CFN puts out a 5 year review list of every team and this year NIU came in 57. Interesting shot taken on the attendance (not inaccurate).
57. Northern Illinois Huskies
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 57.52
2017 Ranking: 45
Biggest Positive: 80% Conference Wins
Biggest Negative: 1.41 Attendance Score
Analysis: If you’re looking for why NIU is having a hard time moving conferences, it’s that 1.41 Attendance Score. However, the 40 FBS wins are amazing and the production in MAC play is phenomenal. The 9.7 APR Score isn’t bad, either.
(08-22-2018 07:25 AM)flair6 Wrote: [ -> ]CFN puts out a 5 year review list of every team and this year NIU came in 57. Interesting shot taken on the attendance (not inaccurate).
57. Northern Illinois Huskies
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 57.52
2017 Ranking: 45
Biggest Positive: 80% Conference Wins
Biggest Negative: 1.41 Attendance Score
Analysis: If you’re looking for why NIU is having a hard time moving conferences, it’s that 1.41 Attendance Score. However, the 40 FBS wins are amazing and the production in MAC play is phenomenal. The 9.7 APR Score isn’t bad, either.
Nice article. Attendance is bad but they should factor in the weekday games too. We don’t have a strong fan base so it’s too difficult to overcome a bad schedule. The fan base needs to see things like this because they don’t understand or don’t care about the results of not showing support for the program. Stronger support will benefit the entire school and area.
(08-22-2018 07:40 AM)Dtownboys Wrote: [ -> ] (08-22-2018 07:25 AM)flair6 Wrote: [ -> ]CFN puts out a 5 year review list of every team and this year NIU came in 57. Interesting shot taken on the attendance (not inaccurate).
57. Northern Illinois Huskies
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 57.52
2017 Ranking: 45
Biggest Positive: 80% Conference Wins
Biggest Negative: 1.41 Attendance Score
Analysis: If you’re looking for why NIU is having a hard time moving conferences, it’s that 1.41 Attendance Score. However, the 40 FBS wins are amazing and the production in MAC play is phenomenal. The 9.7 APR Score isn’t bad, either.
Nice article. Attendance is bad but they should factor in the weekday games too. We don’t have a strong fan base so it’s too difficult to overcome a bad schedule. The fan base needs to see things like this because they don’t understand or don’t care about the results of not showing support for the program. Stronger support will benefit the entire school and area.
The MAC needs to see this too and understand that it's their fault with the weeknight games.
(08-22-2018 08:44 AM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ] (08-22-2018 07:40 AM)Dtownboys Wrote: [ -> ] (08-22-2018 07:25 AM)flair6 Wrote: [ -> ]CFN puts out a 5 year review list of every team and this year NIU came in 57. Interesting shot taken on the attendance (not inaccurate).
57. Northern Illinois Huskies
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 57.52
2017 Ranking: 45
Biggest Positive: 80% Conference Wins
Biggest Negative: 1.41 Attendance Score
Analysis: If you’re looking for why NIU is having a hard time moving conferences, it’s that 1.41 Attendance Score. However, the 40 FBS wins are amazing and the production in MAC play is phenomenal. The 9.7 APR Score isn’t bad, either.
Nice article. Attendance is bad but they should factor in the weekday games too. We don’t have a strong fan base so it’s too difficult to overcome a bad schedule. The fan base needs to see things like this because they don’t understand or don’t care about the results of not showing support for the program. Stronger support will benefit the entire school and area.
The MAC needs to see this too and understand that it's their fault with the weeknight games.
Indeed!! The MAC front office takes the blame for this one along with every spineless AD in the conference
(08-22-2018 08:50 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote: [ -> ] (08-22-2018 08:44 AM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ] (08-22-2018 07:40 AM)Dtownboys Wrote: [ -> ] (08-22-2018 07:25 AM)flair6 Wrote: [ -> ]CFN puts out a 5 year review list of every team and this year NIU came in 57. Interesting shot taken on the attendance (not inaccurate).
57. Northern Illinois Huskies
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 57.52
2017 Ranking: 45
Biggest Positive: 80% Conference Wins
Biggest Negative: 1.41 Attendance Score
Analysis: If you’re looking for why NIU is having a hard time moving conferences, it’s that 1.41 Attendance Score. However, the 40 FBS wins are amazing and the production in MAC play is phenomenal. The 9.7 APR Score isn’t bad, either.
