(11-05-2014 07:54 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  IMO, as said before: NIU will need to have more fans. With your new stadium, that'll put you on track Toward that, or to be a big player in the AAC or MW if/when that comes about.

To get to the AAC/MW, having 20k fans as on the lower-end of (actual) attendances -- would be the key to joining.

To get to the B12, having 30k fans on any "nothing special" day of actual attendance would be the key to joining there.

Essentially, you can't have 16k (actual) fans as a "It's not bad here". It'd be more like "Gawd, it's raining all over the place." + having an 8 win season in the MAC be bad. Now, you could join the MAC East to have that part 100% prevented, and give the MAC West BGSU - lol.

The venue and competition creates fans and improves attendance. Just look at the games where P5 schools came to DeKalb.

(11-05-2014 10:15 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  We have enough trouble with the MAC. I can really see the big conferences beating down our door. This conference change talk amazes me. But, it provides a much-needed laugh.

Really it is you naysayers who are a joke. Of course it would amaze people afraid of change. Good thing people like you do not run technology companies. We would still be riding horses and delivering mail via pony express. But you naysayers do provide a great laugh.

(11-06-2014 07:42 AM)COHUSKIE Wrote:  

(11-05-2014 10:15 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  We have enough trouble with the MAC. I can really see the big conferences beating down our door. This conference change talk amazes me. But, it provides a much-needed laugh.

Really it is you naysayers who are a joke. Of course it would amaze people afraid of change. Good thing people like you do not run technology companies. We would still be riding horses and delivering mail via pony express. But you naysayers do provide a great laugh.

If I were running a tech company, I would make sure we are positioned to change. Technology, product development, and FINANCES. Of course it should be a goal for NIU to improve and move up. Now is not the time. We are not ready.

I'd like to buy a $1 million mansion. But, ya know what? Ain't gonna happen because I don't have the resources and am not that dumb.

Hey, as long as we should move up to a bigger conference now, why go the Big 12? What's wrong with the SEC or Pac 10? I think I will write to STF and demand that he push us into either of those conferences.

(11-06-2014 07:42 AM)COHUSKIE Wrote:  Really it is you naysayers who are a joke. Of course it would amaze people afraid of change. Good thing people like you do not run technology companies. We would still be riding horses and delivering mail via pony express. But you naysayers do provide a great laugh.

Why is it that as soon as someone asks a question, plays devil's advocate, or simply wonders if additional steps are involved, they're branded a naysayer? It's not that people are afraid of change, they question change just for the sake of change.
Aside from the truth behind those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it, some of us have seen coaches and administrators who could talk the talk, but not walk the walk. We had an administration that thought going independent would be great -- led to joining the Big West -- obviously wasn't the answer. And again, while the majority on this board only care about football, changes affect the entire athletic program. Contrary to what you think, many of those you brand as "naysayers" just want to make certain we make the right move.

(11-06-2014 12:11 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 07:42 AM)COHUSKIE Wrote:  Really it is you naysayers who are a joke. Of course it would amaze people afraid of change. Good thing people like you do not run technology companies. We would still be riding horses and delivering mail via pony express. But you naysayers do provide a great laugh.

Why is it that as soon as someone asks a question, plays devil's advocate, or simply wonders if additional steps are involved, they're branded a naysayer? It's not that people are afraid of change, they question change just for the sake of change.
Aside from the truth behind those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it, some of us have seen coaches and administrators who could talk the talk, but not walk the walk. We had an administration that thought going independent would be great -- led to joining the Big West -- obviously wasn't the answer. And again, while the majority on this board only care about football, changes affect the entire athletic program. Contrary to what you think, many of those you brand as "naysayers" just want to make certain we make the right move.

And those that continue to do what they have always done will continue to get what they already have.

Quote:Aside from the truth behind those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it, some of us have seen coaches and administrators who could talk the talk, but not walk the walk. We had an administration that thought going independent would be great -- led to joining the Big West -- obviously wasn't the answer.

Or going to CUSA -- a good move for Marshall for several years, but not in recent times or for the future. With all those "newbie" colleges in there, it's them (and LA-Tech coming in after) making the conference being above the Sun Belt. They're lucky LA-Tech joined last year with the WAC dissolving (and not joining MW).

IMO, the P12 may take a couple from the MW to go P14, while the B12 wanting to expand is going to take from MW & AAC to get to 12 then 14 teams with some TV contract and all that. Take that, along with some newbie colleges falling back to FCS or canceling their football program (as pointed out above)...

