(01-09-2014 03:40 PM)niudos Wrote:  In ftball we have about 13k and in bball we have about 6-7 hundred that show up no matter what. The rest will only come if we are winning. As a conference it would make more sense for the MAC to get rid of ftball and become a bball only conference. We as a conference are more like the Horizon or MVC than the Bigten or Big12. We really don't have enough money for ftball. If you get 3-4k in the convo it will completely change the atmosphere. Winning and creating some hope is the only answer. I have hung out with Frazier at fattys before a game and have talked with Baker at several games. They care about the bball program.

We used to get 3-5 regularly, and managed to do it WITH a football program...

Filmaker, 3-5k in what sport?

This is about a lot of nothing....I am as big a BB fan as I am a FB fan...have had season tickets for several years....

Let's give Monty and Frazier the time to revitalize the BB program

I think the problem lies with the management and is increased through the losing. NIU has a problem where they pulled the plug on the game day experience on the Basketball team. They don't care how many people come, therefore nobody comes.

Adding on to this is the fact that the team traditionally sucks and everyone either doesn't know we have a team, doesn't care (both of those due to the lack of support from the Athletic department), or doesn't like basketball.

The solution, besides just winning, is to make the game day experience better and promote the games. Promoting is a cheap and easy fix as they can put up signs around the campus saying when the games are and scout their "winning" ways all the sudden. The trick is to entice the students to come. Give out T-Shirts to the first 1,000 fans or whatever, and make the football team make an appearance (worked last year). Maybe have a deal with the fraternities. Work on bringing in the students, and the alumni will come as soon as they graduate. As for making the game day experience better, they should look into what bigger schools do during halftime and follow suit. BRING IN THE BAND, simple. The band makes the experience better, its basically a free section of loud fans. Do contests like they do but build up the excitement. All they say is the scripted line and walk away.

These problems aren't easy, but it isn't a terribly hard situation. Im talking bring an average of 2K fans. BRING IN STUDENTS. It helps the future, with alumni.

Ive been to all the home games except for Bethune-Cookman and there is definitely a lack of care by the Athletic Department.

(01-09-2014 09:20 AM)7 Wrote:  COME ON GUYS LETS POOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO MARKETING ONE OF THE WORST PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY CAUSE WHY NOT?!

(01-09-2014 03:40 PM)niudos Wrote:  In ftball we have about 13k and in bball we have about 6-7 hundred that show up no matter what. The rest will only come if we are winning. As a conference it would make more sense for the MAC to get rid of ftball and become a bball only conference. We as a conference are more like the Horizon or MVC than the Bigten or Big12. We really don't have enough money for ftball. If you get 3-4k in the convo it will completely change the atmosphere.

Over a deade ago, the MAC made the decision to push football, extra effort has been put into bowl tie-ins, television, etc.
As a conference, we are nothing like the Horizon or MVC, because those are not FBS leagues. Most of the Horizon schools -- UIC, UW-M, UWGB, Cleveland State, Detroit, Oakland, Wright State -- don't have football; the MVC also has a few schools with no football (Bradley. Loyola, and Wichita State), but that entire league has arenas, attendance, or past basketball tradition that we do not compare to. Believe me, I don't think it's good, but the MAC has decided it is a football conference, first, second, and third. The majority of posters on here no longer care about anything other than football. During the time Northern Illinois was in either the Mid-Contintent or Midwestern Collegiate, the Huskies were the powerhouse program on both the men's and women's sides in multiple sports and competitive in men's hoops. Getting the Convo Center was supposed to mean our men's basketball program would no longer be held back -- instead, it's gone the opposite direction thanks to a variety of factors including the MAC pushing football, poor administration, poor coaching hires, and poor marketing.

I know those are not fbs ftball leagues, but they are d1 bball leagues. Our finances are more aligned with those schools than big10 or big12 schools. If the MAC was a bball only conference it could move up. The MAC has no chance of moving up as a ftball conference. The Sunbelt will pass the MAC before the MAC moves up.

Let the record show, I am glad the MAC has ftball and bball. I believe NIU can succeed at both.

(01-09-2014 10:13 PM)niudos Wrote:  I know those are not fbs ftball leagues, but they are d1 bball leagues. Our finances are more aligned with those schools than big10 or big12 schools. If the MAC was a bball only conference it could move up. The MAC has no chance of moving up as a ftball conference. The Sunbelt will pass the MAC before the MAC moves up.

