Hello and welcome to The Audible, presented by Trader Joe's.

I'm Ralph Russo from The Athletic, joined today by my colleague, Bruce Feldman.

Stuart Mandel is enjoying some well-deserved vacation time.

Later in the show, we will have a couple of segments with the athletics draft expert,

Dane Bruegler.

Combine week next week.

Big week for you, Bruce as well.

I think you're heading to the combine.

And we'll go into the importance of the combine, what this draft class looks like.

Bruce did a great story on Fernando Mendoza.

We'll hit all of that with Dane.

But as usual, we'll start the show with some news and notes.

And, you know, luckily, my colleague, Bruce is a bit of an insomniac.

So early, very early this morning on the West Coast, we woke up to the news that Northern Illinois, yes, the coaching carousel is operating again. Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammack is leaving that job to take a position as the running backs coach with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

So, you know, again, we were on top of the news, very much thanks to Bruce.

Bruce, I want to, listen, it's an interesting move and it's a tough move for Northern Illinois

at this point in the year to have to make a coaching change.

They're going to stay within. They promoted Bob Harley, the defensive coordinator there. move for Northern Illinois at this point in the year to have to make a coaching change.

They're going to stay within. They promoted Bob Harley, the defensive coordinator there,

who is going to be the interim coach for the rest of the season. I think they're hoping that stability, keeping somebody in house, make sure they don't lose a whole bunch of players at a weird

portal period because that happens.

Once you officially name a coach, those players have the ability to jump into the portal.

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