Nice victory by your women's gymnastics squad over Kent State. They have been a MAC power in gymnastics for years under Brice Biggins.

Loved Coach Morreale's comment. “In order to be the best, you have to beat the best.”

Thanks! First win over the Flashes since 2/27/99. I used to love going to the gymnastics meets when I was at NIU back when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

I used to go to the men's meets and really enjoyed the quality of the gymnastics. I remember seeing Koji Gushiken (5x medalist in the 1984 olympic games) perform in an exhibition and I received his autograph that night (yes I am old). In those days NIU men were damn good with Keiso and others.

I worked a bunch meets and I recommend it. Very impressive and entertaining when you get that close.

(01-20-2015 10:36 PM)Mark26pt2 Wrote:  I used to go to the men's meets and really enjoyed the quality of the gymnastics. I remember seeing Koji Gushiken (5x medalist in the 1984 olympic games) perform in an exhibition and I received his autograph that night (yes I am old). In those days NIU men were damn good with Keiso and others.

I never followed gymnastics but when I was at NIU I still remember reading articles in the Northern Star about the men's team so I was aware how good they were. I was surprised and disappointed that they cut that program.

(01-21-2015 01:51 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(01-20-2015 10:36 PM)Mark26pt2 Wrote:  I used to go to the men's meets and really enjoyed the quality of the gymnastics. I remember seeing Koji Gushiken (5x medalist in the 1984 olympic games) perform in an exhibition and I received his autograph that night (yes I am old). In those days NIU men were damn good with Keiso and others.

I never followed gymnastics but when I was at NIU I still remember reading articles in the Northern Star about the men's team so I was aware how good they were. I was surprised and disappointed that they cut that program.

One of the Accounting professors, Dr Kieso, had his son on the team. He was very active in trying to keep the NIU men's team. However, there were a lot of politics at play. I forget who the AD was at the time but he claimed cutting the team was about money. However, Dr Kieso worked with the president of USA Gymnastics to craft a possible solution. As I remember the story, Dr Kieso arranged for USA Gymnastic to offer to hold 2 meets a year at NIU and NIU would be able to keep a large share of the revenue from those meets. That revenue then could be used to fund the men's gymnastics team. However, at the hearing to discuss cutting the team, the President of USA Gymnastics rose to speak and was given 3 minutes at the microphone. When his time was up - the AD cut the power to the mic even though he was still speaking and basically offering to give NIU money.

Once again - this was over 30 years ago - so I might have some of the facts wrong but I do remember how outraged Dr Kieso was at the AD.

Thankfully I have confidence the SF would never pull a stunt like that now.

(01-21-2015 03:39 PM)Mark26pt2 Wrote:  

(01-21-2015 01:51 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(01-20-2015 10:36 PM)Mark26pt2 Wrote:  I used to go to the men's meets and really enjoyed the quality of the gymnastics. I remember seeing Koji Gushiken (5x medalist in the 1984 olympic games) perform in an exhibition and I received his autograph that night (yes I am old). In those days NIU men were damn good with Keiso and others.

I never followed gymnastics but when I was at NIU I still remember reading articles in the Northern Star about the men's team so I was aware how good they were. I was surprised and disappointed that they cut that program.

One of the Accounting professors, Dr Kieso, had his son on the team. He was very active in trying to keep the NIU men's team. However, there were a lot of politics at play. I forget who the AD was at the time but he claimed cutting the team was about money. However, Dr Kieso worked with the president of USA Gymnastics to craft a possible solution. As I remember the story, Dr Kieso arranged for USA Gymnastic to offer to hold 2 meets a year at NIU and NIU would be able to keep a large share of the revenue from those meets. That revenue then could be used to fund the men's gymnastics team. However, at the hearing to discuss cutting the team, the President of USA Gymnastics rose to speak and was given 3 minutes at the microphone. When his time was up - the AD cut the power to the mic even though he was still speaking and basically offering to give NIU money.

Once again - this was over 30 years ago - so I might have some of the facts wrong but I do remember how outraged Dr Kieso was at the AD.

Thankfully I have confidence the SF would never pull a stunt like that now.

Dr. Kieso was an outstanding teacher and a giant in the accounting profession. He coauthored the best selling intermediate accounting text book. He was also a nice guy and hosted some dinners for students in his home. He once told me that no student should earn a degree at NIU or any university without being invited to spend some time with a faculty member in their home at least once or twice in their academic career.