(05-01-2013 05:30 PM)7 Wrote:  We played 6 home games (including a BCS team, Toledo, and only weeknight game) +1 Soldier Field game last year coming of an 11 win season in which we won our first conference championships since 1983, and we averaged 16,000 fans a game.

Sorry. No excuses for this fan base. Don't blame the two ADs who hired the two coaches who helped this team get to a point where they've won 11+ games 3 straight years, won back to back MAC Championships, and gone to a BCS bowl and expect me to point the finger at the administration. It doesn't fly.

It is completely unfortunate and bad and Compher's part we're coming off a BCS bowl and are only playing 5 home games. He deserves blame for that, I agree. However, you can't point the finger at administration for lack of fan support.

(05-01-2013 05:28 PM)klake87 Wrote:  

(05-01-2013 05:07 PM)7 Wrote:  If you don't think Compher and before Compher Phillips was trying to get teams in Huskie Stadium, I think you're crazy. Both were smart guys, both were good AD's. For whatever reason, it just hasn't happened. I'm sure they both were trying.

NIU does not have unlimited funds for all athletics to afford to bring in big name high oayout teams. the ADs do the best with theirr limited funds. NIU does not have an extea million to pay for top flight teams

Which is why when we had a BCS team in Huskie Stadium on a beautiful Saturday last year we needed to have a packed house. We didn't. Can't blame administration for that.

I dont disagree our fans are not the best and most diehard. I just take issue with your comment that he tried to attract teams into Huskie stadium, I know that isnt true.

When the writer asked Compher about what was the cause of the basketball program not being able to get off the ground I have a feeling that Compher wanted to blame Patton. It's like there was an elephant in the room and they both knew it.

(05-01-2013 05:34 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(05-01-2013 05:30 PM)7 Wrote:  We played 6 home games (including a BCS team, Toledo, and only weeknight game) +1 Soldier Field game last year coming of an 11 win season in which we won our first conference championships since 1983, and we averaged 16,000 fans a game.

Sorry. No excuses for this fan base. Don't blame the two ADs who hired the two coaches who helped this team get to a point where they've won 11+ games 3 straight years, won back to back MAC Championships, and gone to a BCS bowl and expect me to point the finger at the administration. It doesn't fly.

It is completely unfortunate and bad and Compher's part we're coming off a BCS bowl and are only playing 5 home games. He deserves blame for that, I agree. However, you can't point the finger at administration for lack of fan support.

(05-01-2013 05:28 PM)klake87 Wrote:  

(05-01-2013 05:07 PM)7 Wrote:  If you don't think Compher and before Compher Phillips was trying to get teams in Huskie Stadium, I think you're crazy. Both were smart guys, both were good AD's. For whatever reason, it just hasn't happened. I'm sure they both were trying.

NIU does not have unlimited funds for all athletics to afford to bring in big name high oayout teams. the ADs do the best with theirr limited funds. NIU does not have an extea million to pay for top flight teams

Which is why when we had a BCS team in Huskie Stadium on a beautiful Saturday last year we needed to have a packed house. We didn't. Can't blame administration for that.

I dont disagree our fans are not the best and most diehard. I just take issue with your comment that he tried to attract teams into Huskie stadium, I know that isnt true.

Yep. There was a different thread on here a while back that basically described their scheduling philosophy and bringing in BCS teams to Huskie stadium wasn't in there. And bringing in one bad BCS team after 10 years of nothingness is not going to suddenly bring fans out of the woodwork. If it had been Boise State or somebody like that, maybe it still would have worked.

I do agree that it shouldn't require that to get more fans than we get now, just based on how good the team is. But there's no question it would help if fans knew the home schedule was going to include somebody interesting every year.

(05-02-2013 06:07 AM)mustangfootball2004 Wrote:  When the writer asked Compher about what was the cause of the basketball program not being able to get off the ground I have a feeling that Compher wanted to blame Patton. It's like there was an elephant in the room and they both knew it.

Yea just from reading that it appears he was trying hard to answer that one tactfully.

(05-01-2013 05:07 PM)7 Wrote:  If you don't think Compher and before Compher Phillips was trying to get teams in Huskie Stadium, I think you're crazy. Both were smart guys, both were good AD's. For whatever reason, it just hasn't happened. I'm sure they both were trying.

JC said it himself in that interview...he was going after wins. That is exactly what our home schedule was set up for during his time.

(05-02-2013 10:08 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(05-02-2013 06:07 AM)mustangfootball2004 Wrote:  When the writer asked Compher about what was the cause of the basketball program not being able to get off the ground I have a feeling that Compher wanted to blame Patton. It's like there was an elephant in the room and they both knew it.

