1. You have to realize that athletic donation encompass all sports, so they maybe donating $2,500 for basketball games and get the ancillary benefit of parking in East Lot.
They also may be tailgating in West Lot or at HAF Tent.

2. I think students of 2004 vs 2015 is a big difference

3. Tailgating lots are a revenue stream. People who donate more should get better real estate(even if they don't use it). I for one would be pissed if they opened the tailgate lots to everyone(that is what the Convo is for). You pay for exclusivity. My first year I sat next to drunken idiots on the West side and parked in the convo lot. To get rid of the drunken idiots I moved to chairbacks($150/seat gets rid of morons) and was sick of coming back to a littered lot so I bumped up my donation level to get out of there. Turns out the lot I bumped to wasn't very crowded(old spirit lot) and was far away, so I bumped up again and found a lot I liked. But I had to pay to get what I wanted and to get away from what I didn't want (same as in life).

4. Requiring studends to pay for a season pass($30..have 4 guys drive in with the stuff and everyone else walk, would cost you $7/year to park in a $2,000 lot). I think the reason students don't come back (other then the normal reasons: family, out of state, hate football, weekends full) is that they never had to pay to come to the games before, so the expectation they now have to pay $132 for season tickets seems stupid. Or they are leasing a brand new BMW and can't afford it!

(11-23-2015 03:44 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  

(11-23-2015 03:35 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(11-23-2015 01:54 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  Tailgating: i am talking about way back in 2003-04 when NIU basically eradicated student side tailgating on the east side and spread it thin to the convocation center. Others have said similar things in the past, but tailgating pre 2004 was amazing for students. pack in the cars tight and have a blast. Now? both 'main' tailgating lots are so sparcely populated that the experience lost the sense of community and fun atmosphere

People keep saying this but its just not true. The reason that tailgating atmosphere in the East lot was drastically reduced was because in 2003 it was open to the general public, first come first serve.

Now 2/3 of it is a reserved parking spot for donors which 50% don't even show up for all the Saturday games.

The other 1/3 is for the students yet they don't even fill it up even though a season parking pass for them is only $30ea. Since 2010 I have not seen the students come close to filling up their section of the East side.


The Convo tailgating atmosphere is great for the Saturday games.

I'm sorry, but if i'm a student who experiences the pre-2004 tailgate, and a student who experiences the convo tailgate in 2015, i'd say that the Convo (for a student mind you) tailgate is a snoozefest. Even as just a general participant in tailgating, its ok...its not that great...just ok.

student participation is a snowball effect. if tailgating is not that impressive, then it won't pull in fringe students. if it is fun for some, word of mouth will spread which will get the next tier, which will get the next tier.

The fact that it was general parking WAS the key to its success. anyone could go there, and wasn't restricted to donors and season parking pass holders. you could just show up, recruit friends on a whim and get a train of cars going. thats the beauty of it. now you block off 2/3rds of the lot to donors who don't show up (which is their right - thats nius fault), and requiring students to pay $30 for a season pass? ehh...not much of a compelling argument for a student to shell out money for something that isn't that impressive in the first place.

seriously, the grass lot used to be jammed pack, with the other alumni center parking lot (before there was an alumni center), and the adjacent streets being jammed. it was a seriously awesome time for a student.

I know, I was a student from 99-05

You are talking about 2 different things then. Yes I see that because of the general parking in the East lot that it made the atmosphere more fun for students.

I just don't want people to think that Athletics cut off the students tailgating.

REALLY if Athletics wants to immediately (well next season) correct the East side atmosphere then would open up the student lot for the general public...that is other than reserving a few sport for the very few season passes that are sold.

That would immediately fill up the East side (well 1/3rd of it) and it should give enough of a party atmosphere boost for the students to enjoy it while Athletics still giving the donors what they are paying for now.

(11-23-2015 04:02 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  1. You have to realize that athletic donation encompass all sports, so they maybe donating $2,500 for basketball games and get the ancillary benefit of parking in East Lot.
They also may be tailgating in West Lot or at HAF Tent.

2. I think students of 2004 vs 2015 is a big difference

3. Tailgating lots are a revenue stream. People who donate more should get better real estate(even if they don't use it). I for one would be pissed if they opened the tailgate lots to everyone(that is what the Convo is for). You pay for exclusivity. My first year I sat next to drunken idiots on the West side and parked in the convo lot. To get rid of the drunken idiots I moved to chairbacks($150/seat gets rid of morons) and was sick of coming back to a littered lot so I bumped up my donation level to get out of there. Turns out the lot I bumped to wasn't very crowded(old spirit lot) and was far away, so I bumped up again and found a lot I liked. But I had to pay to get what I wanted and to get away from what I didn't want (same as in life).

