(09-21-2014 09:29 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 08:17 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  "As far as taking offers from other conferences, that’s not on the table at this point." - Frazier

http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/illin...azier.html

Interesting comment but while there may not be a standing offer out from another league today it wouldn't shock me if Frazier has had dialogue to gauge where we need to invest to be in the best position possible to move should something open up down the road. I am anxiously awaiting the release of the masters facility plan.

I don't put much stock in what Frazier said about other conferences. He has to say that until the deal is actually done.

(09-21-2014 10:15 PM)huskiebob Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 09:29 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 08:17 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  "As far as taking offers from other conferences, that’s not on the table at this point." - Frazier

http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/illin...azier.html

Interesting comment but while there may not be a standing offer out from another league today it wouldn't shock me if Frazier has had dialogue to gauge where we need to invest to be in the best position possible to move should something open up down the road. I am anxiously awaiting the release of the masters facility plan.

I don't put much stock in what Frazier said about other conferences. He has to say that until the deal is actually done.

Exactly. There is no way he would say we are actively looking into other conference affiliation after we just signed the TV deal. Also if nothing transpires from his search, it reflects poorly on him with his MAC peers and the media.

Big 12 or Bust

In reality, it depends on the viewing market the team would bring in and viewing market determines the value of the television contract. The SEC expanded theirs by grabbing a team in Texas and Missouri leading to a huge tv contract which it shares equally among the teams. The Big 12 almost disbanded a couple of years ago under a conference commissioner who was asleep at the wheel. They are trumpeting right now their record revenues, but (I think) it is just a matter of time before other conferences with larger market exposure and national interest start making the B12 revenues look small. In my opinion (not worth much), I think they really want to get back to 12 teams and want/need that conference championship game...which brings in more revenue and clout when trying to get teams into the playoff. I have no idea if NIU is even on the B12 radar or if they are even entertaining expansion, but I think the B12 is sensitive because of almost collapsing and will eventually expand...maybe when their current TV contract is closer to expiring. I know NIU is gaining popularity and ya'll certainly have the tv market...who knows. Personally...I live in the Oklahoma City area and I would love to see your team play/whip Texas, OU, and OK State.

Quote:Big 12 or Bust

Jumping right to the B12 isn't an option right now, though. Expanding the stadium and averaging fans in the mid 20s and not the mid teens, while the basketball team improving and going to some post-season quasi-tourneys -- that'll be enough to bring you to the AAC, possibly. Especially if AAC gets a team or two yanked from the B12.

To join the B12, if they're wanting more to expand to 14 or something, you'll have to be averaging 35k a game, I would think -- and doing WELL in the AAC consistently.

Why hasn't Boise gone to the B12? They chose to stay in MW and NOT go to the Big East/AAC. THEY Could make the jump with their fan-base and OK basketball team. If I'm the B12, I'd choose them first, of course. But if they're not, then the B12 isn't set to obtain anyone quite yet anyway.

Which is good for NIU if they want to move up. Expand stadium, win consistently, improve bball, and join AAC if possible. Then a few years in, if D1A football is going to split mid-majors, B12 might be looking to pick teams up from the mid-majors.

It's pretty ballsy to expect, unlike UCF, ECU, or Marshall -- to jump from low-end mid-major conference to Big Conference, with no in-between... especially when it's a "big deal" to get 22k fans, when winning over 11+ games 4 year straight. I say aim to expand + set up to join AAC, or possibly CUSA if AAC isn't accepting anyone -- do very well there, then aim to hop to B12 over some time.

Or stay in the MAC, and if there's a scramble for all big conferences to go 16 teams due to a P5/G5 league split -- if NIU wins the Mac West every year -- they'll be picked up anyway, while having had a better chance of Dominating an environment, which ups their chances of the B12 snapping them up.

Boise probably wouldn't bring in more money for the Big 12. They would make the Big 12 more competitive, for sure, but money is all that mattes in sports these days. As far as NIU not being good at basketball... You can be good in one sport and terrible in another, just look at Memphis being in the AAC.

(09-20-2014 03:53 PM)oilgasusa Wrote:  We gotta get out of this sorry ass conference. It's like a job. Somebody gives you the opportunity and you take the job. Then when a better job comes along you take it. There is no loyalty between an employee and employer anymore. The same goes for NCAA football. Just look at all the conference moves lately. We won't be at the top of the MAC forever. Now is the time to try to jump ship. I don't know where, but we need to push now.

Worked out great the last time you tried it...

(09-22-2014 12:21 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(09-20-2014 03:53 PM)oilgasusa Wrote:  We gotta get out of this sorry ass conference. It's like a job. Somebody gives you the opportunity and you take the job. Then when a better job comes along you take it. There is no loyalty between an employee and employer anymore. The same goes for NCAA football. Just look at all the conference moves lately. We won't be at the top of the MAC forever. Now is the time to try to jump ship. I don't know where, but we need to push now.

