Third Wise Man saw the rise of NIU from back in 2003!

http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=130534

Interesting to go back to the old school MAC threads dating back to 2002, I wasn't sure if they'd keep all of them. It's kind of depressing though to see everyone talk about Miami football selling out their games and being the class of the MAC for a few years...

(12-15-2012 01:19 AM)Love and Honor Wrote:  Third Wise Man saw the rise of NIU from back in 2003!

http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=130534

Interesting to go back to the old school MAC threads dating back to 2002, I wasn't sure if they'd keep all of them. It's kind of depressing though to see everyone talk about Miami football selling out their games and being the class of the MAC for a few years...

In 2003 NIU had a shot at a BCS bid if they would have won out (or something). Apparently they faded late in the season.

Wasn't that the season they beat Alabama, Maryland and X?

Matter of fact, I remember more about the season:

They had a shot at a BCS bid and I was in Cleveland for the MAC men's basketball media day (I got an invite through EMU) and talked with Commissioner Chryst after the event.

I asked him: What happens if NIU makes the BCS. How would Marshall be treated to the distribution of the monies? (Marshall had announced they were leaving for C-USA). Chryst indicated he hadn't thought of it but it would be a nice problem to have...

(12-15-2012 06:36 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-15-2012 01:19 AM)Love and Honor Wrote:  Third Wise Man saw the rise of NIU from back in 2003!

http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=130534

Interesting to go back to the old school MAC threads dating back to 2002, I wasn't sure if they'd keep all of them. It's kind of depressing though to see everyone talk about Miami football selling out their games and being the class of the MAC for a few years...

In 2003 NIU had a shot at a BCS bid if they would have won out (or something). Apparently they faded late in the season.

Wasn't that the season they beat Alabama, Maryland and X?

Matter of fact, I remember more about the season:

They had a shot at a BCS bid and I was in Cleveland for the MAC men's basketball media day (I got an invite through EMU) and talked with Commissioner Chryst after the event.

I asked him: What happens if NIU makes the BCS. How would Marshall be treated to the distribution of the monies? (Marshall had announced they were leaving for C-USA). Chryst indicated he hadn't thought of it but it would be a nice problem to have...

Yep, in 2003 NIU beat Alabama, Maryland and X University (aka Iowa State). They had some injuries on defense as the year went on which didn't help - anyway, they lost to BG and Toledo, BG was ranked when they played them, and I know Toledo had knocked off a ranked team that year too and they were a good team.

(12-15-2012 10:28 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(12-15-2012 06:36 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-15-2012 01:19 AM)Love and Honor Wrote:  Third Wise Man saw the rise of NIU from back in 2003!

http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=130534

Interesting to go back to the old school MAC threads dating back to 2002, I wasn't sure if they'd keep all of them. It's kind of depressing though to see everyone talk about Miami football selling out their games and being the class of the MAC for a few years...

In 2003 NIU had a shot at a BCS bid if they would have won out (or something). Apparently they faded late in the season.

Wasn't that the season they beat Alabama, Maryland and X?

Matter of fact, I remember more about the season:

They had a shot at a BCS bid and I was in Cleveland for the MAC men's basketball media day (I got an invite through EMU) and talked with Commissioner Chryst after the event.

I asked him: What happens if NIU makes the BCS. How would Marshall be treated to the distribution of the monies? (Marshall had announced they were leaving for C-USA). Chryst indicated he hadn't thought of it but it would be a nice problem to have...

Yep, in 2003 NIU beat Alabama, Maryland and X University (aka Iowa State). They had some injuries on defense as the year went on which didn't help - anyway, they lost to BG and Toledo, BG was ranked when they played them, and I know Toledo had knocked off a ranked team that year too and they were a good team.

I believe UT beat Pitt in what was "MAC Attack" Saturday.

There was another MAC team which brought down another big name opponent.

The teams, whom I believe were sMACked were: Alabama, Pittsburgh and ?

EDIT: Was it Marshall over Kansas State?

(12-15-2012 10:45 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-15-2012 10:28 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(12-15-2012 06:36 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-15-2012 01:19 AM)Love and Honor Wrote:  Third Wise Man saw the rise of NIU from back in 2003!

http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=130534

Interesting to go back to the old school MAC threads dating back to 2002, I wasn't sure if they'd keep all of them. It's kind of depressing though to see everyone talk about Miami football selling out their games and being the class of the MAC for a few years...

