Look for an anxious Huskie football team at their season opener this Saturday (Sept. 1), when they host the Eastern Illinois Panthers for a 6:35 p.m. kickoff.

“We’re at the point where we’re tired of practicing against each other,” said quarterback coach Jay Schaake. “We’re ready for a game, we’re ready for a new challenge, we’re ready for new things to happen.”

The Huskie coaching staff is unsure of what to expect from the Panthers, ranked 17th in Division I-AA preseason polls.

“It’s almost impossible for us to determine what Eastern’s gonna do, especially defensively,” head coach Jerry Pettibone said. “Every wishbone team they have played, they have played with a different scheme. We’re gonna have to wait until the game starts to see what’s gonna happen.”

The fact that it is the first game of the season also provides some uncertainty.

“The thing that makes us a little uneasy is anytime you have an opening ballgame, there are many things you haven’t done yet,” Schaake said. “There’s a lot of first-time things that can happen, you don’t really know until the game starts. We really don’t know a whole lot about them.”

NIU’s defensive tackles, although inexperienced, have won the confidence of the coaching staff.

“(Rob) Wagner and (Tom) Osteen have done a good job,” defensive line coach Sheldon Herd said. “I think the inexperience factor is out the window now, it’s time to go out there and play.”

Wagner, last spring’s Most Improved Defensive Player, feels he has to take advantage of his first start.

“The coaches are giving me a chance to play and I have to prove to them that I can play and keep on playing,” Wagner said.

Osteen will start in place of Eric White, who was slated to start at left tackle. White said he may play depending on how his sprained ankle feels, but he doesn’t want to rush it. He is being rested so that he will be ready to start next week’s game at Nebraska.

“We’re looking forward to getting Eric White healthy as soon as possible,” Herd said. “He’s probably the most experienced defensive tackle we have and we’re gonna miss that experience.”

Another first-time starter will be junior inside-linebacker Steve Henriksen, who led all Huskie defenders with 13 tackles in the spring game.

“I’ve been through a lot and I won’t settle for anything less than a great season from myself,” he said. “I’ve waited a long time for this. I’m just gonna go out there and play my hardest.”

Perhaps the strongest position of the Huskie defense is the defensive end slot. Led by returning starters Cary Caliendo and Scott Van Bellinger, they look to be much improved from last season.

“Caliendo is as healthy as he’s been probably since I’ve been here (1988),” Herd said. “He’s worked hard and he’s as quick as a cat. I’m looking for a great year out of Cary.

“Van Bellinger, at the other end, has really matured. He’s a solid football player, a great athlete and an experienced player. I expect a great year out of him, also.”

Caliendo, the only senior on the defensive line, also feels better about his physical condition.

“Last year I came in at 250-255 pounds and I lost a step, I wasn’t as quick as I thought I would be,” he said. “I’ve trimmed down to about 235 now and I can feel I’ve got my quickness back.”

Editor’s note: In yesterday’s issue, the Eastern Illinois quarterback was incorrectly identified as redshirt freshman Kip Hennelly. Hennelly has left school and will be replaced by true freshman Jeff Thorne.