Basically, the leftovers of the G5 in the 2020s may want to make 2 "big" mid-major conferences in the west & east, or just 1 "solid" one along with a couple other smaller ones (MAC, SunBelt).

Stuff's going to get weird within the next 10 years, I think.

But in all actuality: Top G5s in perf & attendance (both football & basketball) like Boise, ECU, UConn, San Diego State -- they'll go to the P5. Combine that with "newbie" colleges dropping football -- and we may have *4* G5s, not 5 anymore, and people go scrambling.

The MAC has held stready/strong through all this stuff -- but that may be enough to make the MAC shift around with other ones. I dunno! I wouldn't want that though.

If we ever did move conferences I would hope that we keep continue to play Toledo, Ball St and maybe WMU in occasional 1-1s.

(11-06-2014 03:36 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:Aside from the truth behind those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it, some of us have seen coaches and administrators who could talk the talk, but not walk the walk. We had an administration that thought going independent would be great -- led to joining the Big West -- obviously wasn't the answer.

Or going to CUSA -- a good move for Marshall for several years, but not in recent times or for the future. With all those "newbie" colleges in there, it's them (and LA-Tech coming in after) making the conference being above the Sun Belt. They're lucky LA-Tech joined last year with the WAC dissolving (and not joining MW).

IMO, the P12 may take a couple from the MW to go P14, while the B12 wanting to expand is going to take from MW & AAC to get to 12 then 14 teams with some TV contract and all that. Take that, along with some newbie colleges falling back to FCS or canceling their football program (as pointed out above)...

Basically, the leftovers of the G5 in the 2020s may want to make 2 "big" mid-major conferences in the west & east, or just 1 "solid" one along with a couple other smaller ones (MAC, SunBelt).

Stuff's going to get weird within the next 10 years, I think.

But in all actuality: Top G5s in perf & attendance (both football & basketball) like Boise, ECU, UConn, San Diego State -- they'll go to the P5. Combine that with "newbie" colleges dropping football -- and we may have *4* G5s, not 5 anymore, and people go scrambling.

The MAC has held stready/strong through all this stuff -- but that may be enough to make the MAC shift around with other ones. I dunno! I wouldn't want that though.

The landscape has really changed, and I don't think a G5 to G5 move makes any sense for any MAC team or any other G5 school for that matter.

(11-06-2014 05:21 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  The landscape has really changed, and I don't think a G5 to G5 move makes any sense for any MAC team or any other G5 school for that matter.

Careful.....you're begging for COHUSKIE to call you a naysayer because you simply want NIU to look before it leaps.

If you're not moving forward, you're falling back. There is no status quo. There is no standing still. Burn that in your brain. The MAC has been great to us. With recent and planned facilities upgrades, NIU should be able to out-recruit the rest of the MAC. We have been the dominant program in the MAC for the past several years. But, the Midwest is losing ground to the rest of the country in terms of population, jobs, etc..
Now is the time to plan for and hopefully make an upgrade across the board. Pres. Baker and AD Frazier see this and are moving on it. For NIU to become the school we have always dreamt it could be, the long range plans for the campus, city, and athletics need to be funded and completed. Part of making this happen is, in my opinion, a move to a more recognized athletic conference. The Big 12 would be great but may not be in the short term possibilities. The AAC might be great if they were to add NIU and another school, possibly Buffalo, Marshall, or another. From an AAC point of view, I think they need to be considering how they can get from G5 to P5 status. With no help from the state, NIU friends and supporters need to seek funding from every possible source, corporations, towns, alums, friends, foundations, etc.. We need to make this happen.

(11-06-2014 06:20 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 05:21 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  The landscape has really changed, and I don't think a G5 to G5 move makes any sense for any MAC team or any other G5 school for that matter.

Careful.....you're begging for COHUSKIE to call you a naysayer because you simply want NIU to look before it leaps.

This quote alone does not make MD a naysayer, however...

(11-07-2014 10:20 AM)NIUslumo Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 06:20 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 05:21 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  The landscape has really changed, and I don't think a G5 to G5 move makes any sense for any MAC team or any other G5 school for that matter.

Careful.....you're begging for COHUSKIE to call you a naysayer because you simply want NIU to look before it leaps.

This quote alone does not make MD a naysayer, however...

One of my trustworthy contacts told me that STF just got a call from the SEC inviting us to join with no conditions! To make room for us, they will be kicking out Arkansas.

