Dear HawaiiToNIU and Rawdog10,
What information do you have that shows Miami leaving the MAC? There has been no statement from Miami to that effect. So, maybe we should wait for the dust to settle, and see what happens.

(10-28-2026 11:50 AM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear HawaiiToNIU and Rawdog10,
What information do you have that shows Miami leaving the MAC? There has been no statement from Miami to that effect. So, maybe we should wait for the dust to settle, and see what happens.

Miami didn't offer $30M to join another conference for fun....nothing is set in stone yet, but there is significant and interest in Miami Ohio's side to depart

As for all of the other moves I've mentioned, those things all happened....

https://www.on3.com/news/miami-ohio-jame...onference/

https://www.oxfreepress.com/middletons-m...-scenario/

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/in-...s-and-fans

(10-28-2026 09:51 AM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 08:41 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  The first thing we need to do is field a team that can win football games - especially at home. Makes no sense to improve anything for the few thousand fans who show up and then leave early. The first priority should be to get the fans back. Wins will bring the fans back, unless they already feel disconnected and ignored.

I would venture to say that there are more “fans” who spend the game tailgating in the parking lot. So maybe instead of improving the stadium at this point, NIU should improve the tailgating experience to attract even more tailgating fans. We could become the school with the best tailgating in the country. I’m starting to think that those who tailgate throughout the game are the smart ones, since they don’t go to the game and watch the garbage on the field.

I agree that a winning football team comes before any improvements to the stadium. I can continue buying season tickets and going to games if there's a team worth watching. Especially in an age of a new and fun conference with interesting opponents.

We really should have made those improvements and fundraised for them, all the years we had a good team. Every year they used to say death, taxes and NIU winning the MAC. Those should have been years we made fundraised and made improvements. We could have had a good team and an okay stadium. Now we have a bad team and a deplorable stadium.

As for tailgating, I feel like tailgating is a culture. People love it. More people tailgate than gone to games at NIU since I can remember. But I also feel like that's true for everyone else too.

This is exactly right. There's no point in spending huge $$$ on Huskie Stadium when even its 23,595 (official) capacity cannot be filled much over half. Tailgating is an alternative, with game itself as a draw to be there on site, but a successful program is still the main draw.

The issues of the success/failure of the football program and HS upgrades need to be addressed and funded separately. The connection is that without a successful program, there's no point spending millions on HS.

Addressing the stadium issue alone, when STF's massive 2014-15 plan was an obvious bust, about eight years ago I proposed a simple plan to upgrade HS (with some background indirectly in land and project planning). Costly, yes, but easier to manage over a number of years. A bunch of Pound posters agreed, but as we all know, plans and ideas and proposals here on the Pound don't go very far, if at all. (NIU admins do not recognize ideas they themselves do not initiate, though they don't initiate many.)

Without going into specifics, as I did then, the idea is simple: make an overall plan of what is needed. Then break it apart into separate elements, with cost estimates for each. Prioritize, and target fundraising at each one; something fans can see and appreciate as they help get it done. Smaller cost targets are easier to deal with and promote.

It will take a number of years, but everyone will know the end goal. At the same time, it will take that time to rebuild the program, expand NIL, and hopefully build some attendance both inside (stadium) and outside (tailgate).

This is not bragging. It was common sense then and is common sense now. Despite more $ through the MW, it's a pittance compared to the cost of these things. The flow of money needs to be considered.

It will take commitment all around by the NIU admin. And there's our problem.

(10-28-2026 01:27 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 09:51 AM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 08:41 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  The first thing we need to do is field a team that can win football games - especially at home. Makes no sense to improve anything for the few thousand fans who show up and then leave early. The first priority should be to get the fans back. Wins will bring the fans back, unless they already feel disconnected and ignored.

I would venture to say that there are more “fans” who spend the game tailgating in the parking lot. So maybe instead of improving the stadium at this point, NIU should improve the tailgating experience to attract even more tailgating fans. We could become the school with the best tailgating in the country. I’m starting to think that those who tailgate throughout the game are the smart ones, since they don’t go to the game and watch the garbage on the field.

I agree that a winning football team comes before any improvements to the stadium. I can continue buying season tickets and going to games if there's a team worth watching. Especially in an age of a new and fun conference with interesting opponents.

