(07-07-2017 09:12 PM)Cowboy95 Wrote:  

(07-07-2017 08:24 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(07-07-2017 01:07 PM)huskie1stdown Wrote:  What is Northwestern's cheapest ticket?
I could see paying $117 for the competition the Illini play.

Yes, let's compare apples and oranges, plus pears or peaches ... B1G prices vs. MAC ... what to do within a one hour radius of Champaign vs. a one hour radius of DeKalb.

The ILL-ness competition for 2017 includes Ball State (we play them), Western Kentucky (we don't want to play them), and South Florida (we played them last year).
The Lyin-I competition for 2016 included Murray State (our second opponent from the year before), North Carolina (they won't play us) and Western Michigan (we played them).
In 2015, the Sham-bamas faced Kent State (we play them), Western Illinois (we played them last season), North Carolina (see above), and Middle Tennessee State (who we've also played).
So all those ILL-ini opponents appeal to you as home opponents more than Boston College, San Diego State and UNLV? Then pay nearly double to watch the B1G cellar dwellers.

You might have a winning argument to see Stanford, California or Duke in Evanston, but the Mildcats' other recent home foes include Eastern Illinois (we play them this year), Western Illinois, Western Michigan, Illinois State, Bowling Green State and Nevada (someone else we've hosted).
As others have noted, it's not just who the opponent is, it's the night of the week and the portion of the season coupled with concerns over parking, concessions, and atmosphere in recent years.

I don't think anyone was arguing the OOC opponents are better for the BIG. It is the conference games - and not playing in the middle of the afternoon on a Tuesday or Wednesday, or better yet, finally getting a decent opponent in DeKalb and playing them at 8:30 (probably more like 9:00) on a Friday night instead of Saturday afternoon.

+1000
The OOC was not the argument.

There is zero compelling reason to go to NIU games anymore.

In his tenure, there has not been a culture built among students for football games to be 'the thing to do'. While the advent of streaming video and internet has sucked away the attention, the AD is hired to figure out how to build the fanbase despite these issues.

The games are on weekdays and are not convenient to attend. And they are usually against opponents that do not compel people to pay attention. But years ago - many on here said.."oh but the national attention we get and recruits outweigh the convenience for fans". How is that going for you now?

As I said with price, yes - it is cheap-ish from an absolute dollar value, but when you account for the inconvenient weekday games, and general opponent...it is not worth it, IMO.

These things take time to build, and likewise time erodes what was built if the 'love' for the team is not nurtured and grown among the fanbase - which it has not been.

Just an all around fail considering we had the Orange Bowl to capitalize off of not too long ago.

It's not exactly STF's fault that there are weeknight games and opponents are weak. It's the MAC, and until the next realignment occurs it seems we're stuck there. STF has done a pretty good job all things considered of getting name opponents on the home schedule.

(07-08-2017 08:21 AM)Max Power Wrote:  It's not exactly STF's fault that there are weeknight games and opponents are weak. It's the MAC, and until the next realignment occurs it seems we're stuck there. STF has done a pretty good job all things considered of getting name opponents on the home schedule.

I don't blame STF for the scheduling issues. I know that was in place, but he still failed to engage the student base and build/continue the 'must do event' component of it. Don't let him off the hook on that front. That should be one of his main tasks (if not the main, aside from fundraising).

(07-08-2017 08:05 AM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  There is zero compelling reason to go to NIU games anymore.

In his tenure, there has not been a culture built among students for football games to be 'the thing to do'. While the advent of streaming video and internet has sucked away the attention, the AD is hired to figure out how to build the fanbase despite these issues.

The games are on weekdays and are not convenient to attend. And they are usually against opponents that do not compel people to pay attention. But years ago - many on here said.."oh but the national attention we get and recruits outweigh the convenience for fans". How is that going for you now?

As I said with price, yes - it is cheap-ish from an absolute dollar value, but when you account for the inconvenient weekday games, and general opponent...it is not worth it, IMO.

These things take time to build, and likewise time erodes what was built if the 'love' for the team is not nurtured and grown among the fanbase - which it has not been.

Just an all around fail considering we had the Orange Bowl to capitalize off of not too long ago.

You may recall a couple of years ago when Sean Frazier set out to bring in the best college football teams into Huskie Stadium . He communicated with many of the top college football programs in the country to initiate home and home series . His mandate was that we'll play anybody at any time. I believe that we were elated when he announced some of the future matchups..... This year we have Boston College at Huskie Stadium and in future years we will play at home against Utah, BYU, Wyoming, Maryland, Vanderbilt and Tulsa. I would say those are very appealing matchups. I believe that next year, he arranged a game against Florida State in Tallahassee to bring NIU a payday of $1, 000,000. He has no control over the MAC competition or the ESPN weekday venues.

