Quote:With Todds additional donation we are getting close to $2k if everyone donates the amount they said they would. Hope we can get this done.

Do we have a point man yet to try to get this cleared through the athletic department? Also does anyone know a donor with decent name recognition to push this through?

The support by everyone in this thread has been fantastic so far.

Quote:Do we have a point man yet to try to get this cleared through the athletic department? Also does anyone know a donor with decent name recognition to push this through?

I think that's key. One should try getting ahold of some donors and point to what's drumming up. I could see them shrugging it off somewhat...

But if ya get a thing on one of those websites where people donate to fund to make something -- and you post a ton of stuff about it online (not just here) to get attention... THEN some donors will perk up, and I believe roll with it if ya get some steam rolling a bit in the first place.

Walk a petition around the next tailgate & setup one online to demonstrate support. Then bring it up to athletics

I advise doing it with a URL of a site set up for donations. One where its escrow'd until X amount is reached or overall approved. That way, people would donate much more freely knowing that they may get their money back if one isn't made. More will flow!

(09-21-2015 12:41 AM)NIUDrew Wrote:  

Quote:With Todds additional donation we are getting close to $2k if everyone donates the amount they said they would. Hope we can get this done.

Do we have a point man yet to try to get this cleared through the athletic department? Also does anyone know a donor with decent name recognition to push this through?

The support by everyone in this thread has been fantastic so far.

I know a donor that has name recognition and would be a great person to pitch this to NIU. Good friend of mine and he LOVED Diesel!

When you guys and gals have a point person, let me know and I'll be glad to talk to him. Feel free to PM me at any time.

Got another pledge for $100. CheerDad, it's from Rick and Casey.

More to follow!

So again I ask - how are we moving forward on this?

No way can we let this idea go...need to see it through.

(09-16-2015 04:17 PM)huskiebob Wrote:  

(09-16-2015 04:04 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I'd chip in $100.

But, we would need a guarantee that they wouldn't use the same artist responsible for Pigdog.

When and if it gets to that point, Renee Bemis would certainly be a strong candidate. Not only did she sculpt the Three Huskies in the Chessick Center Plaza, Renee lives in the area and has a strong connection to NIU Athletics. And, she's spent some time with Diesel at games.

Somehow, we need to find a way to make sure that Renee Bemis is the artist for this project. I think she did nice work of the pack sculpture.
I have looked at her website & I like her work. The wildlife LOOKS like wildlife - not some crazy artist "conception" of the wildlife.

I am in for a $100!

Thanks milehigh! I looks to me that just from the comments on the board we are at $2,000 +

I could be way off but I would bet a life size sculpture of Diesel could run in the $10 thousand range. (or more)

(09-23-2015 12:26 PM)HuskieFootball Addict Wrote:  Thanks milehigh! I looks to me that just from the comments on the board we are at $2,000 +

I could be way off but I would bet a life size sculpture of Diesel could run in the $10 thousand range. (or more)

It will not cheap.. But worth it…. Has anyone emailed the athletic admin to see if they are even entertaining this wonderful idea? Seems to be this would add to our heritage/history, make HS even better, and honor a family and doggie that we have all grown to love and appreciate. When we do the right thing, it opens the door for more right things to happen....my humble opinion.

(09-23-2015 12:48 PM)MileHighHuskie Wrote:  

(09-23-2015 12:26 PM)HuskieFootball Addict Wrote:  Thanks milehigh! I looks to me that just from the comments on the board we are at $2,000 +

I could be way off but I would bet a life size sculpture of Diesel could run in the $10 thousand range. (or more)

It will not cheap.. But worth it…. Has anyone emailed the athletic admin to see if they are even entertaining this wonderful idea? Seems to be this would add to our heritage/history, make HS even better, and honor a family and doggie that we have all grown to love and appreciate. When we do the right thing, it opens the door for more right things to happen....my humble opinion.

We (HuskieBob & myself & hopefully a couple others) are gathering our thoughts & ideas for the best way to approach NIU and the best time when to approach them.
I personally agree with your humble opinion.