We really should have made those improvements and fundraised for them, all the years we had a good team. Every year they used to say death, taxes and NIU winning the MAC. Those should have been years we made fundraised and made improvements. We could have had a good team and an okay stadium. Now we have a bad team and a deplorable stadium.

As for tailgating, I feel like tailgating is a culture. People love it. More people tailgate than gone to games at NIU since I can remember. But I also feel like that's true for everyone else too.

This is exactly right. There's no point in spending huge $$$ on Huskie Stadium when even its 23,595 (official) capacity cannot be filled much over half. Tailgating is an alternative, with game itself as a draw to be there on site, but a successful program is still the main draw.

The issues of the success/failure of the football program and HS upgrades need to be addressed and funded separately. The connection is that without a successful program, there's no point spending millions on HS.

Addressing the stadium issue alone, when STF's massive 2014-15 plan was an obvious bust, about eight years ago I proposed a simple plan to upgrade HS (with some background indirectly in land and project planning). Costly, yes, but easier to manage over a number of years. A bunch of Pound posters agreed, but as we all know, plans and ideas and proposals here on the Pound don't go very far, if at all. (NIU admins do not recognize ideas they themselves do not initiate, though they don't initiate many.)

Without going into specifics, as I did then, the idea is simple: make an overall plan of what is needed. Then break it apart into separate elements, with cost estimates for each. Prioritize, and target fundraising at each one; something fans can see and appreciate as they help get it done. Smaller cost targets are easier to deal with and promote.

It will take a number of years, but everyone will know the end goal. At the same time, it will take that time to rebuild the program, expand NIL, and hopefully build some attendance both inside (stadium) and outside (tailgate).

This is not bragging. It was common sense then and is common sense now. Despite more $ through the MW, it's a pittance compared to the cost of these things. The flow of money needs to be considered.

It will take commitment all around by the NIU admin. And there's our problem.

We may be 8-4 next season, then 10-2, then 3-9 three years out. Who knows.

There is no good or bad time to make stadium improvements - but the sooner you do it, the sooner the program grows, the sooner the NIU culture further embraces the game day experience.

Do it now. Get busy living, or get busy dying. (Shawshank Redemption - circa 1994)

(10-30-2026 09:09 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 01:27 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 09:51 AM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(10-28-2026 08:41 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  The first thing we need to do is field a team that can win football games - especially at home. Makes no sense to improve anything for the few thousand fans who show up and then leave early. The first priority should be to get the fans back. Wins will bring the fans back, unless they already feel disconnected and ignored.

I would venture to say that there are more “fans” who spend the game tailgating in the parking lot. So maybe instead of improving the stadium at this point, NIU should improve the tailgating experience to attract even more tailgating fans. We could become the school with the best tailgating in the country. I’m starting to think that those who tailgate throughout the game are the smart ones, since they don’t go to the game and watch the garbage on the field.

I agree that a winning football team comes before any improvements to the stadium. I can continue buying season tickets and going to games if there's a team worth watching. Especially in an age of a new and fun conference with interesting opponents.

We really should have made those improvements and fundraised for them, all the years we had a good team. Every year they used to say death, taxes and NIU winning the MAC. Those should have been years we made fundraised and made improvements. We could have had a good team and an okay stadium. Now we have a bad team and a deplorable stadium.

As for tailgating, I feel like tailgating is a culture. People love it. More people tailgate than gone to games at NIU since I can remember. But I also feel like that's true for everyone else too.

This is exactly right. There's no point in spending huge $$$ on Huskie Stadium when even its 23,595 (official) capacity cannot be filled much over half. Tailgating is an alternative, with game itself as a draw to be there on site, but a successful program is still the main draw.

The issues of the success/failure of the football program and HS upgrades need to be addressed and funded separately. The connection is that without a successful program, there's no point spending millions on HS.

Addressing the stadium issue alone, when STF's massive 2014-15 plan was an obvious bust, about eight years ago I proposed a simple plan to upgrade HS (with some background indirectly in land and project planning). Costly, yes, but easier to manage over a number of years. A bunch of Pound posters agreed, but as we all know, plans and ideas and proposals here on the Pound don't go very far, if at all. (NIU admins do not recognize ideas they themselves do not initiate, though they don't initiate many.)

