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| Senior defensive tackle D.J. Pirkle takes down a tackling dummy during an NIU practice last week. (Rob Winner - rwinner@daily-chronicle.com) |
DeKALB – Nothing says team camaraderie like freshmen skits at the Huskies Den Game Rooms.
Northern Illinois senior fullback Kyle Skarb said a night of bowling and pool at the campus hangout during training camp showed that the 2010 Huskies are “a lot closer.” Many of the freshmen performed dances at the team gathering as well “to earn their stripes” and to “just to have a laugh,” senior linebacker Alex Kube said.
Several Huskies veterans said the 2010 training camp, which concluded with a walk-through practice on Saturday, was different than previous camps. The offense talks with the defense and players mingle in apartments despite spending almost 12 hours together in meetings, meals, practices and film sessions.
“You got 100-some guys. Not everybody’s going to be friends, no matter what you want to say,” Kube said. “But what I’m noticing is everybody gets along. It hasn’t been like that in the past. You’d get the clique over here and the clique over here. I’m not noticing no cliques anymore.”
NIU coach Jerry Kill said this was the “best camp” in his three seasons with the Huskies. Whether that has to do with what the players call improved team chemistry is uncertain. Kill said increased competition, better veteran leadership and better conditioning allowed the Huskies to head into the school year more prepared than years past.
Kill also has been more demanding of his players, maintaining a quick tempo throughout camp. Has he created a common adversary among the players?
“He’s been a lot harder on us because he kind of made the statement early on that it’s time for us to catch up to him, and I really like that,” junior quarterback Chandler Harnish said. “He’s really putting his foot down.”
Moreover, NIU’s veterans have been in Kill’s system for three years. Most of the fourth- and fifth-year players were recruited by retired Huskies coach Joe Novak but have adapted to Kill’s system and style.
“We’ve grown together,” senior wide receiver Landon Cox said. “A lot of the older guys have been together so much. I think the younger guys, newer guys fit in very well with the guys that were already here. It’s just a family thing.”
Or maybe the reason for improved camaraderie is simpler.
“I think it’s just because we know that we can be good,” Skarb said. “That’s what it’s going to take is knowing your teammates and knowing what they’re going to do. In previous years, we’ve let that slide a little bit. This year, we’re kind of focusing on it because that’s going to take us to another level.”
The Huskies are hoping after-practice chill sessions, bowling, pool and freshmen skits just add to the winning equation this season.
“Going into battle, (those activities) just puts you closer and you’re fighting for the man next to you,” Kube said.
