(03-24-2015 08:11 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 08:08 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 08:04 PM)Big 12 fan too Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 03:33 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 03:27 PM)armour248 Wrote:  What does this even mean? Why hasn't another conference made an effort to add a FBS football school in the Chicago area?

NIU is in one of the less regarded conferences, averages what 15-18k fans a game, and NIU is in the Big 12 discussion. I think that speaks more to the power of the Chicago market than anything else. The attendance issues would easily take care of themselves if NIU entered the Big 12. You could pretty much name the amount of seats you wanted to add to Huskie Stadium and you would sell the place out. Heck Texas or Oklahoma fans would probably bring 10k a game by themselves.

NIU isn't in the Big 12 discussion. Not even close, unfortunately. The Big 12 powers would decide to break up the conference before NIU even crosses their mind.

You know something Frazier doesn't then, because that is very clearly the goal of the athletics department right now. Id love to agree with you, but the mass Chicago media market is just the huge elephant in the room.

The goal of SF is the AAC, you just think its the B12

lol NIU would not be expanding their stadium to 42k capacity so that 10000 people could come to see South Florida and Temple play, trust me on that one.

Actually 42k would be in the middle of the AAC. So yes that would make sense. And if your tring to degrade the opponents in the AAC, comparatively, Temple > EMU and South Florida > Kent State.

As for the 42k expansion, there are 3 main motivators.

1) capitalize on recent success and fandom and hope people will open their wallets to better the program(s).
2) To upgrade our OOC schedule
3) To pad his resume

#1 also correlates with aspiring to changing conferences if we get the nod (AAC). After futher development in the B12 across the board, then maybe we can start lining up for a B12 bid.

Yes, they should.

Likewise, I should find a job that pays six figures.

(03-25-2015 07:12 AM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  Actually 42k would be in the middle of the AAC. So yes that would make sense. And if your tring to degrade the opponents in the AAC, comparatively, Temple > EMU and South Florida > Kent State.

As for the 42k expansion, there are 3 main motivators.

1) capitalize on recent success and fandom and hope people will open their wallets to better the program(s).
2) To upgrade our OOC schedule
3) To pad his resume

#1 also correlates with aspiring to changing conferences if we get the nod (AAC). After futher development in the B12 across the board, then maybe we can start lining up for a B12 bid.

42k qualifies us for the AAC OR the big 12, also allows us to call the bluff of all the power 5 schools who have been dodging trips to Huskie Stadium. I would also think marginal alumni/fans will come more often and bring non-NIU fans more often once we finally have a House worth showing off...

Would love to know how much traction the master plan has gotten so far.

(03-25-2015 11:47 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  Would love to know how much traction the master plan has gotten so far.

Yeah it's been 5 months and there hasn't really been any updates yet. Hopefully we'll start getting more updates and information after the spring game.

(03-25-2015 02:04 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(03-25-2015 11:47 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  Would love to know how much traction the master plan has gotten so far.

Yeah it's been 5 months and there hasn't really been any updates yet. Hopefully we'll start getting more updates and information after the spring game.

Trying my hardest to win the lottery over here.. It's not easy.

(03-25-2015 02:04 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(03-25-2015 11:47 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  Would love to know how much traction the master plan has gotten so far.

Yeah it's been 5 months and there hasn't really been any updates yet. Hopefully we'll start getting more updates and information after the spring game.

Spring issue of Northern Now has a Q&A with Frazier. Says the silent campaign is underway and he is excited about the response so far. Also expects the first project to be identified this summer.

Quote:Id say stay as far away as you can from the MWC/AAC, those are lateral traps with no improvement in your ability to upward mobility, just a lot more travel costs. All in philosophy for the Big 12 though, that's where Frazier seems to be pointed in the grand plan which is good.

I agree. If NIU joins MW -- they're not going to be dominant. They'll be mixed in with some teams for 2nd and 3rd place most of the time, and once in a while vying for 1st. You'd want to be a dominant fish in a pond 20% smaller than not being in the front of a line in a bigger pond. Add to that all the travel costs and such (to the new conference teams as a whole, too). Not a promising move in mid-major land.

B12? Yeah. Better to be a 6-6/7-5 team in the P5 than a 9-3/10-2 team in CUSA/MAC. Mo money -- and over time after shedding off the "newbie" effect in the P5 conference, more respect, too.

The amount of $$ cost for joining the AAC, IMO, would be less a hit than MW -- less travel time. More viewers for games in higher populated areas to the conference. But NIU will need to step up it's basketball game, though.

IMO, NIU's viability to leave the MAC to the B12 or a half-lateral/half-step-up move to the AAC couldn't be under real consideration for another 3 years or so. Basketball establishing itself as a tough competitor in the MAC (like the end of reg season this year) -- and the football team continuing post-Lynch/post-Harnish, with Expansion in the football stadium actually being put in (and not merely on paper).

Hey, do you mind if we tag along ??

Football is the key. As noted by the destruction on the big east. You only need a average basketball team

http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=733032

How would you all feel about this idea? Suddenly the AAC isn't as weak and we're a few good seasons away from the call to play with the big boys. Or hell, with that structure you could become the next group of big boys

(03-30-2015 06:24 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=733032

How would you all feel about this idea? Suddenly the AAC isn't as weak and we're a few good seasons away from the call to play with the big boys. Or hell, with that structure you could become the next group of big boys

Good in theory but too complicated to ever happen.

(03-30-2015 06:49 PM)PrideinthePack Wrote:  

(03-30-2015 06:24 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=733032

How would you all feel about this idea? Suddenly the AAC isn't as weak and we're a few good seasons away from the call to play with the big boys. Or hell, with that structure you could become the next group of big boys

Good in theory but too complicated to ever happen.

Not overly complicated, a few tweaks but it's very feasible. Will it happen? God no, probably not and as i stated in the thread it smells of NCAA separation. But still a very nifty idea and some thoughts can be taken from it.

(03-30-2015 06:54 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(03-30-2015 06:49 PM)PrideinthePack Wrote:  

(03-30-2015 06:24 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=733032

How would you all feel about this idea? Suddenly the AAC isn't as weak and we're a few good seasons away from the call to play with the big boys. Or hell, with that structure you could become the next group of big boys

Good in theory but too complicated to ever happen.

Not overly complicated, a few tweaks but it's very feasible. Will it happen? God no, probably not and as i stated in the thread it smells of NCAA separation. But still a very nifty idea and some thoughts can be taken from it.

Why haven't other conferences added 8 schools if it is "very feasible"?

(03-28-2015 12:29 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  Hey, do you mind if we tag along ??

I guess so. We need a rivalry wherever we go.

(03-28-2015 12:29 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  Hey, do you mind if we tag along ??

Please, we need an opponent within 302 miles of us.