Lynch era off and running
After three years on bench, former Mount Carmel star takes over at NIU
DeKALB — It’s been years since Northern Illinois had a quarterback not named Chandler Harnish see consistent playing time at quarterback.
From the Huskies’ 2008 season opener at Minnesota until the GoDaddy.com Bowl win in January, it was Harnish usually taking snaps under center for the Huskies. The man drafted by the Indianapolis Colts set numerous records with NIU and was the 2011 Mid-American Conference MVP.
But last season was the end of Harnish’s run. Now, it’s time for a new era. The Jordan Lynch era. “I always prepared as if I was the starter the past three years,” Lynch said. “The feeling’s great. I love that pressure to become the starter and guys looking up to you. I love taking that leadership role.”
The junior has bided his time since arriving at NIU in the fall of 2009. He redshirted that first season, but saw some game action as the team’s Wildcat quarterback in 2010 and 2011. In the GoDaddy.com Bowl victory over Arkansas State, he was able to lead NIU on a touchdown drive when Harnish was out with a tweaked ankle.
NIU coach Dave Doeren’s announcement at the start of spring practice that Lynch would be the starting QB was no surprise. When Lynch takes the Huskies’ first snap in Saturday’s game against Iowa at Soldier Field, he will be taking that next step.
In his first season as NIU’s starter, Lynch not only will be leading an offense with inexperience on both the offensive line, which has five new starters, and at running back.
One thing he does have in his back pocket is being able to learn from arguably the Huskies’ greatest quarterback ever. Lynch watched Harnish perform for three seasons. He saw the running and passing ability, and the game-winning drives.
“One of the biggest things Chandler taught me, just watching him, was when the game came down to it, he was always the guy they went to,” Lynch said. “He always capitalized. He always played within himself, you know, very humble.
“In the film room he taught me a lot about defenses and everything. Chandler helped me out tremendously. I’m the player I am today because of him.”