1st quarter at 7:28.

Halftime?

Well another couple players for FSU are leaving for the draft. Might be a good year to be playing them.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/sto...-nfl-draft

Florida State is gonna kick our tails like Duke did unless we get significantly better QB and overall offensive play next year. Florida State even beat Duke last year.

Yeah hoping that few guys leave in draft and a new coach is grasping at straws.

They have a heisman hopeful coming back at qb and 4 and 5 star studs all over that roster.

(01-05-2018 04:57 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(01-04-2018 11:16 PM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(01-04-2018 04:54 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(01-04-2018 07:24 AM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(01-01-2018 07:15 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  I like next season's schedule for the mere fact that it will finally stick a fork in Rod Carey's career at NIU. This dude can't even be competitive against 6-6 Duke. It's going to be an ugly season.

Going 6-6 or 5-7 next year won't be viewed as poor performance. Next year's schedule would be a challenge even for the Jordan Lynch years, and as others have said it was a desperation move to keep the athletic department from significant layoffs.

Be careful what you wish for, unless the Carey-haters are going to put their money where their mouth is and pony up some cash to higher a decent coach, we may may well get what we pay for (limited budget, low salary, bottom tier coach) and decline even further (losing seasons). Then we find ourselves wishing for the days of competing for a MAC West title and attending bowl games.

You really think a 5-7 or 6-6 season is deserving of a contract extension? Maybe if our program was at the absolute bottom like when Novak started.

21-17 in the last three years is not good and certainly not extension-worthy.

We are at an absolute bottom financially.

We pay Rod Carey nearly $700k a year. More than any coach before him. We clearly aren't that broke. We don't need to pay $1 million. Any good coach knows NIU would be a good job and if they do well can win here easily and move on to a $$$ program. Our previous two coaches did it.

Any good coach can see the writing on the wall and find a better opportunity at other mid-majors these days
- ~25% deadline in enrollment the last 10 years (and the associated loss of athletic fees / budget that goes with that)
- unprecedented moves like giving up a 6th home game to do a short-term band aid to temporarily fix in a huge deficit in the athletic budget
- Declning season ticket holders / fan attendance (and associated feed into athletic budgets)
- The state of Illinois and all of its issues
- Bending over backwards with athletic scheduling. We may only have one Saturday home game this year if they move the Utah game to Friday night and give us three weeknight home games in late October / early November

Football coaching salaries may well be the next step for when further cuts are needed to manage the continued decline in athletic budget revenue sources

(01-08-2018 08:24 AM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(01-05-2018 04:57 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(01-04-2018 11:16 PM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(01-04-2018 04:54 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(01-04-2018 07:24 AM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  Going 6-6 or 5-7 next year won't be viewed as poor performance. Next year's schedule would be a challenge even for the Jordan Lynch years, and as others have said it was a desperation move to keep the athletic department from significant layoffs.

Be careful what you wish for, unless the Carey-haters are going to put their money where their mouth is and pony up some cash to higher a decent coach, we may may well get what we pay for (limited budget, low salary, bottom tier coach) and decline even further (losing seasons). Then we find ourselves wishing for the days of competing for a MAC West title and attending bowl games.

You really think a 5-7 or 6-6 season is deserving of a contract extension? Maybe if our program was at the absolute bottom like when Novak started.

21-17 in the last three years is not good and certainly not extension-worthy.

We are at an absolute bottom financially.

We pay Rod Carey nearly $700k a year. More than any coach before him. We clearly aren't that broke. We don't need to pay $1 million. Any good coach knows NIU would be a good job and if they do well can win here easily and move on to a $$$ program. Our previous two coaches did it.

Any good coach can see the writing on the wall and find a better opportunity at other mid-majors these days
- ~25% deadline in enrollment the last 10 years (and the associated loss of athletic fees / budget that goes with that)
- unprecedented moves like giving up a 6th home game to do a short-term band aid to temporarily fix in a huge deficit in the athletic budget
- Declning season ticket holders / fan attendance (and associated feed into athletic budgets)
- The state of Illinois and all of its issues
- Bending over backwards with athletic scheduling. We may only have one Saturday home game this year if they move the Utah game to Friday night and give us three weeknight home games in late October / early November

Football coaching salaries may well be the next step for when further cuts are needed to manage the continued decline in athletic budget revenue sources

Lower the base salary. Increase the performance bonus% with more tied to program revenue/profitabilty increases.

That's just depressing. Enrollment is down 25% in last 10 years?

More reason to sign a FCS coach who's making about 250K. We can offer them double and save. Just get many smart people involved in the hiring process.

(01-08-2018 08:39 AM)NIUfrank Wrote:  That's just depressing. Enrollment is down 25% in last 10 years?

More reason to sign a FCS coach who's making about 250K. We can offer them double and save. Just get many smart people involved in the hiring process.

I believe we were pushing 25,000 back around 2007, and are down to ~18,000 now. Others have posted this, I don't have a link to it. But declining enrollment is sad but very real.

NIUs 2017 schedule: 93 toughest. And that's with # 26, 59, 75, 190 OOC.

