Fans will get a chance to see what’s in store for the 2004 football season at 6:30 p.m. today for NIU’s annual Spring Football Game.

Tailgating begins at 3:30 p.m. and the Huskie Stadium gates open at 5 p.m. with free admission.

The scrimmage is a chance for newcomers to get a feel for playing a game in front of a crowd, while showing what they can do, coach Joe Novak said.

The game will feature the No. 1 offense and No. 1 defense against the rest of the team in 12-minute quarters. Fans shouldn’t expect to see too much of players who are expected to start next year; Novak said the game is targeted toward younger players.

“I hold my breath and keep my fingers crossed that we won’t get injuries,” Novak said. “Kids like [Josh] Haldi and [Dan] Sheldon won’t play a lot.”

The Huskies will be without starting defensive end Travis Moore while he rehabs from a left ankle reconstruction surgery that happened in December. Fellow starting defensive end Quince Holman is probable with a right shoulder sprain.

“It’s more a chance for the younger kids who haven’t played to show what they can do,” Novak said. “I think we know what we have in Josh Haldi, Dan Sheldon or Sam Hurd, but it’s a chance for the others to get some playing time.”

Novak hopes the game will help answer several questions for next season. One main question is: Who will step in as running back in Michael Turner’s absence?

“Right now, I think I have four or five capable guys that can step in and carry the load for us,” said DeAndre Smith, the running backs coach.

Smith said that of the pool of running backs in A.J. Harris, Adrian Davis, Garrett Wolfe and Cas Prime, the tailback to lead the depth chart probably will be chosen shortly before the first game of the season.

Although Novak said the game is a chance to evaluate all players, he has his questions.

“I’m anxious to watch them all, but I have a special interest in our backup quarterbacks,” Novak said. “I also have an interest in the running backs and want to see who will step up from that group.”

Haldi returns from last season as the top quarterback and has completed 13-of-19 passes for 157 yards in the first two scrimmages. Last year’s starting quarterback remembers the Spring Football Game from his freshman year.

“I was in that position where I really had to prove myself, but I still want to go out there and play well now,” Haldi said. “With the game-type atmosphere, if you’re a competitive person, you’re bound to get excited any time you put on the uniform.”