The sight of pigskins flying through the air is coming back to DeKalb soon, and not just because it’s tornado season.

The Huskies’ football team is set to return to the field (or in NIU’s case, the carpet) to prepare for the coming season starting on April 6.

But even before spring practice officially starts, many of the Huskies are already spilling sweat on the Huskie Stadium turf. Although the NCAA limits the number of practices, a school is allowed to 15 within a 22-day period, agility and conditioning drills as part of an accredited class are allowed.

At NIU, students enrolled in Physical Education 104N receive one credit hour for their physical exertions. Not surprisingly, most of the students enrolled also happen to be NIU football players.

The students go through their paces under the watchful eye of several Huskie coaches who, along with overseeing their progress, have to make sure no one is wearing football shoes. Not because they don’t want to hurt the stadium turf, but because wearing football shoes would mean the class would constitute a practice that would count against the 15-practice limit.

Not wearing football shoes is just one of the restrictions the NCAA places on these types of classes. Other rules prohibit “teaching of fundamentals,” and “contact and combative activities or drills of any kind (e.g., boxing, wrestling, mass basketball).”

NIU football coach Charlie Sadler said NIU is careful not to break any NCAA regulations regarding practices. “Before we do anything,” Sadler said, “we check with (NIU Special Assistant for Compliance/Eligibility) Dr. (Robert) Brigham.”

The “real” practice for the Huskies culminates in April 27th’s spring intrasquad game. The regular season begins Sept. 7 at Fresno State. Barring any late NCAA rule-changes, football shoes will be allowed in that game.