Illinois
‘Don’t need luck’: NIU mantra sparks Notre Dame upset that even New York Yankees manager noticed
Northern Illinois football coach Thomas Hammock after upset at No. 5 Notre Dame
Northern Illinois football coach Thomas Hammock and wife Cheynnitha greet NIU fans after 16-14 upset win at Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 7, 2024
Thomas Hammock added a new phone contact Sunday.
The Northern Illinois coach received hundreds of text messages from well-wishers after his Huskies upset Notre Dame, 16-14, on Saturday.
Several Mid-American Conference coaches pinged him with kind words after the biggest upset in conference history. Tucked amid the texts was a message from a number Hammock didn’t recognize.
It was New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, chiming in to say congratulations. Hammock, from Jersey City, New Jersey, is a lifelong Yankees fan.
“For Aaron Boone to send that message, trust me, I was like, ‘OK, this is awesome,’” Hammock told me Monday.
Hammock figures Northern Illinois alumnus Rick Cerrone shared his number with Boone. Cerrone, Baseball Digest’s editor in chief, previously worked for the Yankees.
The Yankees are the best team in the American League. If they win the World Series, might Hammock return the favor and text Boone a congrats?
“Hell yeah!” he exclaimed. “You know I saved that message. I saved that number. I hope that comes to fruition.”
I would say it will happen, with any luck, but Hammock and his Huskies proved last week they don’t need luck.
NIU Huskies embrace ‘don’t need luck’ mantra against Notre Dame
The Huskies erupted the first time Hammock used the line.
“We don’t need luck,” he said in a team meeting. His rally cry played off their opponent, the lucky leprechauns.
Hammock’s four-word sentence became NIU’s driving force. No need to be superheroes. Just play your best, and trust your best will be good enough. No luck necessary.
“It struck a chord with the whole team,” senior linebacker Jaden Dolphin said. “As the week went on, we continued to harp on it: We don’t need luck.”
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Northern Illinois’ veterans knew they could beat Power Four opponents. The Huskies won at Boston College last season and at Georgia Tech in 2021. Hammock, a former running back, starred in the the team’s 2002 win at Wake Forest.
Those programs don’t enjoy Notre Dame’s pedigree, but Hammock believed his Huskies matched up well with an opponent ranked No. 7 in the US LBM coaches poll.
“To me, the game played out the way I thought it would play out,” Hammock said. “We stayed in the fight long enough to give ourselves a chance to win.”
The Huskies are an experienced team. Many of their top performers Saturday were in the program when NIU won the MAC in 2021.
That includes senior running back Antario Brown. He rushed for 99 yards against the Irish, added 126 more receiving and scored the team’s only touchdown.
The transfer portal becomes a siren’s call for Group of Five stars, and Brown evaluated his options after his standout junior season. He met with Hammock last winter and said he wanted to enter the portal. Then, Brown called Hammock that night. He’d had a change of heart. He decided to stay.
Hammock counts Brown’s decision as a case of personal relationships outweighing a chance at a transactional relationship with a bigger program.
“He’s committed to NIU,” Hammock said. “He doesn’t always let people in his circle, but I’m in his circle, and I’ve been there from Day 1. I think he trusts me, and that means a lot.”
Notre Dame scored on its opening possession before the Huskies stiffened. They tied the game in the first quarter when Brown caught a slant pass from Ethan Hampton and took it for a score.
Kanon Woodill took care of the rest.
NIU kicker on winning field goal: ‘It’s what we live for.’
Woodill had an idea while the second half unfolded that the game would be decided with a kick.
Northern Illinois intercepted Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard in the fourth quarter, while trailing by a single point. As NIU’s offense marched the field, Woodill put on the headset to discuss field positioning with special teams coordinator Adam Breske.
What yard line did the Huskies need to reach for Woodill to be comfortable trying a game-winning field goal?
Woodill told Breske the 30-yard line might be doable. The 25 would be better.
So, faced with fourth-and-2 from the 31, offensive coordinator Wesley Beschorner called a play-action bootleg pass. The Irish covered Hampton’s receivers, so he ran for the first-down marker.
