Latest news with #Hammock
Fox Sports
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 NIU Football Predictions: Huskies Ranked 106th in RJ Young's Ultimate 136
College Football 2025 NIU Football Predictions: Huskies Ranked 106th in RJ Young's Ultimate 136 Published Aug. 10, 2025 9:05 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link This isn't your average college football ranking. My Ultimate 136 is a set of rankings that is fluid, but it's my job to look ahead and make a claim for all FBS teams based on what I know and why I know it. Here are the three pressing questions I started by asking when putting together this list: Who do I think is good? Why do I think they're good? What are the chances they will finish above or below my expectations? Here is a look at where Northern Illinois lands in my Ultimate 136. NIU ranking: 106 Last year's ranking: 95 Top player: CB Jacob Finely: Has played in 30 games with 13 starts in three seasons for NIU, recording 8 pass breakups (tied for most on the team). [Northern Illinois' 2025 schedule] RJ's take: Thomas Hammock's Huskies went into Notre Dame Stadium and did what no one else could in 2024: win. After putting the money in the bag, the Huskies finished 8-5 and watched the team it beat play for the national title. ADVERTISEMENT That's how slim the margins are when you can hit the create-a-team button in modern college football. Hammock hit it hard in this cycle with 13 new players in Dekalb, Illinois — but he had to. Last year's starter at quarterback, two top-tier tailbacks, four star receivers and four elite defensive tackles all heard the siren call of the portal — just like former defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto, who made a lateral move to Fresno State. Hammock also made a rather inspired hire in getting former Charleston coach Quinn Sanders to call his offense with a scheme that saw the Golden Eagles ranked No. 7 in total offense at the Division II level. Former Charleston running back Chavon Wright, who's now with the Huskies, carried the rock 354 times for 2,233 yards and 38 touchdowns in 12 games in Sanders' offense last season. Read that again. Sanders might be forced to find that kind of production as he inherits an offense that returns just one wideout with more than 60 receiving yards last year. [ Check out RJ Young's Ultimate 136 College Football Rankings here ] NIU Win Total Odds: Over 6.5 (+132) Under (-162) Have an issue with my rankings? Think your alma mater is too low, or your school's rival is too high? Get at me on X, @RJ_Young , and I'll select my favorite tweets and respond to them in a future article. RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports. Follow him at @RJ_Young. FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Football Northern Illinois Huskies share
Daily Record
30-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Primark's 'playful' £10 bag looks 'just like' £1,450 Loewe tote
Primark's new bag looks very similar to a designer version - but its a fraction of the cost Primark is stocking a new bag that bears a striking resemblance to a pricier alternative. Known for its affordable fashion and homeware, the high street giant may have just introduced a new crowd-pleaser. The retailer's Ring Detail Shoulder Bag looks similar to a style by designer brand Loewe but at a fraction of the cost. Shoppers can snag the Primark version for £10, while the other version is currently priced at £1,450 online. The bags are very similar, with a leather-look design and smooth finish in a knaki green shade. They also both feature a similar structured shape and zip closure. However, there are also a number of differences - including that the Primark bag is faux leather, while Loewe's is made with calfskin. The budget bag also features a wider strap and a ring detail the more expensive version is missing. Primark describes the Ring Detail Shoulder Bag as a "shoulder bag with a golden-tone ring detail, zip closure and a soft, structured shape." It is available in khaki, cream and black. The full Primark product description reads: "Clean lines and clever details make this bag a winner. Designed in khaki with a soft, structured shape and angled trim, it's both modern and easy to wear. "The single shoulder strap connects to the bag with a gold-tone ring for a subtle touch of shine, while a hidden zip closure keeps your essentials secure. A knotted tie detail on the zipper adds a playful twist. Just the right size for your daily bits, this bag's ready to go wherever you are." The designer description states: "The Hammock hobo is a streamlined variation on the Hammock, whose silhouette is revisited as a versatile sling bag. This mini version is crafted in classic calfskin." Primark's Ring Detail Shoulder Bag is priced at £10, while the Loewe Mini Hammock hobo bag comes in at £1,450. This means shoppers could save £1,440 by opting for the budget version. Customers can grab the Primark bag, which comes in khaki, cream and black, in stores now. You can check availability at your nearest store here.
