(09-06-2013 12:15 PM)Michael the Narwhal Wrote:  After the departure of the all the stronger CUSA schools to the AAC, and them being replaced by FCS start-ups, I would now consider it a lateral move to join that conference; they're basically Sun Belt 2.0 at this point.

AAC or MWC would definitely be an upward move for us, and hope we get there someday. Getting there, however, means consistently selling out 24,000+ seats at home. We couldn't even do that vs Kansas last year. I'd only hope the Orange Bowl appearance, followed by the Iowa win, will get some more butts in seats this season.

Scheduling home/home series with MWC schools, such as Wyoming, is a good start in building relations with the higher conferences. Getting some games with the AAC would be even better, since that conference makes more sense geographically. Four away games vs Nebraska doesn't help our image.

Why do you think this?

(09-06-2013 09:01 AM)RedShark27 Wrote:  This is the "chicken or the egg" issue. Once NIU went to a better conference they would pull in way more fans. The MAC SUCKS, having Eastern Michigan and other cramp teams come into Dekalb is not drawing fans. If we had consistent quality teams for games there would be a jump in attendance and interest.

How is playing teams like Temple, Memphis, and Tulane going to bring in any more interest? Those programs suck just as much as Eastern Michigan.

(09-06-2013 02:54 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(09-06-2013 09:01 AM)RedShark27 Wrote:  This is the "chicken or the egg" issue. Once NIU went to a better conference they would pull in way more fans. The MAC SUCKS, having Eastern Michigan and other cramp teams come into Dekalb is not drawing fans. If we had consistent quality teams for games there would be a jump in attendance and interest.

How is playing teams like Temple, Memphis, and Tulane going to bring in any more interest? Those programs suck just as much as Eastern Michigan.

The AAC isn't a better conference...especially after they lose teams to the ACC and Big 10. That's why the AAC will be fighting for a "BCS" bid along side the MAC starting next year.

I think the "chicken or the egg" issue is referring to joining the Big 12 or ACC. If NIU were in one of those conferences, more fans would show up to watch Florida State, Clemson, NC State, Miami (FL), Oklahoma, Texas...so on and so forth.

(09-06-2013 03:43 PM)NIUHuskie Wrote:  

(09-06-2013 02:54 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(09-06-2013 09:01 AM)RedShark27 Wrote:  This is the "chicken or the egg" issue. Once NIU went to a better conference they would pull in way more fans. The MAC SUCKS, having Eastern Michigan and other cramp teams come into Dekalb is not drawing fans. If we had consistent quality teams for games there would be a jump in attendance and interest.

How is playing teams like Temple, Memphis, and Tulane going to bring in any more interest? Those programs suck just as much as Eastern Michigan.

The AAC isn't a better conference...especially after they lose teams to the ACC and Big 10. That's why the AAC will be fighting for a "BCS" bid along side the MAC starting next year.

I think the "chicken or the egg" issue is referring to joining the Big 12 or ACC. If NIU were in one of those conferences, more fans would show up to watch Florida State, Clemson, NC State, Miami (FL), Oklahoma, Texas...so on and so forth.

OK, but the ACC would never ever ever ever ever ever invite NIU, and the Big 12 would have to be torn to bits for them to consider extending NIU an invite. And even that would be after we double the size of our stadium for all of these new fans that fell from the sky.

Realistic (kinda) conference destinations for NIU... AAC after the good teams are gone, CUSA, MWC?

People have heard of Temple, Memphis, Houston, Cincinnati and UConn, even if it's just because of their basketball teams. They have a brand and hearing their name rings a bell with the average fan. EMU does not. For that reason alone a move to the AAC would help attendance.

(09-06-2013 03:53 PM)Max Power Wrote:  People have heard of Temple, Memphis, Houston, Cincinnati and UConn, even if it's just because of their basketball teams. They have a brand and hearing their name rings a bell with the average fan. EMU does not. For that reason alone a move to the AAC would help attendance.

I agree. Plus TV revenue, plus better bowl games. It would be a step up for the program. If there was a way to cherry pick the best football teams from CUSA, AAC, MAC, MWC... that would be great, but geographically not possible.

