Three years ago, NIU lost its season opener to Maryland. In the second week of that season, the Huskies played their first game at Huskie Stadium.

The opponent that day was Southern Illinois and the outcome was a 23-22 NIU victory.

It came to the very end of the game when SIU (1-0) went for a two-point conversion with 53 seconds remaining in the game.

The conversion pass was incomplete; the Huskies won, and would go on to win nine games in a season in which they went to the Silicon Valley Bowl.

Now, three years later, NIU (0-1) looks to repeat the 2004 season. And just like three years ago, NIU head coach Joe Novak is taking the Football Championship Subdivision team seriously.

“This week, with Southern Illinois, we’re playing a very, very, very good football team. I know everybody expects that from coach’s talk, but it’s a fact,” the 12th-season coach said. “I know we’re going to get their best effort.”

SIU won its season opener last weekend against Quincy, as the Salukis posted 480 yards of total offense and 59 points.

Of the seven touchdowns scored, five came from SIU’s rushing game. Two of those were scored by senior running back John Randle.

Stopping Randle and the Saluki rushing attack is a main priority for the defensive tackle Craig Rusch and the Huskie defense.

In their season opener against Iowa, NIU allowed the Hawkeyes 250 yards on the ground and two rushers of over 100 yards.

“One of our goals during the game was to stop the run or control it,” the junior said. “There was way too many plays where we just weren’t in our gaps.”

The defense will add depth this week as redshirt sophomore linebacker Phil Brown is set to join the rotation.

Offensively, Novak looks to give true freshman running back Chad Spann a couple of chances at the position this week.

While the coach expects a balanced offense, he also wants his receivers to increase their production after the catch. After watching film, Novak said that his receivers only had 18 yards after the catch.

“We really need to start getting more production out of our receivers after they make the catch,” Novak said. “So many times we did the hard part of making the catch in tight areas and weren’t able to get anywhere after that.”

One receiver that NIU will still be without is junior tight end David Koronkiewicz. The Goshen, Ind. native is still out with an elbow injury. Junior Punter Andy Dittbenner may also be out, as he went to doctors this week to be cleared.

If Dittbenner is unable to play, senior place kicker Chris Nendick is ready to fill in for another week. As one of the few players who faced SIU three years ago, Nendick has prepared himself not to take this game lightly.

“You can’t really take weeks off,” the Naperville native said. “If we don’t come out and play they’ll stick it to us. But I’m pretty confident we’ll come out and play.”