By Bobby Narang
The Northern Illinois University football team is right on track.
Unfortunately, for Huskie Nation, the final destination for the historic 2020 season is the basement of the Mid-American Conference West Division.
The Huskies, in the second year under the direction of former star Northern Illinois running Thomas Hammock, have taken another step closer to mediocrity. The Huskies, at 0-4 in the abbreviated season due to COVID-19, have struggled being competitive in Year 2 of the Hammock era.
Before the season, the Huskies were picked to finish last in the West Division in both the coaches poll and media poll.
Last season, the Huskies suffered through a 5-7 record, just the program’s second losing season since two-year blip from 2006 to 2007 during the transition from the Joe Novak era to Jerry Kill taking over the program.
Since then, the Huskies have made plenty of national noise by becoming an elite mid-major program, highlighted by five straight 10-plus victory seasons, including a trip to the Orange Bowl in 2012.
After Western Michigan reeled off 10 unanswered points for a 30-27 victory over Northern Illinois Saturday to keep the Huskies without victory, Hammock addressed the trying season.
“I liked the mentality and the approach of our football team,” Hammock said. “We started seven freshmen on defense, four freshmen on offense and you couldn’t tell the difference during the game. They don’t know any better. They don’t know they’re not supposed to be out there making plays. These guys play hard, they’re fearless, they expect to win. We’re going to keep working, we’re going to keep grinding. I love working with this team.”
With a 5-11 record, Hammock’s tenure is moving closer to the hot seat with two consecutive losing seasons after a run of playing in 10 bowl games in 11 seasons that ended with his first year at the helm.
The Huskies’ problems at quarterback to go with an inability to stop teams is troubling, with the defense allowing 30 or more points in all four games. The Huskies were out-scored, 89-40, in losses to Buffalo and Central Michigan to start the season.
Northern Illinois closes the season with a home game against Toledo at 11 a.m. Saturday and at upstart Eastern Michigan December 12. Through four games, all Conference, the Huskies rank 10th in total offense and ninth in total defense. For many years, the Huskies rode a strong rushing attack to victories, producing 1,000-yard rushers, such as Hammock. But the Huskies rank 11th in rushing in Conference at 113.5 yards per game, while sitting seventh in passing at 237.3 yards per contest, which mostly can be attributed to late-game passing in an effort to score while trailing.
In early November, Oswego East High School graduate, Antwain Walker, announced he was transferring from Northern Illinois to Temple University. The 6-1 and 190-pound cornerback put his name in the transfer portal in the Spring but waited until November to announce he would be playing for former Northern Illinois and current Temple head coach Rod Carey.