Road trip to Chicago was a bye-week bonding experience for Saluki Football

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Good friends, good times and good music. That was the bye-week game-plan for a group of a dozen or so Saluki Football players who traveled to Chicago last weekend to see one of their favorite artists, Rod Wave, at a concert at the United Center.

“We planned it out a couple days before the last practice,” safety Vinny Pierre Jr. explained. “We all left together after practice, had a good time on the road, singing songs and stuff, and getting ready for the concert. It was just bonding and having fun.”

Some of the players stayed at quarterback DJ Williams’ house, others found rooms at a hotel or Airbnb.

“It was an amazing experience to be able to do that with this team, to enjoy something outside of football,” said wide receiver Traivon Dyson. “We were able to bond over the music we enjoy.”

A group of players in downtown Chicago.

After beating Northern Iowa, the Salukis practiced three days last week, and the players had Friday and Saturday off. Rod Wave is an R&B artist known as a pioneer of "trap-soul,” and the concert aligned perfectly with the team’s off days.

“I’ve never had a bye week like that where we could actually go somewhere as a team,” cornerback Joshua Newkirk said. “Usually, we just chill at the house. It was a great time being around each other and then going to see one of our favorite artists. We were all singing. It was a really great energy and great bonding for the team.”

Williams said the quick trip to his hometown included family time and a chance to watch his high school and youth teams play. He soon missed Saluki Football, though.

“You get up at 5 a.m. every day to play football, and then when you step away from it and don't have it, you miss it,” he explained. “You cherish the game a little bit more. You understand why you play this game that you love.”

The Salukis returned to practice on Sunday refreshed and excited for the final three weeks of the regular season that begins on Saturday at Indiana State.

“We all understand that you have to play your best football in November,” Dyson said. “The bye week was a great chance to reset our minds, reset our bodies, reset our mentality. We know the job that needs to be done now that we’re back.”