Look, we can all debate the merits, or lack thereof, of every single decision that STF, the athletic dept, coaching staff, etc. makes. We can complain about every single thing we don't like or agree with and around and around and around we can all go.

I moved to TX 2 1/2 years ago, the BYU game was the one home game I am coming back for this upcoming season. Already have the hotel reservations and everything. Now I'll be eating those charges and making new plans to attend at SeatGeek, so believe me I understand those who feel inconvenienced and aren't thrilled about the move. But here is the bottom line for me:

My dad was born in Dekalb, until he moved down to TX with me the furthest from Dekalb he had ever lived in 68 years is 20 mile. He played on NIU football's first ever D-1 team. He coached there as a grad assistant. He coached HS and College in the area for 40 years, having many former students and players become a part of the NIU football family. I started attending games on a regular basis in HS. When i got out of college I too coached HS in the area and had several go on to play at NIU. Any year that I've lived with 2 hours of Dekalb I have never missed a home game, and always made it to one, sometimes 2 road games a season. Never missed a MAC championship or bowl game since i was 17 years old.

Point being that NIU football is in my blood. It's family. I think a lot of you feel at least somewhat the same. So here's the thing. The football program is kind of like having a child. You can't control every decision or action that is made. There's going to be ups and downs. There's going to be mistakes and things that you aren't happy about and don't agree with. You don't tear it down and rant and rave. You don't withhold your support. You love and support it anyways. You make suggestions about things that you think could be done differently and they will often be unheard, because they always know better. You keep trying anyways. You search for ways to be a part of the solution, instead of part of the problem.

The difference between an athletic team like NIU football from parenting is different in one major way, however. Instead of you and your spouse, and maybe some other immediate family...We have a network of THOUSANDS of people to nurture and support each other and the program. What do you think will change things faster: Getting angry at anything you don't like, or all of us banding together and being all in on this program??

Support the program in whatever way is possible of each of us. For some it could be money. For others it could be joining an advisory board, alumni group or other club to help funnel ideas to the university. For still others it could be just making it to as many games as possible, even if they don't agree with the who/what/where of the game. Maybe it's even just posting updates and info on your social media so that as many people as possible know what is going on. There are a million ways to help.

Now maybe we could all do everything we could to help, and none of it would make a bit of difference. But at least there would be a CHANCE. The only guaranteed way to fail is to give up!