(10-23-2026 07:52 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(10-23-2026 12:15 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I decided to channel my donations to the academic side. Just donated to two worthy crowdfunding campaigns in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. I will also look to find a way to donate directly to the marching band and cheerleaders rather than through Huskies Invest. I just don’t want Athletics shaving a 10% admin. fee off the top.

You are wise beyond whatever years you are. I'm the unfortunate who dug that 10% out of the HI fine print several years ago. It caused a lot of pfft on this board when posted. Then they dropped it. Then it came back. Now I see it nowhere on the HI website items. Does anybody know? Where is it said that money you donate stays put? And why can't the A.Dept. simply state that for all HI items?

Being a detail nutcase, I'm also the doubly unfortunate who dug into old A.Board minutes and found that STF cut the "low-hanging fruit" (his words), which included the cheerleaders. Then a volunteer coach took over, rented a van, took them to the Iowa football game (where Iowa kindly provided a parking space and locker room). Part of that was crowdfunded. Then that disappeared, and "cheer" resurfaced as part of the Silverettes or something. What exactly is the status of "cheer" today. Anyone know?

I'm sorry, but I don't trust STF any further than I can throw his golf cart.

This year’s cheer team is the largest I’ve seen so far and possibly the largest in school history. I think the Silverettes coach also helps with the cheer team but I’m not too sure on that.

Speaking of the marching band, HMB was not at the Sycamore Pumpkin Parade this year even though they’re the first thing you see on their website… They’ve attended every year until now because Lisa Freeman/Athletics didn’t want to shell out $4400 for buses to get them from Dekalb to Sycamore. But cheer and Silverettes were there, and so were 15+ other middle and high school marching bands… I think you can guess how the band alumni (and one of the former directors!) reacted.

HMB has been one of many victims of recent budget cuts which first hit with scholarships, giving out 3+ year members up to 4k on housing aid a year, which was a life saver for me. Today they only give out 1k max which was a part of the 250k they cut from HMB. The director out of spite decided not to field HMB for the homecoming week kickoff event or the Dekalb 5k/10k Corn Classic.

Also does anyone know what happened to Missions Grove? The band used to parade around the stadium with a stop in the Yard and at MG but not anymore apparently. I wasn’t paying that much attention to the tailgating scene this year but I bet that was also cut because of budget constraints.

(11-05-2026 10:25 AM)realfelipe Wrote:  

(10-23-2026 07:52 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(10-23-2026 12:15 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I decided to channel my donations to the academic side. Just donated to two worthy crowdfunding campaigns in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. I will also look to find a way to donate directly to the marching band and cheerleaders rather than through Huskies Invest. I just don’t want Athletics shaving a 10% admin. fee off the top.

You are wise beyond whatever years you are. I'm the unfortunate who dug that 10% out of the HI fine print several years ago. It caused a lot of pfft on this board when posted. Then they dropped it. Then it came back. Now I see it nowhere on the HI website items. Does anybody know? Where is it said that money you donate stays put? And why can't the A.Dept. simply state that for all HI items?

Being a detail nutcase, I'm also the doubly unfortunate who dug into old A.Board minutes and found that STF cut the "low-hanging fruit" (his words), which included the cheerleaders. Then a volunteer coach took over, rented a van, took them to the Iowa football game (where Iowa kindly provided a parking space and locker room). Part of that was crowdfunded. Then that disappeared, and "cheer" resurfaced as part of the Silverettes or something. What exactly is the status of "cheer" today. Anyone know?

I'm sorry, but I don't trust STF any further than I can throw his golf cart.

This year’s cheer team is the largest I’ve seen so far and possibly the largest in school history. I think the Silverettes coach also helps with the cheer team but I’m not too sure on that.

Speaking of the marching band, HMB was not at the Sycamore Pumpkin Parade this year even though they’re the first thing you see on their website… They’ve attended every year until now because Lisa Freeman/Athletics didn’t want to shell out $4400 for buses to get them from Dekalb to Sycamore. But cheer and Silverettes were there, and so were 15+ other middle and high school marching bands… I think you can guess how the band alumni (and one of the former directors!) reacted.

HMB has been one of many victims of recent budget cuts which first hit with scholarships, giving out 3+ year members up to 4k on housing aid a year, which was a life saver for me. Today they only give out 1k max which was a part of the 250k they cut from HMB. The director out of spite decided not to field HMB for the homecoming week kickoff event or the Dekalb 5k/10k Corn Classic.

Also does anyone know what happened to Missions Grove? The band used to parade around the stadium with a stop in the Yard and at MG but not anymore apparently. I wasn’t paying that much attention to the tailgating scene this year but I bet that was also cut because of budget constraints.

