(06-02-2015 09:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:41 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  Until this thread I didn't know Illinois State existed

You need to get your head out of the sand.

I didn't know Illinois State existed either.

(06-02-2015 09:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:41 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  Until this thread I didn't know Illinois State existed

You need to get your head out of the sand.

I didn't know Illinois State existed either.

That's two of you who haven't heard of the Missouri Valley Conference.

You might want to take a look where the MVC ranked over the last decade in basketball compared to the MAC and what Illinois State averaged in hoops compared to Northern Illinois. Illinois State is better on both accounts.

Normal IL is also a bigger town than DeKalb, more centrally located in Illinois and considered a better school by in-state residents.

NIU is what it is in football because its the only Illinois school in the MAC. They wouldn't do as well in the AAC on a tougher schedule. They are really far north to pull in Texas and Florida recruits.

Ha our assistant coach and best player is from there. Still a nothing school if it took that long for me to remember

(06-02-2015 09:59 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:41 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  Until this thread I didn't know Illinois State existed

You need to get your head out of the sand.

I didn't know Illinois State existed either.

That's two of you who haven't heard of the Missouri Valley Conference.

You might want to take a look where the MVC ranked over the last decade in basketball compared to the MAC and what Illinois State averaged in hoops compared to Northern Illinois. Illinois State is better on both accounts.

Normal IL is also a bigger town than DeKalb, more centrally located in Illinois and considered a better school by in-state residents.

NIU is what it is in football because its the only Illinois school in the MAC. They wouldn't do as well in the AAC on a tougher schedule. They are really far north to pull in Texas and Florida recruits.

You have NO idea what you're talking about, nor do you even understand the geographic perceptions of the state. Illinois State is a bigger city in Southern Illinois, which equates to no one cares! It's 45 minutes away from Urbana Champaign. Where do you get your info that Illinois State is considered a better school by in-state residents? LOL!! Go back to talking to your self about Ohio!

(06-02-2015 10:21 PM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:59 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:41 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  Until this thread I didn't know Illinois State existed

You need to get your head out of the sand.

I didn't know Illinois State existed either.

That's two of you who haven't heard of the Missouri Valley Conference.

You might want to take a look where the MVC ranked over the last decade in basketball compared to the MAC and what Illinois State averaged in hoops compared to Northern Illinois. Illinois State is better on both accounts.

Normal IL is also a bigger town than DeKalb, more centrally located in Illinois and considered a better school by in-state residents.

NIU is what it is in football because its the only Illinois school in the MAC. They wouldn't do as well in the AAC on a tougher schedule. They are really far north to pull in Texas and Florida recruits.

You have NO idea what you're talking about, nor do you even understand the geographic perceptions of the state. Illinois State is a bigger city in Southern Illinois, which equates to no one cares! It's 45 minutes away from Urbana Champaign. Where do you get your info that Illinois State is considered a better school by in-state residents? LOL!! Go back to talking to your self about Ohio!

He's an idiot.

(06-02-2015 10:21 PM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:59 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:41 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  Until this thread I didn't know Illinois State existed

You need to get your head out of the sand.

I didn't know Illinois State existed either.

That's two of you who haven't heard of the Missouri Valley Conference.

You might want to take a look where the MVC ranked over the last decade in basketball compared to the MAC and what Illinois State averaged in hoops compared to Northern Illinois. Illinois State is better on both accounts.

Normal IL is also a bigger town than DeKalb, more centrally located in Illinois and considered a better school by in-state residents.

NIU is what it is in football because its the only Illinois school in the MAC. They wouldn't do as well in the AAC on a tougher schedule. They are really far north to pull in Texas and Florida recruits.

You have NO idea what you're talking about, nor do you even understand the geographic perceptions of the state. Illinois State is a bigger city in Southern Illinois, which equates to no one cares! It's 45 minutes away from Urbana Champaign. Where do you get your info that Illinois State is considered a better school by in-state residents? LOL!! Go back to talking to your self about Ohio!

Yeah I'm convinced kittonhead just hates NIU and looks for excuses to put it down... lol though at ISU vs NIU comparisons, poor ISU doesn't hold a candle to NIU

(06-02-2015 09:59 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:41 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  Until this thread I didn't know Illinois State existed

You need to get your head out of the sand.