Next year's opponents based on this year, 18, 28, 35, 112,

Want respect, exposure go out and play teams, nothing against NIU and MAC, w/o direction or a geographical description in their name. You've done it with your OOC in the past, and won.

Unfortunately when you win like 1 game in 3 seasons vs. winning FBS programs the attitude of some of the fanbase changes I guess.

Respect from scheduling up only comes if you win the games. NIU is 2 - 6 in regular season OOC play the last two years with an FCS loss at home and 1 - 7 in post season games (MACCs + bowls) under the current regime with an average margin of defeat of 21. Getting continually blown out against better competion doesn’t really do much on the respect front. Where is the growth in the program to match the uptick in scheduling?

(01-09-2018 11:46 AM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  Respect from scheduling up only comes if you win the games. NIU is 2 - 6 in regular season OOC play the last two years with an FCS loss at home and 1 - 7 in post season games (MACCs + bowls) under the current regime with an average margin of defeat of 21. Getting continually blown out against better competion doesn’t really do much on the respect front. Where is the growth in the program to match the uptick in scheduling?

Do you feel we gained respect from the OOC schedule when the great years started? In 2010/11 NIU was 3-5 OOC. Those 3 wins were all vs sub .500 teams. But maybe more damning is 3 of the 5 losses were to sub .500 teams.

Even in 2012 we lost to 4-8 Iowa and beat teams 1-11,2-10 and fcs.

As bad as the last 3 years have been, NIU has only lost 2 games to sub .500 teams.

It has settled into consistently above average, but not really good.

That was part of our great run formula....terrible OOC scheduling. The debate is whether that formula will work today.

(01-09-2018 12:15 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(01-09-2018 11:46 AM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

Do you feel we gained respect from the OOC schedule when the great years started? In 2010/11 NIU was 3-5 OOC. Those 3 wins were all vs sub .500 teams. But maybe more damning is 3 of the 5 losses were to sub .500 teams.

Even in 2012 we lost to 4-8 Iowa and beat teams 1-11,2-10 and fcs.

As bad as the last 3 years have been, NIU has only lost 2 games to sub .500 teams.

It has settled into consistently above average, but not really good.

That was part of our great run formula....terrible OOC scheduling. The debate is whether that formula will work today.

I don’t think terrible OOC scheduling works today if your goal is the Access Bowl spot each year. I think that is the reason why it seems the MWC and AAC are always the preseason front runners for the spot as the MAC / CUSA / Sun Belt are viewed as weaker conferences in the G5 hierarchy.

NIU seems to have the right OOC schedule to be in the mix the next couple seasons for the Access Bowl. I just question whether the program is in a place to win enough of those games to actually make it happen. As you mentioned above, NIU has basically been average when it comes to OOC with very few wins against top tier teams and some bad losses mixed in. Moving from 10 to 7 or 8 wins a season is basically swapping out teams like Idaho for USF on the schedule and NIU isn’t winning enough of those games against the better teams. That is why I am wondering where the growth in the program has been. The schedule has improved but the program seems to have regressed as well.

(01-09-2018 12:45 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(01-09-2018 12:15 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(01-09-2018 11:46 AM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

Do you feel we gained respect from the OOC schedule when the great years started? In 2010/11 NIU was 3-5 OOC. Those 3 wins were all vs sub .500 teams. But maybe more damning is 3 of the 5 losses were to sub .500 teams.

Even in 2012 we lost to 4-8 Iowa and beat teams 1-11,2-10 and fcs.

As bad as the last 3 years have been, NIU has only lost 2 games to sub .500 teams.

It has settled into consistently above average, but not really good.

That was part of our great run formula....terrible OOC scheduling. The debate is whether that formula will work today.

I don’t think terrible OOC scheduling works today if your goal is the Access Bowl spot each year. I think that is the reason why it seems the MWC and AAC are always the preseason front runners for the spot as the MAC / CUSA / Sun Belt are viewed as weaker conferences in the G5 hierarchy.

NIU seems to have the right OOC schedule to be in the mix the next couple seasons for the Access Bowl. I just question whether the program is in a place to win enough of those games to actually make it happen. As you mentioned above, NIU has basically been average when it comes to OOC with very few wins against top tier teams and some bad losses mixed in. Moving from 10 to 7 or 8 wins a season is basically swapping out teams like Idaho for USF on the schedule and NIU isn’t winning enough of those games against the better teams. That is why I am wondering where the growth in the program has been. The schedule has improved but the program seems to have regressed as well.

I am already planning FSU. Looking forward to other future games. I don't want a year where our trip is to decide between Tulsa, WKY or NMST.

In terms of regressed, I think this needs to be put in perspective.

57-13 in 6 yr span, 5 of them the Harnish/Lynch era. That was basically the equivalent to Montana followed by Steve Young. That was the golden age. Like it for what it was and realize it's highly doubtful if that success is coming back any time soon, if ever. Realize there are but maybe a 1/2 dozen teams a decade that come close to that outside of Alabama in recent history. It's not realistic to think you are going to make an easy schedule to lead to success and a NYD 6 bowl.

