(08-06-2020 03:46 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  I was wondering why NIU doesn't say much about Covid-19 ... except the usual "we're doing a great job." So I did a search and found this (see link). Apparently, NIU's lack of reporting on Covid-19 and student-athletes is part of a conference-wide transparency situation.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/colle...420642002/

Note that schools that did respond gave test numbers, but not "positives."

As a fan and contributor, I am getting real tired of all this secrecy and the attitude that comes down to ... "just send money."

This is the way it is with Athletics. Just send us your money and STFU. We’ll tell you what we want you to know and when.

(08-06-2020 04:52 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  From FootballScoop:

MACtion: Well, this morning Ralph Russo reported the MAC was planning to move forward with a season; however word this afternoon from Ross Dellenger is that they have delayed a decision until Saturday. Word had been circulating within the profession that NIU was strongly considering not playing this season regardless of the conference decision. Will update when more is clear.

Wow, that is huge news and a big decision. I know everyone wants to play football this fall, but maybe Lisa Freeman is saying we have bigger issues with starting the school year. Will be interested to see what the final decision is.

(08-06-2020 05:48 PM)niu79 Wrote:  

(08-06-2020 04:52 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  From FootballScoop:

MACtion: Well, this morning Ralph Russo reported the MAC was planning to move forward with a season; however word this afternoon from Ross Dellenger is that they have delayed a decision until Saturday. Word had been circulating within the profession that NIU was strongly considering not playing this season regardless of the conference decision. Will update when more is clear.

Wow, that is huge news and a big decision. I know everyone wants to play football this fall, but maybe Lisa Freeman is saying we have bigger issues with starting the school year. Will be interested to see what the final decision is.

I would be all in favor of postponing football until Spring, if it’s even possible then. The chance of admitting fans to the games in Spring is much greater than in the Fall. Personally, I will not attend games in the Fall unless they have lots of spacing between the fans.

Have said this on other threads, but IMO worth repeating here ... with apologies for length ...

NIU has a history of treating students as headcount with a "just do as you're told/asked and shut up" attitude. Over the time since Cary Groth left, athletics has gradually adopted that same attitude toward alumni. For a while, it didn't matter. But then the weekday night football games came along, there was (at least one) recession, state funding got squeezed big-time, streaming evolved, in-home mega-TVs became common, digital TV expanded broadcast platforms and viewing alternatives, esports grew up, and now we have the impacts of Covid-19. Hard to believe all or most of that happened since Groth left in 2004, but it has.

Although not as "new," other things also happened/continued: universities continued to milk students with higher (and often hidden) athletic fees, a well as hiking costs for tuition, other fees, room and board. Student loan tonnage got much heavier. Parents and graduating high schoolers learned fast that two years at a community college and then -- maybe -- finishing at a four-year was cheaper. So was/is commuting and online classes.

I could keep going, but time to stop and make the point: students become alumni, and when you remind them of the "headcount" they were in college by cutting them off with that "in-house attitude," you risk cutting off the one source of contributions you absolutely need to survive. If you do have that alumni connection, you don't have to move the BYU game to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview in a desperate move to hook up with the mystical 160,000 Chicago-area alumni. Attendance at Huskie Stadium would be pretty solid.

But Northern continues to blow opportunities ... the suddenly-announced shift of student recreation to athletics, the lack of transparency about impacts of Covid-19 on athletics, and the near-total lack of information about what Northern is doing to cope.

"We'll let you know what we decide when we're good and ready" reads a lot like "just do as you're told/asked and shut up."

There's one big difference: no alumnus has to pay NIU anything, not one penny.

Odd that a university never learns.

(08-06-2020 06:08 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Have said this on other threads, but IMO worth repeating here ... with apologies for length ...

NIU has a history of treating students as headcount with a "just do as you're told/asked and shut up" attitude. Over the time since Cary Groth left, athletics has gradually adopted that same attitude toward alumni. For a while, it didn't matter. But then the weekday night football games came along, there was (at least one) recession, state funding got squeezed big-time, streaming evolved, in-home mega-TVs became common, digital TV expanded broadcast platforms and viewing alternatives, esports grew up, and now we have the impacts of Covid-19. Hard to believe all or most of that happened since Groth left in 2004, but it has.