I didn't know Illinois State existed either.

That's two of you who haven't heard of the Missouri Valley Conference.

You might want to take a look where the MVC ranked over the last decade in basketball compared to the MAC and what Illinois State averaged in hoops compared to Northern Illinois. Illinois State is better on both accounts.

Normal IL is also a bigger town than DeKalb, more centrally located in Illinois and considered a better school by in-state residents.

NIU is what it is in football because its the only Illinois school in the MAC. They wouldn't do as well in the AAC on a tougher schedule. They are really far north to pull in Texas and Florida recruits.

Have you ever actually compared NIU's and Illinois State's athletic and academic programs? I'm assuming you are trolling since you are a butthurt Ohio fan but I figured I would ask regardless.

Wait for it.... They don't compare! Illinois State's recently renovated football stadium that holds 13k is definitely ready for FBS football!

(06-02-2015 07:45 PM)chess Wrote:  

(05-29-2015 03:40 PM)oliveandblue Wrote:  What is Illinois State like as an institution? Are they run like any other ____ State University?

If they are #2/3 in Illinois state funding, then they might not be a lost cause at all.

The question isn't Illinois State vs Northern Illinois. The question is whether a school like the University of Illinois-Chicago has more potential than Northern Illinois.

UIC does not field a football team.

So, and assuming UIC would start a program- Would UIC be a UAB or an Old Dominion? Are they South Florida or Georgia State? Are they UTSA or an empty stadium somewhere?

Just some points on this idea. UIC already surpassed NIU in terms of being the second largest university and public research school starting in the 2000s up to now. In fact it competes with its parent school at Urbana Champaign in terms of research. This is unique since a university system doesn't usually have more than one R1/RU/VH research universities in the same system (California's system is different). Also because unlike a "multicampus" system like the UC system, UofI's campuses only make up a small percentage of higher education in the state of IL. PS, also unique, UofI business and administration offices are centralized like a "multisite" university, they have the same President and administrators for all three campuses of UofI. UIC's growth spurt, thanks to Chicago's mayors the Daleys contributed to this, and now the institution (UofI) created a new position to manage research grant (this is done to control UICs research growth in comparison to UIUC's). Also currently there is a cost benefit analysis and research to possibly transform UofI into a multisite university (like Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State) as opposed to a muticampus as it is now. There are a lot of push back from Alumni (I am a alum of UIUC) about this because of perception.

Going back to collegiate sports, how does this effect UIC's chances of getting a FBS program. It probably will never be allowed to happen, probably not even FCS. Especially with the state of the Illini now, nope not going to happen. Also since UIC is subordinate to UofI and under their whims, until it becomes a independent university, they don't sit in the same table as the other major universities in the state, and cannot lobby for itself like NIU can. UIC is too much of a gem, because of its location, for UofI to ever let go, I foresee them shorting UIC it doesn't become a direct competition. (I don't think this will happen, since enrollment attracts completely different demographics)

PS. if you're from the area, then you know that despite the great student ammenities of UIC, it is and will be in the foreseeable future, a non traditional campus where school spirit, greeks, athletics will never be a thing. It's a predominantly commuter campus with a large graduate level enrollment, and the university is fine with that identity.

(06-02-2015 09:59 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:41 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  Until this thread I didn't know Illinois State existed

You need to get your head out of the sand.

I didn't know Illinois State existed either.

That's two of you who haven't heard of the Missouri Valley Conference.

You might want to take a look where the MVC ranked over the last decade in basketball compared to the MAC and what Illinois State averaged in hoops compared to Northern Illinois. Illinois State is better on both accounts.

Normal IL is also a bigger town than DeKalb, more centrally located in Illinois and considered a better school by in-state residents.

NIU is what it is in football because its the only Illinois school in the MAC. They wouldn't do as well in the AAC on a tougher schedule. They are really far north to pull in Texas and Florida recruits.

LOL. ISU is centrally located in the state, where most of the population is in the north, and almost all of that is within an hour or so of DeKalb. If Chicago doesn't care much what happens in DeKalb, it cares even less about small towns downstate.

