May 6, 2002

NORTHERN ILLINOIS TAILBACK THOMAS HAMMOCK
TWO-PEATS WITH ARTHUR ASHE, JR. , AWARD

DeKALB, IL --- Any one recognize a pattern here for Northern Illinois University senior-to-be football tailback Thomas Hammock? Two-time First-Team All-Mid-American Conference. Two-time 1,000-yard rusher. Two-time First-Team Verizon-College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America.

And now---according to the April 11, 2002 edition of Black Issues in Higher Education---a two-time Third-Team Arthur Ashe, Jr., Sports-Scholar. Anybody up for a Hammock three-peat in 2002? And in all four aforementioned categories? Is there a smarter 1,000-yard rusher in major-college football?

“The ultimate test of anything whether it be an athlete, an assembly line worker, an educator, or whomever, is a continued high level of production over a period of time,” said Northern Illinois head football coach Joe Novak. “I’ve said this before: Thomas Hammock has been a consistent performer on the field and in the classroom here. Repeat Academic All-America and back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. To do both is amazing. Academically and athletically, he’s been a model of consistency.”

Named after the late tennis great, the Arthur Ashe, Jr., Sports Scholar Awards celebrate academics and athletics excellence---as well as community activism---for undergraduate students of color. The criteria includes (1) a 3.20 cumulative grade point average, (2) community service, and (3) intercollegiate athletics competition.

In the classroom, Hammock (Fort Wayne, IN / Bishop Luers) carries a 3.30 cumulative gpa and earned a 3.50 last semester as a marketing major. During the last school year, the 5-foot-8, 214-pounder made the MAC Honor Roll, First-Team Verizon-CoSIDA Academic All-District V and All-America, and national runner-up for the Playboy Anson Mount Scholar-Athlete Award. In the community, Hammock has participated in youth reading clinics and summer camps.

On the field, Hammock can become the first Huskie rusher in school history to run for 1,000-yards in three consecutive seasons, make First-team All-MAC three times, or gain First-Team Academic All-America honors thrice in 2002. He needs 740 rushing yards to join the Northern Illinois 3,000-Yard Club with tailback Charles Talley (3,155 yards in 1993-96), tailback LeShon Johnson (3,314 yards in 1992-93), FB Adam Dach (3,438 yards in 1987-91), tailback Allen Ross (3,500 in 1977-80), and fullback Mark Kellar (3,745 yards in 1971-73) or 1,486 yards to surpass Kellar as the Huskies’ all-time rushing leader.

Currently ranked No. 7 on the school’s career rushing yardage list at 2,260, Hammock ran for 1,083 yards as a sophomore and 1,096 as a junior. Known as a punishing tackle-to-tackle runner with 1,367 of his last 2,179 yards gained after first contact, No. 28 owns 11 career 100-yard games and Northern Illinois has won eight of those. Hammock enters his senior campaign as the nation’s No. 19 returning National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1-A ground-gainer.

(For further information, please contact Mike Korcek) -30-