Although not as "new," other things also happened/continued: universities continued to milk students with higher (and often hidden) athletic fees, a well as hiking costs for tuition, other fees, room and board. Student loan tonnage got much heavier. Parents and graduating high schoolers learned fast that two years at a community college and then -- maybe -- finishing at a four-year was cheaper. So was/is commuting and online classes.

I could keep going, but time to stop and make the point: students become alumni, and when you remind them of the "headcount" they were in college by cutting them off with that "in-house attitude," you risk cutting off the one source of contributions you absolutely need to survive. If you do have that alumni connection, you don't have to move the BYU game to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview in a desperate move to hook up with the mystical 160,000 Chicago-area alumni. Attendance at Huskie Stadium would be pretty solid.

But Northern continues to blow opportunities ... the suddenly-announced shift of student recreation to athletics, the lack of transparency about impacts of Covid-19 on athletics, and the near-total lack of information about what Northern is doing to cope.

"We'll let you know what we decide when we're good and ready" reads a lot like "just do as you're told/asked and shut up."

There's one big difference: no alumnus has to pay NIU anything, not one penny.

Odd that a university never learns.

Yes, this is what I have been saying for years. I am on the high end of what they consider common-folk donors. I have been donating for many years but feel more and more alienated each year.

(08-06-2020 04:52 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  From FootballScoop:

MACtion: Well, this morning Ralph Russo reported the MAC was planning to move forward with a season; however word this afternoon from Ross Dellenger is that they have delayed a decision until Saturday. Word had been circulating within the profession that NIU was strongly considering not playing this season regardless of the conference decision. Will update when more is clear.

If NIU were the only MAC school to choose not to play football in the MAC that would not be a good look for us. How many more players/starters would want to transfer so they could play this season?

Would the NCAA allow our players to not lose a year of eligibility? Otherwise all the seniors will have lost their final season and could have transferred and played elsewhere.

(08-06-2020 06:08 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Have said this on other threads, but IMO worth repeating here ... with apologies for length ...

NIU has a history of treating students as headcount with a "just do as you're told/asked and shut up" attitude. Over the time since Cary Groth left, athletics has gradually adopted that same attitude toward alumni. For a while, it didn't matter. But then the weekday night football games came along, there was (at least one) recession, state funding got squeezed big-time, streaming evolved, in-home mega-TVs became common, digital TV expanded broadcast platforms and viewing alternatives, esports grew up, and now we have the impacts of Covid-19. Hard to believe all or most of that happened since Groth left in 2004, but it has.

Although not as "new," other things also happened/continued: universities continued to milk students with higher (and often hidden) athletic fees, a well as hiking costs for tuition, other fees, room and board. Student loan tonnage got much heavier. Parents and graduating high schoolers learned fast that two years at a community college and then -- maybe -- finishing at a four-year was cheaper. So was/is commuting and online classes.

I could keep going, but time to stop and make the point: students become alumni, and when you remind them of the "headcount" they were in college by cutting them off with that "in-house attitude," you risk cutting off the one source of contributions you absolutely need to survive. If you do have that alumni connection, you don't have to move the BYU game to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview in a desperate move to hook up with the mystical 160,000 Chicago-area alumni. Attendance at Huskie Stadium would be pretty solid.

But Northern continues to blow opportunities ... the suddenly-announced shift of student recreation to athletics, the lack of transparency about impacts of Covid-19 on athletics, and the near-total lack of information about what Northern is doing to cope.

"We'll let you know what we decide when we're good and ready" reads a lot like "just do as you're told/asked and shut up."

There's one big difference: no alumnus has to pay NIU anything, not one penny.

Odd that a university never learns.

We all have different opinions and rememberences. For all the money I donated the only thing I got from Cary was annual parking passes And I live in Florida!

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

Wasn't a trip down Memory Lane, or trying to make Groth seem like the saint of ADs. Just trying to establish a timeline.

I don't expect complete inside details of every move athletics is thinking of making. That would be ridiculous. Nothing would ever get done. But we see information reported about other universities; there are other CSNBBS boards full of it (no pun intended). See the link about MAC lack of transparency about Covid-19 impacts on athletics as an e.g. It's only one of the biggest topics going.

By the way, if you ever get passes like that again, just send them to me.

