First off this was an amazing even for a "little guy" like me. Honestly there is no reason I should have access to an event like this because of my little guy status. Athletics sent out over 1300 invites to all the season ticket holders with a total of 75 open spots and I think there were maybe 15 of us at most. I know some people are turned off by the "stuffy donor event" but really that is just because fans are not coming to these things. For all the talk about us moving up flat out this event needs to be sold out next year.

Now on the event details.
The pre-ceremony event was set up very nicely in the glass room by the main entrance. This would have been much more fun/interesting with 60 more NIU fans. The appetizers were chicken skewers, BBQ meatballs, cheese, crackers and grapes. Everything was fresh and tasted good. The water and pop were free, beer in a bottle was $4 and wine by the glass was $5. You could not leave the glass room with any booze so I couldn't go exploring.

Frazier was there for about 30min and Coach Carey about the last 15min. Most of the other administrators were also there. We have apparently hired a new guy from Oregon St who's wife is already on the staff (O'Quin) and worked with John Cheney.

When it was time to go into the Ballroom the players, coaches and recruits were already in there for a while. If you ditched the season ticket holder thing I am sure you could mingle with the players but avoiding the recruits! There were 46 tables all together with 10 per table. All the previous years trophies were on the stage with 3 mannequins of NIU uni combos. This years MACC and Western division trophy were in front of a backdrop with a photographer. This seemed mostly for the players and recruits but I am sure the fans could have done this too.

The season ticket holders/donors were sat at tables that were a paper airplanes throw from the stage. Brad Hoy was the MC and as great as he is on script he kind of fumbles around when ad libbing. He does have a real dislike for Marshall and really wants us to beat them. Frazier spoke and nothing was really new. Carey spoke quickly then it was dinner time.

Dinner was buffet style and all very fresh and good other than some cuts of the beef was slightly chewy but not all. Salad, rolls, green beans (plain), mashed potato, mostaccioli with cheese, grilled chicken in sweet peppers, beef cuts ranging from medium to well done. Lemonade and unsweet ice tea were on the back side of the room on your way back to your table. Water and coffee were on the table. I got my reminder that Dekalb water sucks so much so I went for an Arnold Palmer. The lines moved quickly and there was really not feeling of really waiting at all. While we ate they had season highlights in a very choppy edited style. I was fine with this but I could see maybe that an older audience would not enjoy as much...but you have to figure the average age in the room is 19 or 20.

After a short time of eating Hoey and Carey went on the stage to hand out the awards. None of the awards were a surprise other than Offensive POY went to Eakes. Carey said Eakes is the best TE in the conference and it was his (Carey's) fault that Tim didn't win any Conference award because we didn't throw it to him.

One thing that really got me is how much larger the young kids are compared to the Seniors in this class (other than the OL of course).

Stingly seems to have gotten hurt this summer carrying some groceries in to the house. Apparently he lost feeling in his hand all of the sudden and he didn't even realize that he dropped the apple juice that he was bringing in. They took him to MANY specialists and they had no clue what was going on so they said just wait and see. He was cleared for the PC game but they wanted to work him in slowly.

The injury that Bass had at the end of last season continued on thru this season. They had some surgery but it never really got right. Carey did say that though he got a bad deal with it that Bass was still at every practice and away game that he could travel helping coaching the players and that he was a huge help to the team this season.

Carey and Santa apparently had some off the field issues that Mike had to work thru. Santa ended up winning the most inspirational player award.

Carey made a joke about how he and kickers didn't get along.

What I really liked to hear through the night was the desire to win this bowl game. Totally under the radar is that this Senior class is now tied with last years class as the winningest class ever. Carey says that the Seniors are totally driven towards this goal for them as a group. Finishing strong with a bowl win was a theme the whole night.

I am sure I forgot some things...

This years signing day event on Feb 4th will be at Acquaviva Winery in Maple Park. If you live within 1hr drive do your best to attend we really need to sell this thing out!

How much was last night's event? I never even looked at the emails because I didn't think I would even fit in, nor did I really want to seem like a creepy fanboy.

(12-14-2014 01:54 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  First off this was an amazing even for a "little guy" like me. Honestly there is no reason I should have access to an event like this because of my little guy status. Athletics sent out over 1300 invites to all the season ticket holders with a total of 75 open spots and I think there were maybe 15 of us at most. I know some people are turned off by the "stuffy donor event" but really that is just because fans are not coming to these things. For all the talk about us moving up flat out this event needs to be sold out next year.

