This week, Huskie Stadium sounded like a packed house full of frenzied fans on game day.

Fans screaming and booing, tunes from the band and crowd chants all filled the air, but it wasn’t because of a game; it was because of football practice.

NIU coach Joe Novak wanted his players to practice through extreme noise to prepare the team for its 6 p.m. Saturday game at Alabama (2-1).

Novak had a CD that played crowd noise continuously throughout practice. The CD also included various Alabama chants.

“Honestly, I’m not sure the noise will do anything,” Novak said. “But I do know this: I’d rather expose them to it in practice all week and walk into that stadium and hear the same kind of thing, than to not do that and have them be overwhelmed by it, because it can be overwhelming.”

Novak also sported an Alabama T-shirt to help motivate his players.

The trip to No. 21 Alabama will be the first time NIU (2-0) travels to play a ranked opponent since Sept. 14, 2002, when NIU lost to No. 18 Wisconsin, 24-21.

The Crimson Tide have allowed 50 yards a game on the ground and have the 18th ranked defense in the nation, which could make NIU running back Michael Turner’s day tough.

The Huskies haven’t started 3-0 since 1988 and are 0-8 all-time against the SEC.

Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium holds 83,091 fans, which is nearly three times as many people as filled Huskie Stadium against Maryland Aug. 28.

The atmosphere is expected to be loud on Saturday, but Novak and the players don’t see it being as loud as it has been at practice.

“The noise we had today probably helped us on our silent calls,” NIU wide receiver and punt returner Dan Sheldon said. “In the Maryland game, even in this stadium it was hard to hear. I’d be surprised if it’s going to be as loud there as it was today. It’s going to be good for us. Alabama’s going to be going nuts, so we gotta be ready for the noise.”