4. Requiring studends to pay for a season pass($30..have 4 guys drive in with the stuff and everyone else walk, would cost you $7/year to park in a $2,000 lot). I think the reason students don't come back (other then the normal reasons: family, out of state, hate football, weekends full) is that they never had to pay to come to the games before, so the expectation they now have to pay $132 for season tickets seems stupid. Or they are leasing a brand new BMW and can't afford it!

I understand this consideration. But knowing that, lets not complain about attendance or lack of fanbase growth when a huge variable such as the tailgate experience is an elephant in the room. we can't have both. not at niu. not now.

If you opened the East Lot for general parking and at the same time took people's donations and put them there, donors would be pissed. Me included. I choose not to park there, because I like my lot better, but I think it is insane to allow cheapskates to park there for $40/game(they would probably complain about the price too!)

(11-23-2015 04:13 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  If you opened the East Lot for general parking and at the same time took people's donations and put them there, donors would be pissed. Me included. I choose not to park there, because I like my lot better, but I think it is insane to allow cheapskates to park there for $40/game(they would probably complain about the price too!)

Students pay $30 for a season pass to park there now. Other then that the lot is just empty.

(11-23-2015 04:13 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  If you opened the East Lot for general parking and at the same time took people's donations and put them there, donors would be pissed. Me included. I choose not to park there, because I like my lot better, but I think it is insane to allow cheapskates to park there for $40/game(they would probably complain about the price too!)

again, thats your right as a donor (or any donor's right). This one is on NIU for better or for worse. and again as i said, you will never get the growth in fanbase you desire as long as this is how it is.

Boy am i glad i dropped my angst about 'what could be' years ago. This is Fraziers problem, not mine. I just enjoy the games.

(11-23-2015 04:13 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  If you opened the East Lot for general parking and at the same time took people's donations and put them there, donors would be pissed. Me included. I choose not to park there, because I like my lot better, but I think it is insane to allow cheapskates to park there for $40/game(they would probably complain about the price too!)

How do you balance your "what's in it for me" vs "what's best for NIU"? Are you against general parking on the east side because it ruins a benefit of yours are you against it because you think it hurts NIU?

I remember the East lot being electric back in the early 2000s. Seemed to be about 80% students and it was a party atmosphere. Does anyone know what the exact donation level was back then. Were students allowed to park for free? What was the charge for non-students?
Sure seems like going back to the setup back then would at least attract more students and make the gameday experience a lot more enjoyable for them. Doesn't look like there are enough donors in that lot to make much difference revenue wise.

(11-23-2015 04:40 PM)HuskieBowWow Wrote:  I remember the East lot being electric back in the early 2000s. Seemed to be about 80% students and it was a party atmosphere. Does anyone know what the exact donation level was back then. Were students allowed to park for free? What was the charge for non-students?
Sure seems like going back to the setup back then would at least attract more students and make the gameday experience a lot more enjoyable for them. Doesn't look like there are enough donors in that lot to make much difference revenue wise.

somehow i remember it costing $5.....

(11-23-2015 10:24 AM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  Our former Big West rivals Southwest Louisiana changed their name to Louisiana-Monroe, and remained just as obscure.

Just for the record, you've got this wrong but it proves the point you're making.
Our former Big West foe Southwestern Louisiana is trying to be known as the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, but CBS, ESPN and the rest of the world refers to them as Louisiana-Lafayette.
Official obscurity means Louisiana-Monroe became an upgrade over being known as Northeast Louisiana University.

This thread in a nutshell

(11-23-2015 07:23 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(11-23-2015 10:24 AM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  Our former Big West rivals Southwest Louisiana changed their name to Louisiana-Monroe, and remained just as obscure.

Just for the record, you've got this wrong but it proves the point you're making.
Our former Big West foe Southwestern Louisiana is trying to be known as the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, but CBS, ESPN and the rest of the world refers to them as Louisiana-Lafayette.
Official obscurity means Louisiana-Monroe became an upgrade over being known as Northeast Louisiana University.

SW Louisiana would like to be known as The University of Louisiana. But, the networks know that LSU would have a major hissy fit if they went along.

NIU really does need to expand it's brand to central Illinois. Kids from around here don't even consider NIU as an option. Lived in the Springfield area my whole life and know of 1 person who went to NIU. So with that there's little to no support for NIU's sports teams down here.

Not hard to put up some billboards on the interstate, some ads on the radio, get the NIU brand out there and maybe get some people in the stands? I don't know.

I don't even go to NIU, and as a community college transfer, i'm not even considering NIU (that has more to do with NIU being more expensive than my other options, but i digress)

But I love supporting the NIU football team because it's successful and a fun team to root for, I like underdogs. I think other sports fans around here would take notice if they made themselves known. I can only do so much to drum up support down here lol, i've tried...i'm rocking an NIU football shirt every game day

(11-23-2015 05:37 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  

(11-23-2015 04:40 PM)HuskieBowWow Wrote:  I remember the East lot being electric back in the early 2000s. Seemed to be about 80% students and it was a party atmosphere. Does anyone know what the exact donation level was back then. Were students allowed to park for free? What was the charge for non-students?
Sure seems like going back to the setup back then would at least attract more students and make the gameday experience a lot more enjoyable for them. Doesn't look like there are enough donors in that lot to make much difference revenue wise.

somehow i remember it costing $5.....

