(10-14-2018 12:45 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-13-2018 09:03 PM)DiehardHuskie Wrote:  Pretty disappointing when we can't even draw 15k on homecoming on a beautiful day.

NIU student support has almost entirely vanished

That's because there are 30% less students.

(10-14-2018 09:16 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  I’ll defend Rod when it’s warrented. Even when I don’t agree with his decision I’ll find a football basis for it’s defense. But this instance is just so bad he really needs to give the fans a reason. Even the wind was to his advantage. Ohio was punting into the wind and we’d have the wind at our back for a long fg at worst.

These aren’t things to fire a coach for. But he needs to be held accountable because it could cost them a big game if it continues.

EXACTLY.

Ball St drew 7149 against us on an 85-degree day.

(10-13-2018 09:11 PM)prairiedawg Wrote:  

(10-13-2018 09:03 PM)DiehardHuskie Wrote:  Pretty disappointing when we can't even draw 15k on homecoming on a beautiful day.

do something about it

I was there with 12 people. You guys were cold yesterday? Good lord.

(10-14-2018 12:06 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Ball St drew 7149 against us on an 85-degree day.

Yeah I was there. No students, it was fall break.

There's always an excuse for our students.....too cold, too hot, Friday before a long weekend, fall break, the P5 opponent isn't B10. Unfortunately, the new classes of NIU students are seriously lacking in school pride.

Sent from my SM-N910V using CSNbbs mobile app

The absolute worst thing that can happen is NIU wins the MACC because our terrible coach will be back!!

I went to UI this weekend w/family to celebrate niece birthday, parents anniversary. It was their Homecoming.

Their pathetic team drew 41k for the game. That number is obiviously pretty low, but Purdue's visiting section was probably 1/2 full. If I had to guess, it was probably about the same # of people NIU had at FSU in their student section. There were a good number scattered in the stadium, but I would put the # probably no higher than 1000, 1500 very tops. NIU definitely had far more when they last played there in their section, scattered in the horseshoe.

Anyways, I will say this. The atmosphere down there is far better than NIU. There just seems to be better support, at least for their HC before they return to 25k for their next game. Their setup for parking, tailgate is better than NIU as it isn't spread out all over the place.

But everthing else aside what shocked me is the infrastructure they have put in there in the last 10 years, even last 3 years since I was last there. The campus itself, Green street area is almost unrecognizeable since my 1st visits as a kid 35+ years ago.

Growth, business. That is what NIU has seen little of lately. You don't see empty businesses you once saw on Green a decade ago on Green. 30 years ago you had some crappy off campus housing near campus. Believe me, my brother lived there. It was like some of the old Edgebrook apt. But that has changed. Alot has been torn down and rebuilt whereas in DeKalb they just got the ok to go ahead and build west of Annie Glidden to north and south while the areas near old greek row, Hillcrest has seen no improvements and have basically been left for low income housing. I know years ago the Edgebrook apt were remodeled but appears nothing else around there has visually improved while businesses in the old Jungle mall are vacant, you have eyesores like the movie theater.

I have said much of this lately, but it is sad to see what has happened there. And going to UI this weekend just made me think. What does DeKalb offer for a weekend? What is there to do? What is there to do for a family be it a grad or moreover a visitor? A student?

If you drive up 23 to Sycamore you get a totally different impression of DeKalb I will admit. It's crazy to see a campus, downtown area turn into what it has while the outskirts have thrived. It's crazy to see DeKalb become like one of dozens...perhaps 100's where their urban center has crumbled while the suburbs/suburbia has flourished. As with attracting students back to NIU, I am not sure what can be done. But I do think they better do something as it is no coincidence to see struggles with the student population/school financials go hand and hand with lack of interest in NIU and the housing, vacant business, lack of growth in the campus/d-town area.

(10-14-2018 11:53 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  I went to UI this weekend w/family to celebrate niece birthday, parents anniversary. It was their Homecoming.

Their pathetic team drew 41k for the game. That number is obiviously pretty low, but Purdue's visiting section was probably 1/2 full. If I had to guess, it was probably about the same # of people NIU had at FSU in their student section. There were a good number scattered in the stadium, but I would put the # probably no higher than 1000, 1500 very tops. NIU definitely had far more when they last played there in their section, scattered in the horseshoe.

Anyways, I will say this. The atmosphere down there is far better than NIU. There just seems to be better support, at least for their HC before they return to 25k for their next game. Their setup for parking, tailgate is better than NIU as it isn't spread out all over the place.