NIU has also gotten lots of good recruits from Florida, many of whom have been starters. Ken Bishop was one of our best DTs in quite a while and was signed to an NFL team. Tommy Lee Lewis is one of our best WRs. And Jamaal Bass was one of our best LBs. And there are more that started. And ISU is not appreciably closer to Florida and Texas.

Sure we wouldn't do as well in the AAC as it would be a tougher schedule. Not a reason not to go to the AAC if we had the option. And ISU would have a tougher schedule if they were in the MAC than where they are now.

(06-02-2015 10:43 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:59 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:41 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  Until this thread I didn't know Illinois State existed

You need to get your head out of the sand.

I didn't know Illinois State existed either.

That's two of you who haven't heard of the Missouri Valley Conference.

You might want to take a look where the MVC ranked over the last decade in basketball compared to the MAC and what Illinois State averaged in hoops compared to Northern Illinois. Illinois State is better on both accounts.

Normal IL is also a bigger town than DeKalb, more centrally located in Illinois and considered a better school by in-state residents.

NIU is what it is in football because its the only Illinois school in the MAC. They wouldn't do as well in the AAC on a tougher schedule. They are really far north to pull in Texas and Florida recruits.

Have you ever actually compared NIU's and Illinois State's athletic and academic programs? I'm assuming you are trolling since you are a butthurt Ohio fan but I figured I would ask regardless.

Wait for it.... They don't compare! Illinois State's recently renovated football stadium that holds 13k is definitely ready for FBS football!

That Illinois State stadium is expandable to 25,000. The new stadium tower is in place (superior to what NIU has) and just needs another 10 million or so to have a MAC level capacity added.

Northern Illinois Athletics
Ticket Sales: 1.1 million
Contributions: 1.7 million
Rights/Licensing: 3.2 million

Illinois State Athletics
Ticket Sales: 1.5 million
Contributions: 2.1 million
Rights/Licensing: 2.6 million

http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances/

Illinois State is comparable financially to NIU even though its an FCS school an NIU exists in FBS with 5 straight 11 win seasons.

I can see a scenario where NIU goes to CUSA, the MAC promptly calls up Illinois State and within a few years time it would be Illinois State with the better football program as NIU recruits get tired of traveling all over the eastern US for football games.

(05-26-2015 12:51 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  I have been a proponent of a best of MWC/AAC merger. I have cited things like better home conference games, better bowl line up etc. But let me throw this out as the biggest reason I think this is the way to go.

Right now if you are in a P5 conference, the conference winner gets an auto bid to an Access Bowl (just like under the BCS system). So if team X wins the ACC or B12, even if they are 8-4 or whatever, they still get the bid. Because of this, you really are only competing with 11 other teams (or 9 if you are in the B12, etc.) for an access bowl spot.

In the G5, the highest rated G5 gets an access bowl spot. But you are competing with what, 40 or 50 teams for this one spot.

So a P5 team is competing with 9-11 other teams for an access bowl spot and a G5 team is competing with 40 or 50 teams. In affect you have to be the best team of five conferences to get the spot, not just the best team of ONE conference like in the P5.

So...if you take the best of MWC and merge with the best of AAC, although it wouldn't be 100% guaranteed like in the P5, the winner of this conference would get the access bowl spot, let's say 95% of the time.

As time goes on, and the MWC/AAC conference winner gets the access bowl spot, that is something you can sell to recruits. "The winner of the MWC/AAC Conference has gotten the access bowl spot five years in a row" or "has gotten the access bowl spot 9 of the last 10 years" or whatever.

In essence we would be 'creating' a de-facto power conference. Maybe our bowl alliance and tv contract wouldn't be Power 5 and we would still be called the G5 by the media, but if our winner gets the access bowl spot 95%+ of the time, it would be better than we have now and at least a true tweener conference. In my mind this is making the most of a bad situation.


Thoughts?

I would like somebody to punch holes in this too. I think it's worth a discussion because although we can't force our way into the P5 club, by doing this, we can at least 'create' our own spot as the access bowl table.


And I know the big prize is the playoff, I get it, but for us G5-er's I say let's focus on getting an Access Bowl spot first. By creating this MWC/AAC merger conference I think we can at least take the Access Bowl spot 95% of the time if not more.


