(01-12-2015 03:04 PM)NIURedBlack Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 02:04 PM)GCD70 Wrote:  NDSt would seem to be a good fit for the MAC. I wonder if there ever was any interest.

As much as I don't want to admit it, ISU makes a lot of sense in the MAC. Would suck to have another school to compete for recruits, but would be awesome to have a natural rival. I can get up for Toledo/WMU as much as the next guy, but an annual beat down of the Redbirds would be a blast. I don't think I'm going out on a limb by saying their basketball program is light-years ahead of us as well.

can't see them makoing the investrment in football. basketball is their sport. And even if football made efforts to enter the MAC, we would have one of those football only.

Their bball team is on par with, Toledo, Akron, buffalo, WMU, so if you think that's light years ahead of NIU then yes. They have much more fan support in bball then NIU. Last year it was EIU and this year it is ISU, so who knows exactly where their football program is.

I don't think watering down the state of Illinois with a forth FBS is good for NIU, or the MAC footprint, so why discuss. Let ISU rot in the FCS, lets build some skyboxes!!!

(01-12-2015 02:15 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 02:04 PM)GCD70 Wrote:  

(01-11-2015 12:39 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(01-11-2015 08:08 AM)numbersdontlie Wrote:  

(01-10-2015 10:32 PM)NIU70 Wrote:  Talk about support. Flightaware lists 4 jet charters from Dallas to Fargo.

If you had to live on Fargo you'd want to be on the first plane out of there too.

I drove through North Dakota a couple times. It's an odd odd odd place.

NDSt would seem to be a good fit for the MAC. I wonder if there ever was any interest.

Travel costs would be prohibitive.

Do we know how much that would increase the travel costs by? Of course, we'd have to add a school in the East too, unless we added for football-only, in which case UMass would suffice. Pretty sure the MAC doesn't want to go down that road again though.

(01-12-2015 03:28 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  I don't think watering down the state of Illinois with a forth FBS is good for NIU, or the MAC footprint, so why discuss. Let ISU rot in the FCS, lets build some skyboxes!!!

lol agreed

(01-12-2015 03:28 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  I don't think watering down the state of Illinois with a forth FBS is good for NIU, or the MAC footprint, so why discuss. Let ISU rot in the FCS, lets build some skyboxes!!!

Lol, touche!

(01-12-2015 03:26 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  Their bball team is on par with, Toledo, Akron, buffalo, WMU, so if you think that's light years ahead of NIU then yes. They have much more fan support in bball then NIU. Last year it was EIU and this year it is ISU, so who knows exactly where their football program is.

its not light years but it is their emphasis.

NIU and ISU have very similar academic orientation, mission and institutional profile. We have more in common with ISU than any BIG 12 school. I do not believe ISU is willing to make the investment in big time football. Besides ISU basketball fans are very happy in the MVC.

(01-12-2015 04:19 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  NIU and ISU have very similar academic orientation, mission and institutional profile. We have more in common with ISU than any BIG 12 school. I do not believe ISU is willing to make the investment in big time football. Besides ISU basketball fans are very happy in the MVC.

ISU has a growing enrollment and higher avg GPA and ACT score for incoming students in comparison to NIU. Sad truth, but hopefully this will turn around with Baker's initiatives and vision.

ISU's best shot at the MAC is to replace an outgoing NIU to the AAC. Highly doubt you'll ever see both schools in the MAC concurrently.

(01-12-2015 04:23 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 04:19 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  NIU and ISU have very similar academic orientation, mission and institutional profile. We have more in common with ISU than any BIG 12 school. I do not believe ISU is willing to make the investment in big time football. Besides ISU basketball fans are very happy in the MVC.

ISU has a growing enrollment and higher avg GPA and ACT score for incoming students in comparison to NIU. Sad truth, but hopefully this will turn around with Baker's initiatives and vision.

ISU also has higher graduation rates and lower first year dropout rates. We have dropped the ball in the last 15 years but many of the Kool Aid drinkers do not believe it. Like you, I hope Baker can change the culture.

(01-12-2015 04:27 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  ISU's best shot at the MAC is to replace an outgoing NIU to the AAC. Highly doubt you'll ever see both schools in the MAC concurrently.

In that case that move would be very good for the MAC.

What's all this talk about ISU to the MAC? Their fans have aspirations for the Big 12. They would never be satisfied with the lowly MAC. Must be something in the water in this state.

(01-12-2015 04:32 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 04:23 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 04:19 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  NIU and ISU have very similar academic orientation, mission and institutional profile. We have more in common with ISU than any BIG 12 school. I do not believe ISU is willing to make the investment in big time football. Besides ISU basketball fans are very happy in the MVC.

ISU has a growing enrollment and higher avg GPA and ACT score for incoming students in comparison to NIU. Sad truth, but hopefully this will turn around with Baker's initiatives and vision.

ISU also has higher graduation rates and lower first year dropout rates. We have dropped the ball in the last 15 years but many of the Kool Aid drinkers do not believe it. Like you, I hope Baker can change the culture.

What is the source of your statistics?

(01-12-2015 04:45 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  What's all this talk about ISU to the MAC? Their fans have aspirations for the Big 12. They would never be satisfied with the lowly MAC. Must be something in the water in this state.

No there is nothing wrong with the water in this state. Look at the quality (or lack thereof) of the football programs in this conference and you will see why programs that have the opportunity leave do leave.

NIU is the only MAC program with a shot of beating NDST and ISU would beat any MAC East program plus EMU, BSU & possibly CMU.

(01-12-2015 06:30 PM)OldTtimeNIU Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 04:32 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 04:23 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 04:19 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  NIU and ISU have very similar academic orientation, mission and institutional profile. We have more in common with ISU than any BIG 12 school. I do not believe ISU is willing to make the investment in big time football. Besides ISU basketball fans are very happy in the MVC.

ISU has a growing enrollment and higher avg GPA and ACT score for incoming students in comparison to NIU. Sad truth, but hopefully this will turn around with Baker's initiatives and vision.

ISU also has higher graduation rates and lower first year dropout rates. We have dropped the ball in the last 15 years but many of the Kool Aid drinkers do not believe it. Like you, I hope Baker can change the culture.

What is the source of your statistics?

For ISU, the average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 83.5 percent. NIU is 70.3

ISU 4 year gradulation rate is 46%. NIU is 26%
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreview...s/niu-1737
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreview...rsity-1692

It would be great to rekindle the old rivalry between NIU and ISU. The Huskies currently lead ISU 25-22-9 for a total of 56 meetings.

In contrast, the Huskies are 20-20-2 vs current rival Ball State, and 23-26-1 vs Central Michigan.

(01-14-2015 03:03 PM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  It would be great to rekindle the old rivalry between NIU and ISU. The Huskies currently lead ISU 25-22-9 for a total of 56 meetings.

In contrast, the Huskies are 20-20-2 vs current rival Ball State, and 23-26-1 vs Central Michigan.

We can't play them on a regular basis as long as ISU is FCS.

(01-14-2015 05:59 PM)huskiebob Wrote:  

(01-14-2015 03:03 PM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  It would be great to rekindle the old rivalry between NIU and ISU. The Huskies currently lead ISU 25-22-9 for a total of 56 meetings.

In contrast, the Huskies are 20-20-2 vs current rival Ball State, and 23-26-1 vs Central Michigan.

We can't play them on a regular basis as long as ISU is FCS.

I was hinting at ISU joining the MAC.