But everthing else aside what shocked me is the infrastructure they have put in there in the last 10 years, even last 3 years since I was last there. The campus itself, Green street area is almost unrecognizeable since my 1st visits as a kid 35+ years ago.

Growth, business. That is what NIU has seen little of lately. You don't see empty businesses you once saw on Green a decade ago on Green. 30 years ago you had some crappy off campus housing near campus. Believe me, my brother lived there. It was like some of the old Edgebrook apt. But that has changed. Alot has been torn down and rebuilt whereas in DeKalb they just got the ok to go ahead and build west of Annie Glidden to north and south while the areas near old greek row, Hillcrest has seen no improvements and have basically been left for low income housing. I know years ago the Edgebrook apt were remodeled but appears nothing else around there has visually improved while businesses in the old Jungle mall are vacant, you have eyesores like the movie theater.

I have said much of this lately, but it is sad to see what has happened there. And going to UI this weekend just made me think. What does DeKalb offer for a weekend? What is there to do? What is there to do for a family be it a grad or moreover a visitor? A student?

If you drive up 23 to Sycamore you get a totally different impression of DeKalb I will admit. It's crazy to see a campus, downtown area turn into what it has while the outskirts have thrived. It's crazy to see DeKalb become like one of dozens...perhaps 100's where their urban center has crumbled while the suburbs/suburbia has flourished. As with attracting students back to NIU, I am not sure what can be done. But I do think they better do something as it is no coincidence to see struggles with the student population/school financials go hand and hand with lack of interest in NIU and the housing, vacant business, lack of growth in the campus/d-town area.

Ill take watching a consistent winner over a better atmosphere of watching my team lose by 35 each week.

Sycamore is great. There is even NIU pride in Sycamore. The week NIU students returned for the school year Sycamore had about 20 NIU flags on display in downtown.

(10-14-2018 12:06 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Ball St drew 7149 against us on an 85-degree day.

With a student body larger than NIU and after playing Notre Dame to a 1 TD game.

(10-15-2018 12:39 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-14-2018 11:53 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  I went to UI this weekend w/family to celebrate niece birthday, parents anniversary. It was their Homecoming.

Their pathetic team drew 41k for the game. That number is obiviously pretty low, but Purdue's visiting section was probably 1/2 full. If I had to guess, it was probably about the same # of people NIU had at FSU in their student section. There were a good number scattered in the stadium, but I would put the # probably no higher than 1000, 1500 very tops. NIU definitely had far more when they last played there in their section, scattered in the horseshoe.

Anyways, I will say this. The atmosphere down there is far better than NIU. There just seems to be better support, at least for their HC before they return to 25k for their next game. Their setup for parking, tailgate is better than NIU as it isn't spread out all over the place.

No
But everthing else aside what shocked me is the infrastructure they have put in there in the last 10 years, even last 3 years since I was last there. The campus itself, Green street area is almost unrecognizeable since my 1st visits as a kid 35+ years ago.

Growth, business. That is what NIU has seen little of lately. You don't see empty businesses you once saw on Green a decade ago on Green. 30 years ago you had some crappy off campus housing near campus. Believe me, my brother lived there. It was like some of the old Edgebrook apt. But that has changed. Alot has been torn down and rebuilt whereas in DeKalb they just got the ok to go ahead and build west of Annie Glidden to north and south while the areas near old greek row, Hillcrest has seen no improvements and have basically been left for low income housing. I know years ago the Edgebrook apt were remodeled but appears nothing else around there has visually improved while businesses in the old Jungle mall are vacant, you have eyesores like the movie theater.

I have said much of this lately, but it is sad to see what has happened there. And going to UI this weekend just made me think. What does DeKalb offer for a weekend? What is there to do? What is there to do for a family be it a grad or moreover a visitor? A student?

If you drive up 23 to Sycamore you get a totally different impression of DeKalb I will admit. It's crazy to see a campus, downtown area turn into what it has while the outskirts have thrived. It's crazy to see DeKalb become like one of dozens...perhaps 100's where their urban center has crumbled while the suburbs/suburbia has flourished. As with attracting students back to NIU, I am not sure what can be done. But I do think they better do something as it is no coincidence to see struggles with the student population/school financials go hand and hand with lack of interest in NIU and the housing, vacant business, lack of growth in the campus/d-town area.

Ill take watching a consistent winner over a better atmosphere of watching my team lose by 35 each week.

No doubt but there are things NIU can do to make the gameday experience better and draw more fans

Schedule as many Sat nite home games as possible till the MAC midweek experience takes over would help. I attended NU"s homecoming game and would have come to Dekalb if the start time was 5PM or later. Have to believe that would be more convenience for most.