In 2003 NIU had a shot at a BCS bid if they would have won out (or something). Apparently they faded late in the season.

Wasn't that the season they beat Alabama, Maryland and X?

Matter of fact, I remember more about the season:

They had a shot at a BCS bid and I was in Cleveland for the MAC men's basketball media day (I got an invite through EMU) and talked with Commissioner Chryst after the event.

I asked him: What happens if NIU makes the BCS. How would Marshall be treated to the distribution of the monies? (Marshall had announced they were leaving for C-USA). Chryst indicated he hadn't thought of it but it would be a nice problem to have...

Yep, in 2003 NIU beat Alabama, Maryland and X University (aka Iowa State). They had some injuries on defense as the year went on which didn't help - anyway, they lost to BG and Toledo, BG was ranked when they played them, and I know Toledo had knocked off a ranked team that year too and they were a good team.

I believe UT beat Pitt in what was "MAC Attack" Saturday.

There was another MAC team which brought down another big name opponent.

The teams, whom I believe were sMACked were: Alabama, Pittsburgh and ?

EDIT: Was it Marshall over Kansas State?

Yes, and BG lost at #1 Ohio State by 7.

Find it interesting that playing an FCS team would hurt NIU's BCS chances. FSU has played 2 FCS teams this year!

BG beat Purdue that year to start the season.. 2003 was awesome...the atmosphere at the Gameday rout of NIU was insane

(12-15-2012 04:42 PM)El Grande Flippero Wrote:  BG beat Purdue that year to start the season.. 2003 was awesome...the atmosphere at the Gameday rout of NIU was insane

I believe 40,000 people were there at the Doyt that day between people in the stands and tailgaters....

MAC football attendance was pretty good, what happened?

(12-16-2012 06:57 PM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  

(12-15-2012 04:42 PM)El Grande Flippero Wrote:  BG beat Purdue that year to start the season.. 2003 was awesome...the atmosphere at the Gameday rout of NIU was insane

I believe 40,000 people were there at the Doyt that day between people in the stands and tailgaters....

MAC football attendance was pretty good, what happened?

I think it's many things blended into the downturn. For one, I think it's our inability to put nationally competitive teams on the field, like Marshall of the early 2000's, Miami of 2003, or NIU of this year. Fans don't get excited about seeing a mediocre mid-major play against another mediocre mid-major, especially on the weeknight games that we have to play in for TV exposure. A lot of it has to do with the underlying gap in financial support between AQ and non-AQ conferences - we have to compensate for our lack of monies as a university and athletic programs, their spending has grown at a much higher rate than we have. You could also put the blame on the economy to some extent, though that influence doesn't shift attendance by thousands and thousands over the course of a decade.

(12-16-2012 06:57 PM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  

(12-15-2012 04:42 PM)El Grande Flippero Wrote:  BG beat Purdue that year to start the season.. 2003 was awesome...the atmosphere at the Gameday rout of NIU was insane

I believe 40,000 people were there at the Doyt that day between people in the stands and tailgaters....

MAC football attendance was pretty good, what happened?

You started talking.............

(12-16-2012 11:59 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(12-16-2012 06:57 PM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  

(12-15-2012 04:42 PM)El Grande Flippero Wrote:  BG beat Purdue that year to start the season.. 2003 was awesome...the atmosphere at the Gameday rout of NIU was insane

I believe 40,000 people were there at the Doyt that day between people in the stands and tailgaters....

MAC football attendance was pretty good, what happened?

I think it's many things blended into the downturn. For one, I think it's our inability to put nationally competitive teams on the field, like Marshall of the early 2000's, Miami of 2003, or NIU of this year. Fans don't get excited about seeing a mediocre mid-major play against another mediocre mid-major, especially on the weeknight games that we have to play in for TV exposure. A lot of it has to do with the underlying gap in financial support between AQ and non-AQ conferences - we have to compensate for our lack of monies as a university and athletic programs, their spending has grown at a much higher rate than we have. You could also put the blame on the economy to some extent, though that influence doesn't shift attendance by thousands and thousands over the course of a decade.

A lot of the attendance issues is not understanding how to market the product at the mid major level and sell to your constituency.

Ohio has put its attention on the high end with luxury seating and the low end with family packs. The know the rank and file alumni aren't that interested but the high rollers in the community can be nurtured.

One advantage of Peden Stadium is small sections that pack the fans in tightly with 12 inch seat widths. If the section is half full its more difficult to tell because fans will spread out more naturally taking 2 seats.