(09-06-2013 03:50 PM)Who You Crappin? Wrote:  

(09-06-2013 03:43 PM)NIUHuskie Wrote:  

(09-06-2013 02:54 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(09-06-2013 09:01 AM)RedShark27 Wrote:  This is the "chicken or the egg" issue. Once NIU went to a better conference they would pull in way more fans. The MAC SUCKS, having Eastern Michigan and other cramp teams come into Dekalb is not drawing fans. If we had consistent quality teams for games there would be a jump in attendance and interest.

How is playing teams like Temple, Memphis, and Tulane going to bring in any more interest? Those programs suck just as much as Eastern Michigan.

The AAC isn't a better conference...especially after they lose teams to the ACC and Big 10. That's why the AAC will be fighting for a "BCS" bid along side the MAC starting next year.

I think the "chicken or the egg" issue is referring to joining the Big 12 or ACC. If NIU were in one of those conferences, more fans would show up to watch Florida State, Clemson, NC State, Miami (FL), Oklahoma, Texas...so on and so forth.

OK, but the ACC would never ever ever ever ever ever invite NIU, and the Big 12 would have to be torn to bits for them to consider extending NIU an invite. And even that would be after we double the size of our stadium for all of these new fans that fell from the sky.

Realistic (kinda) conference destinations for NIU... AAC after the good teams are gone, CUSA, MWC?

Oh, you must have missed the title of this thread.

Fine but even if we tried to move to the AAC, which teams would still be there by the time we moved there? Could end up moving to dumpster fire conference.

(09-06-2013 03:59 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  Fine but even if we tried to move to the AAC, which teams would still be there by the time we moved there? Could end up moving to dumpster fire conference.

(see CUSA)

(09-06-2013 03:59 PM)NIUHuskie Wrote:  

(09-06-2013 03:50 PM)Who You Crappin? Wrote:  

(09-06-2013 03:43 PM)NIUHuskie Wrote:  

(09-06-2013 02:54 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(09-06-2013 09:01 AM)RedShark27 Wrote:  This is the "chicken or the egg" issue. Once NIU went to a better conference they would pull in way more fans. The MAC SUCKS, having Eastern Michigan and other cramp teams come into Dekalb is not drawing fans. If we had consistent quality teams for games there would be a jump in attendance and interest.

How is playing teams like Temple, Memphis, and Tulane going to bring in any more interest? Those programs suck just as much as Eastern Michigan.

The AAC isn't a better conference...especially after they lose teams to the ACC and Big 10. That's why the AAC will be fighting for a "BCS" bid along side the MAC starting next year.

I think the "chicken or the egg" issue is referring to joining the Big 12 or ACC. If NIU were in one of those conferences, more fans would show up to watch Florida State, Clemson, NC State, Miami (FL), Oklahoma, Texas...so on and so forth.

OK, but the ACC would never ever ever ever ever ever invite NIU, and the Big 12 would have to be torn to bits for them to consider extending NIU an invite. And even that would be after we double the size of our stadium for all of these new fans that fell from the sky.

Realistic (kinda) conference destinations for NIU... AAC after the good teams are gone, CUSA, MWC?

Oh, you must have missed the title of this thread.

There's a difference between hypothetical and delusional.

**** it, lets go independent BYU-style

(09-06-2013 04:13 PM)HuskieRak Wrote:  **** it, lets go independent BYU-style

Yep, never tried that before...

I'm pretty sure if we keep talking about it, we can get into the SEC. I heard that's what they did on the Texas A&M board.

(09-06-2013 04:34 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  I'm pretty sure if we keep talking about it, we can get into the SEC. I heard that's what they did on the Texas A&M board.

Worth a shot. Has its advantages. We could play everyone at home, and pay our players too.

I don't know if the Big XII has to blow up before it's a realistic destination for NIU. Like others said, the real reason Rutgers is going to the B1G is because the conference wants to put its network on NYC basic cable packages at $1.25/month per household. If the B12 ever wants to start a network, it will have the same incentives, and the biggest fishes within its reach will be Chicago and NYC. Take UConn for leverage to sell its network in NYC and NIU for Chicago, and maybe add Temple (Philly, the #4 market), UMass (#7) and South Florida (#13).

