CSNbbs

http://www.niuhuskies.com/news/2017/8/25...hange.aspx

Don't like the part about moving more home contests to Chicagoland for attendance requirements.

(08-25-2017 11:53 AM)huskie1stdown Wrote: [ -> ]Don't like the part about moving more home contests to Chicagoland for attendance requirements.

It's a bummer...but that's what happens when 2/3 of your home games are on weeknights and it's a massive burden for your fans, which generally live closer to Chicago, to make it to games. If they played on Saturdays it wouldn't be an issue.

NIU is taking a "back to basics" approach to the 2017 football season. The team is focused on returning to the Smart, Tough and Relentless values that embody "The Hard Way," and which have made NIU the most successful Mid-American Conference team this century. In that spirit, the Huskies will wear the "traditional" uniforms of black pants, red jersey and black helmets at home, beginning with the season opener. In addition NIU's sideline returns to the West Side of Huskie Stadium in 2017. For years, NIU students on the East Side helped make Huskie Stadium the toughest place to play in the MAC and with your help, we're ready to reclaim that designation!

(08-25-2017 11:53 AM)huskie1stdown Wrote: [ -> ]http://www.niuhuskies.com/news/2017/8/25...hange.aspx

Don't like the part about moving more home contests to Chicagoland for attendance requirements.

Agreed. Do they really think that moving midweek games to Chicago will really improve attendance all that much?

(08-25-2017 12:12 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]NIU is taking a "back to basics" approach to the 2017 football season. The team is focused on returning to the Smart, Tough and Relentless values that embody "The Hard Way," and which have made NIU the most successful Mid-American Conference team this century. In that spirit, the Huskies will wear the "traditional" uniforms of black pants, red jersey and black helmets at home, beginning with the season opener. In addition NIU's sideline returns to the West Side of Huskie Stadium in 2017. For years, NIU students on the East Side helped make Huskie Stadium the toughest place to play in the MAC and with your help, we're ready to reclaim that designation!

I like it. Time to to really give it to the opposing teams from the stands.

(08-25-2017 12:12 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]NIU is taking a "back to basics" approach to the 2017 football season. The team is focused on returning to the Smart, Tough and Relentless values that embody "The Hard Way," and which have made NIU the most successful Mid-American Conference team this century. In that spirit, the Huskies will wear the "traditional" uniforms of black pants, red jersey and black helmets at home, beginning with the season opener. In addition NIU's sideline returns to the West Side of Huskie Stadium in 2017. For years, NIU students on the East Side helped make Huskie Stadium the toughest place to play in the MAC and with your help, we're ready to reclaim that designation!

Did the MAC get rid of the requirement about which sideline the home team has?

(08-25-2017 12:12 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]NIU is taking a "back to basics" approach to the 2017 football season. The team is focused on returning to the Smart, Tough and Relentless values that embody "The Hard Way," and which have made NIU the most successful Mid-American Conference team this century. In that spirit, the Huskies will wear the "traditional" uniforms of black pants, red jersey and black helmets at home, beginning with the season opener. In addition NIU's sideline returns to the West Side of Huskie Stadium in 2017. For years, NIU students on the East Side helped make Huskie Stadium the toughest place to play in the MAC and with your help, we're ready to reclaim that designation!

LOVE the traditional home uni's and moving the visiting team to the east side!

Then again was this in anticipation of redoing the East side and making that the new West Side?

(08-25-2017 12:14 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-25-2017 11:53 AM)huskie1stdown Wrote: [ -> ]http://www.niuhuskies.com/news/2017/8/25...hange.aspx

Don't like the part about moving more home contests to Chicagoland for attendance requirements.

Agreed. Do they really think that moving midweek games to Chicago will really improve attendance all that much?

They did have 10K+ at the Cell for a game that DeKalb would have had 6-8k...

Great stuff from STF. He is definitely in touch but has many obstacles some which he cannot control to contend with.

Quote:The Huskie Football team is hungry too. On September 1, we welcome a premier opponent in Boston College to Huskie Stadium. The Eagles are the first Atlantic Coast Conference team to play in DeKalb since that magical night versus Maryland in 2003. They are just the second team from what is now known as a "Power 5" league to face NIU at Huskie Stadium since that time. By the way, the last time we lost to a team from one of those leagues at Huskie Stadium was all the way back in 1997!

Great to have a nationally recognied opponent at home in Huskie Stadium with a national broadcast.

Quote:NIU is taking a "back to basics" approach to the 2017 football season. The team is focused on returning to the Smart, Tough and Relentless values that embody "The Hard Way," and which have made NIU the most successful Mid-American Conference team this century. In that spirit, the Huskies will wear the "traditional" uniforms of black pants, red jersey and black helmets at home, beginning with the season opener. In addition NIU's sideline returns to the West Side of Huskie Stadium in 2017. For years, NIU students on the East Side helped make Huskie Stadium the toughest place to play in the MAC and with your help, we're ready to reclaim that designation!

It's about time we reestablish an identity. The different uniforms every week reduced the Huskie brand. I'm glad to see the visiting team back on the east side. Hopefully more students will find a reason to attend.