Without going into specifics, as I did then, the idea is simple: make an overall plan of what is needed. Then break it apart into separate elements, with cost estimates for each. Prioritize, and target fundraising at each one; something fans can see and appreciate as they help get it done. Smaller cost targets are easier to deal with and promote.

It will take a number of years, but everyone will know the end goal. At the same time, it will take that time to rebuild the program, expand NIL, and hopefully build some attendance both inside (stadium) and outside (tailgate).

This is not bragging. It was common sense then and is common sense now. Despite more $ through the MW, it's a pittance compared to the cost of these things. The flow of money needs to be considered.

It will take commitment all around by the NIU admin. And there's our problem.

We may be 8-4 next season, then 10-2, then 3-9 three years out. Who knows.

There is no good or bad time to make stadium improvements - but the sooner you do it, the sooner the program grows, the sooner the NIU culture further embraces the game day experience.

Do it now. Get busy living, or get busy dying. (Shawshank Redemption - circa 1994)

Yes, west side needs renovation now. I actually think the east side is still ok since it doesn’t feel as claustrophobic and old since it is pretty open space … I will not go back to the west side until they renovate it …. Ideally we want to do the whole thing but as long as they have the big picture in mind, just do it in pieces and start with the west side … good thing we can fit all the fans on the east side since it is Low tide at huskies stadium …

Now you guys are getting it.

We need those targeted projects with cost estimates to take to our fans so they can actually see there's an overall plan. And that it can work. It also needs to be separate from NIL fund-raising. Quality on the field first. But the admin needs to start this. Now.

What p's me off is that if they'd started this eight years ago, we'd be mostly done by now, and would have dove-tailed right into joining the MW. But ... there's enough blame about a bunch of things already flying around. Let's just do this.

(10-30-2026 10:49 AM)pvk75 Wrote:  Now you guys are getting it.

We need those targeted projects with cost estimates to take to our fans so they can actually see there's an overall plan. And that it can work. It also needs to be separate from NIL fund-raising. Quality on the field first. But the admin needs to start this. Now.

What p's me off is that if they'd started this eight years ago, we'd be mostly done by now, and would have dove-tailed right into joining the MW. But ... there's enough blame about a bunch of things already flying around. Let's just do this.

Getting seed money ($5 million +) is not easy to secure. You can't start a $10 million project with $1,000 contributions.

(10-30-2026 11:23 AM)Klake1987 Wrote:  

(10-30-2026 10:49 AM)pvk75 Wrote:  Now you guys are getting it.

We need those targeted projects with cost estimates to take to our fans so they can actually see there's an overall plan. And that it can work. It also needs to be separate from NIL fund-raising. Quality on the field first. But the admin needs to start this. Now.

What p's me off is that if they'd started this eight years ago, we'd be mostly done by now, and would have dove-tailed right into joining the MW. But ... there's enough blame about a bunch of things already flying around. Let's just do this.

Getting seed money ($5 million +) is not easy to secure. You can't start a $10 million project with $1,000 contributions.

What was I thinking? You're absolutely right! We would be missing a wonderful opportunity to bee-otch about Huskie Stadium for the next eight years! And just think ... maybe the seat brackets will start to loosen and fall apart, just like in the Convo! Silly me.

I was seriously thinking about pulling up the first project/sub-project list from eight years ago just as an example. But that would mean another long post, and more work. Maybe I'll just go take another nap and forget the whole thing. You all can too.

But please don't forget that one line: the program's quality has to come first. Find more NIL money.

(10-31-2026 11:32 AM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(10-30-2026 11:23 AM)Klake1987 Wrote:  

(10-30-2026 10:49 AM)pvk75 Wrote:  Now you guys are getting it.

We need those targeted projects with cost estimates to take to our fans so they can actually see there's an overall plan. And that it can work. It also needs to be separate from NIL fund-raising. Quality on the field first. But the admin needs to start this. Now.

What p's me off is that if they'd started this eight years ago, we'd be mostly done by now, and would have dove-tailed right into joining the MW. But ... there's enough blame about a bunch of things already flying around. Let's just do this.

Getting seed money ($5 million +) is not easy to secure. You can't start a $10 million project with $1,000 contributions.

What was I thinking? You're absolutely right! We would be missing a wonderful opportunity to bee-otch about Huskie Stadium for the next eight years! And just think ... maybe the seat brackets will start to loosen and fall apart, just like in the Convo! Silly me.

