(06-02-2022 10:03 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(06-02-2022 07:26 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(06-01-2022 10:32 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  

(06-01-2022 03:40 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(06-01-2022 03:22 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Lets say NIU athletics is lurking. Wouldn't they see the same half dozen people complaining? Couldn't they chalk that up to a few "disgruntled" fans? If there is all the active posters plus all the fan lurkers, and they only see the same 6 guys complaining, doesn't that say to them it's not really a problem? Or at least not one that's pressing?

No matter what, they don't see it as a problem and really don't care anyway. They look at themselves in the mirror and like what they see. (Okay, so STF uses two mirrors.)

This was 2015.These were support players. A lot has happened since. A lot of good people left for greener pastures and were not replaced.

From what I remember, they did know the real names of some who were donors. It wasn't an in depth conversation.

I do think they did react, however minor in the past. Now, I highly doubt anyone looks. Don't think those people are around to.

Things were a lot better in the past with Athletics better connecting with fans. And, yes, there were more and much better contacts in Athletics then. In the very early 2000's, I had a contact there (Andrew Haring) whom I could contact at any time for anything - and he would contact me. Andrew even came to my work office to meet me, chat, learn about my interests and Huskie fandom, and take me out for coffee. Dealing with Andrew and Athletics at that time was absolutely wonderful. Also at that time, Athletics used to send acknowledgement/thank you letters for donations. It was run like a business should be run. Over the years, it has gotten progressively worse, and Athletics became more detached from donors and season ticket holders. Then, when STF and his administration came aboard, things fell off the edge of the cliff and are now worse than they have ever been. They simply do not know how or refuse to deal with the non-mega donors. For a business that relies heavily on donations from supporters, they have no clue how to run their business or they simply do not care.

It would be interesting to know if this is an industry wide phenomenon or just something that’s happened at NIU.

It is not industry-wide. I knew the last UIC AD and spoke with him a lot. From what he told me, UIC Athletics treats their donors well. Even small donations are recognized with a letter signed by the AD. A bit more personal attention.