Pillowcat is a disgruntled ex employee or spouse of one....1st post is to come on here and bash the ath dept. Gimme a break.

(07-08-2017 11:01 AM)prairiedawg Wrote:  Pillowcat is a disgruntled ex employee or spouse of one....1st post is to come on here and bash the ath dept. Gimme a break.

That might be true but I wouldn't question the accuracy of the post. I certainly could believe it. NIU is void of leadership right now, at all levels. That does nothing good for morale

(07-07-2017 01:43 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(07-07-2017 01:38 PM)armour248 Wrote:  If tickets were $5 for the weeknight games there would still only be 8,000 people there.

And that's with decent weather. Throw in biting wind chills, snow, a frozen urinal trough, and an opponent like Eastern Michigan and......let's just say they shouldn't run out of hot dogs (even if they have only one package).

So far on this thread I've seen Eastern Michigan and Kent State mentioned as "bad" teams to come see. If that's the case, then call the entire MAC schedule worthless and give away tickets for free.

Frankly NIU should be selling the fact it has defeated Kent STate, on the road in fact, as recently as last season and this is a NCAA Tournament team.

Also, for a constantly rebuilding program like NIU, Kent loks to be a pretty good benchmark of the road the Huskies BB program wants to travel.

As for EMU, this is not only a divisional rival, but it happens to have one of the best 'talents' in the league in Thompson, and usually has a talented roster overall.

If Kent is a program NIU wants to emulate, Easter is a program NIU should want to start distancing itself from, not one it is often compared to.

If you are a basketball fan, these are the kind of teams you use to educate friends and others about how good or how bad the NIU program is in a give year ...and/or how the program is trending.

(07-08-2017 07:06 PM)cleveland Wrote:  So far on this thread I've seen Eastern Michigan and Kent State mentioned as "bad" teams to come see. If that's the case, then call the entire MAC schedule worthless and give away tickets for free.

Dear Clueless in Cleveland,
Reading is worth more when accompanied by comprehension. Even if you're not familiar with the fact 90% on this board only care about football, go back and re-read this thread to learn that no one was referring to Eastern Michigan or Kent State basketball. In addition, read other threads and you'll soon learn there are sizeable number of posters who neither like or respect the MAC, especially in football. Don't misunderstand this response to say no one on here cares about basketball -- men's or women's -- or certain other sports, or that everyone is unhappy about Mid-Am membership, but we're in the minority.
Someone whose used ticket collection includes the MAC, Mid-Continent, Midwestern Collegiate, North Star and Big West.

(07-08-2017 07:26 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(07-08-2017 07:06 PM)cleveland Wrote:  So far on this thread I've seen Eastern Michigan and Kent State mentioned as "bad" teams to come see. If that's the case, then call the entire MAC schedule worthless and give away tickets for free.

Dear Clueless in Cleveland,

That was good haha

(07-08-2017 04:00 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(07-08-2017 11:01 AM)prairiedawg Wrote:  Pillowcat is a disgruntled ex employee or spouse of one....1st post is to come on here and bash the ath dept. Gimme a break.

That might be true but I wouldn't question the accuracy of the post. I certainly could believe it. NIU is void of leadership right now, at all levels. That does nothing good for morale

MD = Pillowcat

(07-08-2017 09:51 AM)Huskie Tom 51 Wrote:  

(07-08-2017 08:05 AM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  There is zero compelling reason to go to NIU games anymore.

In his tenure, there has not been a culture built among students for football games to be 'the thing to do'. While the advent of streaming video and internet has sucked away the attention, the AD is hired to figure out how to build the fanbase despite these issues.

The games are on weekdays and are not convenient to attend. And they are usually against opponents that do not compel people to pay attention. But years ago - many on here said.."oh but the national attention we get and recruits outweigh the convenience for fans". How is that going for you now?

As I said with price, yes - it is cheap-ish from an absolute dollar value, but when you account for the inconvenient weekday games, and general opponent...it is not worth it, IMO.

These things take time to build, and likewise time erodes what was built if the 'love' for the team is not nurtured and grown among the fanbase - which it has not been.

Just an all around fail considering we had the Orange Bowl to capitalize off of not too long ago.