To show my work, the B1G expects to sell the BTN in the NYC market at $1.25 per month. Comcast in Chicago has 2.3 million subscribers, so at that rate a B12 Network would generate $35 million in revenue via a foothold in Chicago. The current B12 TV contract allows them $20 million per school so by adding NIU everyone would take home a bigger paycheck (over $1MM per school), that is, if it all worked out. They'll only make a profit though if they can sell it for at least 70 cents per subscriber. And this doesn't factor into whatever boost adding NIU gives their Fox/ESPN contracts (although probably not much), and what boost a B12 network without NIU would give their baseline.

Obviously it would a big risk for them. The B1G's plan isn't guaranteed to work, and if it doesn't they're stuck with a pretty mediocre Rutgers athletic dept. And the Pac-12 has had struggles with DirecTV and the Longhorn Network has had distribution issues. And the revenue they're likely to generate won't come close to the B1G's because there's less demand for these teams and the conference. But if the B1G's plan works and they do nothing it will dwarf the B12's revenue and they'll be looking for some way to keep up. If they decide to mimic the B1G, NIU is a legit candidate. I'm not predicting they will but it's not totally inconceivable.

(09-06-2013 05:13 PM)Max Power Wrote:  I don't know if the Big XII has to blow up before it's a realistic destination for NIU. Like others said, the real reason Rutgers is going to the B1G is because the conference wants to put its network on NYC basic cable packages at $1.25/month per household. If the B12 ever wants to start a network, it will have the same incentives, and the biggest fishes within its reach will be Chicago and NYC. Take UConn for leverage to sell its network in NYC and NIU for Chicago, and maybe add Temple (Philly, the #4 market), UMass (#7) and South Florida (#13).

To show my work, the B1G expects to sell the BTN in the NYC market at $1.25 per month. Comcast in Chicago has 2.3 million subscribers, so at that rate a B12 Network would generate $35 million in revenue via a foothold in Chicago. The current B12 TV contract allows them $20 million per school so by adding NIU everyone would take home a bigger paycheck (over $1MM per school), that is, if it all worked out. They'll only make a profit though if they can sell it for at least 70 cents per subscriber. And this doesn't factor into whatever boost adding NIU gives their Fox/ESPN contracts (although probably not much), and what boost a B12 network without NIU would give their baseline.

Obviously it would a big risk for them. The B1G's plan isn't guaranteed to work, and if it doesn't they're stuck with a pretty mediocre Rutgers athletic dept. And the Pac-12 has had struggles with DirecTV and the Longhorn Network has had distribution issues. And the revenue they're likely to generate won't come close to the B1G's because there's less demand for these teams and the conference. But if the B1G's plan works and they do nothing it will dwarf the B12's revenue and they'll be looking for some way to keep up. If they decide to mimic the B1G, NIU is a legit candidate. I'm not predicting they will but it's not totally inconceivable.

Lets do it!

https://www.facebook.com/NIUToTheBig12

Well, the Big 12 is welcome to start funding our new stadium for any future endeavors. I don't think any of us would complain.

This is such a new and innovative thread, I don't believe we've ever discussed this topic before, what an interesting idea...

The Super Duper Fantastic Football Conference (SDFFC)

NIU - toughest one to pick
Toledo - ugh, I guess
Ohio - The flagship of the MAC has to be invited right?
BGSU - Toledo must have a rival
Boise St
Nevada
Fresno St
Utah St
Hawaii - who doesn't want to take a Hawaiian vacation every couple years?
Cincy - not left out anymore!
U̶C̶o̶n̶n̶ - nevermind this is a football only conference
UCF - need some florida love
BYU - It's ok, this conference will love you
NDSU I liked the movie Fargo. Is NDSU even in Fargo?
USF - more Florida!
Buffalo/New York/whatever they'll be called - For TV Markets alone. Buffalo - NYC's real college football team! B1G missed out on that one.
ECU - only because the contract will state they can't schedule Idaho and Compher will then quite as AD

And it'll be like the EPL. Bottom teams get cut, top non-G5 non-SDFFC teams get invited unless you're Illinois State since they're still looking for that B12 invite.
Gotta go trademark this or something now. Someone is stealing it from me and gonna make billions.

you guys think small....the SEC can use chicago presence to further consolidate its strangle hold on the NCAA. why not NIU? why not us?!!!!

seriously though....i love the idea of a premier league style relegation process!