DeKALB – Sitting along the east sideline at Northern Illinois practice this week was the Bronze Stalk trophy.

When the Huskies concluded practice Wednesday in preparation for today’s game at Ball State, tight end Luke Eakes went over, grabbed the trophy and the team eventually gathered around it in the middle of the field as football coach Dave Doeren gave his post-practice talk.

The trophy depicts several corn stalks, a tribute to the towns both universities reside in. DeKalb and Muncie, Ind., are cities not too far from Chicago and Indianapolis, respectively, and corn fields are found all over both areas. Both schools’ logos are on the wooden base of the rivalry trophy.