Make every Sat home game a HS BAND & CHeerleading Day If you cant fill up the seats invite as many HS's as possible who would want to perform on game day. It also gives you a chance to recruit them to come to NIU when they graduate.

Have Catch a Punt Win $ and Throw a football through a target & win $ games during the game breaks.

Ideas to grow the fan base that cost little or no $.

Quote:Ideas to grow the fan base that cost little or no $.

At this point there are at least 10,000 empty seats per game.

So give out 10,000 free tickets to anyone with a home address in Sycamore one game, and DeKalb another game. Gotta get the locals interested as they are the ones who can make Tuesday night games.

(10-15-2018 12:39 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-14-2018 11:53 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  I went to UI this weekend w/family to celebrate niece birthday, parents anniversary. It was their Homecoming.

Their pathetic team drew 41k for the game. That number is obiviously pretty low, but Purdue's visiting section was probably 1/2 full. If I had to guess, it was probably about the same # of people NIU had at FSU in their student section. There were a good number scattered in the stadium, but I would put the # probably no higher than 1000, 1500 very tops. NIU definitely had far more when they last played there in their section, scattered in the horseshoe.

Anyways, I will say this. The atmosphere down there is far better than NIU. There just seems to be better support, at least for their HC before they return to 25k for their next game. Their setup for parking, tailgate is better than NIU as it isn't spread out all over the place.

But everthing else aside what shocked me is the infrastructure they have put in there in the last 10 years, even last 3 years since I was last there. The campus itself, Green street area is almost unrecognizeable since my 1st visits as a kid 35+ years ago.

Growth, business. That is what NIU has seen little of lately. You don't see empty businesses you once saw on Green a decade ago on Green. 30 years ago you had some crappy off campus housing near campus. Believe me, my brother lived there. It was like some of the old Edgebrook apt. But that has changed. Alot has been torn down and rebuilt whereas in DeKalb they just got the ok to go ahead and build west of Annie Glidden to north and south while the areas near old greek row, Hillcrest has seen no improvements and have basically been left for low income housing. I know years ago the Edgebrook apt were remodeled but appears nothing else around there has visually improved while businesses in the old Jungle mall are vacant, you have eyesores like the movie theater.

I have said much of this lately, but it is sad to see what has happened there. And going to UI this weekend just made me think. What does DeKalb offer for a weekend? What is there to do? What is there to do for a family be it a grad or moreover a visitor? A student?

If you drive up 23 to Sycamore you get a totally different impression of DeKalb I will admit. It's crazy to see a campus, downtown area turn into what it has while the outskirts have thrived. It's crazy to see DeKalb become like one of dozens...perhaps 100's where their urban center has crumbled while the suburbs/suburbia has flourished. As with attracting students back to NIU, I am not sure what can be done. But I do think they better do something as it is no coincidence to see struggles with the student population/school financials go hand and hand with lack of interest in NIU and the housing, vacant business, lack of growth in the campus/d-town area.

Ill take watching a consistent winner over a better atmosphere of watching my team lose by 35 each week.

You missed the point completely if that's your only conclusion. The success and failure of the university goes beyond wins on a football field enjoyed by a few thousand fans and especially the diehards on this board. You should also never question the job Frazier is doing, nor the school school administration or state/local goverment if that's the case. Even Carey because you have a consistent winner.

(10-13-2018 09:11 PM)prairiedawg Wrote:  

(10-13-2018 09:03 PM)DiehardHuskie Wrote:  Pretty disappointing when we can't even draw 15k on homecoming on a beautiful day.

do something about it

every Sat home game should be HS Band & Cheerleader Day, great way to fill th stands and recruit students to come to DeKalb after they graduate

Have Catch a Punt and throw a pass through a target promotions during the game timeouts.Have them sponsored by advertising partners

Post game concerts with bands like 16 Candles, Hi Infidelity Wedding Banned and other local acts that have a fanbase. May help get 30's to 60's age alums back in the stands and its not a big cost.

I drove in Friday night from the east on 38 in DeKalb. It was homecoming but you wouldn't even know NIU was in this town. No flags or banners. Had to get past 4th street before some of the windows were painted for homecoming was evident.

Plus it was exceptionally quiet at 8 pm. Little traffic and little life.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

(10-15-2018 10:13 AM)Policiious Wrote:  

(10-15-2018 12:39 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-14-2018 11:53 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  I went to UI this weekend w/family to celebrate niece birthday, parents anniversary. It was their Homecoming.

