NIU’s 42-21 loss to Louisiana Tech on Saturday dropped its record to 4-2 at the midway point of the 1989 season. Head football coach Jerry Pettibone, however, expected more.

“I felt that the only team that was better than us starting off, on paper, was Nebraska,” Pettibone said. “I was counting on us being 5-1 right now, but we’re still 4-2 and that’s a lot better than a lot of teams in the country right now that have played six games. We’re still a good football team that’s capable of having a fine season.”

The road loss to the 2-3-1 Bulldogs was the result of many factors, said quarterback Stacey Robinson.

“Basically we just didn’t play well and everyone wasn’t in synch,” said Robinson, a native of Danville. “Their defense was a lot more aggressive than our offense. Their emotional level was just higher than ours.”

Robinson’s running mate, fullback Adam Dach, also felt the loss was attributable to a lack of execution by the Huskies.

“We just didn’t execute and they did and that’s the bottom line. They weren’t better than us, but they were a good team. We had our chances to score some points in the early going and we just didn’t.”

The Huskie defensive unit, which has allowed 66 points in its last two outings, is looking to regroup for the second half of the season.

“It was just unfortunate for our defense that we gave up that many points,” said defensive tackle Rodney Akis. “We just have to regroup and go back to the things that we’ve been doing that have given us the success we’ve had so far.”

Pettibone remained praiseworthy of Tech.

“They (Louisiana Tech) played really well,” said Pettibone. “I think a combination of us not playing like we’re capable of and them playing as well as they did added up to what happened to us Saturday.”

The Huskies hope to rebound against 3-2 UNLV on Saturday. NIU won the last meeting between the squads 34-31 on a live national cable telecast in 1987.

“The main thing that’s going to be on our side Saturday is that it’s Huskie Stadium, it’s our football field and this is as big a game as we’ve played around here in a long time,” said Pettibone. “We want to get back on track and really show what we’re made of.”

Linebacker Ron Delisi is also looking for NIU to get back on track for the remainder of the season. “We’ve got five more games and we still have a good record. We have no reason to put our heads down, we’ve got a big game against UNLV. They’re a good team and we have to be prepared.”

Pettibone hopes that the teams return on Saturday to Huskie Stadium bodes well for the squads chances

“The student body has supported us this year better then ever before,” said Pettibone. “The last two times we’ve played at home, to have so many students here to support us is a big plus for us and it will have an influence on (Saturday’s) game.”

The contest between NIU and the Rebels takes place on Parent’s Day. Ticket sales for the game are said to be high and a big spectator turnout is expected.