(03-19-2014 11:03 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 10:20 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  I think there are a couple things we are missing:

1. Attendance is down everywhere
2. Weather is huge problem for us
3. Our students are huge problem, they aren't there on the weekends so that is why our weekday games have better attendance

Our Alumni Base of 225k not coming to saturday games to sell a 24k stadium out is THE problem...the student support has been steadily growing since at least 99 (my Fr year).

We are lucky if 25k of our 225k alums come back to a home football game each season.

Yes, stop blaming the students people. The fact that I can't get any of my NIU alum friends to go to more than one game a season is the HUGE problem. I will give them a break on a week day games, but every Saturday game should be sold out, doesn't matter who it's against.

(03-19-2014 11:10 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:03 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 10:20 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  I think there are a couple things we are missing:

1. Attendance is down everywhere
2. Weather is huge problem for us
3. Our students are huge problem, they aren't there on the weekends so that is why our weekday games have better attendance

Our Alumni Base of 225k not coming to saturday games to sell a 24k stadium out is THE problem...the student support has been steadily growing since at least 99 (my Fr year).

We are lucky if 25k of our 225k alums come back to a home football game each season.

Yes, stop blaming the students people. The fact that I can't get any of my NIU alum friends to go to more than one game a season is the HUGE problem. I will give them a break on a week day games, but every Saturday game should be sold out, doesn't matter who it's against.

What are their reasons for not going to a game? Those are the issues we need to be attacking.

(03-19-2014 11:13 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:10 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:03 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 10:20 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  I think there are a couple things we are missing:

1. Attendance is down everywhere
2. Weather is huge problem for us
3. Our students are huge problem, they aren't there on the weekends so that is why our weekday games have better attendance

Our Alumni Base of 225k not coming to saturday games to sell a 24k stadium out is THE problem...the student support has been steadily growing since at least 99 (my Fr year).

We are lucky if 25k of our 225k alums come back to a home football game each season.

Yes, stop blaming the students people. The fact that I can't get any of my NIU alum friends to go to more than one game a season is the HUGE problem. I will give them a break on a week day games, but every Saturday game should be sold out, doesn't matter who it's against.

What are their reasons for not going to a game? Those are the issues we need to be attacking.

20000 or so students on campus and 6-8k attend games. I think that's a pretty high percentage. The only issue I have is the mass exodus at halftime.

(03-19-2014 11:13 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:10 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:03 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 10:20 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  I think there are a couple things we are missing:

1. Attendance is down everywhere
2. Weather is huge problem for us
3. Our students are huge problem, they aren't there on the weekends so that is why our weekday games have better attendance

Our Alumni Base of 225k not coming to saturday games to sell a 24k stadium out is THE problem...the student support has been steadily growing since at least 99 (my Fr year).

We are lucky if 25k of our 225k alums come back to a home football game each season.

Yes, stop blaming the students people. The fact that I can't get any of my NIU alum friends to go to more than one game a season is the HUGE problem. I will give them a break on a week day games, but every Saturday game should be sold out, doesn't matter who it's against.

What are their reasons for not going to a game? Those are the issues we need to be attacking.

The only alum friend I can get to a game is only able to attend night games (6pm or later kickoff and doesn't matter if its a Saturday or Tuesday) because of his work schedule.


My second issue is I cant get any extended family or friends to come to a game where we are playing an out of state FCS team.

(03-19-2014 11:13 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:10 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:03 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 10:20 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  I think there are a couple things we are missing:

1. Attendance is down everywhere
2. Weather is huge problem for us
3. Our students are huge problem, they aren't there on the weekends so that is why our weekday games have better attendance

Our Alumni Base of 225k not coming to saturday games to sell a 24k stadium out is THE problem...the student support has been steadily growing since at least 99 (my Fr year).

We are lucky if 25k of our 225k alums come back to a home football game each season.

Yes, stop blaming the students people. The fact that I can't get any of my NIU alum friends to go to more than one game a season is the HUGE problem. I will give them a break on a week day games, but every Saturday game should be sold out, doesn't matter who it's against.

What are their reasons for not going to a game? Those are the issues we need to be attacking.

They don't have a reason other than they just don't want to go. I get that not everyone who attends NIU is going to be a diehard fan like a lot of us, but to go to three games a year isn't much to ask.

My sister (not NIU alum but her son is) will go to a game or 2 early when it's warm out, but not when it's cold. If she doesn't go that rules out her husband and a couple of sons. Not sure why my 2 NIU coworkers don't go (usually). They both follow what's happening somewhat and one used to have season tickets but now just has Bears season tickets.

