On Dec. 13, 2007 the Huskie had their first official meeting with new football coach Jerry Kill.

If you consider that meeting as “the first date” between the pair, then Aug. 30, will be the wedding date for the Huskies and Kill.

Thousands will fill the pews of the Metrodome. They will come dressed in their best attire – perhaps a red jersey with a number one on the back.

However, guests of the groom and bride will sit on the same side for this wedding, as NIU opens its season against Minnesota.

But as the Huskies run out of the tunnel they will have to remember the good luck saying of, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.”

Something old

NIU returns 20 of 22 opening day starters from the 2007 season. Of those, 19 are seniors or juniors.

However, because of injuries, only 11 of those 20 started the Huskies last game of 2007.

At least 27 players missed a game due to injury in 2007, with 15 of those being starters. Names on this list include quarterback Dan Nicholson, middle linebacker Tim McCarthy, wide receiver Britt Davis and running backs Montell Clanton, Justin Anderson and Ricky Crider.

But NIU comes into summer practices with a healthy squad. This includes Nicholson, who feels he’s in top shape for the new season.

“The shoulder feels great, feels [the] best … in a long time,” the quarterback said of his throwing arm. “I’m ready to practice.”

One positive from last season’s injuries is the experience other players gained. This has translated to a deep bench for NIU.

“We like to rotate,” Kill said. “I like to play seven, eight, on the defensive line if those players are productive and can do that.”

Something new

Kill has brought seven assistants, a sports performance coach and a director of football operations who are all fresh to the Huskies.

“That’s the strength of our program,” Kill said. “It’s not the head coach, it’s the assistant coaches – they’re the strength.”

Another addition to the Huskies this fall will be the offensive and defensive schemes.

Offensively, the Huskies have had to learn terminology, add a fullback, add the shotgun and get used to new footwork and blocking schemes.

“There’s definitely a lot more movement with the quarterback, a little more spread and wide open,” said quarterback Ryan Morris. “We’re getting the quarterback involved with the running game.”

However, defense is on Kill’s mind.

“We got to concentrate on something that no one else talks about in the conference,” Kill said. “I think the team in the MAC that plays defense and does a good job handling the spread offense is going to be the team that wins.”

Something borrowed

While Kill brought new faces to NIU, he also kept a few familiar smiles.

Assistant coaches Jeff Phelps and P.J. Fleck will transition from the Novak era into the start of the Kill age.

Phelps, who was the defensive tackles’ coach under Novak, will now coach the entire defensive line in his third season with NIU.

Fleck will remain as the wide receivers’ coach, and adds the duties of recruiting coordinator. The new responsibility hasn’t affected the energy level of the former NIU wide out.

“Coach Fleck is always pumped, every single day,” Davis said. “That’s the great thing about Coach Fleck. It doesn’t matter what he’s going through … he’s always 110 percent.”

Something blue

NIU was picked to finish last in the MAC West by the MAC News Media Association preseason football poll.

But Kill said he isn’t worried; he’s focused on his team improving.

While fans may find themselves blue over the news, offensive lineman Jason Onyebuagu describes his feelings as anything but that color.

“If we worry about that then that’s all we’re going to think about all season,” the junior said. “We know we’re better than that, so we’re just going out and show people what we got.”

It appears the NIU football team has all it needs to run out of the tunnel. And if Kill has any say, this marriage will be a success.

“If I do a good job, we’ll win. If we don’t win, then I didn’t do a good job coaching,” Kill said. “That’s the bottom line.”