Here is what I had in mind:

American East:
UCONN
Cincy
NIU
ECU
UCF
USF
Temple
Navy

American West:
Memphis
UH
SMU
Boise
BYU
AF
Col St
SDSU

I have to believe the G5 access bowl participant would come out of this conference most years. And this list is just an example...Tulsa, Tulane, UNLV, Fresno, etc. would all be possibilities.

I have a better idea. How about cincy, Uconn and temple to the mac and the AAC get ga southern, rice and southern miss

Make the AAC a southern conference and put the yankee schools where they belong

(06-02-2015 11:01 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 10:43 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:59 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  You need to get your head out of the sand.

I didn't know Illinois State existed either.

That's two of you who haven't heard of the Missouri Valley Conference.

You might want to take a look where the MVC ranked over the last decade in basketball compared to the MAC and what Illinois State averaged in hoops compared to Northern Illinois. Illinois State is better on both accounts.

Normal IL is also a bigger town than DeKalb, more centrally located in Illinois and considered a better school by in-state residents.

NIU is what it is in football because its the only Illinois school in the MAC. They wouldn't do as well in the AAC on a tougher schedule. They are really far north to pull in Texas and Florida recruits.

Have you ever actually compared NIU's and Illinois State's athletic and academic programs? I'm assuming you are trolling since you are a butthurt Ohio fan but I figured I would ask regardless.

Wait for it.... They don't compare! Illinois State's recently renovated football stadium that holds 13k is definitely ready for FBS football!

That Illinois State stadium is expandable to 25,000. The new stadium tower is in place (superior to what NIU has) and just needs another 10 million or so to have a MAC level capacity added.

Northern Illinois Athletics
Ticket Sales: 1.1 million
Contributions: 1.7 million
Rights/Licensing: 3.2 million

Illinois State Athletics
Ticket Sales: 1.5 million
Contributions: 2.1 million
Rights/Licensing: 2.6 million

http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances/

Illinois State is comparable financially to NIU even though its an FCS school an NIU exists in FBS with 5 straight 11 win seasons.

I can see a scenario where NIU goes to CUSA, the MAC promptly calls up Illinois State and within a few years time it would be Illinois State with the better football program as NIU recruits get tired of traveling all over the eastern US for football games.

LOL...NIU would never join CUSA and your dreams of ISU being promoted to the MAC will never take place.

(06-02-2015 10:56 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:59 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:41 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  Until this thread I didn't know Illinois State existed

You need to get your head out of the sand.

I didn't know Illinois State existed either.

That's two of you who haven't heard of the Missouri Valley Conference.

You might want to take a look where the MVC ranked over the last decade in basketball compared to the MAC and what Illinois State averaged in hoops compared to Northern Illinois. Illinois State is better on both accounts.

Normal IL is also a bigger town than DeKalb, more centrally located in Illinois and considered a better school by in-state residents.

NIU is what it is in football because its the only Illinois school in the MAC. They wouldn't do as well in the AAC on a tougher schedule. They are really far north to pull in Texas and Florida recruits.

LOL. ISU is centrally located in the state, where most of the population is in the north, and almost all of that is within an hour or so of DeKalb. If Chicago doesn't care much what happens in DeKalb, it cares even less about small towns downstate.

NIU has also gotten lots of good recruits from Florida, many of whom have been starters. Ken Bishop was one of our best DTs in quite a while and was signed to an NFL team. Tommy Lee Lewis is one of our best WRs. And Jamaal Bass was one of our best LBs. And there are more that started. And ISU is not appreciably closer to Florida and Texas.

Sure we wouldn't do as well in the AAC as it would be a tougher schedule. Not a reason not to go to the AAC if we had the option. And ISU would have a tougher schedule if they were in the MAC than where they are now.

Your recruiting has not picked up despite the 5 straight 11 win seasons.

I just don't think NIU has the ability to pull in the UC type classes it needs to compete in the AAC. Sure you could move up but it would be at the risk of your performance.

(06-02-2015 11:05 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 11:01 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 10:43 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:59 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  I didn't know Illinois State existed either.

That's two of you who haven't heard of the Missouri Valley Conference.

