Despite the fact traditional rivals NIU and Southern Illinois haven’t played each other in eight years, the two football teams still have a bone to pick with each other.

On Saturday, when the Huskies travel to Carbondale to take on the Salukis, fans will be treated to a battle between two teams with identical wishbone offensive philosophies and similar records.

But NIU coach Jerry Pettibone thinks this weekend’s game just might be a little more than a meeting of the minds. Pettibone feels there might be some added incentive brought on by the two schools’ geographical locations.

“It’s the north versus the south, northern Illinois versus southern Illinois and NIU versus SIU,” Pettibone said. “It’s the first time the two schools have met since 1980 (when NIU won 20-17 in DeKalb), and it’s good for both schools. It’s a good rivalry.”

It’s also a rivalry that NIU has made the most of holding a 24-13-1 advantage since the series began in 1931. NIU has been especially dominant late in the series, having won six of the last eight meetings.

However, NIU (4-3) has struggled of late, losing two-straight, and the Salukis are off and running under first-year coach Rick Rhoades, whose squad brings a 4-2 record (including a 2-2 Gateway Conference mark) into Saturday. Rhoades has implemented the same no-huddle wishbone offense that earned him a national championship last year at Division II Troy State (Ala.). Overall, Rhoades owns a 28-7-1 record over three years.

“We’re familiar with Rick Rhoades and his system,” Pettibone said. “Our offensive staff went down to Troy State when he was down there and observed what they did. They (SIU) will do a lot of the same things we like to do. I don’t think you’ll see any new innovations that either coaching staff hasn’t seen.”

Like the Huskies, the Salukis have a talented quarterback in sophomore Fred Gibson and favor their fullback, Chuck Harmke (6-0, 200) when the game is on the line. Also, the two teams have similar size in the offensive line, and both squads count on a pair of freshman to fill one of the halfback spots.

One big difference between the two teams offensively is in the play calling. Where the Huskies send plays into the huddle with alternate receivers, the Salukis get signals from the sideline and go without a huddle.

“That’s their philosophy, they like to have the quarterback call out the plays at the line,” Pettibone said. “But it’s not a hurry-up or two-minute-type offense. There’s still plenty of time to analyze what we want to do defensively according to different situations and substitutions.

“We know what to expect and what we’re going to have to do. We’re going to have to bounce back (from last week’s 45-0 loss to Southwestern Louisiana). It’s their homecoming, and we expect a very tough game, but I’m looking to see us get back on track.”