Enter UCF, which is selling suites filled with furniture and inclusive of food, for $22,000 each for the 2017 season. The school began marketing the suites this past season and has already sold out half the suites, which include tickets and parking passes for 12 people per game. The suites also come with inside access to a high-end area where bathrooms are located and additional food and drink will be sold.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/sto...watch-game

Other than some minor improvements I think SF's hands are tied until the state gets a budget.

The state of Illinois is a hot mess. I have progressed from worrying about Huskie sports to worrying about NIU's future. If the state cannot climb out of its fiscal mess (which I do not see happening anytime soon) it is time to begin closing some state supported universities. Fewer, larger, adequately funded institutions are a better option that many institutions that are barely hanging on and hoping while clinging to survival.

(01-25-2017 02:28 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Other than some minor improvements I think SF's hands are tied until the state gets a budget.

THERE YOU ARE!

We were getting worried

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(01-25-2017 06:09 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(01-25-2017 02:28 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Other than some minor improvements I think SF's hands are tied until the state gets a budget.

THERE YOU ARE!

We were getting worried

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Are none of you people on twitter? lol

(01-25-2017 06:24 PM)7 Wrote:  

(01-25-2017 06:09 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(01-25-2017 02:28 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Other than some minor improvements I think SF's hands are tied until the state gets a budget.

THERE YOU ARE!

We were getting worried

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

Are none of you people on twitter? lol

No?

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Well if you want to hear from huskie John that's where you should be lol

Well, Dr. Peters sent something out last week regarding the state budget and basically NIU needs to cut 11%, not across the board, but still 11% is a lot of money, and I can't see athletics spending more or getting more fees when cuts are happening at such an amount where there is no state help. Enrollment needs to increase or someone needs to drop a suitcase of wrapped hundreds off in STF's office before we see any big improvements. I can't see the new board even though Barsema is on it, going whole hog on athletics at this time. UofI wants a 15% increase in enrollment and we hear silence from NIU, I'm not sure what the future holds at this point and I try to be pretty optimistic about NIU, but it's getting real dire with state finances.

We must recruit the students from China. Ten percent of U of I freshman class are from China. Not a lot of football fans but they will pay $500 each for the athletic fee.

This is a serious situation. I wish I could joke about it. I attend the alumni event every year in Washington DC and last year I felt sorry for the faculty, students and administratiors who were having to deal with a problem that wasn't their fault. We are in better shape than Eastern and Western Illinois but that is like saying our ship is sinking at a slower rate. This is political grid lock between two political parties that have no common sense. When a member of the state house or senate tries to put forward a reasonable proposal they are blocked by members of their own party. Mean while the tax base of the state decreases and fewer students apply to NIU. Sorry for the interruption, we can now get back to sports. Do you think this years we will be able to afford new footballs?

(01-30-2017 08:08 AM)brandsxb Wrote:  This is a serious situation. I wish I could joke about it. I attend the alumni event every year in Washington DC and last year I felt sorry for the faculty, students and administratiors who were having to deal with a problem that wasn't their fault. We are in better shape than Eastern and Western Illinois but that is like saying our ship is sinking at a slower rate. This is political grid lock between two political parties that have no common sense. When a member of the state house or senate tries to put forward a reasonable proposal they are blocked by members of their own party. Mean while the tax base of the state decreases and fewer students apply to NIU. Sorry for the interruption, we can now get back to sports. Do you think this years we will be able to afford new footballs?

Unfortunately, increasing enrollment is not on the horizon. At some point I can see some form of consolidation between the four directionals (NIU, SIU, EIU, WIU). Hard to see all four surviving this environment.

(01-30-2017 12:40 PM)niu79 Wrote:  

(01-30-2017 08:08 AM)brandsxb Wrote:  This is a serious situation. I wish I could joke about it. I attend the alumni event every year in Washington DC and last year I felt sorry for the faculty, students and administratiors who were having to deal with a problem that wasn't their fault. We are in better shape than Eastern and Western Illinois but that is like saying our ship is sinking at a slower rate. This is political grid lock between two political parties that have no common sense. When a member of the state house or senate tries to put forward a reasonable proposal they are blocked by members of their own party. Mean while the tax base of the state decreases and fewer students apply to NIU. Sorry for the interruption, we can now get back to sports. Do you think this years we will be able to afford new footballs?

Unfortunately, increasing enrollment is not on the horizon. At some point I can see some form of consolidation between the four directionals (NIU, SIU, EIU, WIU). Hard to see all four surviving this environment.

Can't imagine a consolidation, could see EMU and a few state colleges dropping off the grid to lighten the load.