(04-10-2014 01:56 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 08:42 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 08:32 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(04-09-2014 10:22 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(04-09-2014 08:28 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  It's $20 on game day to see the tOSU spring game and they will draw over 80,000. You do not even want to know what they charge for a regular season game, parking etc.

NIU is not OSU, I get that, but it is a Damn good value.

I'm not going to lie, I'm jealous of that loyalty and commitment.

In a way I am too, until I think about it a little more. It starts to price out people that just can't spend that much for 1 game, and becomes a little elitist. There are downsides other than price, like crappy seats and not being able to get out of the parking lot for a long time. We've had it good, being able to watch a good team, without a lot of that.

I would never trade what we have for the bigger schools - never. They can keep their huge ticket prices, required donations, and massive traffic jams leaving the game. I always say this every time I go to a game in a bigger venue. They can have it.

In that case the MAC is a good fit for NIU and we should stop lusting after becoming a member of a more high profile conference.

We cannot have it both ways

I;m not one of those lusting for a "bigger" conference. I'm good with the mAC. Would like to see the MAC stronger tho.

(04-10-2014 11:37 AM)beachboy Wrote:  I enjoy going to BCS games, but only about once a year. I can only imagine Ohio State in 2015; Huskies fans probably will be charged $100 a clip for seats just south of Cleveland. I'll take free or low-cost parking at Huskie Stadium anytime. Too bad not enough people realize what a bargain NIU games truly are.

Yea...you are so right.

It's nice to go to an open practice and be able to walk on the sidelines. It would never be this open to the public in a larger program. My son and a lot of the coaches kids and player's siblings play catch and run around on the field after. Some aspects of a smaller program I really enjoy. I love seeing us being competitive with the larger programs an enjoy those games a ton. I loved going to the Big House, Camp Randle etc. Road trip game are cool, but I love to see some of them played here like the Maryland game. That was a blast as well.

I like the respect you get with a big program and the level of skill of recruits. If you look back in history of any sport, It's only the close competitive games that stick out. I like the way we match up to most teams, but the bottom of the MAC kills me. Blow outs are not fun. 300+ yrds rushing games against bad teams feel empty. Cool on a stat sheet, but through up 200 individual yrds against Michigan in the Big House... that's were the pride comes out.

(04-11-2014 10:50 AM)HuskieFootball Addict Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 01:56 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 08:42 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 08:32 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(04-09-2014 10:22 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  I'm not going to lie, I'm jealous of that loyalty and commitment.

In a way I am too, until I think about it a little more. It starts to price out people that just can't spend that much for 1 game, and becomes a little elitist. There are downsides other than price, like crappy seats and not being able to get out of the parking lot for a long time. We've had it good, being able to watch a good team, without a lot of that.

I would never trade what we have for the bigger schools - never. They can keep their huge ticket prices, required donations, and massive traffic jams leaving the game. I always say this every time I go to a game in a bigger venue. They can have it.

In that case the MAC is a good fit for NIU and we should stop lusting after becoming a member of a more high profile conference.

We cannot have it both ways

I;m not one of those lusting for a "bigger" conference. I'm good with the mAC. Would like to see the MAC stronger tho.

See that's the big problem we face in the MAC. I'd love to stay in the MAC if they were to get stronger too, but that is simply not the case. MAC official's seem to only want stay at the same level that they are at and seem to have no plan to elevate the league. All problems in recent years have been patched with temporary moves and nothing has been done to make anything "permanent."

If NIU football continues this sort of dominance over the league then there is NO way that we should be staying in the MAC if any other conferences have interest in us (Big 12, AAC, etc). This includes Toledo and Ohio as well.

(04-11-2014 11:56 AM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(04-11-2014 10:50 AM)HuskieFootball Addict Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 01:56 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 08:42 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 08:32 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  In a way I am too, until I think about it a little more. It starts to price out people that just can't spend that much for 1 game, and becomes a little elitist. There are downsides other than price, like crappy seats and not being able to get out of the parking lot for a long time. We've had it good, being able to watch a good team, without a lot of that.

I would never trade what we have for the bigger schools - never. They can keep their huge ticket prices, required donations, and massive traffic jams leaving the game. I always say this every time I go to a game in a bigger venue. They can have it.

In that case the MAC is a good fit for NIU and we should stop lusting after becoming a member of a more high profile conference.

We cannot have it both ways

I;m not one of those lusting for a "bigger" conference. I'm good with the mAC. Would like to see the MAC stronger tho.

See that's the big problem we face in the MAC. I'd love to stay in the MAC if they were to get stronger too, but that is simply not the case. MAC official's seem to only want stay at the same level that they are at and seem to have no plan to elevate the league. All problems in recent years have been patched with temporary moves and nothing has been done to make anything "permanent."

