Three plays into the season, NIU quarterback Josh Haldi received a character check.

After limping off the field against Maryland, Haldi realized he could not lead his team.

“You put so much into the season that to not be able to play just kills you,” Haldi said.

But No. 10 decided right then that he was not going to run and hide when his team needed him.

He spent the rest of that game and the next three yelling himself hoarse, waving towels in the air and trying to do everything he could to lead his team.

“That’s why he was made to be a captain,” said wide receiver Dan Sheldon. “He never complained once. He just kept on trying to make us better even though he physically couldn’t be out there with us.”

Haldi finally got his chance to get back out there with Sheldon and the offense against Akron. And less than a minute into the game, Haldi hit Sheldon with his first pass for a 23-yard touchdown.

That is why Haldi is a captain, Sheldon said, because he can come in and immediately make the whole team better.

“We thrive off of him,” Sheldon said. “He leads our offense because every player knows their own job. But that man. He knows everybody’s job. He is our captain and that’s the greatest honor [his teammates] can give him.”