It was an incredible second for Northern Illinois soccer and an absolute shocker for Notre Dame, and Huskies head coach Thomas Hammock was understandably overcome with emotion.
His Northern Illinois crew went to South Bend to tackle the No. 5 Combating Irish of their dwelling opener, blocked two discipline objectives — together with what would have been the go-ahead rating because the fourth-quarter clock ran out — and got here away with a surprising 16-14 victory.
It’s the primary time Northern Illinois beat a top-10 opponent in program historical past.
Following a Notre Dame interception halfway by the fourth quarter, Northern Illinois kicked a 35-yard discipline purpose to present his crew a two-point lead with simply 31 seconds left. The Combating Irish needed to transfer shortly however had been in the end compelled to kick a discipline purpose to attempt to win.
Nevertheless it was an extended discipline purpose — a 62-yarder with 5 seconds left on the clock. However Huskies’ Cade Haberman blocked his second discipline purpose of the day to safe the win. His earlier block was on a 48-yard Notre Dame try because the second quarter clock ran out.
Northern Illinois BLOCKS THE FIELD GOAL as time expires to seal a historic upset at Notre Dame Stadium! 👏 @NIU_Football pic.twitter.com/0BRpfTPwXa
— NBC Sports activities (@NBCSports) September 7, 2024
After the victory, Hammock delivered a splendidly emotional interview. Combating by tears, he stated: “I’m so happy with our youngsters, the coaches, simply all people. They believed. They believed. And we got here right here and obtained it completed.”
“All these guys have been with our program, lived by the ups and downs and have continued to combat. It’s like they’re my children…I simply couldn’t be extra proud.”
An emotional NIU coach Thomas Hammock moments after the Huskies beat Notre Dame. pic.twitter.com/3nSI7Sm7MY
— Terrible Asserting (@awfulannouncing) September 7, 2024
Hammock continued:
“I informed all of them week: We don’t want luck. We simply gotta be our greatest, and so they was their finest right now, and we had been capable of get it completed. …
“All these guys have been with our program, lived by the ups and downs and so they proceed to combat. It’s like they’re my children. I’m pleased for the adversity to push by regardless of the scenario. I simply couldn’t be extra proud. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
Positively no cause to be sorry.