“I put my foot in the ground and got upfield,” said Hampton, a fifth-generation Northern Illinois student who grew up watching Huskies games.
Hampton needed 2 yards. He gained 3. First down.
“I knew in that moment that we had the game,” Hampton said.
NIU reached the 18 before sending out Woodill for a 35-yard attempt.
Woodill delivers in big moments. As a freshman in 2021, his 26-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining lifted the Huskies past Central Michigan. He scored a touchdown on a fake field goal in NIU’s bowl victory last season against Arkansas State.
“When the game is on the line, that kid brings it,” Dolphin said.
And he brought it again. Woodill’s kick split the uprights.
“It’s what we live for,” Woodill said. “It’s such a privilege to have that responsibility and that pressure to go out and execute for the team. Yeah, it’s a little nerve-racking, but in the moment, you’re not necessarily focused on that.”
Notre Dame had just enough time left for a final chance of escape. Hail Mary, or desperately long field-goal try? Hammock could hardly believe the Irish attempted the 62-yarder.
“I’m on the sideline trying to count, how long is this field goal?” Hammock said. “Sixty-two yards?”
Woodill normally feels uncomfortable pulling for a kicker to miss, but the stakes were too high to play nice this time.
“I really never try to wish for a kicker to miss,” Woodill said, “but, I gotta tell the truth. I was hoping a little bit that the ball did not go through the uprights.”
The ball never made it to the uprights.
Cade Haberman recorded his second blocked field goal of the game.
Forget luck. NIU simply outplayed the Irish.
The Huskies cued up Waka Flocka Flame’s “Grove St. Party” in the locker room. The song came out in 2010, and it’s served as the team’s victory music for many years.
Time to update the playlist? No way. Tradition is tradition.
“That win will go down in the record books,” Hampton said, “and we’ll be talking about it 20 years down the line when we’re old and fat.”
Northern Illinois upset of Notre Dame football a dream come true
Hammock dreamed of this moment. Literally.
Visions of NIU’s game against Notre Dame invaded Hammock’s sleep the night before game day. In Hammock’s dream, his team had a chance to beat the Irish on a last-minute field goal.
Hammock woke up before the kick.
“I don’t know what happened,” Hammock said. “I wasn’t sure which way it ended.”
He found out the next day. Woodill made the field goal, and the Huskies made history that resonated all the way to New York.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.
Subscribe to read all of his columns. Also, check out his podcast, SEC Football Unfiltered, and newsletter, SEC Unfiltered.
One person was injured this weekend in a townhome fire in the southwest Chicago suburb of Orland Park, which officials said may have been exacerbated by hoarding.
The Orland Fire Protection District was called Saturday afternoon for the fire in a two-story, four-unit townhome complex the 9100 block of Greencastle Lane in Orland Park. Firefighters arrived at 1:43 p.m.
There was no obvious evidence that the townhouse complex was on fire when firefighters arrived, but they later found a basement fire involving the end unit of the complex, the district said.
All occupants were evacuated from the attached townhouses as firefighters went in. They entered the front door with a hose, but found “mounds of obstacles” in the way, the district said.
Fire crews found what were believed to be heavy hoarding conditions obstructing the path to the basement, the district said. Multiple crews had to come in to clear everything out of the way to get to the fire.
One homeowner was treated for a minor head injury, but declined to go to the hospital, the district said.
The cause of the fire was under investigation Sunday.
The Illinois Attorney General is suing a suburban McDonald’s restaurant, accusing the operator of overworking teens, some for 17 hours straight.
The lawsuit alleges the Lockport location owned by Nicholas J. Kory and Lockor LLC violated 568 Illinois Child Labor Laws in 2023.
The restaurant allegedly worked children aged 14 and 15 years old for longer than 8 hours without rest and meal breaks. One minor worked until 1:30 a.m.
The Illinois Department of Labor is seeking over $2.1 million for victims, which the company has not paid.
In a statement, the local owner said, “We are committed to ensuring that all our employees feel safe, respected, and valued. We have taken steps to address concerns that have been raised.”