Chicago Tribune
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Now a senior, Batavia's Quinn Urwiler finds redshirt season at Northern Illinois to be ‘blessing in disguise.'
It's his turn now. His college football career hasn't played out the way he imagined when he was a two-way standout for Batavia, but veteran Northern Illinois linebacker Quinn Urwiler wouldn't trade a thing. 'It's been a very crazy ride,' said Urwiler, who was the Beacon-News Football Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019. 'My class is the last that had the extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic.' Urwiler, a redshirt senior, had his freshman season at North Dakota in the fall 2020 delayed by the pandemic then pushed back to spring 2021 and shortened to seven games. A quick turnaround was followed by a full season that fall before Urwiler transferred to NIU, which he had considered while playing in high school for the powerhouse Bulldogs. Urwiler contributed mainly on special teams in DeKalb in 2022 and briefly in 2023 before deciding to redshirt. Last season, he also figured more prominently in the linebacker rotation. 'It's funny, you know, in high school, I was the guy,' said Urwiler, who also starred at running back. 'Then you come to college and everybody was 'the guy' in high school. 'It was humbling, but I was ready for it. Give me a challenge, I'm going to overcome it and come out a winner. My road took longer, but I'm here and I'm going to make sure my name gets known.' With the Huskies (8-5) returning only five starters from a team that posted a landmark 16-14 win at No. 5 Notre Dame and 28-20 double overtime win against Fresno State in the Idaho Potato Bowl, seventh-year coach Thomas Hammock is glad to have Urwiler back. 'When he first stepped into the team meeting room, Quinn said, 'I'm going to be the hardest working, most physical guy every single day and that's what he's done,' Hammock said. 'He's been tremendous. 'He's going to be the man in the middle for us. He's gonna call the defense and be the guy we're going to rely heavily on to be the type of playmaker we need at the second level.' Hammock has added 14 transfers, but he has 26 players like Urwiler who have had redshirt seasons and time to develop. 'I got the backup role last year and it was fun,' Urwiler said. 'We rotated quite often, so I got to play in every single game. Obviously, my main goal is always to start. 'As a backup, you never know how many snaps you'll get, but you have to make sure you know the playbook inside and out, and if your number gets called, you have to execute at a high level so there's no drop-off between the ones and twos.' That's what the 6-foot, 226-pound Urwiler, who has his degree in general studies and is taking post-graduate kinesiology classes, did last season. Urwiler matched his uniform number with 32 tackles in limited play and stepped up big late in the bowl game with two key stops. 'They threw me in that series where it really mattered,' Urwiler said. 'It was kind of funny, checking my phone afterward. I got a couple DMs on Twitter from random NIU fans saying, 'Thank you for saving the game.' That was kind of cool.' Urwiler also wishes the NFL would back off rule changes that have been made in an attempt to make special teams safer. 'I think they're a great part of the game,' Urwiler said. 'It's just where you get to let loose and basically go one-on-one with somebody. May the fittest man win, I guess you could say.' Hammock remembers he wasn't pleased when Urwiler asked to redshirt. 'He was a special teams captain and major contributor but wanted a bigger role on defense,' Hammock said. 'I was a little upset, but I'm glad he did. 'It gave us an extra year to have him as a leader — a blessing in disguise. He's gonna play his best football as a senior.'