If NIU football continues this sort of dominance over the league then there is NO way that we should be staying in the MAC if any other conferences have interest in us (Big 12, AAC, etc). This includes Toledo and Ohio as well.

Before any dreams of a bigger conference can even start to be entertained, home scheduling has to be dramatically improved. Toledo is in position now to make that jump as there were dedicated to this for the past decade.

(04-11-2014 07:01 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(04-11-2014 11:56 AM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(04-11-2014 10:50 AM)HuskieFootball Addict Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 01:56 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 08:42 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I would never trade what we have for the bigger schools - never. They can keep their huge ticket prices, required donations, and massive traffic jams leaving the game. I always say this every time I go to a game in a bigger venue. They can have it.

In that case the MAC is a good fit for NIU and we should stop lusting after becoming a member of a more high profile conference.

We cannot have it both ways

I;m not one of those lusting for a "bigger" conference. I'm good with the mAC. Would like to see the MAC stronger tho.

See that's the big problem we face in the MAC. I'd love to stay in the MAC if they were to get stronger too, but that is simply not the case. MAC official's seem to only want stay at the same level that they are at and seem to have no plan to elevate the league. All problems in recent years have been patched with temporary moves and nothing has been done to make anything "permanent."

If NIU football continues this sort of dominance over the league then there is NO way that we should be staying in the MAC if any other conferences have interest in us (Big 12, AAC, etc). This includes Toledo and Ohio as well.

Before any dreams of a bigger conference can even start to be entertained, home scheduling has to be dramatically improved. Toledo is in position now to make that jump as there were dedicated to this for the past decade.

I just want to clarify... You want the home schedule upgraded?..your posts have been kind of murky as to what you are looking for..

I think what MD meant to say was, "Down with Sean Frazier, Go Rockets!"

(04-12-2014 09:37 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  I think what MD meant to say was, "Down with Sean Frazier, Go Rockets!"

Well put.

(04-11-2014 11:56 AM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(04-11-2014 10:50 AM)HuskieFootball Addict Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 01:56 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 08:42 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 08:32 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  In a way I am too, until I think about it a little more. It starts to price out people that just can't spend that much for 1 game, and becomes a little elitist. There are downsides other than price, like crappy seats and not being able to get out of the parking lot for a long time. We've had it good, being able to watch a good team, without a lot of that.

I would never trade what we have for the bigger schools - never. They can keep their huge ticket prices, required donations, and massive traffic jams leaving the game. I always say this every time I go to a game in a bigger venue. They can have it.

In that case the MAC is a good fit for NIU and we should stop lusting after becoming a member of a more high profile conference.

We cannot have it both ways

I;m not one of those lusting for a "bigger" conference. I'm good with the mAC. Would like to see the MAC stronger tho.

See that's the big problem we face in the MAC. I'd love to stay in the MAC if they were to get stronger too, but that is simply not the case. MAC official's seem to only want stay at the same level that they are at and seem to have no plan to elevate the league. All problems in recent years have been patched with temporary moves and nothing has been done to make anything "permanent."

If NIU football continues this sort of dominance over the league then there is NO way that we should be staying in the MAC if any other conferences have interest in us (Big 12, AAC, etc). This includes Toledo and Ohio as well.

Thank you... I went a day or two thinking maybe I'm alone in wanting the huskies to change conferences. I dont want this to be the end of the golden era. If we move up, we might suck at first, but eventually our recruiting classes will get better, and we will be able to compete with the best teams.

It seems that people would rather be in the MAC and get cheaper tickets, than play B12 /B10/etc opponents as in conference games. WTF? If we were gaurenteed to play them every year, you can't tell me we wouldn't pick up thousands of season ticket holders, and that the increased price tickets wouldn't be worth it.

(04-11-2014 11:56 AM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(04-11-2014 10:50 AM)HuskieFootball Addict Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 01:56 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 08:42 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 08:32 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  In a way I am too, until I think about it a little more. It starts to price out people that just can't spend that much for 1 game, and becomes a little elitist. There are downsides other than price, like crappy seats and not being able to get out of the parking lot for a long time. We've had it good, being able to watch a good team, without a lot of that.

I would never trade what we have for the bigger schools - never. They can keep their huge ticket prices, required donations, and massive traffic jams leaving the game. I always say this every time I go to a game in a bigger venue. They can have it.

In that case the MAC is a good fit for NIU and we should stop lusting after becoming a member of a more high profile conference.

We cannot have it both ways

I;m not one of those lusting for a "bigger" conference. I'm good with the mAC. Would like to see the MAC stronger tho.

See that's the big problem we face in the MAC. I'd love to stay in the MAC if they were to get stronger too, but that is simply not the case. MAC official's seem to only want stay at the same level that they are at and seem to have no plan to elevate the league. All problems in recent years have been patched with temporary moves and nothing has been done to make anything "permanent."