I heard this really pissed off the B1G, which planned on inviting us next week. To induce us to join, they said they are planning to show our games simultaneously on all of the B1G Network channels, which would henceforth be know as HuskieVision. And, in our honor, the network will be showing replays of all of our recent victories over B1G teams.

Wow, it is SO good to be us!!!

(11-06-2014 12:11 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 07:42 AM)COHUSKIE Wrote:  Really it is you naysayers who are a joke. Of course it would amaze people afraid of change. Good thing people like you do not run technology companies. We would still be riding horses and delivering mail via pony express. But you naysayers do provide a great laugh.

Why is it that as soon as someone asks a question, plays devil's advocate, or simply wonders if additional steps are involved, they're branded a naysayer? It's not that people are afraid of change, they question change just for the sake of change.
Aside from the truth behind those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it, some of us have seen coaches and administrators who could talk the talk, but not walk the walk. We had an administration that thought going independent would be great -- led to joining the Big West -- obviously wasn't the answer. And again, while the majority on this board only care about football, changes affect the entire athletic program. Contrary to what you think, many of those you brand as "naysayers" just want to make certain we make the right move.

Going independent was a terrible move I agree but going to the Big 12 or AAU would be great. We would keep almost all of our sports and add some new ones that NIU would be able to do with the money that comes with a big conference. The talent level in all of our sports would rise significantly as well meaning more attendance, a stronger program, and more donations.

Just too a peak thru the Cincinnati new premium skybox thing they are building and the cost for seats...

http://www.gobearcats.com/nippert/home.html
Ourdoor Club seat $2500 per seat with a 3 year commitment
Lodge Seat $4000 per seat (4 or 8 seat options) with a 5 year commitment
Founder Club $6500 per seat with a 3 year commitment
Founder Suite (22-26 guests) $100,000 per year with a 10 year commitment


...and some B12 fans don't think Cinci is ready.

The other 2 things to keep an eye on is chatter that UAB maybe dropping football after the 2016 season, and how the B12 will react this post season if they are left out. Many will speculate the fact that if they had a conference championship game like the other P5 conferences, would it have propelled a KSU or TCU into the 4 team playoff.

(11-07-2014 02:38 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Just too a peak thru the Cincinnati new premium skybox thing they are building and the cost for seats...

http://www.gobearcats.com/nippert/home.html
Ourdoor Club seat $2500 per seat with a 3 year commitment
Lodge Seat $4000 per seat (4 or 8 seat options) with a 5 year commitment
Founder Club $6500 per seat with a 3 year commitment
Founder Suite (22-26 guests) $100,000 per year with a 10 year commitment


...and some B12 fans don't think Cinci is ready.

Gee, I sure hope those seats come with a luxurious locker for the ladies to hang their mink coats. I would assume that those seats are paired with an indoor parking space where the donors can park their Bentleys.

(11-07-2014 02:43 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  The other 2 things to keep an eye on is chatter that UAB maybe dropping football after the 2016 season, and how the B12 will react this post season if they are left out. Many will speculate the fact that if they had a conference championship game like the other P5 conferences, would it have propelled a KSU or TCU into the 4 team playoff.

In my selfishness, I hope that they don't make it.

(11-07-2014 02:43 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  The other 2 things to keep an eye on is chatter that UAB maybe dropping football after the 2016 season, and how the B12 will react this post season if they are left out. Many will speculate the fact that if they had a conference championship game like the other P5 conferences, would it have propelled a KSU or TCU into the 4 team playoff.

It doesn't seem to be voluntary...see top of the board for thread from GT if you (speaking to all) have no idea what going on there.


The next 2-3 seasons we really do not want the B12 to get left out. Right now there is NO chance that we are sniffed by them for consideration because we are not ready. In 4 years we could be worthy of a sniff if the fans pay up for these improvements.

(11-07-2014 03:01 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(11-07-2014 02:43 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  The other 2 things to keep an eye on is chatter that UAB maybe dropping football after the 2016 season, and how the B12 will react this post season if they are left out. Many will speculate the fact that if they had a conference championship game like the other P5 conferences, would it have propelled a KSU or TCU into the 4 team playoff.

It doesn't seem to be voluntary...see top of the board for thread from GT if you (speaking to all) have no idea what going on there.


The next 2-3 seasons we really do not want the B12 to get left out. Right now there is NO chance that we are sniffed by them for consideration because we are not ready. In 4 years we could be worthy of a sniff if the fans pay up for these improvements.

As someone else mentioned, it will be interesting to see if this is the first pin in a string of schools to drop the program or move down. If other BOT see this and assess their own program's health, there maybe more to come.