http://www.niuhuskies.com/genrel/010814aab.html

Two quotes I liked were:
"At NIU, we need to bring facilities up to date in order to remain competitive. A mentor of mine, Barry Alvarez said, "When universities put up new buildings on campus, they call it progress. When we do it in athletics, it's called an arms race." If we want to continue our climb up the mountain of intercollegiate athletics, we need to invest and upgrade our facilities. We have an amazing new indoor facility in the Chessick Practice Center. We need to continue that momentum. I am calling for us to have a facilities master plan put together in the near future that will serve as a springboard for our next big facility campaign."



"Season ticket sales are the lifeblood of athletic programs. We had a record-breaking year for football season ticket sales with over 4,000 sold. You are a big part of our game day atmosphere and we need that to continue. We also need you at our venues to support all our athletic programs. Please take the time to commit to NIU in 2014. We have a great football non-conference game on the road in nearby Evanston versus Northwestern in 2014. Patrons who order season tickets will get the right to request the Northwestern game prior to the general public single game on sale date. I hope that you are looking forward to the 2014 Football season as much as I am."


I'm buying season tickets this year. I feel this year will be more exciting, because there are so many question marks for the Huskies in 2014. I really want to see what their plan is for improving facilities.

(01-08-2014 04:37 PM)goniu1523 Wrote:  http://www.niuhuskies.com/genrel/010814aab.html

Two quotes I liked were:
"At NIU, we need to bring facilities up to date in order to remain competitive. A mentor of mine, Barry Alvarez said, "When universities put up new buildings on campus, they call it progress. When we do it in athletics, it's called an arms race." If we want to continue our climb up the mountain of intercollegiate athletics, we need to invest and upgrade our facilities. We have an amazing new indoor facility in the Chessick Practice Center. We need to continue that momentum. I am calling for us to have a facilities master plan put together in the near future that will serve as a springboard for our next big facility campaign."



"Season ticket sales are the lifeblood of athletic programs. We had a record-breaking year for football season ticket sales with over 4,000 sold. You are a big part of our game day atmosphere and we need that to continue. We also need you at our venues to support all our athletic programs. Please take the time to commit to NIU in 2014. We have a great football non-conference game on the road in nearby Evanston versus Northwestern in 2014. Patrons who order season tickets will get the right to request the Northwestern game prior to the general public single game on sale date. I hope that you are looking forward to the 2014 Football season as much as I am."


I'm buying season tickets this year. I feel this year will be more exciting, because there are so many question marks for the Huskies in 2014. I really want to see what their plan is for improving facilities.

I've heard that we need a master plan from the last several ADs. I do believe we will finally get one.

I also liked this:

"My scheduling philosophy across all our sports will be to promote the NIU brand regionally and nationally. Scheduling will play a huge part in taking this program to the next level."

Branding is everything and will help us continue to grow our program despite our conference maybe not taking the same steps forward and some league mates content being marginal regional players. Frazier says all the right things you want to hear when thinking the next step, I am looking forward to seeing these things in action. Hopefully we the fans and even more importantly the students embrace these philosophies. He is trying to shift the culture which is exactly what needs to happen.

(01-08-2014 05:20 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  I also liked this:

"My scheduling philosophy across all our sports will be to promote the NIU brand regionally and nationally. Scheduling will play a huge part in taking this program to the next level."

Branding is everything and will help us continue to grow our program despite our conference maybe not taking the same steps forward and some league mates content being marginal regional players. Frazier says all the right things you want to hear when thinking the next step, I am looking forward to seeing these things in action. Hopefully we the fans and even more importantly the students embrace these philosophies. He is trying to shift the culture which is exactly what needs to happen.

frazier is kinda a bull in a china shop but appears to be a results oriented guy

Always enjoy the communication we get from SF.

Would just love to know what his definition of the "next level" is.

When they tear down the lincoln dorm, I hope they move the softball diamond to the north a bit. I'd love to extend the east side tailgating into that chunk of real estate near the Chessick...