I think this is a good point. The MAC has certainly seen a shift it would seem from basketball to football and it may have been by design to ensure the league stays at the highest level and gets a piece of the playoff pie. Supporting both sports can be rather costly and that is where teams like Wichita, Creighton or VCU can load up resources into just hoops without having to worry about funding an FBS football team. As I posted earlier, I really think the NIU needs to get to the front of the MAC with funding to have a chance at showing well in both. And I would agree that the Sun Belt does have a chance to pass the MAC over time given they operate in a much more talent rich area for football and really seem to care less about hoops. The MAC is a marginal player in both football in hoops so there is an opportunity within reach to move to the front of the pack in both in the league. Scary thing is if you look back about two decades some MAC teams are exactly the same or worse off today than they used to be. It boggles my mind why teams like EMU are allowed to hang around the league. If the MAC was run like a business like much of the top conferences are, those bottom teams would have been shown the door years ago. That to me is one of the biggest drivers why upside in the league is capped and strictly by association there are additional obstacles for our program to overcome.

(01-09-2014 05:23 PM)niudos Wrote:  Filmaker, 3-5k in what sport?

Early 90's when I was on campus (88-95, undergrad and JD at NIU), 3,4k at a basketball game was not abnormal I think and 5k several times a season was not a big deal. (I was there when we beat Wisconsin at the fieldhouse, the old Wiscy farts at the urinal next to me were so pissed, it was sweet)

(01-09-2014 10:13 PM)niudos Wrote:  If the MAC was a bball only conference it could move up. The MAC has no chance of moving up as a ftball conference.

While I'll agree with you that it seems highly unlikely the MAC can move up much if any in football, the only reason it can move up in basketball is because it has dropped so much -- it's hard to believe it can get much lower as a basketball league.
There was a time when MAC basketball was almost on par with the Missouri Valley, but was well ahead of the Mid-Con, Midwestern Collegiate, the Ohio Valley and most mid-major eastern or southern leagues. Not only was the MAC in the running for a second NCAA tourney qualifier, but two or more also would make a real NIT. Now, the MAC gets just one in the NCAA and two or three schools make an NIT that is a shell of its former self along with one or two other non-important post-season tourneys.

How does the MAC ever dispose of a bottom feeder like EMU? I haven't heard of a conference kicking a member out anytime recently.

On a side note, if the MAC, were to expand, what schools are the best fit?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(01-09-2014 06:12 PM)Michael James Wrote:  I think the problem lies with the management and is increased through the losing. NIU has a problem where they pulled the plug on the game day experience on the Basketball team. They don't care how many people come, therefore nobody comes.

Adding on to this is the fact that the team traditionally sucks and everyone either doesn't know we have a team, doesn't care (both of those due to the lack of support from the Athletic department), or doesn't like basketball.

The solution, besides just winning, is to make the game day experience better and promote the games. Promoting is a cheap and easy fix as they can put up signs around the campus saying when the games are and scout their "winning" ways all the sudden. The trick is to entice the students to come. Give out T-Shirts to the first 1,000 fans or whatever, and make the football team make an appearance (worked last year). Maybe have a deal with the fraternities. Work on bringing in the students, and the alumni will come as soon as they graduate. As for making the game day experience better, they should look into what bigger schools do during halftime and follow suit. BRING IN THE BAND, simple. The band makes the experience better, its basically a free section of loud fans. Do contests like they do but build up the excitement. All they say is the scripted line and walk away.

These problems aren't easy, but it isn't a terribly hard situation. Im talking bring an average of 2K fans. BRING IN STUDENTS. It helps the future, with alumni.

Ive been to all the home games except for Bethune-Cookman and there is definitely a lack of care by the Athletic Department.

This is pretty much a great summary of the problem

(01-10-2014 02:16 AM)KMR_NIU_13 Wrote:  How does the MAC ever dispose of a bottom feeder like EMU? I haven't heard of a conference kicking a member out anytime recently.

On a side note, if the MAC, were to expand, what schools are the best fit?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You set certain metrics as a league, ie attendance, facilities, etc. If a member can't hit that then they are gone. Problem is the MAC has never wanted as a whole to do something like this as too many programs are scared that won't make it. The MAC tried to vote out EMU in the 80's after attendance was hovering in the 6K range and the league was on the verge of being dropped from FBS to FCS (AA). WMU blocked it. The WAC also tried to do something like this before it blew up and it eventually launched the MWC. Certain programs felt they wanted a level of commitment from league members that was different than what those programs wanted to provide. Eventually those programs decided to go there own way. I am not saying this happens in the MAC but there are serious issues in this league when you take a step back.

