Phil Horvath didn’t do any showboating after being named NIU’s starting quarterback for the Huskies’ Sept. 3 season-opener at Michigan.

Don’t take that to mean he isn’t excited or relieved to be named NIU football coach Joe Novak’s No. 1 pick.

“It’s a tremendous relief,” said the junior quarterback. “It’s great finally knowing you’re the guy.”

Last season, Horvath was understudy to three-year senior starter Josh Haldi. When Haldi suffered a stress fracture in his right foot before the beginning of the season, Horvath was called upon to play all but one offensive series in the first game of 2004, a 23-20 loss at Maryland.

Horvath threw 19-of-36 passes for completion against the No. 22-ranked Terrapins in front of 51,830 fans for his first appearance in a football game since high school.

In the seven games he played in last season, Horvath completed 72-of-123 passes for 954 yards and six touchdowns. For Novak, that experience was enough to give Horvath the starting job against No. 4 Michigan this year.

“Phil’s been the most consistent, he has more experience, and he knows our offense,” Novak said.

While Horvath may have the No. 1 spot, that doesn’t mean his three off-season competitors, Zach Ullrich, Britt Davis and Dan Nicholson, will be stuck on the sidelines.

“I told Phil, ‘you’ll never be yanked for one bad play or one bad quarter,’” Novak said, “But those other guys will see playing time. What we don’t have at the position is experience, but we do have a lot of talent.”

Center Brian Van Acker didn’t have a preference for who he would be snapping to Sept. 3, but was glad to get one step closer to the Huskies’ season-opener.

“I don’t care who I block for, I’m just going to do my best,” said Van Acker, one of four captains. “It’s just going to be a great thing for the team.”