Tatler Asia
16-07-2025
- Business
- Tatler Asia
Jonathan Anderson: When creative thinking becomes a sustainable luxury business strategy
Rather than simply designing seasonal collections, Anderson understood that a luxury brand must possess an enduring asset, a design language that transcends trends and translates across disciplines. Hence, the Puzzle bag is more than a hit accessory. It has become a cultural reference, spotted in contexts ranging from art installations to interior design. In an industry increasingly driven by speed and churn, Anderson pursued the opposite: a brand built to endure, where customers are drawn not by impulse but by a lasting aesthetic ethos. Luxury comes from craftsmanship Among luxury houses in the LVMH group, the common pursuit is scale. Anderson, however, chose another direction. He did not chase rapid expansion or quarterly spikes, but rather aimed to position Loewe as a discerning, almost elusive brand rooted in craftsmanship and admired by a refined clientele. A defining feature of Anderson's approach was embedding craftsmanship at the heart of the brand, not simply treating it as a talking point. The Loewe Craft Prize, for instance, is not a one-off campaign but a sustained initiative to build meaningful identity. Through such efforts, Loewe has distinguished itself and helped recast the narrative of modern luxury: no longer about rarity in material, but rarity in skill. Sustainable luxury strategy: An unconventional business model Instead of short-lived commercial pushes, Jonathan Anderson focused on constructing a creative architecture robust enough to outlast his tenure. This commitment is reflected in three core principles: Creating products with lasting value: Beyond the Puzzle bag, collections such as the Gate, Hammock, and ready-to-wear lines are designed with longevity in mind, rather than being discarded with each passing season. Connecting with contemporary culture: Anderson positioned Loewe not as a follower of trends, but as a contributor to wider cultural dialogue, engaging with art, architecture and sculpture, and earning a place among cultural connoisseurs. Prioritising quality over quantity: As many brands pursue broader appeal through mass-market ranges, Anderson maintained a focused, tightly curated strategy ensuring craftsmanship and customer experience remained paramount. Anderson's legacy: A creative model that can continue to evolve The question in the wake of Anderson's exit is not simply who will take the reins, but whether the distinctive strategy he has embedded will endure. In a luxury landscape often dictated by volume and immediacy, Anderson's work at Loewe offers a blueprint that few houses can follow—an approach driven by patience, intellect, and originality. NOW READ Micro time, macro impact: How microbrands are rewriting luxury watchmaking rules Anti-design: When ugliness becomes a manifesto of creatives defying traditional beauty The Shape of Memory: Humberto Campana's Dreamwork with Louis Vuitton
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Marengo native Josh Holst to battle for NIU's QB1 job in the spring
DEKALB, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — Thomas Hammock isn't one to handout starting spots on NIU's football team. He constantly wants his guys competing for jobs. That's why redshirt sophomore Josh Holst of Marengo will have to compete for the QB1 job this spring and possibly into saw some action last season for the Huskies after Ethan Hampton went down with an injury. Holst also got the start at quarterback for the Huskies in the Idaho Potato Bowl. He helped the Huskies to a win by passing for 182 yards and two that performance, he seemed to have the inside track on the start quarterback job going into next season. Hammock though put the brakes on that talk Monday during his pre-camp press conference. Hammock says there are other quarterbacks on the roster who are eager to compete and to show what they can did say that Holst has come a long way since arriving on campus a couple years ago.'You know, Josh is a young man that came to us, he was 165 pounds when he got here, so he needed to develop physically. He has done that. He's 205 pounds as of this morning. He's made jumps and strides every year. And, you know, he's out there commanding it, and he's putting himself in a position to compete. I think he has a lot of guys that want to compete against him.'The Huskies will hold their first of 15 spring practices this Thursday has added 19 players either through the transfer portal or true freshman for spring practices who weren't with the team last fall. Hammock likes how they are fitting says this group of receivers going into next season should be the best he's had in his six years in DeKalb. He also says the offensive line should be deeper than last year, but not as also says this is a mentally strong group of players. He says attitude and effort are keys. There is no negotiating when it comes to those two fall will be the Huskies' final season in the Mid-American Conference. They'll join the Mountain West Conference in 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