Frazier seems to say things that past ADs might have been thinking but were forbidden or at least nervous to say. Saying that you are going to get into the (facility) arms race in major college sports was dangerous territory. However in his latest message he says we are jumping right into it. That is the type of guy I want running the show. Reminds me a bit of the Louisville AD who now has their basketball program turning a $20million a year profit. Not saying we get to that level, but the aggressive mentality is much appreciated.

(01-08-2014 05:26 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  Always enjoy the communication we get from SF.

Would just love to know what his definition of the "next level" is.

^^This!

(01-09-2014 12:49 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  Frazier seems to say things that past ADs might have been thinking but were forbidden or at least nervous to say. Saying that you are going to get into the (facility) arms race in major college sports was dangerous territory. However in his latest message he says we are jumping right into it. That is the type of guy I want running the show. Reminds me a bit of the Louisville AD who now has their basketball program turning a $20million a year profit. Not saying we get to that level, but the aggressive mentality is much appreciated.

Get ready to be solicited for more donations. No growth happens without money. I assume that the next capital campaign is just around the corner.

(01-09-2014 01:25 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 12:49 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  Frazier seems to say things that past ADs might have been thinking but were forbidden or at least nervous to say. Saying that you are going to get into the (facility) arms race in major college sports was dangerous territory. However in his latest message he says we are jumping right into it. That is the type of guy I want running the show. Reminds me a bit of the Louisville AD who now has their basketball program turning a $20million a year profit. Not saying we get to that level, but the aggressive mentality is much appreciated.

Get ready to be solicited for more donations. No growth happens without money. I assume that the next capital campaign is just around the corner.

Figured as much. His message also said a master facilities plan will be rolled out in the near future which will serve as a springboard to the next big campaign. After reading the message I was compelled to reach for my checkbook. I like the message that much.

you don't get in an arms race just to be the 'best' in the MAC.....there's more to the vision than that

(01-09-2014 01:25 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 12:49 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  Frazier seems to say things that past ADs might have been thinking but were forbidden or at least nervous to say. Saying that you are going to get into the (facility) arms race in major college sports was dangerous territory. However in his latest message he says we are jumping right into it. That is the type of guy I want running the show. Reminds me a bit of the Louisville AD who now has their basketball program turning a $20million a year profit. Not saying we get to that level, but the aggressive mentality is much appreciated.

Get ready to be solicited for more donations. No growth happens without money. I assume that the next capital campaign is just around the corner.

We just had one at year end. The next one will be with season ticket renewal in March. I would imagine.

(01-09-2014 01:39 PM)NIUTOM51 Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 01:25 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 12:49 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  Frazier seems to say things that past ADs might have been thinking but were forbidden or at least nervous to say. Saying that you are going to get into the (facility) arms race in major college sports was dangerous territory. However in his latest message he says we are jumping right into it. That is the type of guy I want running the show. Reminds me a bit of the Louisville AD who now has their basketball program turning a $20million a year profit. Not saying we get to that level, but the aggressive mentality is much appreciated.

Get ready to be solicited for more donations. No growth happens without money. I assume that the next capital campaign is just around the corner.

We just had one at year end. The next one will be with season ticket renewal in March. I would imagine.

Haven't heard of a HASF kickoff schedule yet. I would think they would schedule that the Sunday after signing day in February. But with the new administration who knows?

(01-09-2014 03:58 PM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 01:39 PM)NIUTOM51 Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 01:25 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 12:49 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  Frazier seems to say things that past ADs might have been thinking but were forbidden or at least nervous to say. Saying that you are going to get into the (facility) arms race in major college sports was dangerous territory. However in his latest message he says we are jumping right into it. That is the type of guy I want running the show. Reminds me a bit of the Louisville AD who now has their basketball program turning a $20million a year profit. Not saying we get to that level, but the aggressive mentality is much appreciated.

Get ready to be solicited for more donations. No growth happens without money. I assume that the next capital campaign is just around the corner.

We just had one at year end. The next one will be with season ticket renewal in March. I would imagine.