Now on the event details.
The pre-ceremony event was set up very nicely in the glass room by the main entrance. This would have been much more fun/interesting with 60 more NIU fans. The appetizers were chicken skewers, BBQ meatballs, cheese, crackers and grapes. Everything was fresh and tasted good. The water and pop were free, beer in a bottle was $4 and wine by the glass was $5. You could not leave the glass room with any booze so I couldn't go exploring.

Frazier was there for about 30min and Coach Carey about the last 15min. Most of the other administrators were also there. We have apparently hired a new guy from Oregon St who's wife is already on the staff (O'Quin) and worked with John Cheney.

When it was time to go into the Ballroom the players, coaches and recruits were already in there for a while. If you ditched the season ticket holder thing I am sure you could mingle with the players but avoiding the recruits! There were 46 tables all together with 10 per table. All the previous years trophies were on the stage with 3 mannequins of NIU uni combos. This years MACC and Western division trophy were in front of a backdrop with a photographer. This seemed mostly for the players and recruits but I am sure the fans could have done this too.

The season ticket holders/donors were sat at tables that were a paper airplanes throw from the stage. Brad Hoy was the MC and as great as he is on script he kind of fumbles around when ad libbing. He does have a real dislike for Marshall and really wants us to beat them. Frazier spoke and nothing was really new. Carey spoke quickly then it was dinner time.

Dinner was buffet style and all very fresh and good other than some cuts of the beef was slightly chewy but not all. Salad, rolls, green beans (plain), mashed potato, mostaccioli with cheese, grilled chicken in sweet peppers, beef cuts ranging from medium to well done. Lemonade and unsweet ice tea were on the back side of the room on your way back to your table. Water and coffee were on the table. I got my reminder that Dekalb water sucks so much so I went for an Arnold Palmer. The lines moved quickly and there was really not feeling of really waiting at all. While we ate they had season highlights in a very choppy edited style. I was fine with this but I could see maybe that an older audience would not enjoy as much...but you have to figure the average age in the room is 19 or 20.

After a short time of eating Hoey and Carey went on the stage to hand out the awards. None of the awards were a surprise other than Offensive POY went to Eakes. Carey said Eakes is the best TE in the conference and it was his (Carey's) fault that Tim didn't win any Conference award because we didn't throw it to him.

One thing that really got me is how much larger the young kids are compared to the Seniors in this class (other than the OL of course).

Stingly seems to have gotten hurt this summer carrying some groceries in to the house. Apparently he lost feeling in his hand all of the sudden and he didn't even realize that he dropped the apple juice that he was bringing in. They took him to MANY specialists and they had no clue what was going on so they said just wait and see. He was cleared for the PC game but they wanted to work him in slowly.

The injury that Bass had at the end of last season continued on thru this season. They had some surgery but it never really got right. Carey did say that though he got a bad deal with it that Bass was still at every practice and away game that he could travel helping coaching the players and that he was a huge help to the team this season.

Carey and Santa apparently had some off the field issues that Mike had to work thru. Santa ended up winning the most inspirational player award.

Carey made a joke about how he and kickers didn't get along.

What I really liked to hear through the night was the desire to win this bowl game. Totally under the radar is that this Senior class is now tied with last years class as the winningest class ever. Carey says that the Seniors are totally driven towards this goal for them as a group. Finishing strong with a bowl win was a theme the whole night.

I am sure I forgot some things...

This years signing day event on Feb 4th will be at Acquaviva Winery in Maple Park. If you live within 1hr drive do your best to attend we really need to sell this thing out!

I may have misread, but are you saying only 15 season ticket holders attended?

(12-14-2014 02:00 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote:  How much was last night's event? I never even looked at the emails because I didn't think I would even fit in, nor did I really want to seem like a creepy fanboy.

+1. That is exactly why I didn't go and I had to work too. Signing day event though... I love signing day!

(12-14-2014 02:00 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote:  How much was last night's event? I never even looked at the emails because I didn't think I would even fit in, nor did I really want to seem like a creepy fanboy.

Agree. To me, the banquet is for players, coaches and parents.

(12-14-2014 02:00 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote:  How much was last night's event? I never even looked at the emails because I didn't think I would even fit in, nor did I really want to seem like a creepy fanboy.

$50 per person. Unless you avoid the donor event you are not mingling with the players.

(12-14-2014 02:05 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  I may have misread, but are you saying only 15 season ticket holders attended?

At most...out of 1300+ invited.

