From today's Press Register:

Full article w/ pictures
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/...wl_al.html

Summertime?

Both teams have raved about the weather in Mobile this week.
Northern Illinois played in Boise, Idaho, for last year's bowl game against Fresno State, which didn't offer much of a winter break for the Huskies.

"It's freaking beautiful," linebacker Pat Schiller said after NIU's first practice of the week. "It's like 20 degrees back home. This is sweet."

The weather was so warm Thursday that receiver Perez Ashford found a place in the shade behind a member of the NIU sports information staff during a lull in practice.

A couple of Arkansas State special-teamers came out shirtless for warm-ups before practice. "We've been practicing in 30-degree weather for the past couple of days," quarterback Ryan Aplin said. "This is beautiful."


Visitors

Northern Illinois welcomed a number of local football players to Thursday's practice, including several who are receiving recruiting attention from the Huskies.

Murphy's K.J. Maye and Greg Jones visited with assistant coach Rick Cauley. Maye, a quarterback, is expected to move to receiver or defensive back in college, while Jones is a playmaking outside linebacker. Both are uncommitted.

Vigor coach Kerry Stevenson brought three players to NIU's practice -- defensive backs Titus Whitsett, Marlon Moore and Jacoby Glenn. Glenn is committed to Kentucky; Moore and Whitsett are uncommitted.


Unconventional drill

Northern Illinois ended its practice with a unique drill -- an old-fashioned tug of war. Players gathered around to cheer and jeer their teammates during the short session.

Two very positive things I take away from this article.

1. We are taking advantage of being down there to do recruiting and more importantly make future recruiting contacts. Not sure if this pans out now, but it can only help us in the future where we have had trouble in this area in the past.

2. Tickets are almost sold out for the game. So the attendence should be a sell out by game time. This will look good for appearance sake.

How could fans back home and those in Mobile NOT be jacked?

This shapes up as the best of all bowl experiences for NIU.