You might want to take a look where the MVC ranked over the last decade in basketball compared to the MAC and what Illinois State averaged in hoops compared to Northern Illinois. Illinois State is better on both accounts.

Normal IL is also a bigger town than DeKalb, more centrally located in Illinois and considered a better school by in-state residents.

NIU is what it is in football because its the only Illinois school in the MAC. They wouldn't do as well in the AAC on a tougher schedule. They are really far north to pull in Texas and Florida recruits.

Have you ever actually compared NIU's and Illinois State's athletic and academic programs? I'm assuming you are trolling since you are a butthurt Ohio fan but I figured I would ask regardless.

Wait for it.... They don't compare! Illinois State's recently renovated football stadium that holds 13k is definitely ready for FBS football!

That Illinois State stadium is expandable to 25,000. The new stadium tower is in place (superior to what NIU has) and just needs another 10 million or so to have a MAC level capacity added.

Northern Illinois Athletics
Ticket Sales: 1.1 million
Contributions: 1.7 million
Rights/Licensing: 3.2 million

Illinois State Athletics
Ticket Sales: 1.5 million
Contributions: 2.1 million
Rights/Licensing: 2.6 million

http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances/

Illinois State is comparable financially to NIU even though its an FCS school an NIU exists in FBS with 5 straight 11 win seasons.

I can see a scenario where NIU goes to CUSA, the MAC promptly calls up Illinois State and within a few years time it would be Illinois State with the better football program as NIU recruits get tired of traveling all over the eastern US for football games.

LOL...NIU would never join CUSA and your dreams of ISU being promoted to the MAC will never take place.

The MAC has been looking at Illinois State as a candidate since the early 90's.

CUSA is the one league I agree that would be better off with Northern Illinois dominating its legions of young FBS programs with TV execs desiring its regional Chicagoland TV market. They just aren't the kind of program that would elevate the AAC competitively.

(06-02-2015 11:06 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 10:56 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:59 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  You need to get your head out of the sand.

I didn't know Illinois State existed either.

That's two of you who haven't heard of the Missouri Valley Conference.

You might want to take a look where the MVC ranked over the last decade in basketball compared to the MAC and what Illinois State averaged in hoops compared to Northern Illinois. Illinois State is better on both accounts.

Normal IL is also a bigger town than DeKalb, more centrally located in Illinois and considered a better school by in-state residents.

NIU is what it is in football because its the only Illinois school in the MAC. They wouldn't do as well in the AAC on a tougher schedule. They are really far north to pull in Texas and Florida recruits.

LOL. ISU is centrally located in the state, where most of the population is in the north, and almost all of that is within an hour or so of DeKalb. If Chicago doesn't care much what happens in DeKalb, it cares even less about small towns downstate.

NIU has also gotten lots of good recruits from Florida, many of whom have been starters. Ken Bishop was one of our best DTs in quite a while and was signed to an NFL team. Tommy Lee Lewis is one of our best WRs. And Jamaal Bass was one of our best LBs. And there are more that started. And ISU is not appreciably closer to Florida and Texas.

Sure we wouldn't do as well in the AAC as it would be a tougher schedule. Not a reason not to go to the AAC if we had the option. And ISU would have a tougher schedule if they were in the MAC than where they are now.

Your recruiting has not picked up despite the 5 straight 11 win seasons.

I just don't think NIU has the ability to pull in the UC type classes it needs to compete in the AAC. Sure you could move up but it would be at the risk of your performance.

The recruits we have are winning Vern Smith awards, P5 wins, Heisman invites, championships. NIU success is on it's recruiting and coaching, ask Toledo how having the best recruits it the conference works for them?

Well next year we can claim best recruits in the MAC in basketball

(06-02-2015 11:01 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 10:43 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:59 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  You need to get your head out of the sand.

I didn't know Illinois State existed either.

That's two of you who haven't heard of the Missouri Valley Conference.

You might want to take a look where the MVC ranked over the last decade in basketball compared to the MAC and what Illinois State averaged in hoops compared to Northern Illinois. Illinois State is better on both accounts.

Normal IL is also a bigger town than DeKalb, more centrally located in Illinois and considered a better school by in-state residents.