Yea just from reading that it appears he was trying hard to answer that one tactfully.

Compher and Phillips didint touch basketball with a ten foot pole. Their grade on basketball would be N/A because there was never any effort spent on it.

My OLD & BROKEN knees are growing weaker BY THE DAY following appoinment of new U Pres. who seemingly is reserved and lacks fire in his belly like that shown by Peters and now NIU is seeking to replace Compher who was a class act IMHO with a businesslike passion, organizational and communication skills and improving NIU athletics.. ..plus a new football staff......ALOT of cards up in the air...

How many of you out there are feeling like me --- optimistic yet a bit uneasy about the immediate future for NIU & Huskie atheltics in spite of all the many positives regarding extensive imrpovements to facilties?

(05-06-2013 10:07 AM)niucyberdawg Wrote:  My OLD & BROKEN knees are growing weaker BY THE DAY following appoinment of new U Pres. who seemingly is reserved and lacks fire in his belly like that shown by Peters and now NIU is seeking to replace Compher who was a class act IMHO with a businesslike passion, organizational and communication skills and improving NIU athletics.. ..plus a new football staff......ALOT of cards up in the air...

How many of you out there are feeling like me --- optimistic yet a bit uneasy about the immediate future for NIU & Huskie atheltics in spite of all the many positives regarding extensive imrpovements to facilties?

I'm a little uneasy. Peters was obviously into athletics and especially football. Who knows about the new guy.

(05-06-2013 10:07 AM)niucyberdawg Wrote:  My OLD & BROKEN knees are growing weaker BY THE DAY following appoinment of new U Pres. who seemingly is reserved and lacks fire in his belly like that shown by Peters and now NIU is seeking to replace Compher who was a class act IMHO with a businesslike passion, organizational and communication skills and improving NIU athletics.. ..plus a new football staff......ALOT of cards up in the air...

How many of you out there are feeling like me --- optimistic yet a bit uneasy about the immediate future for NIU & Huskie atheltics in spite of all the many positives regarding extensive imrpovements to facilties?

I'm not getting any younger either, but I don't share the same opinion with you on this matter. It's a great time to be a Huskie!
Time for new blood and new ideas. Out with the old worn tactics, in with the new ideas.
I have a completely different opinion of Compher than you. It's time for him to move on and get someone new in Athletics.

Anybody want to speculate when we'll have a new AD?

Sure hope it's by 6/1.....

(05-06-2013 11:03 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  Anybody want to speculate when we'll have a new AD?

Sure hope it's by 6/1.....

My guess is 8/1. It's not on the top of the list of our new president. Any chance the interim AD holds on and takes the job?

(05-06-2013 11:08 AM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 11:03 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  Anybody want to speculate when we'll have a new AD?

Sure hope it's by 6/1.....

My guess is 8/1. It's not on the top of the list of our new president. Any chance the interim AD holds on and takes the job?

Nothing against Spears (Interim AD) but I'd like to see someone from a "BCS" program if you will....

JC announced in early March so it's been 2 months. I understand this is coupled with a New President but I really don't think having a new AD in place by 6/1 is unreasonable. There is work to be done. 8/1? That would concern me.

Assuming we have a "Search Firm" enlisted.......

(05-06-2013 12:05 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 11:08 AM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 11:03 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  Anybody want to speculate when we'll have a new AD?

Sure hope it's by 6/1.....

My guess is 8/1. It's not on the top of the list of our new president. Any chance the interim AD holds on and takes the job?

Nothing against Spears (Interim AD) but I'd like to see someone from a "BCS" program if you will....

JC announced in early March so it's been 2 months. I understand this is coupled with a New President but I really don't think having a new AD in place by 6/1 is unreasonable. There is work to be done. 8/1? That would concern me.

Assuming we have a "Search Firm" enlisted.......

Dr. Baker does not take office until 6/30.

I doubt the new AD get hired before then...maybe announced to start on 7/1 but not officially hired.

(05-06-2013 12:11 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 12:05 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 11:08 AM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 11:03 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  Anybody want to speculate when we'll have a new AD?

Sure hope it's by 6/1.....

My guess is 8/1. It's not on the top of the list of our new president. Any chance the interim AD holds on and takes the job?

Nothing against Spears (Interim AD) but I'd like to see someone from a "BCS" program if you will....

JC announced in early March so it's been 2 months. I understand this is coupled with a New President but I really don't think having a new AD in place by 6/1 is unreasonable. There is work to be done. 8/1? That would concern me.

Assuming we have a "Search Firm" enlisted.......