Im hardcore football, but you need a freaking band! All those events sell the university and build spirit in the community. Going cheap on the band is sick.

(11-05-2026 10:45 AM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 10:25 AM)realfelipe Wrote:  

(10-23-2026 07:52 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(10-23-2026 12:15 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I decided to channel my donations to the academic side. Just donated to two worthy crowdfunding campaigns in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. I will also look to find a way to donate directly to the marching band and cheerleaders rather than through Huskies Invest. I just don’t want Athletics shaving a 10% admin. fee off the top.

You are wise beyond whatever years you are. I'm the unfortunate who dug that 10% out of the HI fine print several years ago. It caused a lot of pfft on this board when posted. Then they dropped it. Then it came back. Now I see it nowhere on the HI website items. Does anybody know? Where is it said that money you donate stays put? And why can't the A.Dept. simply state that for all HI items?

Being a detail nutcase, I'm also the doubly unfortunate who dug into old A.Board minutes and found that STF cut the "low-hanging fruit" (his words), which included the cheerleaders. Then a volunteer coach took over, rented a van, took them to the Iowa football game (where Iowa kindly provided a parking space and locker room). Part of that was crowdfunded. Then that disappeared, and "cheer" resurfaced as part of the Silverettes or something. What exactly is the status of "cheer" today. Anyone know?

I'm sorry, but I don't trust STF any further than I can throw his golf cart.

This year’s cheer team is the largest I’ve seen so far and possibly the largest in school history. I think the Silverettes coach also helps with the cheer team but I’m not too sure on that.

Speaking of the marching band, HMB was not at the Sycamore Pumpkin Parade this year even though they’re the first thing you see on their website… They’ve attended every year until now because Lisa Freeman/Athletics didn’t want to shell out $4400 for buses to get them from Dekalb to Sycamore. But cheer and Silverettes were there, and so were 15+ other middle and high school marching bands… I think you can guess how the band alumni (and one of the former directors!) reacted.

HMB has been one of many victims of recent budget cuts which first hit with scholarships, giving out 3+ year members up to 4k on housing aid a year, which was a life saver for me. Today they only give out 1k max which was a part of the 250k they cut from HMB. The director out of spite decided not to field HMB for the homecoming week kickoff event or the Dekalb 5k/10k Corn Classic.

Also does anyone know what happened to Missions Grove? The band used to parade around the stadium with a stop in the Yard and at MG but not anymore apparently. I wasn’t paying that much attention to the tailgating scene this year but I bet that was also cut because of budget constraints.

Im hardcore football, but you need a freaking band! All those events sell the university and build spirit in the community. Going cheap on the band is sick.

So, a new AD and better fund raising is needed?.... Shocker.

(11-05-2026 10:49 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 10:45 AM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 10:25 AM)realfelipe Wrote:  

(10-23-2026 07:52 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(10-23-2026 12:15 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I decided to channel my donations to the academic side. Just donated to two worthy crowdfunding campaigns in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. I will also look to find a way to donate directly to the marching band and cheerleaders rather than through Huskies Invest. I just don’t want Athletics shaving a 10% admin. fee off the top.

You are wise beyond whatever years you are. I'm the unfortunate who dug that 10% out of the HI fine print several years ago. It caused a lot of pfft on this board when posted. Then they dropped it. Then it came back. Now I see it nowhere on the HI website items. Does anybody know? Where is it said that money you donate stays put? And why can't the A.Dept. simply state that for all HI items?

Being a detail nutcase, I'm also the doubly unfortunate who dug into old A.Board minutes and found that STF cut the "low-hanging fruit" (his words), which included the cheerleaders. Then a volunteer coach took over, rented a van, took them to the Iowa football game (where Iowa kindly provided a parking space and locker room). Part of that was crowdfunded. Then that disappeared, and "cheer" resurfaced as part of the Silverettes or something. What exactly is the status of "cheer" today. Anyone know?

I'm sorry, but I don't trust STF any further than I can throw his golf cart.

This year’s cheer team is the largest I’ve seen so far and possibly the largest in school history. I think the Silverettes coach also helps with the cheer team but I’m not too sure on that.

Speaking of the marching band, HMB was not at the Sycamore Pumpkin Parade this year even though they’re the first thing you see on their website… They’ve attended every year until now because Lisa Freeman/Athletics didn’t want to shell out $4400 for buses to get them from Dekalb to Sycamore. But cheer and Silverettes were there, and so were 15+ other middle and high school marching bands… I think you can guess how the band alumni (and one of the former directors!) reacted.