NIU is what it is in football because its the only Illinois school in the MAC. They wouldn't do as well in the AAC on a tougher schedule. They are really far north to pull in Texas and Florida recruits.

Have you ever actually compared NIU's and Illinois State's athletic and academic programs? I'm assuming you are trolling since you are a butthurt Ohio fan but I figured I would ask regardless.

Wait for it.... They don't compare! Illinois State's recently renovated football stadium that holds 13k is definitely ready for FBS football!

That Illinois State stadium is expandable to 25,000. The new stadium tower is in place (superior to what NIU has) and just needs another 10 million or so to have a MAC level capacity added.

Northern Illinois Athletics
Ticket Sales: 1.1 million
Contributions: 1.7 million
Rights/Licensing: 3.2 million

Illinois State Athletics
Ticket Sales: 1.5 million
Contributions: 2.1 million
Rights/Licensing: 2.6 million

http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances/

Illinois State is comparable financially to NIU even though its an FCS school an NIU exists in FBS with 5 straight 11 win seasons.

I can see a scenario where NIU goes to CUSA, the MAC promptly calls up Illinois State and within a few years time it would be Illinois State with the better football program as NIU recruits get tired of traveling all over the eastern US for football games.

ISU averaged less than 10,000 fans in one of their best years ever. And they weren't playing on weeknights.

(06-02-2015 11:16 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 11:01 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 10:43 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:59 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  I didn't know Illinois State existed either.

That's two of you who haven't heard of the Missouri Valley Conference.

You might want to take a look where the MVC ranked over the last decade in basketball compared to the MAC and what Illinois State averaged in hoops compared to Northern Illinois. Illinois State is better on both accounts.

Normal IL is also a bigger town than DeKalb, more centrally located in Illinois and considered a better school by in-state residents.

NIU is what it is in football because its the only Illinois school in the MAC. They wouldn't do as well in the AAC on a tougher schedule. They are really far north to pull in Texas and Florida recruits.

Have you ever actually compared NIU's and Illinois State's athletic and academic programs? I'm assuming you are trolling since you are a butthurt Ohio fan but I figured I would ask regardless.

Wait for it.... They don't compare! Illinois State's recently renovated football stadium that holds 13k is definitely ready for FBS football!

That Illinois State stadium is expandable to 25,000. The new stadium tower is in place (superior to what NIU has) and just needs another 10 million or so to have a MAC level capacity added.

Northern Illinois Athletics
Ticket Sales: 1.1 million
Contributions: 1.7 million
Rights/Licensing: 3.2 million

Illinois State Athletics
Ticket Sales: 1.5 million
Contributions: 2.1 million
Rights/Licensing: 2.6 million

http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances/

Illinois State is comparable financially to NIU even though its an FCS school an NIU exists in FBS with 5 straight 11 win seasons.

I can see a scenario where NIU goes to CUSA, the MAC promptly calls up Illinois State and within a few years time it would be Illinois State with the better football program as NIU recruits get tired of traveling all over the eastern US for football games.

ISU averaged less than 10,000 fans in one of their best years ever. And they weren't playing on weeknights.

Your school averaged 13,000 with 5 straight 11 win seasons playing in FBS.

I could easily see Illinois State exceeding NIU's football attendance by moving to FBS just like they do it annually in basketball.

(06-02-2015 11:09 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 11:05 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 11:01 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 10:43 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:59 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  That's two of you who haven't heard of the Missouri Valley Conference.

You might want to take a look where the MVC ranked over the last decade in basketball compared to the MAC and what Illinois State averaged in hoops compared to Northern Illinois. Illinois State is better on both accounts.

Normal IL is also a bigger town than DeKalb, more centrally located in Illinois and considered a better school by in-state residents.

NIU is what it is in football because its the only Illinois school in the MAC. They wouldn't do as well in the AAC on a tougher schedule. They are really far north to pull in Texas and Florida recruits.

Have you ever actually compared NIU's and Illinois State's athletic and academic programs? I'm assuming you are trolling since you are a butthurt Ohio fan but I figured I would ask regardless.

Wait for it.... They don't compare! Illinois State's recently renovated football stadium that holds 13k is definitely ready for FBS football!

That Illinois State stadium is expandable to 25,000. The new stadium tower is in place (superior to what NIU has) and just needs another 10 million or so to have a MAC level capacity added.