The best towns in Illinois for a weekend retreat welcome visitors with some of the best wines in the state and local festivals that celebrate everything from Groundhog Day to European heritage. If you’re a history buff, you can explore a Dutch windmill in Fulton or a Viking ship in Geneva. If you are a nature enthusiast, Ottawa and Makanda have you covered with the sandstone canyons of Starved Rock State Park and the forested trails of Giant City State Park in the Shawnee National Forest.
Galena
Galena, located near the Mississippi River at the borders of Iowa and Wisconsin, attracts visitors with a variety of offerings. The Dowling House, constructed in 1826, offers insight into the 19th-century lifestyles and trades of Galena’s residents. The Ulysses S. Grant Home was presented to Grant by the locals in appreciation for his service as both president and general during the American Civil War. From the summit of Horseshoe Mound and other ceremonial mounds at Casper Bluff, you can enjoy stunning views of three different states, or take in the sights from above during the Great Galena Balloon Race in the summer. Don’t miss the Galena General’s Parade on St. Patrick’s Day, a cherished local event. For those interested in experiencing Galena’s charming designs, consider reserving a room at the Hotel Galena.
Princeton
Princeton offers the ambiance of a vibrant city within a quaint town setting. With attractions like the stunning Hornbaker Gardens and the Barn Quilts of Bureau County, its agricultural and horticultural ties have helped the town flourish into a lively and impressive community. It also holds a strong sense of patriotism, showcased by its four Flags of Freedom, honoring the sacrifices made by many military personnel. Visitors from Chicago, Quincy, and Burlington frequently arrive via Princeton’s Amtrak Train Station, a key transportation hub connecting larger cities in Illinois and beyond. Explore historic residences such as the Owen Lovejoy House or enjoy Festival 56, featuring a variety of Broadway and Shakespeare-inspired performances by the Princeton Theatre Group. Celebrated for its charm, Princeton offers delightful accommodations like the Historic Knox Hotel for an even more memorable stay.
Woodstock
About 50 miles from Chicago lies the charming small town of Woodstock, known for its role as the filming location for the iconic time-loop movie, Groundhog Day. While the film refers to it as Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the actual scenes were shot in Woodstock’s quaint town square and its historic Opera House. Every February 2, the locals celebrate the Groundhog Day festival, focusing not on the movie but on the critter itself that announces the arrival of spring. They also partake in the Lighting of the Square at Thanksgiving. If you’re looking to experience life free from the burdens of the past and without fear of the future, consider staying at places like the Cherry Tree Inn B&B.
Fulton
Fulton is filled with attractions and elements that harken back to the European country of the Netherlands. Highlights include the iconic De Immigrant Windmill and the Dutch Days celebration that takes place on the first weekend of May. This charming town, situated on the Mississippi River and approximately 50 miles from Galena, truly reflects the essence of a vibrant European nation. In addition to its Dutch cultural heritage, Fulton is surrounded by several attractions, including Heritage Canyon, where visitors can explore limestone mines dating back to the 1800s, appealing to those interested in geology. The Andresen Nature Center, meanwhile, is dedicated to the conservation and protection of the local wildlife in the Fulton area. For accommodations during your visit, consider the delightful AmericInn Hotel & Suites or the Wild Rose Casino & Resort located nearby in Clinton.
Nauvoo
Nauvoo embodies the long-held dream of settlers seeking a homestead. This charming riverside destination along the Mississippi River has been home to the Sauk and Fox Native Americans, as well as Mormon and Icarian immigrants from various states and Germany. Just across the river, visitors can explore the historic grounds of Fort Madison, while the Joseph Smith Historic Site highlights the Latter-Day Saint movement that took place in Nauvoo during the early 1840s. The Rheinberger House Museum is filled with fascinating artifacts, and Jonathan Browning’s workshop showcases a collection of historic Browning firearms. For those intrigued by inventions, the Webb Blacksmith Shop features a replica of a traditional smithy. When it comes to accommodations, Hotel Nauvoo, the Inn at Old Nauvoo, and Nauvoo Vacation Villas offer excellent options.
