Despite flight delays that made the NIU football team more than an hour late to Huskie Stadium, about 40 supporters still waited for them early Sunday morning.

“We were like, ‘Damn it’s a crowd of people out here,’” said senior cornerback Randee Drew. “I didn’t expect that at all.”

After its upset over Alabama, the NIU football team was scheduled to arrive back in DeKalb at 3 a.m. Sunday morning. The team’s trip was more than an hour late because of airport security.

“We thought with all the delays there was no way that people were going to be out there,” junior quarterback Josh Haldi said. “To see them out there was just real cool. To have that excitement on campus is just great.”

For junior psychology major Georg Svec, he just wanted to see the team.

After watching the game at the Convocation Center, with about 500 people, Svec went home, had a few beers, a couple microwaveable burritos and waited to go to Huskie Stadium.

“I just want to hang out and see the team,” Svec said. “Everyone goes home, but I just like being a part of this. It’s cool.”

Senior history major Jim Metz had to go home Saturday, so he listened to the game from his parent’s house .

“I just came back to greet the team and I had to work on Sunday,” Metz said. “I was kind of tired, but the adrenaline kept me awake on the drive home. I didn’t go to the game, so this is the next best thing.”