(01-10-2014 08:30 AM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(01-10-2014 02:16 AM)KMR_NIU_13 Wrote:  How does the MAC ever dispose of a bottom feeder like EMU? I haven't heard of a conference kicking a member out anytime recently.

On a side note, if the MAC, were to expand, what schools are the best fit?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You set certain metrics as a league, ie attendance, facilities, etc. If a member can't hit that then they are gone. Problem is the MAC has never wanted as a whole to do something like this as too many programs are scared that won't make it. The MAC tried to vote out EMU in the 80's after attendance was hovering in the 6K range and the league was on the verge of being dropped from FBS to FCS (AA). WMU blocked it. The WAC also tried to do something like this before it blew up and it eventually launched the MWC. Certain programs felt they wanted a level of commitment from league members that was different than what those programs wanted to provide. Eventually those programs decided to go there own way. I am not saying this happens in the MAC but there are serious issues in this league when you take a step back.

Right now though Huskietap, NIU's problems are so far beyond any conference problems, that I believe is a waste of time in looking at the shortcomings of the MAC. Its like worrying about a scratch on your arm when one of your legs just got chopped off. NIU's basketball problems right now are NIU problems, not MAC problems.

(01-09-2014 09:28 AM)NIUTOM51 Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 09:12 AM)yippiesrhinos Wrote:  I think the problem is the Convo Center. The Fieldhouse was such a homey environment that made it fun to go to a game. It felt like a community event, was loud, and intimate. The Convo Center is too "corporate" and has no character. It's no fun to be there, whether our teams are good or not. Somehow, the Convo has to get some character, get louder, and regain some the intimacy of the Chick.

I'm a bball season ticket holder as well as football. I have attended all but 1 home basketball game this year and I have not seen the pep band once. You can talk about the convocation center having no personality, but how about some support from the band and student body. The basketball team has looked much better this year, having posted more wins this year than they had all of last year. The quality of play is much better as well.... Yes, the Convocation Center is very vanilla now, but it doesn't have to be with fan and band support.

Well as far as the pep band goes, during the fall we're mainly only scheduled for the Volleyball games and if possible one or two bball games. Now I don't know the whole story with that but I can guess:

1) most of the members are also part of the marching band and with as much work is put into that band it'll just be a little bit much to do even more
2) Pep band (along with the HMB) is part of the music program so it's a class worth a credit hour and won't start til the semester starts
3) we wouldn't have a chance to rehearse. Some of the music and chants are different for each sport
4) the season for bball doesn't really start til basically now and as much as we would love to play, everyone wouldn't be able to make it(still on vacation/dorms closed/holiday jobs) and schedules change/overlap

But besides all of that I do agree that the athletic department could still do something. When I was reading through Frazier's Corner I as well found it disheartening that nothing was mentioned of the bball program. I know it's well...bad, but it still has potential. We're already doing better than last year and it could only get better and I really do think that Frazier can turn it around

(01-09-2014 06:12 PM)Michael James Wrote:  I think the problem lies with the management and is increased through the losing. NIU has a problem where they pulled the plug on the game day experience on the Basketball team. They don't care how many people come, therefore nobody comes.

Adding on to this is the fact that the team traditionally sucks and everyone either doesn't know we have a team, doesn't care (both of those due to the lack of support from the Athletic department), or doesn't like basketball.

The solution, besides just winning, is to make the game day experience better and promote the games. Promoting is a cheap and easy fix as they can put up signs around the campus saying when the games are and scout their "winning" ways all the sudden. The trick is to entice the students to come. Give out T-Shirts to the first 1,000 fans or whatever, and make the football team make an appearance (worked last year). Maybe have a deal with the fraternities. Work on bringing in the students, and the alumni will come as soon as they graduate. As for making the game day experience better, they should look into what bigger schools do during halftime and follow suit. BRING IN THE BAND, simple. The band makes the experience better, its basically a free section of loud fans. Do contests like they do but build up the excitement. All they say is the scripted line and walk away.

These problems aren't easy, but it isn't a terribly hard situation. Im talking bring an average of 2K fans. BRING IN STUDENTS. It helps the future, with alumni.

Ive been to all the home games except for Bethune-Cookman and there is definitely a lack of care by the Athletic Department.

As a current student, I completely agree with you. I feel like none of the students really know about the other sports, well in the sense of when and sometimes where the games are. Honestly I would have never known where and when the games were if I wasn't in pep band.

