CARBONDALE—In the four years that I have known Dave Elsesser, he’s never taken a position that wasn’t based on reason or sound thought.

But if “Elky” thinks that Northern Illinois is going to waltz into Carbondale and spoil the Salukis’ homecoming, then he’s off his rocker.

Southern Illinois will not lose on Saturday. In fact, the Salukis will win, and they will win big.

Sure, the Salukis have heard all about Marshall Taylor, the triple-threat quarterback who sends defenses back-pedaling into the endzone. The Salukis have no doubt he is a talented athlete with a great future.

But the Salukis have a level-headed young man in quarterback Fred Gibson. When the game is on the line and the clock is ticking down in the fourth quarter, Gibson has always been there to march the team upfield.

Gibson runs the wishbone with great poise. Whether Gibson’s handing the ball off to running back Chuck Harmke, the Gateway Conference Player of the Week, or passing to the acrobatic wide receiver Joe Cook, who made a diving snag last week that simply defies description, he makes sure the ball crosses the goal line.

The guiding force behind the Salukis’ wishbone is 40-year-old first-year coach Rick Rhoades, who led Troy State (Ala.) to a Division II national title one year ago. Watching Coach Rhoades is a show in itself. From the sidelines, he calls plays to the no-huddle offense with his exaggerated arm-waving. To the casual fan—is their any other kind at Northern Illinois—it might appear as if he is trying to flag down a taxi. But Rhoades’ signal-calling method has given the Salukis a 3-0 record at McAndrew Stadium.

With this type of leadership, the Salukis will be more than ready for Northern Illinois. And even if it takes a last-second field goal by freshman John Bookout, who hasn’t missed a PAT this year and kicks 47-yarders in his sleep, the Salukis will prevail.

The Salukis realize Northern Illinois runs the wishbone, too. But when a maroon-clad fan says, “Throw out the ‘Bone and let the big Daug eat,” let’s not get confused as to who the “big Daug” really is.

A huskie is just a pup compared to a Saluki.