I remember it being $20...but never did it myself so that was second hand info.

(11-23-2015 01:31 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(11-23-2015 01:28 PM)niubrad00 Wrote:  

(11-23-2015 01:42 AM)VegasHuskie Wrote:  * Drop the "Northern Illinois" immediately. Notify all major media outlets that we are going to be rebranded as "NIU" and ask for their compliance in the name change. Directional schools have an onus or a stigma about them, with the sole exception of USC. We need to de-emphasize that hindrance.

* Stop it with the revolving uniforms. NIU needs an identity, and a standard uniform is a way to generate that. Boise State put itself on the national radar with that stupid blue field. Make it gaudy, make it noticeable. How about a monochromatic red uniform with a helmet that is a giant Huskie head with bloody teeth? It doesn't matter what it is, just make it so anyone who tunes into ESPN and catches a Huskie highlight immediately identifies who we are.

Couldn't disagree more.

And I have to disagree that having a loudmouth coach is the link to a brighter future for NIU, I mean VegasHuskie,come on now, you are better than this.

I never said a loudmouth coach. I said a charismatic coach, and I include that as a step in the right direction - not the end all, be all.

It amazes me how stick in the mud NIU fans are. Everyone seems to have this great fear of messing with status quo. You know what my fear is, MD? If you're not moving forward, you're moving backwards. This terrific run is not sustainable, it just isn't. At some point, the program is going to take a big step backwards and where will we be? We already have proven we have a very weak fan base even with our terrific run this last decade. How are things going to be if we don't put a good product on the field for a few years?

I strongly feel that the program needs to make a push to become a national program immediately. If it doesn't happen right now, it never will. Accordingly, I thought it might be interesting to toss around a few ideas how that could be achieved. It's just message board banter, trying to think outside the box, trying to have a bit of fun.

Sorry if I'm not "better than that", lol!

Delusional.

(11-23-2015 09:45 AM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  I imagine internally Frazier rolls his eyes everytime an armchair AD comes up to him with some 'ideas' on how to get NIU to another level.

Which is perfect, because I don't have internalize the eye rolls STF gets when he "fist pumps" for Alabama via his NIU social media outlets.
After all, both of these are just "what fans do"!

(11-23-2015 11:35 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  Delusional.

Coming from a WMU fan, that doesn't hold a lot of weight.

(11-23-2015 11:35 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  Delusional.

1- scoreboard
2- scoreboard
3- scoreboard
4- scoreboard
5- scoreboard
6- scoreboard
7- scoreboard


(*key = this post is described in calendar years)

(11-23-2015 11:21 PM)VegasHuskie Wrote:  

(11-23-2015 01:31 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(11-23-2015 01:28 PM)niubrad00 Wrote:  

(11-23-2015 01:42 AM)VegasHuskie Wrote:  * Drop the "Northern Illinois" immediately. Notify all major media outlets that we are going to be rebranded as "NIU" and ask for their compliance in the name change. Directional schools have an onus or a stigma about them, with the sole exception of USC. We need to de-emphasize that hindrance.

* Stop it with the revolving uniforms. NIU needs an identity, and a standard uniform is a way to generate that. Boise State put itself on the national radar with that stupid blue field. Make it gaudy, make it noticeable. How about a monochromatic red uniform with a helmet that is a giant Huskie head with bloody teeth? It doesn't matter what it is, just make it so anyone who tunes into ESPN and catches a Huskie highlight immediately identifies who we are.

Couldn't disagree more.

And I have to disagree that having a loudmouth coach is the link to a brighter future for NIU, I mean VegasHuskie,come on now, you are better than this.

I never said a loudmouth coach. I said a charismatic coach, and I include that as a step in the right direction - not the end all, be all.

It amazes me how stick in the mud NIU fans are. Everyone seems to have this great fear of messing with status quo. You know what my fear is, MD? If you're not moving forward, you're moving backwards. This terrific run is not sustainable, it just isn't. At some point, the program is going to take a big step backwards and where will we be? We already have proven we have a very weak fan base even with our terrific run this last decade. How are things going to be if we don't put a good product on the field for a few years?

I strongly feel that the program needs to make a push to become a national program immediately. If it doesn't happen right now, it never will. Accordingly, I thought it might be interesting to toss around a few ideas how that could be achieved. It's just message board banter, trying to think outside the box, trying to have a bit of fun.

Sorry if I'm not "better than that", lol!

Aka take a step up to the AAC as soon as we have a chance