As the NIU football team prepares to get shacked up in Grant Towers for preseason camp, the players will enter with their heads held high as preseason MAC favorites.

After two seasons in which the Huskies tied for the MAC West title, for the first time in the school’s history they enter the season as MAC West favorites, as announced at the conference’s media day on July 22. NIU also was picked for the overall conference title – by an overwhelming margin.

For the MAC West, NIU (24) received more first place votes than all other teams combined with Toledo (9) and Bowling Green (9), the only other teams receiving recognition. The MAC News Media Association also recognized the Huskies in its vote for MAC Championship Game, giving NIU (15) more than double the next closest competitor, Marshall (7).

This, however, is only a preseason poll – and the team is fully aware.

“It’s a great honor, and it solidifies the hard work we’ve done the past few years,” said NIU quarterback Josh Haldi, who is fully recovered from the torn ligaments in his right thumb during last season. “In the same breath, it doesn’t mean a whole lot because last year we were picked No. 4 in conference and ended the season tied for first. It’s just a reward for the way our program has come. We just need to play this out on the field.”

While preseason polls usually are used as a gauge for the upcoming season, from 1999-2002 the MAC News Media Association correctly picked nine of the 12 combined divisional winners and league championship teams.

For Huskie coach Joe Novak, this is especially gratifying considering his start with NIU.

He took over the program in 1996 and watched the team suffer through a 23-game losing streak, including a 1-21 mark his first two years. Rather than resorting to quick pick-me-ups and stocking up on junior college prospects and taking players with questionable academics, he recruited Illinois high schools hard, and the payoff has shown.

“The recognition for our kids and our program is nice,” Novak said.

In the 2002 season, NIU finished with an 8-4 overall record that included a seven-game winning streak and defeat of then-nationally ranked Bowling Green.

“I expected more recognition and respect around the conference,” All-MAC cornerback Randee Drew said. “As far as winning the entire conference doubled next to the team behind us, I didn’t expect that.”

For about three weeks, beginning on Sunday, the Huskies will prepare for the 2003 season with their preseason conditioning and practices; and the players are anxious to get out of the starting blocks.

“I’m anxious to see how the team responds,” Drew said. “Overall, we’ve had a pretty good workout and everyone is pretty focused.”