock game” practice which included going through the pregame warm-up routine, coming out of the tunnel and going into the locker room at halftime.
Not sure who won the “mock game,” the NIU Huskies or maybe it was the NIU Huskies. As every special teams unit, as well as the first and second team offenses and defenses, took the field I think the NIU Huskies beat the NIU Huskies last night.
And no passes were thrown in the mock game. So I guess we’re done talking about that now!
Sounds like all those “simulated games” that you always heard Kerry Wood and Mark Prior taking place in. As both we’re always hurt and had rehab starts.
NIU Head Coach Rod Carey said several players and position groups stepped up during the preseason, including at running back, linebacker and wide receiver. The NIU Huskies’ lost their top two receivers and two of their three starters at linebacker from last year’s MAC Championship team.
“There were a bunch of guys who came on and I don’t even want to name them because I’m going to forget someone,” Carey said. “I think [running back] Cameron Stingily had a great fall camp. [Wide receivers] Da’Ron Brown and A.J. [Angelo] Sebastiano, and [defensive backs] Dechane Durante and Jhony Faustin all played well. I’m really happy with Rock [Rasheen] Lemon and all the linebackers, and the defensive line is starting to come together.”
The NIU Huskies open up Saturday at Iowa. They’re looking to avenge the Hawkeyes who gave them their only regular season loss last season.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An analyst for 95.7 The Fan, he also writes on Chicago sports media for Chicago Now. President Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)