At schools like Miami and Northern Illinois you have these gigantic home sides that look like crap if less than 80% full. Students go to a few games with these kind of crowds and convince themselves that MAC football is not that great.

(12-17-2012 12:26 AM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  

(12-16-2012 11:59 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(12-16-2012 06:57 PM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  

(12-15-2012 04:42 PM)El Grande Flippero Wrote:  BG beat Purdue that year to start the season.. 2003 was awesome...the atmosphere at the Gameday rout of NIU was insane

I believe 40,000 people were there at the Doyt that day between people in the stands and tailgaters....

MAC football attendance was pretty good, what happened?

I think it's many things blended into the downturn. For one, I think it's our inability to put nationally competitive teams on the field, like Marshall of the early 2000's, Miami of 2003, or NIU of this year. Fans don't get excited about seeing a mediocre mid-major play against another mediocre mid-major, especially on the weeknight games that we have to play in for TV exposure. A lot of it has to do with the underlying gap in financial support between AQ and non-AQ conferences - we have to compensate for our lack of monies as a university and athletic programs, their spending has grown at a much higher rate than we have. You could also put the blame on the economy to some extent, though that influence doesn't shift attendance by thousands and thousands over the course of a decade.

One advantage of Peden Stadium is small sections that pack the fans in tightly with 12 inch seat widths. If the section is half full its more difficult to tell because fans will spread out more naturally taking 2 seats.

12 inch seats??? That's tighter than Michigan Stadium who is at 18 inches and are the tightest seats in the country.. I call BS.

Would be great if NIU got rid of the aluminum bleachers and put in seats. NIU students tend to bulge in the middle than thin out going towards the endzones. If we had seats, they would be forced to spread out and fill those areas.

(12-17-2012 12:29 AM)utpotts Wrote:  

(12-17-2012 12:26 AM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  

(12-16-2012 11:59 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(12-16-2012 06:57 PM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  

(12-15-2012 04:42 PM)El Grande Flippero Wrote:  BG beat Purdue that year to start the season.. 2003 was awesome...the atmosphere at the Gameday rout of NIU was insane

I believe 40,000 people were there at the Doyt that day between people in the stands and tailgaters....

MAC football attendance was pretty good, what happened?

I think it's many things blended into the downturn. For one, I think it's our inability to put nationally competitive teams on the field, like Marshall of the early 2000's, Miami of 2003, or NIU of this year. Fans don't get excited about seeing a mediocre mid-major play against another mediocre mid-major, especially on the weeknight games that we have to play in for TV exposure. A lot of it has to do with the underlying gap in financial support between AQ and non-AQ conferences - we have to compensate for our lack of monies as a university and athletic programs, their spending has grown at a much higher rate than we have. You could also put the blame on the economy to some extent, though that influence doesn't shift attendance by thousands and thousands over the course of a decade.

One advantage of Peden Stadium is small sections that pack the fans in tightly with 12 inch seat widths. If the section is half full its more difficult to tell because fans will spread out more naturally taking 2 seats.

12 inch seats??? That's tighter than Michigan Stadium who is at 18 inches and are the tightest seats in the country.. I call BS.

Michigan I guess then does not have the tightest seats in the country.

The 1929 grandstand sections (12,000 seats) are 12". 1986 end zone addition (5,000) 18". 2001 Benchbacks (2,000) are 24".

(12-17-2012 12:26 AM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  At schools like Miami and Northern Illinois you have these gigantic home sides that look like crap if less than 80% full. Students go to a few games with these kind of crowds and convince themselves that MAC football is not that great.

In my opinion, we should've never built Yager in the first place - old Miami Field was right on campus, had a ton of history, and should've just been overhauled right on the spot. It sat almost 15,000 at the time of its demolition and was just two ordinary sets of bleachers parallel to the field, so we would've needed a much larger capacity in the future for the Roethlisberger years. But, if we had rebuilt the complex into a U-shaped stadium with a larger home side (think of Troy's stadium), we would have a much more intimate facility that had a much better location. Pearson Hall and the surrounding buildings just could've been built where the McKee Field is today, and the baseball field and tennis courts would just go where Yager is now. I imagine parking was be an issue though, and the West Millett lot does allow for good tailgating. If we could've done our Yager renovation again, we probably should've made the student side much shorter, and wrapped the bleachers around the north endzone like Toledo's Glass Bowl is set up.