Playing devils' advocate here, their thought might be that we don't have any statues of players or coaches anywhere, would we want to start with a statue of the former mascot dog, even one as popular as Diesel?

Guys, please don't take me for being insensitive about this opinion. We all love Diesel, I love Diesel! BUT, Why not just donate that money to go to facilities that the program needs rather than a statue of a dead dog. Am I the only one that thinks, this is a wee bit ridiculous. I mean we do have a facilities master plan out, pick a project, have a room in it called "Diesel room".

(09-23-2015 06:23 PM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  Guys, please don't take me for being insensitive about this opinion. We all love Diesel, I love Diesel! BUT, Why not just donate that money to go to facilities that the program needs rather than a statue of a dead dog. Am I the only one that thinks, this is a wee bit ridiculous. I mean we do have a facilities master plan out, pick a project, have a room in it called "Diesel room".

Quite possibly you are. Maybe you and 1 or 2 more. If you don't like the idea, don't donate to it.

Just because Diesel was a dog doesn't mean we can't honor his role as an amazing ambassador for NIU. Diesel was known nationwide thanks to ESPN broadcasts showing NIU football. I personally believe that a memorial statue is NOT ridiculous or overboard in any way. When we have a home game on TV I can just picture them coming into the broadcast showing the statue of Diesel high fiving - or after a commercial break showing the statue and the commentators talking about it.
We were lucky - and blessed - to have CheerDad & Diesel who were SO COMMITTED to NIU football that they drove all over the country to support our Huskies.

So I guess you could say I feel quite strongly that this memorial statue idea is a good one. And the comments & pledges of money to make this happen tell me I am not alone in this!

I'm with HuskieAlumnus03. Diesel was a great mascot and a great ambassador to NIU but to me it would make more sense to donate the money to NIU Athletics for the facilities master plan then a statue of a dog. In the end money put towards facility upgrades is going to help NIU more then a statue of a former mascot.

As you know i'm on board with HuskieAlumnus03 as well. I think naming a room in the new facilities would be a great tribute. Or, after the facilities have been updated then we can work on a memorial for Diesel. But, I believe putting money towards the upgrade of facilities is far more important than building a statue of the old mascot. I think if you want to honor Diesel now, you should donate to the shelter like CheerDad asked. Once we have updated the facilities we can focus on changing out HuskiePig to a nice statue of Diesel.

Of course, in the end it is up to NIU athletics and President Baker to approve a statue of Diesel in the first place.

Technically NIU already has four statues of Dogs? What is one more going to do? Money could be better spent towards something benefiting living people such a facility, with a room named after Diesel. Or living dogs like shelters or maybe the costs of how much it takes to take care of Mission.

This is in no way a disrespect to your efforts. I thank you for your passion. I just feel like the money can be used towards our facilities projects.

(09-23-2015 07:12 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  As you know i'm on board with HuskieAlumnus03 as well. I think naming a room in the new facilities would be a great tribute. Or, after the facilities have been updated then we can work on a memorial for Diesel. But, I believe putting money towards the upgrade of facilities is far more important than building a statue of the old mascot. I think if you want to honor Diesel now, you should donate to the shelter like CheerDad asked. Once we have updated the facilities we can focus on changing out HuskiePig to a nice statue of Diesel.

Of course, in the end it is up to NIU athletics and President Peters to approve a statue of Diesel in the first place.

President Baker

(09-23-2015 07:19 PM)nbcards Wrote:  

(09-23-2015 07:12 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  As you know i'm on board with HuskieAlumnus03 as well. I think naming a room in the new facilities would be a great tribute. Or, after the facilities have been updated then we can work on a memorial for Diesel. But, I believe putting money towards the upgrade of facilities is far more important than building a statue of the old mascot. I think if you want to honor Diesel now, you should donate to the shelter like CheerDad asked. Once we have updated the facilities we can focus on changing out HuskiePig to a nice statue of Diesel.

Of course, in the end it is up to NIU athletics and President Peters to approve a statue of Diesel in the first place.

President Baker

haha thanks, old habits...