My main reason for only going once or twice a year is I don't want to dedicate an entire day to a game that's already decided by halftime. I understand that's not always a scheduling thing, some of our conference teams are going to be terrible and there's nothing we can do about it. It's actually a good thing if you're on the right side of those scores, and teams that play close games week in and out won't catch all the breaks necessary to be the consistent winner we have been lately.

Also I graduated a couple years ago, I can still go on campus and visit friends. Starting next year there's really only one person I know/would like to hangout with. It was hard enough to get some people interested in going when I lived in the dorms. I can't think of any of my friends who graduated with me that would go to any game besides MAYBE homecoming.

That being said I do hope to become a season ticket holder in the future. I do plan to donate and I can see it as a fun family activity once I start a family. I plan to go to two games this year, NU/homecoming.

(03-19-2014 11:27 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:13 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:10 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:03 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 10:20 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  I think there are a couple things we are missing:

1. Attendance is down everywhere
2. Weather is huge problem for us
3. Our students are huge problem, they aren't there on the weekends so that is why our weekday games have better attendance

Our Alumni Base of 225k not coming to saturday games to sell a 24k stadium out is THE problem...the student support has been steadily growing since at least 99 (my Fr year).

We are lucky if 25k of our 225k alums come back to a home football game each season.

Yes, stop blaming the students people. The fact that I can't get any of my NIU alum friends to go to more than one game a season is the HUGE problem. I will give them a break on a week day games, but every Saturday game should be sold out, doesn't matter who it's against.

What are their reasons for not going to a game? Those are the issues we need to be attacking.

They don't have a reason other than they just don't want to go. I get that not everyone who attends NIU is going to be a diehard fan like a lot of us, but to go to three games a year isn't much to ask.

Would they go if there were a big name team coming to Huskie Stadium?

I think Athletics needs to do a random survey of alumni who are not on their ticket lists (season ticket/single game) to determine the reasons for not attending a game. Athletics should then address those reasons and, in the process, educate the public.

Is it money? Educate them that we are among the least expensive sports tickets around. All seats are great seats. Etc.

Don't want to drag kids? Talk about the kid-friendly atmosphere at our games.

Too far? Emphasize the fact that we are much closer than they think.

Not an attractive schedule? Well, that's another story!!

(03-19-2014 11:30 AM)PrideinthePack Wrote:  My main reason for only going once or twice a year is I don't want to dedicate an entire day to a game that's already decided by halftime. I understand that's not always a scheduling thing, some of our conference teams are going to be terrible and there's nothing we can do about it. It's actually a good thing if you're on the right side of those scores, and teams that play close games week in and out won't catch all the breaks necessary to be the consistent winner we have been lately.

Also I graduated a couple years ago, I can still go on campus and visit friends. Starting next year there's really once one person I know/would like to hangout with. It was hard enough to get some people interested in going when I lived in the dorms. I can't think of any of my friends who graduated with me that would go to any game besides MAYBE homecoming.

That being said I do hope to become a season ticket holder in the future. I do plan to donate and I can see it as a fun family activity once I start a family. I plan to go to two games this year, NU/homecoming.

Question...if you could buy 2 season tickets on the East side for $50ea plus 5 vouchers for parking in the convo...would that make you more likely to go to more games this season?

I didn't even realize NIU offered season tickets, it sounds really stupid but it was something that never crossed my mind. I was surprised to see how cheap they were.

(03-19-2014 11:37 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:30 AM)PrideinthePack Wrote:  My main reason for only going once or twice a year is I don't want to dedicate an entire day to a game that's already decided by halftime. I understand that's not always a scheduling thing, some of our conference teams are going to be terrible and there's nothing we can do about it. It's actually a good thing if you're on the right side of those scores, and teams that play close games week in and out won't catch all the breaks necessary to be the consistent winner we have been lately.

Also I graduated a couple years ago, I can still go on campus and visit friends. Starting next year there's really once one person I know/would like to hangout with. It was hard enough to get some people interested in going when I lived in the dorms. I can't think of any of my friends who graduated with me that would go to any game besides MAYBE homecoming.

That being said I do hope to become a season ticket holder in the future. I do plan to donate and I can see it as a fun family activity once I start a family. I plan to go to two games this year, NU/homecoming.

Question...if you could buy 2 season tickets on the East side for $50ea plus 5 vouchers for parking in the convo...would that make you more likely to go to more games this season?

No, and it's not the price at all. The price has nothing to do with it. It's really cheap, the only thing is I can only get my girlfriend to go to one game in DeKalb.

I would absolutely love it if 10+ of my college buddies met up for every game but as the years go on it's harder and harder to get people to meet up.

(03-19-2014 11:24 AM)BobL Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:13 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:10 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:03 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 10:20 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  I think there are a couple things we are missing:

1. Attendance is down everywhere
2. Weather is huge problem for us
3. Our students are huge problem, they aren't there on the weekends so that is why our weekday games have better attendance

Our Alumni Base of 225k not coming to saturday games to sell a 24k stadium out is THE problem...the student support has been steadily growing since at least 99 (my Fr year).

