Good things come to those who wait.

If we’re going by that assertion, NIU has been waiting 28 years for a MAC Championship; 28 years that all share the same result: coming up short.

Teams, players and coaches have gone off to other pastures from NIU, whether it be into the NFL or the “real world.”

The Huskies’ most recent heartbreak came last season in the final minutes of the MAC Championship game.

Even against a backup quarterback, even equipped with arguably the conference’s best defense, Miami (Ohio) found a win to upset NIU and claim glory.

From there, it was a waiting game for Chandler Harnish and company as they looked to put the 2010 season in the past.

Granted, Friday’s game won’t be NIU’s last game of the season as the team likely will snatch some sort of bowl game.

Talk to any of the Huskies, and they’ll probably tell you a bowl game is a nice incentive, and of course, they want to play and win in whichever one they’re offered.

But all things for this season fall on Detroit. This year’s team has a chance to do what last year’s couldn’t: bring home the hardware.

Is this game the Big Ten or SEC Championship? No.

But to some people in this area, and certainly to the players, this is the game of their lives.

For three seasons, I’ve watched Harnish shred and slice opposing defenses better than the guy who cuts and serves the gigantic portions of meat at an Old Country Buffet.

And now, in his final season as a Huskie, Harnish has a chance to make his mark on NIU history, something – clinching a conference title – many quarterbacks before him in this 28-year span failed to do in.

Harnish has captured about every single passing record in Huskie history and a few rushing ones here and there.

His name is cemented as likely the greatest, 1 or 1A next to George Bork, to ever play quarterback for NIU.

But while Harnish might appreciate personal accolades, he’s repeatedly stated, along with all his teammates, that he wants to win a MAC Championship.

Last year, the burning image for many NIU fans from the MAC Championship might have been Miami defenders sacking Harnish in the final play of the game.

The clock struck zero, and the MAC Champion-less streak continued.

Now, the waiting is over; Friday, good things very well could come NIU’s way, finally.