Quote:Last week, the new Huskie Fan Advisory Board held its first meeting and I was impressed with the commitment and the energy of the group. We discussed a wide variety of topics including: strategies for outreach and engagement of the Huskie alumni and fan base; improving customer service and standard operating procedures to enhance the ticket buying experience; and addressing attendance issues. The board expressed a willingness to think outside the box to address attendance issues, which may include moving additional home contests into Chicagoland to meet attendance requirements.

Decent at best for Chicago area fans, but the 6 pm starts in DeKalb make it impossible for working people in the Chicago area to get to Huskie Stadium. With 50% of our total games and 63% of our MAC games played during the week, we need to do something (within our control). We also need to let the MAC know this is not acceptable #TakeBackTheMAC and look for other options. While the TV money is good, what is the cost of lost interest from fans and what is the cost to rebuild that relationship? In my opinion, the short term financial gain may be dwarfed in comparison to restoring the fan base.

Would moving more games to Chicagoland replace the need to expand/enhance Huskie Stadium?

(08-25-2017 12:23 PM)huskie1stdown Wrote: [ -> ]Then again was this in anticipation of redoing the East side and making that the new West Side?

Maybe they'll move all our home games to Chicago while they rebuild Huskie Stadium.

Mostly joking and being an ass but...

Back to basics = We don't have money for any special unis this year so we figured out a slogan to make is seem like its the plan.

Does going back to the basics mean they are bringing back the cannon?

Does going back to the basics mean they are going to open the movie lot for public tailgating?



Seriously though love the swapping of the sidelines!

(08-25-2017 01:06 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-25-2017 12:14 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-25-2017 11:53 AM)huskie1stdown Wrote: [ -> ]http://www.niuhuskies.com/news/2017/8/25...hange.aspx

Don't like the part about moving more home contests to Chicagoland for attendance requirements.

Agreed. Do they really think that moving midweek games to Chicago will really improve attendance all that much?

They did have 10K+ at the Cell for a game that DeKalb would have had 6-8k...

How much of that huge 10K crowd was due to the novelty of the first football game at GRF and the marketing of such? If we play teams like EMU or Ball State or virtually any MAC team in Chicago on midweek November nights, I don't see us getting any spike in attendance. Plus, you may win over a few Chicago fans, but you'll lose the DeKalb County and northern Illinois fans.

Either pull out of the God-forsaken MAC or swallow hard and accept the reality of the situation. If I were NIU and any other MAC schools who are frustrated by these mid-week games, I would sue the MAC and threaten to (or actually) pull out of the conference, because the attendance problem means survival as FBS teams. If they can't do it because they signed the ESPN contracts, oh well, FCS here we come.

(08-25-2017 01:40 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-25-2017 01:06 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-25-2017 12:14 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-25-2017 11:53 AM)huskie1stdown Wrote: [ -> ]http://www.niuhuskies.com/news/2017/8/25...hange.aspx

Don't like the part about moving more home contests to Chicagoland for attendance requirements.

Agreed. Do they really think that moving midweek games to Chicago will really improve attendance all that much?

They did have 10K+ at the Cell for a game that DeKalb would have had 6-8k...

How much of that huge 10K crowd was due to the novelty of the first football game at GRF and the marketing of such? If we play teams like EMU or Ball State or virtually any MAC team in Chicago on midweek November nights, I don't see us getting any spike in attendance. Plus, you may win over a few Chicago fans, but you'll lose the DeKalb County and northern Illinois fans.

Either pull out of the God-forsaken MAC or swallow hard and accept the reality of the situation. If I were NIU and any other MAC schools who are frustrated by these mid-week games, I would sue the MAC and threaten to (or actually) pull out of the conference, because the attendance problem means survival as FBS teams. If they can't do it because they signed the ESPN contracts, oh well, FCS here we come.

+1

A Chicago game every other year against an interesting opponent is Ok, regular games downtown against MAC opponents is nuts.

GET THE SATURDAY GAMES BACK IN DEKALB!

(08-25-2017 12:21 PM)huskie1stdown Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-25-2017 12:12 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]NIU is taking a "back to basics" approach to the 2017 football season. The team is focused on returning to the Smart, Tough and Relentless values that embody "The Hard Way," and which have made NIU the most successful Mid-American Conference team this century. In that spirit, the Huskies will wear the "traditional" uniforms of black pants, red jersey and black helmets at home, beginning with the season opener. In addition NIU's sideline returns to the West Side of Huskie Stadium in 2017. For years, NIU students on the East Side helped make Huskie Stadium the toughest place to play in the MAC and with your help, we're ready to reclaim that designation!

Did the MAC get rid of the requirement about which sideline the home team has?

Per Frazier "We worked with the MAC to make this happen"

(08-25-2017 01:40 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-25-2017 01:06 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-25-2017 12:14 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-25-2017 11:53 AM)huskie1stdown Wrote: [ -> ]http://www.niuhuskies.com/news/2017/8/25...hange.aspx

Don't like the part about moving more home contests to Chicagoland for attendance requirements.

Agreed. Do they really think that moving midweek games to Chicago will really improve attendance all that much?

