To say that the new Huskie quarterback has big shoes to fill this fall is like saying there’s a lot of corn around DeKalb.

Stacey Robinson ran NIU’s wishbone attack, and himself, into the NCAA record books the last two seasons. In NIU’s 73-18 thrashing of Fresno State last year, Robinson ran the option to near perfection in the first half.

His 308 rushing yards, gained mostly in the opening half, is an NCAA record. Robinson wound up leading the nation in scoring and the Huskies finished with the top-rated running attack in the country.

Two quarterbacks entered this season as the primary candidates for the unenviable task of following in Robinson’s shoes.

Rob Rugai, a 6-2, 188-pound junior, was Robinson’s primary backup last season. Stacey McKinney, 5-11, 174 pounds and also a junior, redshirted last year after transferring from Taft Junior College.

Rugai had the experience, McKinney had the superior physical skills. In the end, athletic ability won out.

“After looking at films (of Sunday’s intrasquad scrimmage) there has become a separation between them,” head coach Charlie Sadler said. “Rob came out and did some nice things, but he just doesn’t have the speed that Stacey does.”

We need someone who can make the big plays and we don’t know how much breakaway speed we have in the other backs. Stacey will now take most of the snaps with the first-team offense.”

McKinney responded to his apparent victory in the QB battle with restraint.

“I was looking forward to it and I kind of expected it,” McKinney said. But the new Huskie QB wasn’t sure about what to expect from Sadler’s new offense.

“We’re coming along pretty well, most guys seem to prefer the new offense to the wishbone because it isn’t as one dimensional,” McKinney said. As for his strengths as a quarterback, “I think I’m balanced although my running game is ahead of my passing right now. I’m not really a verbal leader, I like to get it done on the field,” McKinney said.

Sadler feels the Huskies’ offense is in good hands despite McKinney’s inexperience.

“Stacey practiced quite a bit last year with the offense,” Sadler said. “He just needs playing time and to do it under the heat of battle.”