The biggest news, and the news which provided the biggest sigh of relief from the NIU football office this summer, was the announcement of quarterback Stacey “Sauce” Robinson’s eligibility for the fall semester.

After being forced to sit out the last week of spring drills because of his failure to meet the team’s “academic progress” standards, he took a full summer course load and on August 15 he was granted eligibility by the university.

“It’s real hard to replace a guy who started 11 ballgames,” quarterback coach Jay Schaake said. “Stacey did a lot of great things last year. We’re all happy that he was able to get his grades and do a good job in summer school so we could have him back.”

Robinson, the “Wishbone Wizard II”, not only started every game, he made most people forget about the original “Wishbone Wizard”, Marshall Taylor. Robinson set two national quarterback rushing records and tied a third. He led the nation’s quarterbacks in rushing with 1,443 yards, was sixth overall in rushing and led an offense that ranked sixth in team rushing.

Along with his prowess on the ground, Robinson proved himself as a capable passer. He completed 65 of 128 passes for 863 yards and five touchdowns. His four interceptions accounted for one-third of the team’s 12 turnovers, the fewest in the nation.

The basic fact is that Robinson is back and is ready.

“I think the way Coach Pettibone handled it was the way it needed to be handled and the way Stacey has responded is the way we hoped he would,” Summers said. “Now hopefully we can get that behind us and he can have a great year.”

The biggest goal of the season is to earn a bowl bid. After being snubbed by every bowl committee in the country last season, head coach Jerry Pettibone has dedicated the 1990 season to this one cause.

“This is the season we’ve been building for,” Pettibone said. “We are going to have a great team. I can make that statement. I’d be crazy not to think we’re going to be great.”

The Huskies are returning a school-record 52 lettermen, including 19 starters. The offense lost only one regular. The defense faces a stronger challenge having lost four starters. Gone are cornerback Brett Tucker, an eighth-round draft pick of the Houston Oilers, linebacker Ron Delisi, defensive tackle Phil Bucaro and defensive tackle Ted Hennings, who was recently cut from the Chicago Bears.

“I think the characteristic of our 1990 defense is more team-oriented,” Pettibone said. “We’re not going to have those individual stars.”

But don’t expect the defense to fall apart because of their departure. Defensive ends Cary Caliendo and Scott Van Bellinger are back after starting 11 and nine games, respectively. Free safety Kevin Cassidy and linebacker Nick Jones started 10 and cornerback Earl Upton started 11.

“Defensively, this is the most experience we’ve had in my six years here,” Pettibone said.

The biggest concern of the season is the attendance. Last year’s home average was 12,437 and the home/road average was 19,685. According to the NCAA, those numbers aren’t large enough to keep the Huskies from falling to Division I-AA.

“To remain Division I-A, we have to average 17,000 at home or 20,000 at home and on the road,” said Mary Mihelich, Assistant Athletic Director for Promotions and Marketing. “We did not do that last year.

“We have this year and next year to do it. We have chosen this year as the year we go all out and do that. We have a better chance of doing it this year because of our home schedule.”

The home schedule for 1990 consists of only five games instead of the usual six, and the last three games are on the road. This looks to be an advantage for Pettibone and his crew.

Games at Nebraska and Northwestern will also help boost the attendance figures. At Nebraska last year, the Huskies played in front of a sellout crowd of 76,194 fans. They expect a similar crowd this season in Lincoln (Sept. 8). The Cornhuskers have sold-out an NCAA-record 168 home games dating back to Nov. 3, 1962.

The Huskies will receive some country-wide exposure on Sept. 29 when they face Northwestern in a nationally televised game on ESPN. NIU last faced the Wildcats in 1987 in front of 27,336 fans and earned a 16-16 tie on John Ivanic’s 36-yard field goal with six seconds remaining.

“If you feel you’ve got a great team, you’ve got a bowl-worthy team, a national game against a Big Ten team is what you’re looking for,” Pettibone said.

At the moment, however, the biggest game on the minds of all involved with Huskie football is the season opener against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 1.

“I’m excited about this season more than any other,” Pettibone said. “I’m also scared because I know when you’ve got that opportunity out there, against the type of schedule we have, there is also an element of ‘what’s gonna happen?’. But I do feel good based on the things we’ve been able to do in the past.”