They did have 10K+ at the Cell for a game that DeKalb would have had 6-8k...

How much of that huge 10K crowd was due to the novelty of the first football game at GRF and the marketing of such? If we play teams like EMU or Ball State or virtually any MAC team in Chicago on midweek November nights, I don't see us getting any spike in attendance. Plus, you may win over a few Chicago fans, but you'll lose the DeKalb County and northern Illinois fans.

Either pull out of the God-forsaken MAC or swallow hard and accept the reality of the situation. If I were NIU and any other MAC schools who are frustrated by these mid-week games, I would sue the MAC and threaten to (or actually) pull out of the conference, because the attendance problem means survival as FBS teams. If they can't do it because they signed the ESPN contracts, oh well, FCS here we come.

Unfortunately, I agree. It's time to #TakeBackTheMAC or get out of the MAC. The number of weeknight games has continued to increase and the game times have continued to get worse. Our games only are only convenient for an east coast audience, not for our fans. The MAC as it stands today with their scheduling is detrimental to the well being of NIU.

(08-25-2017 01:40 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]How much of that huge 10K crowd was due to the novelty of the first football game at GRF and the marketing of such?

Agree but still more people still showed up than would have in DeKalb.

Quote:If we play teams like EMU or Ball State or virtually any MAC team in Chicago on midweek November nights, I don't see us getting any spike in attendance.

Agree, only swapping between Toledo and WMU every 2 years is the only MAC game that makes sense to play in Chicago at the Cell.

I would prefer this game to be played on black Friday or even the Wed before thanksgiving though.

Quote:Plus, you may win over a few Chicago fans, but you'll lose the DeKalb County and northern Illinois fans.

Agree we really need 1 good home OOC game on a Saturday that will bring in a lot of fans. The MAC games are out of our control...EXCEPT not having a bye week in the first 4 weeks would be more beneficial because of how bad the MAC is with whoring out the schedule.

Quote:Either pull out of the God-forsaken MAC or swallow hard and accept the reality of the situation.

Where would NIU go? NIU historians keep telling us that going Independent previously hurt all of athletics for over a decade. Lets take a look at New Mexico St's 2018 Independent schedule...
http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-18/2018-...hedule.php

The AAC is the only option that makes sense and even that has its down sides not to mention not being invited.

Quote:If I were NIU and any other MAC schools who are frustrated by these mid-week games, I would sue the MAC and threaten to (or actually) pull out of the conference, because the attendance problem means survival as FBS teams.

Yes its frustrating but...

The BC game being on Friday is 100% on STF...not the MAC. As far as I understood STF playing this game on a Friday in DeKalb was the ONLY way that we got the agreement. BC wanted a TV game and so did STF on top of a P5 team coming to DeKalb...something we ALL told him we wanted.

The EMU game however was totally the MAC being aweful. Both NIU and EMU had openings in week 4 but instead the MAC opted for a mid week game on top of a shortened week for both teams not to also mention this game only has a 50/50 shot at being on ESPN3.com just so ESPN could sell the top MACtion game that night to CBSSN. All for the sake of each MAC team getting 200k more year in TV money.
[/quote]

(08-25-2017 12:12 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]NIU is taking a "back to basics" approach to the 2017 football season. The team is focused on returning to the Smart, Tough and Relentless values that embody "The Hard Way," and which have made NIU the most successful Mid-American Conference team this century. In that spirit, the Huskies will wear the "traditional" uniforms of black pants, red jersey and black helmets at home, beginning with the season opener. In addition NIU's sideline returns to the West Side of Huskie Stadium in 2017. For years, NIU students on the East Side helped make Huskie Stadium the toughest place to play in the MAC and with your help, we're ready to reclaim that designation!

Exactly! It was a really dumb move to move the sidelines in the first place. And nothing beats the traditional unis.

(08-25-2017 03:12 PM)chihuskie Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-25-2017 12:12 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]NIU is taking a "back to basics" approach to the 2017 football season. The team is focused on returning to the Smart, Tough and Relentless values that embody "The Hard Way," and which have made NIU the most successful Mid-American Conference team this century. In that spirit, the Huskies will wear the "traditional" uniforms of black pants, red jersey and black helmets at home, beginning with the season opener. In addition NIU's sideline returns to the West Side of Huskie Stadium in 2017. For years, NIU students on the East Side helped make Huskie Stadium the toughest place to play in the MAC and with your help, we're ready to reclaim that designation!

Exactly! It was a really dumb move to move the sidelines in the first place. And nothing beats the traditional unis.

It was a MAC rule because NIU was too intimidating.

(08-25-2017 12:12 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]NIU is taking a "back to basics" approach to the 2017 football season. The team is focused on returning to the Smart, Tough and Relentless values that embody "The Hard Way," and which have made NIU the most successful Mid-American Conference team this century. In that spirit, the Huskies will wear the "traditional" uniforms of black pants, red jersey and black helmets at home, beginning with the season opener. In addition NIU's sideline returns to the West Side of Huskie Stadium in 2017. For years, NIU students on the East Side helped make Huskie Stadium the toughest place to play in the MAC and with your help, we're ready to reclaim that designation!

This is is impressive!