Northern Illinois Athletics
Ticket Sales: 1.1 million
Contributions: 1.7 million
Rights/Licensing: 3.2 million

Illinois State Athletics
Ticket Sales: 1.5 million
Contributions: 2.1 million
Rights/Licensing: 2.6 million

http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances/

Illinois State is comparable financially to NIU even though its an FCS school an NIU exists in FBS with 5 straight 11 win seasons.

I can see a scenario where NIU goes to CUSA, the MAC promptly calls up Illinois State and within a few years time it would be Illinois State with the better football program as NIU recruits get tired of traveling all over the eastern US for football games.

LOL...NIU would never join CUSA and your dreams of ISU being promoted to the MAC will never take place.

The MAC has been looking at Illinois State as a candidate since the early 90's.

CUSA is the one league I agree that would be better off with Northern Illinois dominating its legions of young FBS programs with TV execs desiring its regional Chicagoland TV market. They just aren't the kind of program that would elevate the AAC competitively.

Please show proof that the MAC has been looking at ISU since the 90's.

Oh wait, you cant. You're delusional.

You're bringing up a school that has nothing of note in it's football history, and it's entire existence as a university apathetic to it's football program. The largest donation to it's athletic program occurred this year, to it's golf team.

But again... southern illinois, just stop this!

You're better off talking SIU to the MAC than ISU! Or you can quit trolling NIU, and get your psycho ass back into your Ohio butt hurt thread!

(06-02-2015 11:18 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 11:16 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 11:01 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 10:43 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 09:59 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  That's two of you who haven't heard of the Missouri Valley Conference.

You might want to take a look where the MVC ranked over the last decade in basketball compared to the MAC and what Illinois State averaged in hoops compared to Northern Illinois. Illinois State is better on both accounts.

Normal IL is also a bigger town than DeKalb, more centrally located in Illinois and considered a better school by in-state residents.

NIU is what it is in football because its the only Illinois school in the MAC. They wouldn't do as well in the AAC on a tougher schedule. They are really far north to pull in Texas and Florida recruits.

Have you ever actually compared NIU's and Illinois State's athletic and academic programs? I'm assuming you are trolling since you are a butthurt Ohio fan but I figured I would ask regardless.

Wait for it.... They don't compare! Illinois State's recently renovated football stadium that holds 13k is definitely ready for FBS football!

That Illinois State stadium is expandable to 25,000. The new stadium tower is in place (superior to what NIU has) and just needs another 10 million or so to have a MAC level capacity added.

Northern Illinois Athletics
Ticket Sales: 1.1 million
Contributions: 1.7 million
Rights/Licensing: 3.2 million

Illinois State Athletics
Ticket Sales: 1.5 million
Contributions: 2.1 million
Rights/Licensing: 2.6 million

http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances/

Illinois State is comparable financially to NIU even though its an FCS school an NIU exists in FBS with 5 straight 11 win seasons.

I can see a scenario where NIU goes to CUSA, the MAC promptly calls up Illinois State and within a few years time it would be Illinois State with the better football program as NIU recruits get tired of traveling all over the eastern US for football games.

ISU averaged less than 10,000 fans in one of their best years ever. And they weren't playing on weeknights.

Your school averaged 13,000 with 5 straight 11 win seasons playing in FBS.

I could easily see Illinois State exceeding NIU's football attendance by moving to FBS just like they do it annually in basketball.

Because our schedule consisted of back to back no win - one win MAC schools in a monsoon... Oh and a crappy FCS team as a opener. If CMU wasn't a well attended homecoming game, i wouldn't be surprised nor mad about that average being lower. Bad scheduling + crappy MAC schools (not Toledo/BGSU) + Weekday games = poor attendance. This year's average is an outlier value in comparison to the averages over the last decade plus. Only one other season fell near 15k, that's it!

ISU's 10k fans, and that's for hosting FCS playoff games (with ranked teams) in their own stadium. There's a difference. *edit, pardon my ignorance, their playoff games were, 5k against a 10th ranked UNI, their homecoming game was 8K. Keep in mind that last season was the biggest accomplishment of their football team, like ever ever.