Josh Haldi knows what it’s like to win at a venue steeped in tradition such as Notre Dame Stadium.
More than 20 years ago — Sept. 20, 2003 to be exact — Haldi was the starting quarterback at Northern Illinois when the Huskies won at Alabama, 19-16.
It was a shocking result that was amplified Sept. 7 when Haldi’s alma mater won at Notre Dame, 16-14.
Haldi did his best to stay calm late in that 2003 upset over the Crimson Tide. He finished that game 16 of 24 for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
Josh Haldi looks to pass during Northern Illinois’ upset of Alabama on Sept. 20, 2003. (Northern Illinois University)
So as Haldi watched the first half of NIU’s game at Notre Dame with his alma mater leading 13-7, he did what a lot of fans do when nerves begin to take over.
He couldn’t watch.
“I thought, ‘I’ve got to do something.’ So I went outside and mowed the lawn,” said Haldi, who lives just outside Chicago, about right in the middle between NIU and Notre Dame.
Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter boots a last-second field goal-attempt that was blocked as Northern Illinois’ Jacob Finley closes in Sept. 7 in South Bend, Ind. (Michael Caterina — The Associated Press)
Haldi watch parts of the first half at his home with his wife and young children. When he was finished with his yard work, Haldi settled in and watched history — but that doesn’t mean the nerves were gone.
“I didn’t make the trip to South Bend and I was a little jealous,” said Haldi, who grew up and starred as an All-Ohio quarterback for Madison in the late 1990s. “But the way it ended, I couldn’t help smiling the rest of the day.”
It was a win for the ages for NIU and the Mid-American Conference. It was the first time a MAC program beat an Associated Press top-five team.
When Haldi and the Huskies won at Alabama, the Crimson Tide were ranked No. 21 but finished the 2003 season just 4-7. Where the Fighting Irish finish this season is anyone’s guess but Haldi said that doesn’t matter.
“I was thinking about this the other day, how cool is it that Northern Illinois has never lost to Notre Dame or Alabama?” said Haldi with a laugh.
The 2003 game at Alabama and the game last Saturday at Notre Dame are the only games in each series.
“Maybe we should never play those teams again,” said Haldi. “I don’t know how many programs can say they’ve never lost to Alabama or Notre Dame. Maybe none.”
The win hit home for Haldi — now 42 years old — on several levels. Chicago might be a pro sports town but it’s also the home of many, many Notre Dame fans.
“With no traffic, you can get to South Bend from here in about a hour-and-a-half,” said Haldi.
Alumni pride is a powerful thing in college sports — especially football — and Haldi was hoisting the proverbial NIU flag with gusto all last weekend.
“It brought back a ton of memories,” said Haldi, thinking back to the Alabama win. “For those kids on that team, to win at Notre Dame, they’ll never forget it.”
Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock, center, led his team to a 16-14 win at Notre Dame Sept. 7 in South Bend, Ind. (Michael Caterina — The Associated Press)
There’s also a connection between Haldi and NIU head coach Thomas Hammock, who from 1999 to 2002 was a standout running back for the Huskies. In 2000 and 2001, Hammock had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
In 2002, Hammock was eyeing a huge senior season. Meanwhile, Haldi — a three-year starter who was 25-8 and threw for 6,105 yards and 55 touchdowns — was beginning his first season as NIU’s starting quarterback.
During the first game of the 2002 season — an overtime win over Wake Forest — Hammock rushed for 178 yards. After the game, he had trouble breathing and chest discomfort.
He later underwent a series of tests and was told by multiple doctors to retire from football. Hammock missed the rest of 2002 and never played again. Later in his post-playing career, Hammock went into coaching and eventually landed the head gig at his alma mater.
“He has the pulse of those kids,” said Haldi of Hammock. “You can see that.”
As for NIU’s frantic finish against the Irish — which included a last-season field goal by Kanon Woodill and a Cade Haberman block of a 62-yard ND attempt as time expired — Haldi said it was the stuff of dreams.
“I scared the heck out of my kids screaming at the TV,” said Haldi. “My 6-year-old son was asking, ‘Daddy, what’s wrong?’ ”
In the end, the biggest and best emotion for Haldi was simply pride.
“Just a ton of respect for the way the program represented itself,” said Haldi. “It’s an extension of so many former guys who played there like myself. We never view ourselves the way others view us in those type of games. It’s a mindset and that matters. It allows you to take advantage of those opportunities when they’re there.”
Originally Published: September 11, 2024 at 3:17 p.m.
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Publish date : 2024-09-11 08:21:00
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