Dr. Baker does not take office until 6/30.

I doubt the new AD get hired before then...maybe announced to start on 7/1 but not officially hired.

Rats. Talk about a "Lame Duck" period.....

I know, I'm sure it's being handled. Right? It is being handled?....Humor me....I guess my next excitement is Game Times to be announced and last year that was in early June. :sigh:

(05-06-2013 01:01 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  Rats. Talk about a "Lame Duck" period.....

+1

(05-06-2013 01:01 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 12:11 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Dr. Baker does not take office until 6/30.

I doubt the new AD get hired before then...maybe announced to start on 7/1 but not officially hired.

Rats. Talk about a "Lame Duck" period.....

I know, I'm sure it's being handled. Right? It is being handled?....Humor me....I guess my next excitement is Game Times to be announced and last year that was in early June. :sigh:

Dr. Baker was on campus a week or two ago meeting with various groups.

I have tweet him a few times mentioning him the importance of a great AD hire.

At the very least I expect that there is a search committee working on this now.

thanxjoenovak Nothing against Spears (Interim AD) but I'd like to see someone from a "BCS" program if you will....
JC announced in early March so it's been 2 months. I understand this is coupled with a New President but I really don't think having a new AD in place by 6/1 is unreasonable. There is work to be done. 8/1? That would concern me.

HuskieJohn Dr. Baker does not take office until 6/30.
I doubt the new AD get hired before then...maybe announced to start on 7/1 but not officially hired.

There are many on here who have far better connections and might be able to refute this or clairfy, but the word around campus is that Spears is the "Interim AD" because he negotiated a year-plus deal to try to prove himself for the job.
Perhaps we need a new thread to debate whether he's the right person for the job long-term, but the reality seems to be that nothing is going to be done to hire a permanent AD for quite awhile.
Personally, I don't believe that's going to help NIU athletics in the long run. I can understand the new president may not want to deal with this issue in his first two months, but considering how important athletics is for the university, it's hard to fathom a new president not wanting "his" choice in place by the middle of his first year.

(05-06-2013 02:35 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  thanxjoenovak Nothing against Spears (Interim AD) but I'd like to see someone from a "BCS" program if you will....
JC announced in early March so it's been 2 months. I understand this is coupled with a New President but I really don't think having a new AD in place by 6/1 is unreasonable. There is work to be done. 8/1? That would concern me.

HuskieJohn Dr. Baker does not take office until 6/30.
I doubt the new AD get hired before then...maybe announced to start on 7/1 but not officially hired.

There are many on here who have far better connections and might be able to refute this or clairfy, but the word around campus is that Spears is the "Interim AD" because he negotiated a year-plus deal to try to prove himself for the job.
Perhaps we need a new thread to debate whether he's the right person for the job long-term, but the reality seems to be that nothing is going to be done to hire a permanent AD for quite awhile.
Personally, I don't believe that's going to help NIU athletics in the long run. I can understand the new president may not want to deal with this issue in his first two months, but considering how important athletics is for the university, it's hard to fathom a new president not wanting "his" choice in place by the middle of his first year.

Wow - ya that stinks

(05-06-2013 02:35 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  thanxjoenovak Nothing against Spears (Interim AD) but I'd like to see someone from a "BCS" program if you will....
JC announced in early March so it's been 2 months. I understand this is coupled with a New President but I really don't think having a new AD in place by 6/1 is unreasonable. There is work to be done. 8/1? That would concern me.

HuskieJohn Dr. Baker does not take office until 6/30.
I doubt the new AD get hired before then...maybe announced to start on 7/1 but not officially hired.

There are many on here who have far better connections and might be able to refute this or clairfy, but the word around campus is that Spears is the "Interim AD" because he negotiated a year-plus deal to try to prove himself for the job.
Perhaps we need a new thread to debate whether he's the right person for the job long-term, but the reality seems to be that nothing is going to be done to hire a permanent AD for quite awhile.
Personally, I don't believe that's going to help NIU athletics in the long run. I can understand the new president may not want to deal with this issue in his first two months, but considering how important athletics is for the university, it's hard to fathom a new president not wanting "his" choice in place by the middle of his first year.

I'll make the debate very simple. 1. Improve our home scheduling by bringing some BCS caliber teams including a Boise St. type team to Huskie Stadium. 2. Make sure the mens bball program gets turned around. 3. Increase fundraising and stay compliant. 4. Improve attendence at Football games.

Accomplishes those things, he's hired permanently.

I love Spears, personally. And when you consider the change over at AD and President, having a guy around for a year who has been around and letting him prove himself may not be the worst thing.