If NIU football continues this sort of dominance over the league then there is NO way that we should be staying in the MAC if any other conferences have interest in us (Big 12, AAC, etc). This includes Toledo and Ohio as well.

If the B12 invited NIU would accept in a heartbeat. An AAC move would require NIU to get better in hoops in a hurry or risk huge embarrassment. As mediocre to bad as the bottom half to 2/3 of the MAC is, the AAC isn't much better if at all. only 4 AAC teams had winning records last year and that includes Lville who left and Rutgers was 6-6 (lost their bowl) and they're gone. SMU(5-7) beat Montana State by 1 pt. UConn(3-9) lost to FCS runner up Towson by 2 TD's, USF was 2-10 including a beatdown by FCS McNeese St(53-21) Temple was 2-10 with a loss to Patriot league Fordham, Memphis (3-9) included losses to UConn, Temple, and Middle Tn St.

East Carolina and Navy are obvious upgrades for the AAC but Tulsa(3-9 with losses to North Texas by 32, Marshall, UTSA by 19 &BGSU by 27) not so much. Tulane will be decent, moving from CUSA to AAC should cement their status as the #2 team in talent rich Louisiana

NIU has 6 MAC opponents within 300 miles (BGSU, Toledo, BSU, EMU, WMU, CMU) and 1 within 200 miles(WMU).

Unless Toledo would move to the AAC along with NIU, the only other program about 300 miles or closer is Cincy. Memphis is 500 miles, Temple is 800, with UConn, UCF, USF, SMU, Houston, Tulane, ECU all 1000 miles or further. Few close road games for fans to travel to.

The only AAC teams that could get an attendance bump in DeKalb are Cincy & Navy. Doubt there is any local interest in any of the other teams.

(04-12-2014 11:28 AM)Policiious Wrote:  

(04-11-2014 11:56 AM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(04-11-2014 10:50 AM)HuskieFootball Addict Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 01:56 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 08:42 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I would never trade what we have for the bigger schools - never. They can keep their huge ticket prices, required donations, and massive traffic jams leaving the game. I always say this every time I go to a game in a bigger venue. They can have it.

In that case the MAC is a good fit for NIU and we should stop lusting after becoming a member of a more high profile conference.

We cannot have it both ways

I;m not one of those lusting for a "bigger" conference. I'm good with the mAC. Would like to see the MAC stronger tho.

See that's the big problem we face in the MAC. I'd love to stay in the MAC if they were to get stronger too, but that is simply not the case. MAC official's seem to only want stay at the same level that they are at and seem to have no plan to elevate the league. All problems in recent years have been patched with temporary moves and nothing has been done to make anything "permanent."

If NIU football continues this sort of dominance over the league then there is NO way that we should be staying in the MAC if any other conferences have interest in us (Big 12, AAC, etc). This includes Toledo and Ohio as well.

If the B12 invited NIU would accept in a heartbeat. An AAC move would require NIU to get better in hoops in a hurry or risk huge embarrassment. As mediocre to bad as the bottom half to 2/3 of the MAC is, the AAC isn't much better if at all. only 4 AAC teams had winning records last year and that includes Lville who left and Rutgers was 6-6 (lost their bowl) and they're gone. SMU(5-7) beat Montana State by 1 pt. UConn(3-9) lost to FCS runner up Towson by 2 TD's, USF was 2-10 including a beatdown by FCS McNeese St(53-21) Temple was 2-10 with a loss to Patriot league Fordham, Memphis (3-9) included losses to UConn, Temple, and Middle Tn St.

East Carolina and Navy are obvious upgrades for the AAC but Tulsa(3-9 with losses to North Texas by 32, Marshall, UTSA by 19 &BGSU by 27) not so much. Tulane will be decent, moving from CUSA to AAC should cement their status as the #2 team in talent rich Louisiana

NIU has 6 MAC opponents within 300 miles (BGSU, Toledo, BSU, EMU, WMU, CMU) and 1 within 200 miles(WMU).

Unless Toledo would move to the AAC along with NIU, the only other program about 300 miles or closer is Cincy. Memphis is 500 miles, Temple is 800, with UConn, UCF, USF, SMU, Houston, Tulane, ECU all 1000 miles or further. Few close road games for fans to travel to.

The only AAC teams that could get an attendance bump in DeKalb are Cincy & Navy. Doubt there is any local interest in any of the other teams.

The biggest thing I Fear about going to AAC is being locked down. If we move there, it would seem that we would be stuck there and possibly deter future offers to join an AQ conference anytime soon. Id rather be in the AAC, BUT I don't know if it would be the right move in terms of long term goals.