(12-14-2014 02:15 PM)goniu1523 Wrote:  

(12-14-2014 02:00 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote:  How much was last night's event? I never even looked at the emails because I didn't think I would even fit in, nor did I really want to seem like a creepy fanboy.

+1. That is exactly why I didn't go and I had to work too. Signing day event though... I love signing day!

This had a similar feel as the signing day event other than it was much larger dining area where the players and recruits hung out while the donors were in the bar reception area.

Aquaviva is pretty easy to find and get to, for those interested. It's right at 38/Lincoln Highway/Roosevelt (So many names) and Route 14/Meredith Road. 20 minutes from DeKalb at most.

TLL did seem to have a small limp...or that's just his swag walk.

(12-14-2014 05:32 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  TLL did seem to have a small limp...or that's just his swag walk.

Ha, swag walk. I heard a motivation speaker once....he talked about his swagger and his dad yelled at him and said "Son, stop walking like that or I'll give a reason to walk like that."

Child abuse? Hilarious.

John, thanks for the info! Sounds like a cool outing. I recommend people go to the winery if they haven't been. Very cool spot.

Just curious about the awards. Besides what you named, who won the awards?

Eakes for offensive. MVP
Santa for most inspirational.
I saw Smalls was Freshman of the. Year on twitter.

@NIU_Football: Congratulations to the 2014 NIU Football Team MVP- Senior WR Da'Ron Brown! #PrideInThePack #NIUFootball http://t.co/xk9mf1wKVd

@NIU_Football: Congratulations to the 2014 NIU Football Defensive MVP- Senior DE @AragaoSTL ! #PrideInThePack #NIUFootball http://t.co/0xoc22Ve4E

@NIU_Football: Congratulations to the 2014 NIU Football Offensive MVP- Senior TE Luke Eakes! #PrideInThePack #NIUFootball http://t.co/ae5cS1yS4E

@NIU_Football: Congratulations to the 2014 NIU Football Special Teams MVP- Senior Punter @Twedel26! #PrideInThePack #NIUFootball http://t.co/WkXiEFNLOT

Ford won DL of the year

Rock won LB of the year

Logan won DB of the year

Stingly won RB of the year

Loos won OL of the year

Canada won WR of the year

Stirling won a scholar award

Smalls won FR of the year

Grham won Off work team of the year

Ill have to look at the roster to say who the Def work team was but he was HUGE for a younger guy.

Huskie Spirit Award went to the bus driver...who got a standing ovation from the players.

I likely forgot one or two more.

(12-14-2014 06:39 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  @NIU_Football: Congratulations to the 2014 NIU Football Team MVP- Senior WR Da'Ron Brown! #PrideInThePack #NIUFootball http://t.co/xk9mf1wKVd

@NIU_Football: Congratulations to the 2014 NIU Football Defensive MVP- Senior DE @AragaoSTL ! #PrideInThePack #NIUFootball http://t.co/0xoc22Ve4E

@NIU_Football: Congratulations to the 2014 NIU Football Offensive MVP- Senior TE Luke Eakes! #PrideInThePack #NIUFootball http://t.co/ae5cS1yS4E

@NIU_Football: Congratulations to the 2014 NIU Football Special Teams MVP- Senior Punter @Twedel26! #PrideInThePack #NIUFootball http://t.co/WkXiEFNLOT

Ford won DL of the year

Rock won LB of the year

Logan won DB of the year

Stingly won RB of the year

Loos won OL of the year

Canada won WR of the year

Stirling won a scholar award

Smalls won FR of the year

Grham won Off work team of the year

Ill have to look at the roster to say who the Def work team was but he was HUGE for a younger guy.

Huskie Spirit Award went to the bus driver...who got a standing ovation from the players.

I likely forgot one or two more.

Thanks!!

Actually I think Stirlings award was for walk on (or former walk on) player of the year.

I think Conners also won something.

One of my Athletic office friends says they never have heard of this on campus hotel rumor anywhere than on here. I am not sure if athletics would really be involved at the proposal stage so hopefully they are just not in this loop.

The HCS really needs a full renovation badly!

Oh my I forgot about the dessert table filled with pies! Had a slice of Oreo pie...OMG it was amazing. It had large chunks of artery clogging white filling. So many other options but I was stuffed and couldn't eat one more bite.

Was Carey really on there 15 minutes? Shocked by that.

(12-14-2014 07:17 PM)Springfield Soxfan Wrote:  Was Carey really on there 15 minutes? Shocked by that.

He spoke before the dinner for about 5min. After dinner he talked about each Senior and had them come on the stage for about 20-30min total.

Frazier spoke for about 5-10min.