HMB has been one of many victims of recent budget cuts which first hit with scholarships, giving out 3+ year members up to 4k on housing aid a year, which was a life saver for me. Today they only give out 1k max which was a part of the 250k they cut from HMB. The director out of spite decided not to field HMB for the homecoming week kickoff event or the Dekalb 5k/10k Corn Classic.

Also does anyone know what happened to Missions Grove? The band used to parade around the stadium with a stop in the Yard and at MG but not anymore apparently. I wasn’t paying that much attention to the tailgating scene this year but I bet that was also cut because of budget constraints.

Im hardcore football, but you need a freaking band! All those events sell the university and build spirit in the community. Going cheap on the band is sick.

So, a new AD and better fund raising is needed?.... Shocker.

I'm pretty sure I saw the marching band in Missions Grove at the Hawaii and Air Force games. I mean, I took pictures and my mom was excited to see it?

(11-05-2026 10:45 AM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 10:25 AM)realfelipe Wrote:  

(10-23-2026 07:52 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(10-23-2026 12:15 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I decided to channel my donations to the academic side. Just donated to two worthy crowdfunding campaigns in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. I will also look to find a way to donate directly to the marching band and cheerleaders rather than through Huskies Invest. I just don’t want Athletics shaving a 10% admin. fee off the top.

You are wise beyond whatever years you are. I'm the unfortunate who dug that 10% out of the HI fine print several years ago. It caused a lot of pfft on this board when posted. Then they dropped it. Then it came back. Now I see it nowhere on the HI website items. Does anybody know? Where is it said that money you donate stays put? And why can't the A.Dept. simply state that for all HI items?

Being a detail nutcase, I'm also the doubly unfortunate who dug into old A.Board minutes and found that STF cut the "low-hanging fruit" (his words), which included the cheerleaders. Then a volunteer coach took over, rented a van, took them to the Iowa football game (where Iowa kindly provided a parking space and locker room). Part of that was crowdfunded. Then that disappeared, and "cheer" resurfaced as part of the Silverettes or something. What exactly is the status of "cheer" today. Anyone know?

I'm sorry, but I don't trust STF any further than I can throw his golf cart.

This year’s cheer team is the largest I’ve seen so far and possibly the largest in school history. I think the Silverettes coach also helps with the cheer team but I’m not too sure on that.

Speaking of the marching band, HMB was not at the Sycamore Pumpkin Parade this year even though they’re the first thing you see on their website… They’ve attended every year until now because Lisa Freeman/Athletics didn’t want to shell out $4400 for buses to get them from Dekalb to Sycamore. But cheer and Silverettes were there, and so were 15+ other middle and high school marching bands… I think you can guess how the band alumni (and one of the former directors!) reacted.

HMB has been one of many victims of recent budget cuts which first hit with scholarships, giving out 3+ year members up to 4k on housing aid a year, which was a life saver for me. Today they only give out 1k max which was a part of the 250k they cut from HMB. The director out of spite decided not to field HMB for the homecoming week kickoff event or the Dekalb 5k/10k Corn Classic.

Also does anyone know what happened to Missions Grove? The band used to parade around the stadium with a stop in the Yard and at MG but not anymore apparently. I wasn’t paying that much attention to the tailgating scene this year but I bet that was also cut because of budget constraints.

Im hardcore football, but you need a freaking band! All those events sell the university and build spirit in the community. Going cheap on the band is sick.

Did you hear about how Northwestern cut their marching band’s pregame show when they opened their new stadium? They only backtracked after backlash.

Anyone correct me, but as I recall STF didn't want the band budget in his, so it got shifted and then disappeared. That was some years ago. Freeman "found" some money and it was restored. Someone else who's been around a few years may recall that was big deal on the Dog Pound for a while.

So apparently the band has been subjected to the same cuts as other departments/programs. As for cheer, much less expensive and I doubt they get anything more than a couple burgers and a uniform. Or maybe they pay for that too, as they used to do after STF cut the "low hanging fruit."

This is what happens when the admin forgets who the university is for, like, oh gee, students?

Disappointing the cheerleaders weren’t at UNLV.

A lot of grumbling about the current state of things from the people sitting around me.

(11-05-2026 02:11 PM)DiehardHuskie Wrote:  Disappointing the cheerleaders weren’t at UNLV.

A lot of grumbling about the current state of things from the people sitting around me.

For the school to not fully support the marching band and cheerleaders is unfathomable. I have donated to them and will continue to do so through the Foundation. That will be my only donations related to athletics until Frazier is out the door.