We are lucky if 25k of our 225k alums come back to a home football game each season.

Yes, stop blaming the students people. The fact that I can't get any of my NIU alum friends to go to more than one game a season is the HUGE problem. I will give them a break on a week day games, but every Saturday game should be sold out, doesn't matter who it's against.

What are their reasons for not going to a game? Those are the issues we need to be attacking.

20000 or so students on campus and 6-8k attend games. I think that's a pretty high percentage. The only issue I have is the mass exodus at halftime.

The ones that tailgate and don't go to the game are a bigger problem than the ones that leave at the half.

I blame the students because they get in free..

Alumni base can be multiple things..
1. Economic
2. Kids
3. Time
4. it's dekalb
5. Don't like football
6. go to their kids college games

Making the student experience better (I'm not sure exactly how) would be beneficial to the program. I believe people see it as "I barely went to the games when it was free, even then I left at halftime. No way am I going to dish out money for tickets/parking now."

Get them in and staying as students, you'll see a rise in season tickets bought. Easier said than done, just saying...

(03-19-2014 12:30 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  I blame the students because they get in free..

Alumni base can be multiple things..
1. Economic
2. Kids
3. Time
4. it's dekalb
5. Don't like football
6. go to their kids college games

Really? You blame the students even though 1/4th to 1/3rd of the entire student population attends the games when there are 225K NIU alumni within distance and they cannot even fill up the west side???

(03-19-2014 12:30 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  I blame the students because they get in free..

Alumni base can be multiple things..
1. Economic
2. Kids
3. Time
4. it's dekalb
5. Don't like football
6. go to their kids college games

they really don't get in free, they pay an athletic fee

And technically speaking the students pay for admission in their tuition

(03-19-2014 07:55 AM)7 Wrote:  

(03-18-2014 04:54 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Because it does nothing for NU. By playing in California and Texas they are exposing themselves to recruiting hotbeds. Playing in Huskie Stadium would not get them additional TV exposure, better recruiting reach or getting in touch with alums who don't live close to their campus. .Again they have no reason to play us in DeKalb. Unless we can over pay and AQ team it gains them nothing to come to DeKalb. Most of the B1G officials are also a MAC official

Yeah, what this guy said.
[/quote]

I'll accept the idea of exposing themselves to recruiting hotbeds in California and Texas, but the other ideas seem to be a result of the "more to lose" thinking that they're better than us.
As Huskie fans, we've been insisting for the last few years that we belong in the Top 25 poll.....we talk about becoming the Boise State of the Midwest. IF that's the case, then it can't hurt Northwestern to play a team of our caliber as opposed to thumping Maine, Eastern Illinois, South Dakota, Rice, Towson State, etc. It would help their strength of schedule.
You don't think a Northwestern at NIU game would be of interest to ESPN2 or the BigTen Network? College football fans aware of NIU going to the Orange Bowl and being a potential BCS-buster would be inclined to tune in and a lot of folks like to root for any underdog against a B1G.
When you say "Unless we can over pay an AQ team," then let's do it. Take a portion of the guarantee from going to Arkansas, Nebraska, etc. and offer a little less to Presbyterian, UT-Martin, Cal Poly. Let's enhance our schedule.
When it comes to recruiting, what would look worse? Losing to NIU in DeKalb or losing to NIU on your home field. With that logic, Northwestern is taking too much of a risk playing us in Evanston.
Just like we argue it's an easy away trip for our alums, it would be the same for Northwestern's.
If being a B1G official is considered a step up, it would be more accurate to say that "some" B1G officials also work MAC games. It sounds like a stretch to claim "B1G officials are also MAC officials." Some MAC officials also work some B1G games. Hard to believe on any given Saturday an official is choosing to work a MAC game over a B1G contest considering the payscale is different.

If you see Boise St schedule..no one goes there.. they play all their big games in neutral sites(which wouldn't work for us because we don't travel)..

in 2014 they play Ole Miss..in Atlanta..

2013
they played Washington..in washington

2012
Played MSU at MSU

2011
Georgia..at Georgia dome.

So they aren't getting anyone to their stadium either..

(03-19-2014 07:46 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  If you see Boise St schedule..no one goes there.. they play all their big games in neutral sites(which wouldn't work for us because we don't travel)..

in 2014 they play Ole Miss..in Atlanta..

2013
they played Washington..in washington

2012
Played MSU at MSU

2011
Georgia..at Georgia dome.

So they aren't getting anyone to their stadium either..

The past 10 years I agree but their future schedule is MUCH better BUT they now have a 50k+ stadium so they can pay the visiting teams a big check.