You may recall a couple of years ago when Sean Frazier set out to bring in the best college football teams into Huskie Stadium . He communicated with many of the top college football programs in the country to initiate home and home series . His mandate was that we'll play anybody at any time. I believe that we were elated when he announced some of the future matchups..... This year we have Boston College at Huskie Stadium and in future years we will play at home against Utah, BYU, Wyoming, Maryland, Vanderbilt and Tulsa. I would say those are very appealing matchups. I believe that next year, he arranged a game against Florida State in Tallahassee to bring NIU a payday of $1, 000,000. He has no control over the MAC competition or the ESPN weekday venues.

+1

(07-08-2017 07:26 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(07-08-2017 07:06 PM)cleveland Wrote:  So far on this thread I've seen Eastern Michigan and Kent State mentioned as "bad" teams to come see. If that's the case, then call the entire MAC schedule worthless and give away tickets for free.

Dear Clueless in Cleveland,
Reading is worth more when accompanied by comprehension. Even if you're not familiar with the fact 90% on this board only care about football, go back and re-read this thread to learn that no one was referring to Eastern Michigan or Kent State basketball. In addition, read other threads and you'll soon learn there are sizeable number of posters who neither like or respect the MAC, especially in football. Don't misunderstand this response to say no one on here cares about basketball -- men's or women's -- or certain other sports, or that everyone is unhappy about Mid-Am membership, but we're in the minority.
Someone whose used ticket collection includes the MAC, Mid-Continent, Midwestern Collegiate, North Star and Big West.

I took this thread to mean all major MAC sports ... not just football ... I forget you guys continue to constantly weep over playing midweek November FB games ... like its killing those 20,000 crowds you guys get in September and October ... Sorry to be so clueless (and I agree, I am clueless).

Who wants to see Kent FB at any time ... or EMU, even of the EAgles are getting better.

(07-08-2017 08:26 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(07-08-2017 07:26 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(07-08-2017 07:06 PM)cleveland Wrote:  So far on this thread I've seen Eastern Michigan and Kent State mentioned as "bad" teams to come see. If that's the case, then call the entire MAC schedule worthless and give away tickets for free.

Dear Clueless in Cleveland,
Reading is worth more when accompanied by comprehension. Even if you're not familiar with the fact 90% on this board only care about football, go back and re-read this thread to learn that no one was referring to Eastern Michigan or Kent State basketball. In addition, read other threads and you'll soon learn there are sizeable number of posters who neither like or respect the MAC, especially in football. Don't misunderstand this response to say no one on here cares about basketball -- men's or women's -- or certain other sports, or that everyone is unhappy about Mid-Am membership, but we're in the minority.
Someone whose used ticket collection includes the MAC, Mid-Continent, Midwestern Collegiate, North Star and Big West.

I took this thread to mean all major MAC sports ... not just football ... I forget you guys continue to constantly weep over playing midweek November FB games ... like its killing those 20,000 crowds you guys get in September and October ... Sorry to be so clueless (and I agree, I am clueless).

Who wants to see Kent FB at any time ... or EMU, even of the EAgles are getting better.

(07-08-2017 08:26 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(07-08-2017 07:26 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(07-08-2017 07:06 PM)cleveland Wrote:  So far on this thread I've seen Eastern Michigan and Kent State mentioned as "bad" teams to come see. If that's the case, then call the entire MAC schedule worthless and give away tickets for free.

Dear Clueless in Cleveland,
Reading is worth more when accompanied by comprehension. Even if you're not familiar with the fact 90% on this board only care about football, go back and re-read this thread to learn that no one was referring to Eastern Michigan or Kent State basketball. In addition, read other threads and you'll soon learn there are sizeable number of posters who neither like or respect the MAC, especially in football. Don't misunderstand this response to say no one on here cares about basketball -- men's or women's -- or certain other sports, or that everyone is unhappy about Mid-Am membership, but we're in the minority.
Someone whose used ticket collection includes the MAC, Mid-Continent, Midwestern Collegiate, North Star and Big West.

I took this thread to mean all major MAC sports ... not just football ... I forget you guys continue to constantly weep over playing midweek November FB games ... like its killing those 20,000 crowds you guys get in September and October ... Sorry to be so clueless (and I agree, I am clueless).

Who wants to see Kent FB at any time ... or EMU, even of the EAgles are getting better.

Not that long ago NIU had crowds of 27,000+ for their games. There was a time when the games were sold out. You are truly clueless.

It's all EMU's FAULT!!!

(07-09-2017 02:02 PM)EagleTough Wrote:  It's all EMU's FAULT!!!

That's not what anyone is saying at all. What are you talking about?

NIU tickets are a bargain when they are winning.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Noticed Jay Vickers name not in staff directory. Has he left the U and is this who the original poster was referencing?