More is churning in the minds of the NIU football team than just thoughts of a routine week of practice leading to another run-of-the-mill game.

It’s not the multitude of tailgaters that will congregate at wee hours of the morning Saturday, nor the major celebration to look forward to at night.

Beneath those flashy red helmets with the NI emblem plastered on the side, occupy thoughts of the true meaning of next weekend. Yes, even those rugged gridders think of Homecoming as more than just a football game.

“Homecoming, to me, is like a coming together of all the students, and it’s a time to celebrate school spirit,” said NIU quarterback and senior tri-captain Marshall Taylor. “It’s important to me that we go out there and represent the school in good fashion.”

Mike Hollingshed, senior tri-captain and linebacker, has his own Homecoming definition for Webster’s dictionary.

“It’s what college football and college is all about,” Hollingshed said. “To me it means a lot because most of the students come out and support us—I especially like the huge crowds. It’s a nice atmosphere because people are around to have fun and enjoy themselves.”

But some fans will be able to enjoy themselves more than others. While Homecoming is a time to pay tribute to the alumni, it leaves Huskie recruiting coordinator Russ Graham—a 1984 NIU graduate—between a rock and a hard place.

“I’ve always enjoyed Homecoming, but you lose the actual Homecoming feeling as an alum (when you’re a coach),” Graham said. “From a coach’s standpoint, I have to try not to look at Homecoming differently than any other game, because you want to win them all.

“But you always want to win (Homecoming) and make the alums proud—a lot of times that’s the only game they (alums) come too.”

It’s not just the sight of pregame festivities that spark the players’ thoughts of Homecoming, it’s the entire week of practice. NIU coach Jerry Pettibone said he drops a few hints now and then between pushups about the big game.

“I’ll talk about the fact that all of their families will be there and that there’ll be people from the Hall of Fame in the stands watching us play, which will be additional incentive,” Pettibone said. “I’ll mention that to the players all week (at practice).

“It’s an additional incentive for the coaching staff and the players to do well. It’s a motivational game for us, and it’s all part of the spirit and the atomosphere.”

Taylor said he agreed there is a motivational difference in the Homecoming game compared to the other matches of the season.

“Homecoming is different because the guys want to win so bad it livens up practice and puts more spirit in the games too,” Taylor said.

Senior tri-captain Bob Montel said he thinks the squad gives a little more effort to the Homecoming contest.

“We don’t really practice any different, but we do play different,” Montel said. “You never want to lose your Homecoming.”