(01-09-2018 11:11 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  

(01-09-2018 12:45 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(01-09-2018 12:15 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(01-09-2018 11:46 AM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

Do you feel we gained respect from the OOC schedule when the great years started? In 2010/11 NIU was 3-5 OOC. Those 3 wins were all vs sub .500 teams. But maybe more damning is 3 of the 5 losses were to sub .500 teams.

Even in 2012 we lost to 4-8 Iowa and beat teams 1-11,2-10 and fcs.

As bad as the last 3 years have been, NIU has only lost 2 games to sub .500 teams.

It has settled into consistently above average, but not really good.

That was part of our great run formula....terrible OOC scheduling. The debate is whether that formula will work today.

I don’t think terrible OOC scheduling works today if your goal is the Access Bowl spot each year. I think that is the reason why it seems the MWC and AAC are always the preseason front runners for the spot as the MAC / CUSA / Sun Belt are viewed as weaker conferences in the G5 hierarchy.

NIU seems to have the right OOC schedule to be in the mix the next couple seasons for the Access Bowl. I just question whether the program is in a place to win enough of those games to actually make it happen. As you mentioned above, NIU has basically been average when it comes to OOC with very few wins against top tier teams and some bad losses mixed in. Moving from 10 to 7 or 8 wins a season is basically swapping out teams like Idaho for USF on the schedule and NIU isn’t winning enough of those games against the better teams. That is why I am wondering where the growth in the program has been. The schedule has improved but the program seems to have regressed as well.

I am already planning FSU. Looking forward to other future games. I don't want a year where our trip is to decide between Tulsa, WKY or NMST.

In terms of regressed, I think this needs to be put in perspective.

57-13 in 6 yr span, 5 of them the Harnish/Lynch era. That was basically the equivalent to Montana followed by Steve Young. That was the golden age. Like it for what it was and realize it's highly doubtful if that success is coming back any time soon, if ever. Realize there are but maybe a 1/2 dozen teams a decade that come close to that outside of Alabama in recent history. It's not realistic to think you are going to make an easy schedule to lead to success and a NYD 6 bowl.

What does that 57-13 stretch look like if your QBs were Graham and Childers instead of Harnish and Lynch? Conversely, what would the 21-18 record of the last 3 years look like with a year of Harnish and 2 of Lynch?

A great QB can hide a lot of a coaches flaws.

Ok then Carey needs to recruit and develop a qb. Pretty obvious this is one his many weaknesses.

(01-10-2018 08:38 AM)NIUfrank Wrote:  Ok then Carey needs to recruit and develop a qb. Pretty obvious this is one his many weaknesses.

Without a doubt. But that's also a bit of luck. Neither Kill or Doeren could recruit a Harnish or Lynch level QB after they left NIU.

(01-10-2018 09:12 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(01-10-2018 08:38 AM)NIUfrank Wrote:  Ok then Carey needs to recruit and develop a qb. Pretty obvious this is one his many weaknesses.

Without a doubt. But that's also a bit of luck. Neither Kill or Doeren could recruit a Harnish or Lynch level QB after they left NIU.

Yep.Carey has yet to do it in this smaller pond. Does he have one on roster and just not playing or developing them? I'm shocked Harmon hasn't been canned. I thought there was going to be a staff shakeup.

(01-10-2018 09:49 AM)NIUfrank Wrote:  

(01-10-2018 09:12 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(01-10-2018 08:38 AM)NIUfrank Wrote:  Ok then Carey needs to recruit and develop a qb. Pretty obvious this is one his many weaknesses.

Without a doubt. But that's also a bit of luck. Neither Kill or Doeren could recruit a Harnish or Lynch level QB after they left NIU.

Yep.Carey has yet to do it in this smaller pond. Does he have one on roster and just not playing or developing them? I'm shocked Harmon hasn't been canned. I thought there was going to be a staff shakeup.

Carey is 0 for 5 years in developing a QB. He's had some bad luck with recruit flips and the injuries, but if Childers, Wright or Hall don't produce at a high level soon, he will have completely failed at one of the biggest parts of his job. Time and excuses are up.

(01-10-2018 10:15 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(01-10-2018 09:49 AM)NIUfrank Wrote:  

(01-10-2018 09:12 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(01-10-2018 08:38 AM)NIUfrank Wrote:  Ok then Carey needs to recruit and develop a qb. Pretty obvious this is one his many weaknesses.

Without a doubt. But that's also a bit of luck. Neither Kill or Doeren could recruit a Harnish or Lynch level QB after they left NIU.

Yep.Carey has yet to do it in this smaller pond. Does he have one on roster and just not playing or developing them? I'm shocked Harmon hasn't been canned. I thought there was going to be a staff shakeup.

Carey is 0 for 5 years in developing a QB. He's had some bad luck with recruit flips and the injuries, but if Childers, Wright or Hall don't produce at a high level soon, he will have completely failed at one of the biggest parts of his job. Time and excuses are up.

Doeren did recruit a grad transfer in Finely who is going to be one of the better QBs in next years draft. I was hoping Rod would try and follow in Doeren's footsteps on this one too, but no luck (or doesn't want to go this route).