I'm seriously thinking about pulling up the first project/sub-project list from eight years ago just as an example. But that would mean another long post, and more work. Maybe I'll just go take another nap and forget the whole thing. You all can too.

But please don't forget that one line: the program's quality has to come first.

Tsk, tsk! Shame on you! In STF, we have a leader who’s larger than life (literally). Put your faith in him and trust him. Everything will get done, and we will have a gleaming, updated stadium that everyone will be proud of. None of us will live to see it, but just have as much faith in STF as you have in God. It WILL get done!

Yeah, like the 1899 Club and related special ring sale, the Convo seats (as mentioned), and a bunch of other things that somehow shorted out.

But you're absolutely right, too! Hope springs eternal when we have such a mover-shaker like STF. Hey ... maybe his answer will be to get that HS announcer to scream louder, and call it "SEE! ... Done!" Won't we all be so proud?

Not gonna lie, I'm very impressed with half the teams in the MVFC. I feel like either the MWC or MAC could just pillage this conference, there's a lot of good teams remaining. They'd add value to whomever they go to.

North Dakota
SIU - new stadium
South Dakota State - new stadium and Eids
Illinois State - updated stadium
UNI - to get confused with us

(10-31-2026 12:23 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  Not gonna lie, I'm very impressed with half the teams in the MVFC. I feel like either the MWC or MAC could just pillage this conference, there's a lot of good teams remaining. They'd add value to whomever they go to.

North Dakota
SIU - new stadium
South Dakota State - new stadium and Eids
Illinois State - updated stadium
UNI - to get confused with us

All in the nether lands except SIU which has St Louis.

GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lol. It's downright hilarious seeing a certain group of blowhards in such pathetic denial about this team objectively being the worst in the country. Literally. We are the only team in the FBS without any wins!

Some blowhards are trying to justify the move by insisting that the MAC is "dying", despite offering zero evidence to back up their claims. Even if it is dying, how does that make NIU's move to the MW look any better?

And one dude on here (You know who you are) accused me of being a fan of another MAC team trying to take a shot at NIU. Lol. You can't make this crap up. Buddy, I'm a friggin' alumni of the school. I don't wanna hear jack from you.

I absolutely abhor the way this team has played for the past two years. I wish we were on top, winning B2B national titles. But I'm also realistic. This is where we are, and where we are is far, FAR below even the worst MW teams. The excuses have to stop.

(10-31-2026 03:23 PM)Galaxybrain09 Wrote:  Lol. It's downright hilarious seeing a certain group of blowhards in such pathetic denial about this team objectively being the worst in the country. Literally. We are the only team in the FBS without any wins!

Some blowhards are trying to justify the move by insisting that the MAC is "dying", despite offering zero evidence to back up their claims. Even if it is dying, how does that make NIU's move to the MW look any better?

And one dude on here (You know who you are) accused me of being a fan of another MAC team trying to take a shot at NIU. Lol. You can't make this crap up. Buddy, I'm a friggin' alumni of the school. I don't wanna hear jack from you.

I absolutely abhor the way this team has played for the past two years. I wish we were on top, winning B2B national titles. But I'm also realistic. This is where we are, and where we are is far, FAR below even the worst MW teams. The excuses have to stop.

Send location

(10-31-2026 03:35 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(10-31-2026 03:23 PM)Galaxybrain09 Wrote:  Lol. It's downright hilarious seeing a certain group of blowhards in such pathetic denial about this team objectively being the worst in the country. Literally. We are the only team in the FBS without any wins!

Some blowhards are trying to justify the move by insisting that the MAC is "dying", despite offering zero evidence to back up their claims. Even if it is dying, how does that make NIU's move to the MW look any better?

And one dude on here (You know who you are) accused me of being a fan of another MAC team trying to take a shot at NIU. Lol. You can't make this crap up. Buddy, I'm a friggin' alumni of the school. I don't wanna hear jack from you.

I absolutely abhor the way this team has played for the past two years. I wish we were on top, winning B2B national titles. But I'm also realistic. This is where we are, and where we are is far, FAR below even the worst MW teams. The excuses have to stop.

Send location

Nah, dawg. I'm good. You don't show your location, either, you hypocrite. Kind of a creepy request, too.