Their pathetic team drew 41k for the game. That number is obiviously pretty low, but Purdue's visiting section was probably 1/2 full. If I had to guess, it was probably about the same # of people NIU had at FSU in their student section. There were a good number scattered in the stadium, but I would put the # probably no higher than 1000, 1500 very tops. NIU definitely had far more when they last played there in their section, scattered in the horseshoe.

Anyways, I will say this. The atmosphere down there is far better than NIU. There just seems to be better support, at least for their HC before they return to 25k for their next game. Their setup for parking, tailgate is better than NIU as it isn't spread out all over the place.

No
But everthing else aside what shocked me is the infrastructure they have put in there in the last 10 years, even last 3 years since I was last there. The campus itself, Green street area is almost unrecognizeable since my 1st visits as a kid 35+ years ago.

Growth, business. That is what NIU has seen little of lately. You don't see empty businesses you once saw on Green a decade ago on Green. 30 years ago you had some crappy off campus housing near campus. Believe me, my brother lived there. It was like some of the old Edgebrook apt. But that has changed. Alot has been torn down and rebuilt whereas in DeKalb they just got the ok to go ahead and build west of Annie Glidden to north and south while the areas near old greek row, Hillcrest has seen no improvements and have basically been left for low income housing. I know years ago the Edgebrook apt were remodeled but appears nothing else around there has visually improved while businesses in the old Jungle mall are vacant, you have eyesores like the movie theater.

I have said much of this lately, but it is sad to see what has happened there. And going to UI this weekend just made me think. What does DeKalb offer for a weekend? What is there to do? What is there to do for a family be it a grad or moreover a visitor? A student?

If you drive up 23 to Sycamore you get a totally different impression of DeKalb I will admit. It's crazy to see a campus, downtown area turn into what it has while the outskirts have thrived. It's crazy to see DeKalb become like one of dozens...perhaps 100's where their urban center has crumbled while the suburbs/suburbia has flourished. As with attracting students back to NIU, I am not sure what can be done. But I do think they better do something as it is no coincidence to see struggles with the student population/school financials go hand and hand with lack of interest in NIU and the housing, vacant business, lack of growth in the campus/d-town area.

Ill take watching a consistent winner over a better atmosphere of watching my team lose by 35 each week.

No doubt but there are things NIU can do to make the gameday experience better and draw more fans

Schedule as many Sat nite home games as possible till the MAC midweek experience takes over would help. I attended NU"s homecoming game and would have come to Dekalb if the start time was 5PM or later. Have to believe that would be more convenience for most.

Make every Sat home game a HS BAND & CHeerleading Day If you cant fill up the seats invite as many HS's as possible who would want to perform on game day. It also gives you a chance to recruit them to come to NIU when they graduate.

Have Catch a Punt Win $ and Throw a football through a target & win $ games during the game breaks.

Ideas to grow the fan base that cost little or no $.

Saturday nite? No thanks. I think our fan base wants more Saturday day games not less. Heck, we have only 3 this year.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

(10-15-2018 12:36 PM)Teamduh Wrote:  I drove in Friday night from the east on 38 in DeKalb. It was homecoming but you wouldn't even know NIU was in this town. No flags or banners. Had to get past 4th street before some of the windows were painted for homecoming was evident.

Plus it was exceptionally quiet at 8 pm. Little traffic and little life.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Yup.

I spoke with an individual at the USF game who was I would call at the time very closely aligned with athletic department. It was things like this that they had to be reminded of to do. Simple things like this. That the marketing department was not doing their job and at that time which seemed a result of a lot of changes.

Campus life, I agree, dead. Other than the brawl, police activity outside Molly's I guess when I was there.

Was Saturday's attendance announced? How is it possible the MAC and the University could schedule homecoming during the school's "fall break"? Geez....

(10-15-2018 01:36 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  

(10-15-2018 12:36 PM)Teamduh Wrote:  I drove in Friday night from the east on 38 in DeKalb. It was homecoming but you wouldn't even know NIU was in this town. No flags or banners. Had to get past 4th street before some of the windows were painted for homecoming was evident.

Plus it was exceptionally quiet at 8 pm. Little traffic and little life.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Yup.

I spoke with an individual at the USF game who was I would call at the time very closely aligned with athletic department. It was things like this that they had to be reminded of to do. Simple things like this. That the marketing department was not doing their job and at that time which seemed a result of a lot of changes.

Campus life, I agree, dead. Other than the brawl, police activity outside Molly's I guess when I was there.

Remember there was no parade this year because staff was too busy to organize it.

I don't know if a parade matters anymore, but that is an embarrassing excuse.