Haven't heard of a HASF kickoff schedule yet. I would think they would schedule that the Sunday after signing day in February. But with the new administration who knows?

Nope. I tweeted NIU Athletics yesterday and got the following in return:

@NIUAthletics are there plans to have a HASF kick-off this year (it's usually after football signing day in February)

NIU Huskie Athletics ‏@NIUAthletics 22h

@golf4501 We're reworking a few things for 2014 and will keep you updated on plans and events for HASF!

Hope there is some more transparency in the front office with Hotdog-gate 2013

(01-09-2014 04:01 PM)golf4501 Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 03:58 PM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 01:39 PM)NIUTOM51 Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 01:25 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 12:49 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  Frazier seems to say things that past ADs might have been thinking but were forbidden or at least nervous to say. Saying that you are going to get into the (facility) arms race in major college sports was dangerous territory. However in his latest message he says we are jumping right into it. That is the type of guy I want running the show. Reminds me a bit of the Louisville AD who now has their basketball program turning a $20million a year profit. Not saying we get to that level, but the aggressive mentality is much appreciated.

Get ready to be solicited for more donations. No growth happens without money. I assume that the next capital campaign is just around the corner.

We just had one at year end. The next one will be with season ticket renewal in March. I would imagine.

Haven't heard of a HASF kickoff schedule yet. I would think they would schedule that the Sunday after signing day in February. But with the new administration who knows?

Nope. I tweeted NIU Athletics yesterday and got the following in return:

@NIUAthletics are there plans to have a HASF kick-off this year (it's usually after football signing day in February)

NIU Huskie Athletics ‏@NIUAthletics 22h

@golf4501 We're reworking a few things for 2014 and will keep you updated on plans and events for HASF!

No Saturday Basketball games to tie in with in February. Only Saturday in March is last home game 3/8.

(01-09-2014 05:32 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 04:01 PM)golf4501 Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 03:58 PM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 01:39 PM)NIUTOM51 Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 01:25 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Get ready to be solicited for more donations. No growth happens without money. I assume that the next capital campaign is just around the corner.

We just had one at year end. The next one will be with season ticket renewal in March. I would imagine.

Haven't heard of a HASF kickoff schedule yet. I would think they would schedule that the Sunday after signing day in February. But with the new administration who knows?

Nope. I tweeted NIU Athletics yesterday and got the following in return:

@NIUAthletics are there plans to have a HASF kick-off this year (it's usually after football signing day in February)

NIU Huskie Athletics ‏@NIUAthletics 22h

@golf4501 We're reworking a few things for 2014 and will keep you updated on plans and events for HASF!

No Saturday Basketball games to tie in with in February. Only Saturday in March is last home game 3/8.

Well, I do think that's an issue with scheduling, if not the actual opponent.

off topic slightly but anyone else notice the promotion page still hasnt been updated for the basketball games

Anybody notice that Huskiewire doesn't even have the result of the Buffalo game yet?

(01-09-2014 09:17 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  Anybody notice that Huskiewire doesn't even have the result of the Buffalo game yet?

haha wow good catch on that.

I hate to beat a dead horse here, but it is SHOCKING to me that this Frazier Corner's piece has not one mention of the word basketball. I just have my jaw open looking at that. I think its important for NIU to invest in basketball. I still hold to the belief that from a long duration perspective say of a 30 or 40 year timescale, that NIU athletics has the best chance of sustained success through the basketball program. I feel this is especially true given what appears to be happening in slimming down Div 1 programs to the eventual 50 team superconference. NIU should be investing in basketball because once success is achieved there, it will be much easier to maintain through time. I am starting to see the writing on the wall that the only way things are going to change is that if there is a huge public outcry to not forget about basketball, its tough to imagine that happening right now given the apathy. I really hope there is more to Frazier than what we have seen, niudos says that in his personal communication that Frazier cares a lot about it, but actions speak louder than words. And we don't even have the words in the public forum from him at this point regarding basketball. It is time things change, but its so frustrating to know where to start or who to contact about this. The feel at the Convo Center is one of basketball extinction, it scares me.