(01-10-2014 08:34 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(01-10-2014 08:30 AM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(01-10-2014 02:16 AM)KMR_NIU_13 Wrote:  How does the MAC ever dispose of a bottom feeder like EMU? I haven't heard of a conference kicking a member out anytime recently.

On a side note, if the MAC, were to expand, what schools are the best fit?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You set certain metrics as a league, ie attendance, facilities, etc. If a member can't hit that then they are gone. Problem is the MAC has never wanted as a whole to do something like this as too many programs are scared that won't make it. The MAC tried to vote out EMU in the 80's after attendance was hovering in the 6K range and the league was on the verge of being dropped from FBS to FCS (AA). WMU blocked it. The WAC also tried to do something like this before it blew up and it eventually launched the MWC. Certain programs felt they wanted a level of commitment from league members that was different than what those programs wanted to provide. Eventually those programs decided to go there own way. I am not saying this happens in the MAC but there are serious issues in this league when you take a step back.

Right now though Huskietap, NIU's problems are so far beyond any conference problems, that I believe is a waste of time in looking at the shortcomings of the MAC. Its like worrying about a scratch on your arm when one of your legs just got chopped off. NIU's basketball problems right now are NIU problems, not MAC problems.

True but you cannot tell me that if we were in the AAC and bringing UConn and Cinci in for hoops that attendance wouldn't pick up. BBall is an area of frustration but it will improve.

(01-10-2014 09:34 AM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(01-10-2014 08:34 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(01-10-2014 08:30 AM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(01-10-2014 02:16 AM)KMR_NIU_13 Wrote:  How does the MAC ever dispose of a bottom feeder like EMU? I haven't heard of a conference kicking a member out anytime recently.

On a side note, if the MAC, were to expand, what schools are the best fit?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You set certain metrics as a league, ie attendance, facilities, etc. If a member can't hit that then they are gone. Problem is the MAC has never wanted as a whole to do something like this as too many programs are scared that won't make it. The MAC tried to vote out EMU in the 80's after attendance was hovering in the 6K range and the league was on the verge of being dropped from FBS to FCS (AA). WMU blocked it. The WAC also tried to do something like this before it blew up and it eventually launched the MWC. Certain programs felt they wanted a level of commitment from league members that was different than what those programs wanted to provide. Eventually those programs decided to go there own way. I am not saying this happens in the MAC but there are serious issues in this league when you take a step back.

Right now though Huskietap, NIU's problems are so far beyond any conference problems, that I believe is a waste of time in looking at the shortcomings of the MAC. Its like worrying about a scratch on your arm when one of your legs just got chopped off. NIU's basketball problems right now are NIU problems, not MAC problems.

True but you cannot tell me that if we were in the AAC and bringing UConn and Cinci in for hoops that attendance wouldn't pick up. BBall is an area of frustration but it will improve.

Attendance wouldn't pick up much even then unless the team was better and we had a chance of at least making it a close game.

(01-10-2014 09:31 AM)ZMelloHuskie Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 06:12 PM)Michael James Wrote:  I think the problem lies with the management and is increased through the losing. NIU has a problem where they pulled the plug on the game day experience on the Basketball team. They don't care how many people come, therefore nobody comes.

Adding on to this is the fact that the team traditionally sucks and everyone either doesn't know we have a team, doesn't care (both of those due to the lack of support from the Athletic department), or doesn't like basketball.

The solution, besides just winning, is to make the game day experience better and promote the games. Promoting is a cheap and easy fix as they can put up signs around the campus saying when the games are and scout their "winning" ways all the sudden. The trick is to entice the students to come. Give out T-Shirts to the first 1,000 fans or whatever, and make the football team make an appearance (worked last year). Maybe have a deal with the fraternities. Work on bringing in the students, and the alumni will come as soon as they graduate. As for making the game day experience better, they should look into what bigger schools do during halftime and follow suit. BRING IN THE BAND, simple. The band makes the experience better, its basically a free section of loud fans. Do contests like they do but build up the excitement. All they say is the scripted line and walk away.

These problems aren't easy, but it isn't a terribly hard situation. Im talking bring an average of 2K fans. BRING IN STUDENTS. It helps the future, with alumni.

Ive been to all the home games except for Bethune-Cookman and there is definitely a lack of care by the Athletic Department.

As a current student, I completely agree with you. I feel like none of the students really know about the other sports, well in the sense of when and sometimes where the games are. Honestly I would have never known where and when the games were if I wasn't in pep band.

Not many students have been in the Convo. We have virtually NO student attendance at the basketball games. I don't think there are many schools out there that have no student attendance at games.