Doeren, Huskies hope to keep the lease on 2011

The ride couldn't have been any sweeter for Northern Illinois and coach Dave Doeren in his debut last season.

Behind veteran quarterback Chandler Harnish, who tied or set 24 school records, the Huskies (0-0) took the Mid-American Conference championship game with a 23-20 comeback victory over Ohio. Then, NIU ran past Arkansas State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl, 38-20.

That victory gave the Huskies a nine-game winning streak, the nation's longest heading into their Saturday 2:30 p.m. game against Iowa (0-0) at Soldier Field. With 11 victories in the last two seasons, NIU joins a select group that includes Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, TCU, Boise State, Oregon, Stanford, LSU and Alabama.

What a ride. But like all parades, there's always some cleanup.

"I think the best way I can tell you how we're approaching this season is, there's a quote I keep in my office, 'Success isn't owned, it's rented. And the rent is due every day,' " Doeren said. "That's kind of our philosophy on where we're at. Last year we didn't panic when we were at 2-3, we just kept playing. And that's where we are now."

Harnish is gone. He put the school records for passing yards, completions, attempts, pass efficiency, touchdowns and total offense in his mesh bag and was the final pick -- "Mr. Irrelevalnt" -- in the 2012 NFL draft, going to the Colts. A veteran offensive line is gone. The one returnee, Logan Pegram, suffered a broken leg and has been lost for the year. The Huskies will start five brand-new faces, including three redshirt freshmen at both guards and center.

Offensive coordinator Matt Canada hopped to Wisconsin and is Brett Bielema's new offensive coordinator. The Huskies also lost linebackers coach Tom Matukewicz to MAC rival Toledo.

Mike Dunbar is the new offensive coordinator and, yes, you know that name. Dunbar, a 35-year coaching veteran, was Northern Iowa's head coach from 1997 through 2000 and helped make Northwestern the spread bomb it is during his 2001-2005 stint with the Wildcats, which included four years as offensive coordinator. (Iowa went 2-1 against NU during that stretch.)

Three other assistants changed jobs, kind of along the lines of the changes Iowa experienced on the coaching staff this offseason.

In the eye of all this change is junior quarterback Jordan Lynch, a 6-0, 216-pounder who rushed for 246 yards (5.74 a carry) and three TDs in backup duty last season. He finished 15 of 20 for 166 yards and a TD as a passer, so there is some question to that skill set. Senior receivers Martel Moore (47 receptions for 747 yards and seven TDs) and Perez Ashford (47 for 530 yards).

Harnish led NIU in rushing last season, and it wouldn't be a shocker if Lynch did the same in 2012.  Akeem Daniels, Leighton Settle and Jamal Womble are pushing for running back. Daniels, a speedy back from Kissimmee, Fla., rushed for 296 yards last season.

NIU has had a 1,000-yard rusher 12 of the school's last 13 seasons.

"We have tons of playmakers and they make me right most of the time," Lynch said.

On the flip side, a defense that struggled while breaking in a bunch of new starters. This season, the Huskies have nine returners, including defensive end Sean Progar, who is on the Lombardi Trophy watch list. The 6-2, 254-pound senior had 11 tackles for loss and 5 1/2 sacks last season.

"He's a tough player; he does a good job of practicing the fundamentals," defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen said. "He has had a heck of a camp and we are looking for him to have a big season."

Doeren has orbited around the Iowa program. He came to NIU after five seasons as a defensive assistant at Wisconsin, including three seasons as coordinator. He also was a four-year letterwinner at Drake (1990-93).

"In my history of playing Iowa, it's a game where you wake up Sunday feeling it," Doeren said. "They're a physical team that plays good, sound fundamental football. They're well coached, they play hard. . . . We have to do a good job in the trenches with them, because they're always well coached up front.

"That'll be where the game is won or lost, in my opinion."