Worked out great the last time you tried it...

Yeah, because that was the EXACT same situation...pssshhh

Yeah, basketball really has nothing to do with this. Rutgers was invited to the B1G, and UCONN is still stuck in the AAC. I think that tells all with what really matters in this discussion. It's all about the mighty football dollar.

(09-21-2014 09:29 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 08:17 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  "As far as taking offers from other conferences, that’s not on the table at this point." - Frazier

http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/illin...azier.html

Interesting comment but while there may not be a standing offer out from another league today it wouldn't shock me if Frazier has had dialogue to gauge where we need to invest to be in the best position possible to move should something open up down the road. I am anxiously awaiting the release of the masters facility plan.

FIRE HIM NOW!


If NIU isn't in accepting B12 invite by end of this year FIRE him then!

Ok, maybe end of 2015, but no later...FIRE HIM!!!!!!!

And then we put together a commission from this board to elect an AD that will!!!!! Give them a year, if not FIRE them!!!!!!!!!

Quote:You can be good in one sport and terrible in another, just look at Memphis being in the AAC.

True -- but Memphis was in CUSA and can draw fans -- and they are better in football this year. But AAC is a basketball-oriented conference (Big East).

Quote:Yeah, basketball really has nothing to do with this. Rutgers was invited to the B1G, and UCONN is still stuck in the AAC. I think that tells all with what really matters in this discussion. It's all about the mighty football dollar.

UConn is only in the AAC because of basketball. :) They jumped from D1AA -> Big East because they were a basketball power there. Rutgers gets a good fiery fan-base.

It's basically all about fans. Winning? Yeah, that indicates more fans. But fans brings $$. If you lack in fans, you'll need something -- like a great BBall team + a great mid-major football team. You'll need to bring more to the table.

If NIU drew in 45k fans a game -- there'd be no discussion about their basketball team supplementing, or how many hop-skips-and-jumps toward a P5 conference, as they could jump right in to the first P5 needing someone new, after going 11+ wins four years straight w/ 45k+ fans on average each game.

Fans, fans, fans.

NIU could jump in the CUSA right now, if CUSA was wanting another team after yanking tons of other teams recently. AAC would be tougher -- that's a step up, and there, yeah, bball does mean something if the football team is lacking in fan-base. But with an NIU stadium expansion and more marketing $$ due to joining a bigger $$ G5 conference -- they could whip that up in not too long of time... THEN think about going B12 after getting situated there, etc.

The only thing stopping NIU from joining a new conference is lack of fan support. If NIU drew like ECU did, they'd be in a new conference already.

Quote:If NIU drew like ECU did, they'd be in a new conference already.

Absolutely. After going 11+ wins, 4 years straight, and being relatively close to the B12 unlike ECU? They'd be hopping in this year to the B12 already.

That's what they need to work their way up on -- fan base. Which, IMO, requires stadium rennovations + more marketing = more money. Joining CUSA would help a bit in the $$ dept, but would be a lateral move. CUSA would just not be as bad as the MAC in their own down years. But winning the CUSA would get more exposure, etc -- and possibly easier to jump to the B12 if they're selling out 30k all the time in their expanded stadium with promises to expand more.

(09-22-2014 01:14 PM)7 Wrote:  The only thing stopping NIU from joining a new conference is lack of fan support. If NIU drew like ECU did, they'd be in a new conference already.

True of every team in the MAC....

(09-22-2014 01:14 PM)7 Wrote:  The only thing stopping NIU from joining a new conference is lack of fan support. If NIU drew like ECU did, they'd be in a new conference already.

And if my Aunt had balls......

(09-22-2014 02:06 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(09-22-2014 01:14 PM)7 Wrote:  The only thing stopping NIU from joining a new conference is lack of fan support. If NIU drew like ECU did, they'd be in a new conference already.

And if my Aunt had balls......

She'd be an Arkansas fan.

(09-22-2014 02:09 PM)7 Wrote:  

(09-22-2014 02:06 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(09-22-2014 01:14 PM)7 Wrote:  The only thing stopping NIU from joining a new conference is lack of fan support. If NIU drew like ECU did, they'd be in a new conference already.

And if my Aunt had balls......

She'd be an Arkansas fan.

Although........Their fans received favorable reports from those that were in Fayetteville.

Think you should have gone with Iowa, but I'll give ya the

(09-22-2014 02:06 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(09-22-2014 01:14 PM)7 Wrote:  The only thing stopping NIU from joining a new conference is lack of fan support. If NIU drew like ECU did, they'd be in a new conference already.

And if my Aunt had balls......

+1

HAHA...I was going to put similar before.

Is going independent still a possibility? Stay in MAC for all other sports? Seems like easy way to enhance schedule. Could always fall back on MAC to fill in scheduling holes.

NO NO, WE WILL NOT BE GOING IDEPENDENT!