It wouldn’t be an NIU football game without a fair share of Huskie injuries.

Along with Lionel Hickenbottom, who is rehabbing from a knee injury and expected to be out the rest of the year, and Thomas Hammock, who continues to undergo further tests on his heart, the Huskies continue struggling to keep players healthy.

Starting cornerback Vince Thompson is out at least another week with a knee injury. His future remains questionable.

Senior wide receiver P.J. Fleck, who played only on special teams against Wisconsin, reinjured his hamstring in practice on Tuesday and is out for the Western Illinois game.

Fellow receivers Keith Perry, Mike Archie and Turner Pugh are also recovering from injuries.

Perry is doubtful for the Western game after sitting out at Wisconsin.

Archie and Pugh will be game-time decisions.

Anthony Falbo joins Pugh and Archie as game-time decisions after injuring his back against Wisconsin.

Hurd is the Word

Maybe NIU should thank the University of Arizona for the emergence of freshman wide receiver Sam Hurd.

Hurd, who was originally recruited by Arizona, was recommended to coach Joe Novak and his staff by former NIU and current Arizona assistant Jay Boulware.

When wide receiver Travis House left NIU last semester, the Huskies knew they would be a little thin at that position. After Arizona opted for another recruit, Hurd visited the campus and soon after, committed to NIU.

“He’s got a lot of ability,” Novak said. “Obviously he’s got great hands and he’s young enough and silly enough not to fear anything, which is good. He’s going to be a good player.”

That’s a lot of People

Saturday’s 24-21 loss to Wisconsin marked the fifth largest crowd to see an NIU football game.

The 77,460 people at Camp Randall Stadium marked the biggest crowd to watch the Huskies since NIU traveled to Auburn and played the Tigers in 2000 in front of 79,635.

The largest crowd ever assembled to watch the Huskies came in 1996. That’s when 95,589 people watched the host Penn State Nittany Lions beat the visiting Huskies 49-0.

Letdown?

After losing a heartbreaker to Wisconsin, the first thing Novak did was set his team down for a meeting.

Novak wanted to get his players focused and wanted to avoid a letdown against Western.

“You never look back,” Novak said. “We got focused right back on Western Illinois. I don’t think we are going to have any problems at our place on Saturday.”

Since coming to NIU in 1996, Novak is 0-2 against the Leathernecks.