(05-04-2014 10:18 PM)NIU32 Wrote:  here's an SB writer from Kansas State's opinion on NIU to the Big 12...

U-God @SBN_UGod · May 3
"Hey! Let's take this small school in Dekalb! It's a great idea!"

Yeah, if only DeKalb could like Manhattan, Kansas.

And Kansas State's enrollment is similar to NIU's. So we're not exactly a "small school" compared to them.

Lets be clear I don't think anyone is saying that we have earned a B12 invite yet. I would say we are at least 6 years away from us to even be mentioned as a possibility by an "unnamed source within the B12".

I believe Frazier is leading us down a path to the B12 but he needs our money to increase capacity, build a real skybox, totally renovate the West stands and many other non-football improvements. The problem is the timing is going to be tight and it wont be open for much longer than 12 years.

(05-05-2014 08:19 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  And Kansas State's enrollment is similar to NIU's. So we're not exactly a "small school" compared to them.

Baylor and TCU are private schools and have enrollments around 40% of ours.

There is a lot of dreaming on this board.

(05-05-2014 09:08 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  There is a lot of dreaming on this board.

I dreamed of a BCS bowl appearance and that happened too. All this dreaming seems to be working so far.

(05-05-2014 09:08 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  There is a lot of dreaming on this board.

If you don't have dreams then what the point?

Dreams are one thing. Reality another. It's didn't take long for the "I dreamed of BCS bowl." I am guessing you didn't play on that team that went. Your dream (and mine of going) was accomplished by their ability, dedication. NIU going to a BCS game simple put was done on the field and off, qualifying through a set of established guidelines. This is NOT the same thing.Nice to dream of B12, ask them but facts simply don't add. Many statements being made are not fact, rather opinion or assumptions. They simply just don't account for or accept other facts.

(05-05-2014 09:46 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Dreams are one thing. Reality another. It's didn't take long for the "I dreamed of BCS bowl." I am guessing you didn't play on that team that went. Your dream (and mine of going) was accomplished by their ability, dedication. NIU going to a BCS game simple put was done on the field and off, qualifying through a set of established guidelines. This is NOT the same thing.Nice to dream of B12, ask them but facts simply don't add. Many statements being made are not fact, rather opinion or assumptions. They simply just don't account for or accept other facts.

Like what?

I'm still a fan of seeing NIU leave the MAC for the American Athletic Conference (AAC), seems more realistic and a step above the MAC.

(05-05-2014 09:46 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  qualifying through a set of established guidelines. This is NOT the same thing.

I understand what you're saying in regards to the BCS appearance, but it was not entirely up to the Huskies there a lot of things that had to happen for them to make it there - it was a miracle it did happen.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/11/26/l...ange-bowl/


What makes you think that there aren't guidelines that we can follow to increase our chances of being invited?


Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

It's good to have the dream, but i can't see how we'd get from here to there. We can build facilities but how do we get fans?

(05-05-2014 09:57 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  It's good to have the dream, but i can't see how we'd get from here to there. We can build facilities but how do we get fans?

BINGO

I will bet that the master plan put out in August will show us having B12 quality facilities all around.

Again its up to the fans to put up the money.

(05-05-2014 10:06 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  

(05-05-2014 09:57 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  It's good to have the dream, but i can't see how we'd get from here to there. We can build facilities but how do we get fans?

BINGO

Frazier has already said that we need more capacity to get AQs to DeKalb. Add 3k seats total to the sides of the East stands. That way we can get some better name teams to DeKalb regularly.

Increase the premium seating options. I still think we could use a table service area and with the east stand expansion I would expect the middle 3 sections to be sold as reserved seating.

At best could be finished for 2016 season

Renovate the West stands so real concessions can be offered AND larger bathrooms that are not in the basement.

At best could be finished for 2017 season

Add a real skybox so we can have 1500 indoor seats. This way weather is no longer an issue for the people who can spend more and they are always in the stadium on game days. Also design the skybox for future expansion if needed.

At best could be finished for 2019 season

Add seating to each side of the West stands. This would add around 5k seats.

At best could be finished for 2021 season

This would give us a base stadium of 33k. If the fans support it from that point and there is interest from the B12 then we could still expand further by putting a second deck on the East stands and the additional wings on the skybox to go along the full length of the West stands. That would put us around 45k by the 2026 season...again if the fans put up the money.

We need to find some big successful donors that have A LOT of money

(05-05-2014 10:06 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  I will bet that the master plan put out in August will show us having B12 quality facilities all around.

Again its up to the fans to put up the money.

as i have in the past, where do you get at least $40 mill infusion into the athletic budget to put you in the lower have of ath budgets in the big12? Our budget woulf have to be in the range of 50-60 mill. ain't gonna happen.

(05-05-2014 11:56 AM)GCD70 Wrote:  

(05-05-2014 10:06 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  I will bet that the master plan put out in August will show us having B12 quality facilities all around.

Again its up to the fans to put up the money.

as i have in the past, where do you get at least $40 mill infusion into the athletic budget to put you in the lower have of ath budgets in the big12? Our budget woulf have to be in the range of 50-60 mill. ain't gonna happen.

Don't forget the cost of stadium renovation and expansion.

In all reality, the push to expand the stadium and get to the big time should have started in 1963 at the end of the George Bork era. NIU from the Bork era to the Novak era at times talked about improving its football status but never followed through with any action. ESPN and television contracts are the driving force today. The ticket buying fan is just a prop.

Since Texas is George Washington and Stalin and Jesus and Santa Claus combined to NIU's chances of joining the Big Twelve, ask yourself the only question that matters: Does The University of Texas support Northern Illinois University to the Big Twelve Conference?

We all know the answer.