(10-31-2026 03:47 PM)Galaxybrain09 Wrote:  

(10-31-2026 03:35 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(10-31-2026 03:23 PM)Galaxybrain09 Wrote:  Lol. It's downright hilarious seeing a certain group of blowhards in such pathetic denial about this team objectively being the worst in the country. Literally. We are the only team in the FBS without any wins!

Some blowhards are trying to justify the move by insisting that the MAC is "dying", despite offering zero evidence to back up their claims. Even if it is dying, how does that make NIU's move to the MW look any better?

And one dude on here (You know who you are) accused me of being a fan of another MAC team trying to take a shot at NIU. Lol. You can't make this crap up. Buddy, I'm a friggin' alumni of the school. I don't wanna hear jack from you.

I absolutely abhor the way this team has played for the past two years. I wish we were on top, winning B2B national titles. But I'm also realistic. This is where we are, and where we are is far, FAR below even the worst MW teams. The excuses have to stop.

Send location

Nah, dawg. I'm good. You don't show your location, either, you hypocrite. Kind of a creepy request, too.

Newbie. Just trolling

(10-31-2026 04:33 PM)Klake1987 Wrote:  

(10-31-2026 03:47 PM)Galaxybrain09 Wrote:  

(10-31-2026 03:35 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(10-31-2026 03:23 PM)Galaxybrain09 Wrote:  Lol. It's downright hilarious seeing a certain group of blowhards in such pathetic denial about this team objectively being the worst in the country. Literally. We are the only team in the FBS without any wins!

Some blowhards are trying to justify the move by insisting that the MAC is "dying", despite offering zero evidence to back up their claims. Even if it is dying, how does that make NIU's move to the MW look any better?

And one dude on here (You know who you are) accused me of being a fan of another MAC team trying to take a shot at NIU. Lol. You can't make this crap up. Buddy, I'm a friggin' alumni of the school. I don't wanna hear jack from you.

I absolutely abhor the way this team has played for the past two years. I wish we were on top, winning B2B national titles. But I'm also realistic. This is where we are, and where we are is far, FAR below even the worst MW teams. The excuses have to stop.

Send location

Nah, dawg. I'm good. You don't show your location, either, you hypocrite. Kind of a creepy request, too.

Newbie. Just trolling

You know me too well.

(10-31-2026 03:23 PM)Galaxybrain09 Wrote:  Lol. It's downright hilarious seeing a certain group of blowhards in such pathetic denial about this team objectively being the worst in the country. Literally. We are the only team in the FBS without any wins!

Some blowhards are trying to justify the move by insisting that the MAC is "dying", despite offering zero evidence to back up their claims. Even if it is dying, how does that make NIU's move to the MW look any better?

And one dude on here (You know who you are) accused me of being a fan of another MAC team trying to take a shot at NIU. Lol. You can't make this crap up. Buddy, I'm a friggin' alumni of the school. I don't wanna hear jack from you.

I absolutely abhor the way this team has played for the past two years. I wish we were on top, winning B2B national titles. But I'm also realistic. This is where we are, and where we are is far, FAR below even the worst MW teams. The excuses have to stop.

Yeah Hawaii we got your back

(10-31-2026 03:23 PM)Galaxybrain09 Wrote:  Lol. It's downright hilarious seeing a certain group of blowhards in such pathetic denial about this team objectively being the worst in the country. Literally. We are the only team in the FBS without any wins!

Some blowhards are trying to justify the move by insisting that the MAC is "dying", despite offering zero evidence to back up their claims. Even if it is dying, how does that make NIU's move to the MW look any better?

And one dude on here (You know who you are) accused me of being a fan of another MAC team trying to take a shot at NIU. Lol. You can't make this crap up. Buddy, I'm a friggin' alumni of the school. I don't wanna hear jack from you.

I absolutely abhor the way this team has played for the past two years. I wish we were on top, winning B2B national titles. But I'm also realistic. This is where we are, and where we are is far, FAR below even the worst MW teams. The excuses have to stop.

I can't believe I am replying, you are probably that lunatic Ill ST fan. The team got killed by graduation and crushed by NLI after the ND win. The MAC also is no great loss with the weekday crap and less money. You expected this team to be good this year? The roster is a bunch of new players. It happened, crazy the freefall but this is a total rebuild.