Nice article. Attendance is bad but they should factor in the weekday games too. We don’t have a strong fan base so it’s too difficult to overcome a bad schedule. The fan base needs to see things like this because they don’t understand or don’t care about the results of not showing support for the program. Stronger support will benefit the entire school and area.
The MAC needs to see this too and understand that it's their fault with the weeknight games.
Indeed!! The MAC front office takes the blame for this one along with every spineless AD in the conference
...puts tinfoil hat on, what if that's the MAC's plan to keep us in the conference? rake in those sweet sweet weekday game ratings and keep attendance down. Just pimpin' lil ol sweet NIU around to the masses. (sarcasm)
(08-22-2018 09:22 AM)thehappyhuskie Wrote: [ -> ]...puts tinfoil hat on, what if that's the MAC's plan to keep us in the conference? rake in those sweet sweet weekday game ratings and keep attendance down. Just pimpin' lil ol sweet NIU around to the masses. (sarcasm)
Some things that I believe to be true ...
With our weak fan base and horrible attendance for football and basketball we have not outgrown the MAC.
We are fortunate that the MAC took us back after we turned our back on them when Bob Brigham had his delusions of grandeur.
Our best opportunity to launch the program and move up to a bigger conference was following our Orange Bowl appearance. However, the school and its fan base were not able to capitalize on that historic opportunity.
Several of the MAC schools including Buffalo, Miami U., Ohio U., BGSU and others are fine academic institutions that we can/should be proud to be associated with.
If we can ever get away from the ridiculous number of weekday football games that the conference has agreed to MAC football could grow into something bigger and better than what it is today.
For now the MAC is a good fit for NIU and we should embrace it and be proud of our home while pressuring both the NIU and MAC administrators to make things better.
I think its extremely unfair to blame fans for the small fanbase, we did that to ourselves (the MAC and individual leadership at each institution). Until the weekday situation changes, small fanbases are what we get and what we deserve frankly.
We may want to take it a little easy on the MAC because, remember, they gave us that fabulous one-sided Jolly Roger flag. (Is that like a one-eyed pirate? Aaarrrrrgh!!)
(08-22-2018 10:59 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote: [ -> ]I think its extremely unfair to blame fans for the small fanbase, we did that to ourselves (the MAC and individual leadership at each institution). Until the weekday situation changes, small fanbases are what we get and what we deserve frankly.
I get your point, but what about the pathetic attendance on weekend games in September when the weather is beautiful?
Tin foil hat club excluded - I think the comments on this thread are some of the most sensible that I’ve read in this thread in a while. We do need the MAC right now and I don’t think we’ve outgrown the conference (unfortunately). There are some good schools and academic institutions. Our fan base must improve to grow and show better support (basketball included). Our school enrollment needs to grow again. The conference needs to recognize the midweek games are damaging schools by decreasing fan bases. All these things are connected.
(08-22-2018 12:31 PM)Dtownboys Wrote: [ -> ]Tin foil hat club excluded - I think the comments on this thread are some of the most sensible that I’ve read in this thread in a while. We do need the MAC right now and I don’t think we’ve outgrown the conference (unfortunately). There are some good schools and academic institutions. Our fan base must improve to grow and show better support (basketball included). Our school enrollment needs to grow again. The conference needs to recognize the midweek games are damaging schools by decreasing fan bases. All these things are connected.
In reference to the tin foil hats - the MAC has hurt our growth in one way. We have been over scheduled for the midweek games. That is one fact that I can say connects directly to the comment of the MAC keeping us down. That is result of our success and the MAC has taken advantage of us there.
(08-22-2018 12:31 PM)Dtownboys Wrote: [ -> ]Tin foil hat club excluded - I think the comments on this thread are some of the most sensible that I’ve read in this thread in a while. We do need the MAC right now and I don’t think we’ve outgrown the conference (unfortunately). There are some good schools and academic institutions. Our fan base must improve to grow and show better support (basketball included). Our school enrollment needs to grow again. The conference needs to recognize the midweek games are damaging schools by decreasing fan bases. All these things are connected.
