Prior to the official announcement of Jerry Pettibone’s acceptance of the Oregon State University coaching job, some Huskies football players said NIU will be hard-pressed to find a better coach.

“Basically, he’s the reason why we had such a great turnaround here,” tight end Claude Royster said. “When he first got here, he started with a program that didn’t really know how to win a lot of ball games.

“He knows how to win because he’s been around a lot of successful programs,” Royster said. “What Northern has to do now (if Pettibone leaves) is keep the team together.”

Huskie defensive end Cary Caliendo predicted there was only a slim chance Pettibone would stay at NIU.

“You look at a coach, the quality of Pettibone, and then you have the support we do,” Caliendo said. “He turned the program around, but people still don’t come to the games.

“He’s getting a great opportunity to have a head coaching job out there. I don’t know of any other coach who, put in that position, would refuse a job offer like that,” Caliendo said.

Caliendo said he doesn’t know how well the team will adjust if Pettibone leaves.

“It depends on what kind of new coach they get,” Caliendo said. “We’ve got a team that’s all set-up to run the wishbone, and not too many coaches use it. If they get a new coach who doesn’t believe in the wishbone, they’re going to have to do a lot of rebuilding.”

Caliendo said if NIU is forced to hire another coach, the players won’t transfer if the new coach uses the wishbone. Royster doesn’t think current NIU players will leave, regardless of who coaches the team.

“Everybody’s made their commitment. Whatever happens, I don’t think it will affect the player’s decision to transfer,” said Royster.