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

(04-12-2014 11:28 AM)Policiious Wrote:  

(04-11-2014 11:56 AM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(04-11-2014 10:50 AM)HuskieFootball Addict Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 01:56 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  

(04-10-2014 08:42 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

See that's the big problem we face in the MAC. I'd love to stay in the MAC if they were to get stronger too, but that is simply not the case. MAC official's seem to only want stay at the same level that they are at and seem to have no plan to elevate the league. All problems in recent years have been patched with temporary moves and nothing has been done to make anything "permanent."

If NIU football continues this sort of dominance over the league then there is NO way that we should be staying in the MAC if any other conferences have interest in us (Big 12, AAC, etc). This includes Toledo and Ohio as well.

If the B12 invited NIU would accept in a heartbeat. An AAC move would require NIU to get better in hoops in a hurry or risk huge embarrassment. As mediocre to bad as the bottom half to 2/3 of the MAC is, the AAC isn't much better if at all. only 4 AAC teams had winning records last year and that includes Lville who left and Rutgers was 6-6 (lost their bowl) and they're gone. SMU(5-7) beat Montana State by 1 pt. UConn(3-9) lost to FCS runner up Towson by 2 TD's, USF was 2-10 including a beatdown by FCS McNeese St(53-21) Temple was 2-10 with a loss to Patriot league Fordham, Memphis (3-9) included losses to UConn, Temple, and Middle Tn St.

East Carolina and Navy are obvious upgrades for the AAC but Tulsa(3-9 with losses to North Texas by 32, Marshall, UTSA by 19 &BGSU by 27) not so much. Tulane will be decent, moving from CUSA to AAC should cement their status as the #2 team in talent rich Louisiana

NIU has 6 MAC opponents within 300 miles (BGSU, Toledo, BSU, EMU, WMU, CMU) and 1 within 200 miles(WMU).

Unless Toledo would move to the AAC along with NIU, the only other program about 300 miles or closer is Cincy. Memphis is 500 miles, Temple is 800, with UConn, UCF, USF, SMU, Houston, Tulane, ECU all 1000 miles or further. Few close road games for fans to travel to.

The only AAC teams that could get an attendance bump in DeKalb are Cincy & Navy. Doubt there is any local interest in any of the other teams.

The Tulsa comment is a little nearsighted. They have played in 8 bowl games since 2003 and made the NCAA tourney in hoops this season. Last year was a down year in football for them but prior to that under Steve Kragthorpe and Todd Graham they were making and winning bowl games regularly. 2007 GMAC they blew out Bowling Green 63 - 7 and 2008 GMAC they blew out Ball State 45 - 13. They would be a worthy conference mate.

BIG 12 move would be a no-brainer and I think AAC move would have to be strongly considered if an invite came over. I agree that the MAC would be a fine league if the whole league would improve and take a step forward but reality is that will not be happening any time soon. There will continue to be a couple solid teams and a couple total dogs year end year out.

We don't have the money for either conference

(04-13-2014 08:12 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  We don't have the money for either conference

Because 223k of our 225k alums don't take the MAC seriously so they don't donate to athletics.

(04-13-2014 08:19 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(04-13-2014 08:12 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  We don't have the money for either conference

Because 223k of our 225k alums don't take the MAC seriously so they don't donate to athletics.

And the donations will have to come before a conference change comes...right?

(04-13-2014 08:46 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(04-13-2014 08:19 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(04-13-2014 08:12 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  We don't have the money for either conference

Because 223k of our 225k alums don't take the MAC seriously so they don't donate to athletics.

And the donations will have to come before a conference change comes...right?

Absolutely...but at least now we have an AD who wants to present and sell the vision.

(04-13-2014 09:24 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(04-13-2014 08:46 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(04-13-2014 08:19 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(04-13-2014 08:12 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  We don't have the money for either conference

Because 223k of our 225k alums don't take the MAC seriously so they don't donate to athletics.

And the donations will have to come before a conference change comes...right?

Absolutely...but at least now we have an AD who wants to present and sell the vision.

Wonder if we'll hear anything new when he speaks on Saturday.

(04-13-2014 09:57 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(04-13-2014 09:24 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(04-13-2014 08:46 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(04-13-2014 08:19 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(04-13-2014 08:12 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  We don't have the money for either conference

Because 223k of our 225k alums don't take the MAC seriously so they don't donate to athletics.

And the donations will have to come before a conference change comes...right?

Absolutely...but at least now we have an AD who wants to present and sell the vision.

Wonder if we'll hear anything new when he speaks on Saturday.

I will be disappointed if we don't.

(04-13-2014 08:19 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(04-13-2014 08:12 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  We don't have the money for either conference

Because 223k of our 225k alums don't take the MAC seriously so they don't donate to athletics.

I am talking big bucks not new HAF members. To be in a bigger conference several of the facilities would have to be updated including the football stadium