The growth potential is zero until the ESPN deal is gone. And as others have mentioned ADs want that quick fix. Goal number one is to to get ADs in this conference that have an interest and are invested in the future of the conference
(08-22-2018 12:26 PM)pgreen822 Wrote: [ -> ] (08-22-2018 10:59 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote: [ -> ]I think its extremely unfair to blame fans for the small fanbase, we did that to ourselves (the MAC and individual leadership at each institution). Until the weekday situation changes, small fanbases are what we get and what we deserve frankly.
I get your point, but what about the pathetic attendance on weekend games in September when the weather is beautiful?
The weekday games have ruined attendance all around. Many people have given up their season tickets because they can attend so few games. The message has resonated that the MAC does not care about its fans. And the fans have responded.
(08-22-2018 12:31 PM)Dtownboys Wrote: [ -> ]Tin foil hat club excluded - I think the comments on this thread are some of the most sensible that I’ve read in this thread in a while. We do need the MAC right now and I don’t think we’ve outgrown the conference (unfortunately). There are some good schools and academic institutions. Our fan base must improve to grow and show better support (basketball included). Our school enrollment needs to grow again. The conference needs to recognize the midweek games are damaging schools by decreasing fan bases. All these things are connected.
You must distinguish between fan bases and game attendance. Your overall media base may be growing. Translating that into attendance and increased revenues is another story. Either your marketing people are doing a good job or not. You've got a very good home schedule this season:Utah, CMU, Ohio(Homecoming), Toledo(MACTION), Miami U(MACTION). It will only take about 7,000 additional fans to put NIU up over 10% attendance growth over last season. 80,000 attendance(16,000 avg) puts NIU up about +18%. Certainly would be a move in the right direction
(08-22-2018 12:51 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ] (08-22-2018 12:26 PM)pgreen822 Wrote: [ -> ] (08-22-2018 10:59 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote: [ -> ]I think its extremely unfair to blame fans for the small fanbase, we did that to ourselves (the MAC and individual leadership at each institution). Until the weekday situation changes, small fanbases are what we get and what we deserve frankly.
I get your point, but what about the pathetic attendance on weekend games in September when the weather is beautiful?
The weekday games have ruined attendance all around. Many people have given up their season tickets because they can attend so few games. The message has resonated that the MAC does not care about its fans. And the fans have responded.
This is exactly the problem
(08-22-2018 12:51 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ] (08-22-2018 12:26 PM)pgreen822 Wrote: [ -> ] (08-22-2018 10:59 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote: [ -> ]I think its extremely unfair to blame fans for the small fanbase, we did that to ourselves (the MAC and individual leadership at each institution). Until the weekday situation changes, small fanbases are what we get and what we deserve frankly.
I get your point, but what about the pathetic attendance on weekend games in September when the weather is beautiful?
The weekday games have ruined attendance all around. Many people have given up their season tickets because they can attend so few games. The message has resonated that the MAC does not care about its fans. And the fans have responded.
Exactly—-when you don’t have season tickets you also don’t have tickets to the Saturday games either. It’s not like the stadium is half full on Saturdays either.
(08-22-2018 01:10 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote: [ -> ] (08-22-2018 12:51 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ] (08-22-2018 12:26 PM)pgreen822 Wrote: [ -> ] (08-22-2018 10:59 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote: [ -> ]I think its extremely unfair to blame fans for the small fanbase, we did that to ourselves (the MAC and individual leadership at each institution). Until the weekday situation changes, small fanbases are what we get and what we deserve frankly.
I get your point, but what about the pathetic attendance on weekend games in September when the weather is beautiful?
The weekday games have ruined attendance all around. Many people have given up their season tickets because they can attend so few games. The message has resonated that the MAC does not care about its fans. And the fans have responded.
This is exactly the problem
Makes sense...
Time to hit up the C-USA...we would still be pretty competitive in that division...a little far from our opposition, but at least we would have Saturday games, tailgating, and a great in game experience again
Heck, I would even take the Sun Belt over the MAC at this point
(08-22-2018 03:19 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote: [ -> ]Time to hit up the C-USA...we would still be pretty competitive in that division...a little far from our opposition, but at least we would have Saturday games, tailgating, and a great in game experience again
Heck, I would even take the Sun Belt over the MAC at this point
Good luck with those UTEP, and UTSA games. Travel expenses would jump up tremendously.San Antonio to El Paso is almost an 8 hrs.drive(550miles). Chicago to El Paso is about 23 hrs.