(04-05-2020 11:52 AM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(03-31-2020 08:43 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(03-31-2020 08:23 AM)numbersdontlie Wrote:  These guys owe NIU nothing. They played for free here. Some of you forget that.

It's not about "owing". It's about growing. For many players it's where they learned to be independent adults. Learned life lessons from the game. Built lifelong friendships. Got a free education. Just as a few guys went on to make big money in the NFl. 99% who were no where near able to earn money playing football got a free education and 4 special years of their life.

It's out of gratitude…not debt.

Sorry, but the same can be said of any NIU grad --- how many of them give back? It's an individual's choice and who is to say they don't show gratitude to other worthy individuals or causes? Case in point:

The Ed Block Foundation has named former Northern Illinois football standout and current Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay the recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award for the Lions.
According to the foundation's website, the non-profit has a number of goals to assist at-risk youth.
"We are a 501-3C non-profit that works directly with the NFL to partner each team with a child abuse/at-risk youth facility (labeled Courage Houses) in their region," states the foundation's website. The goal is to create a support network to assist that Courage Houses in their fundraising and awareness. The Foundation directly provides monetary and in-kind donations, as well as services to each of the 27 partnered facilities across the country."
Lions head coach Matt Patricia summed up to the foundation why Golladay was deserving.
“Kenny represents what it means to be a competitor on the field and possesses a commitment to the preparation required to always be at his best," Patricia said.

For regular students the relationship to the university is more symbiotic. You give them money, they give you an education. For Kenny NIU was the only FBS school to give him an opportunity. Could he have made it to the NFL from the FCS? Probably. Same goes for Jimmy Ward. NIU was his only way to get to show case at the FBS level. Maybe both these guys would have reached the NFL and made tens of millions from the FCS or Juco, but it’s probably much easier from an FBS school.

NIU gave them their only opportunity at major college football. That’s A very special opportunity very few get.