Ottawa
Ottawa is a hidden gem and a perfect getaway just 80 miles from Chicago, offering a wealth of delightful attractions and recreational spaces for relaxation and enjoyment. With numerous engaging parks and preserves, including Dayton Bluffs Preserve, Buffalo Rock State Park, and Starved Rock State Park, you’ll find plenty of options to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. For those seeking a real adventure, Skydive Chicago provides a breathtaking aerial view of Illinois as you leap and float back down to earth. If you’d rather stay grounded, consider visiting the Reddick Mansion, once the residence of Illinois State Senator William Reddick. Plus, you won’t have to worry about where to stay, as Heritage Harbor and other accommodations will ensure a comfortable and convenient home base.
Arcola
Arcola, situated along the Okaw River and approximately an hour and a half from Springfield, was originally called Bagdad in the mid-1800s before undergoing a name change a few years later. Today, the town exudes a distinct artistic charm, showcased by its 15 Walldog murals that illustrate various periods of the town’s history. For many years, Arcola has been a key stop on the Central Railroad and a leading producer of broomcorn, which is celebrated every September during the Broomcorn Festival. There’s much more to discover in Arcola, so consider staying at cozy places like the Arcola Inn or Quality Inn.
Geneva
The town of Geneva is about 45 miles west of Chicago, and features a charming Dutch windmill at the Fabyan Forest Preserve and even more delightful attractions at Island Park. The Geneva History Museum offers insights into the town’s early history, while the Fabyan Villa Museum & Japanese Garden highlights both cultural and botanical treasures from Asia. You can also discover stunning plants at City Hall’s Prairie Garden or take a look at a Viking ship from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. If you’re visiting in June, make sure to check out the annual Swedish Days Festival. From July to August, there are Classic Car Shows, and the Geneva Arts Fair takes place each July. You’ll feel right at home in Geneva, especially when you relax and dine at welcoming spots like the Herrington Inn & Spa.
Alton
Alton left its mark when Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas held their final debate during the 1858 Illinois senatorial campaign. It is also notable for being the childhood home of famous jazz musician Miles Davis and the world’s tallest man, Robert Wadlow. For those interested in the paranormal, Alton boasts some of the most haunted places in Illinois, with eerie vibes found in McPike Mansion, Mineral Springs Hotel, The First Unitarian Church, and Milton School. Beyond its ghostly reputation, Alton is a strong supporter of local arts, showcased by the Alton Little Theater, the Alton Museum of History and Art, the Jacoby Arts Center, and the Elijah P. Lovejoy Monument. If you’re looking for an elegant stay in a historic home, consider booking a night at the Beall Mansion.
Makanda
The village of Makanda, whose name has historically evolved from Markanda, Markands, and Markauda to its current form, honoring a Native American chief, is a picturesque hamlet almost reminiscent of a fairytale. Yet, Makanda is indeed a real location, boasting numerous remarkable attractions in the Shawnee National Forest. Visitors can truly enjoy the stunning natural beauty of Giant City State Park by exploring various notable paths, including the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, the Stonefort Nature Trail, and the River to River Trail. In October, Makanda kicks off Vulture Fest, which celebrates the arrival of autumn with the migration of vultures. Whether you indulge in the delightful wines from Blue Sky Vineyard or take a refreshing dip in Cedar Lake, you’re sure to have a memorable experience. And when you’re ready to relax after all your adventures, you can unwind in the cozy accommodations at the Makanda Inn.
Sycamore
Sycamore trees are awe-inspiring and carry deep significance for many around the globe. Just 60 miles from Chicago lies the quaint town of Sycamore. Embrace the town’s quirky charm by attending one of its annual events, such as Witches Night Out in October. Enjoy laid-back picnics at Sycamore Lake Rotary Park, and discover fascinating insights into the town’s history at the DeKalb County History Center or the Blue Moon Bikes Vintage Sting Ray Museum. For a comfortable stay right in the midst of it all, consider the Country Inn & Suites, which offers all the comforts of home.
Illinois is home to a wide array of small towns perfect for a weekend getaway. With festivals, historic landmarks, wineries, and an abundance of natural wonders, there is no shortage of activities and attractions to fill a few leisurely days. Explore windmills and Viking ships, tour a haunted hotel, or simply stroll the streets and see what adventures unfold in these welcoming retreats.
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