(08-06-2020 07:10 PM)pantone1935 Wrote:  

(08-06-2020 06:08 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Have said this on other threads, but IMO worth repeating here ... with apologies for length ...

NIU has a history of treating students as headcount with a "just do as you're told/asked and shut up" attitude. Over the time since Cary Groth left, athletics has gradually adopted that same attitude toward alumni. For a while, it didn't matter. But then the weekday night football games came along, there was (at least one) recession, state funding got squeezed big-time, streaming evolved, in-home mega-TVs became common, digital TV expanded broadcast platforms and viewing alternatives, esports grew up, and now we have the impacts of Covid-19. Hard to believe all or most of that happened since Groth left in 2004, but it has.

Although not as "new," other things also happened/continued: universities continued to milk students with higher (and often hidden) athletic fees, a well as hiking costs for tuition, other fees, room and board. Student loan tonnage got much heavier. Parents and graduating high schoolers learned fast that two years at a community college and then -- maybe -- finishing at a four-year was cheaper. So was/is commuting and online classes.

I could keep going, but time to stop and make the point: students become alumni, and when you remind them of the "headcount" they were in college by cutting them off with that "in-house attitude," you risk cutting off the one source of contributions you absolutely need to survive. If you do have that alumni connection, you don't have to move the BYU game to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview in a desperate move to hook up with the mystical 160,000 Chicago-area alumni. Attendance at Huskie Stadium would be pretty solid.

But Northern continues to blow opportunities ... the suddenly-announced shift of student recreation to athletics, the lack of transparency about impacts of Covid-19 on athletics, and the near-total lack of information about what Northern is doing to cope.

"We'll let you know what we decide when we're good and ready" reads a lot like "just do as you're told/asked and shut up."

There's one big difference: no alumnus has to pay NIU anything, not one penny.

Odd that a university never learns.

We all have different opinions and rememberences. For all the money I donated the only thing I got from Cary was annual parking passes And I live in Florida!

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

Cary was the last AD that actually sat down and chatted with me, and that was almost every home game while tailgating.
Shortly after SF arrived i introduced myself to SF at a Season Ticket holder event and got nothing but a weak handshake and a send off. I was excited to talk with him, we grew up in neighboring towns and thought we would have something other than FB to chat about. Since that time I have not received a single hello from the man.

Cary was special. She really was. It has steadily gone downhill since. STF’s regime is as low as it’s been - unless you are a super mega donor.

(08-07-2020 12:14 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Cary was special. She really was. It has steadily gone downhill since. STF’s regime is as low as it’s been - unless you are a super mega donor.

Jiff was garbage. Don't think it was that bad.

Are our football players even on campus?

(08-07-2020 01:00 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  Are our football players even on campus?

Practice #1 today.

(08-07-2020 12:14 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Cary was special. She really was. It has steadily gone downhill since. STF’s regime is as low as it’s been - unless you are a super mega donor.

Cary was a Huskie, it was her alma mater and she did care. To me, toss-up between Jiff and Odie as to which was worse. Phillips did work at improving things to prove his ability. STF has proven to be a disappointment. The league leadership under Steinbrecher has also been horrendous. Unfortunately athletics is now -- more than ever -- all about the money. Here's an interesting piece from a long-time MAC writer now working for Cleveland.com, basically the web version of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2020/08...pluto.html

Agree +1. That's why on another thread it was noted that athletics is taking over student recreation and facilities. No details were forthcoming, but it smells like a move to bolster athletics' budget. With student rec and facilities included, athletics is now "too big to fail." And with enrollment down, streamlining and cuts can take place on the rec side.

Part of this is understandable, since no doubt the enrollent drop is going to affect the rec budget, and basic operating costs for the rec facilities are still there. But "we can't cut that, it's critical to all students" hovers in the narrative.

The basic problem is that a lot of us, alumni and other fans, don't trust athletics to explain anything. It's all about money and spinning the moves.

As for Dog Fan's ongoing comment about mega-donors and the rest of us, +1, and I repeat an earlier post ... 10,000 fans donating $100 each is the same $1 million as 100 fans donating $10,000 each. The difference is the 10,000 @ $100 can fill a helluva lot more seats. So who do you need to appeal to (and avoid cutting off)?

Bruce Feldman
https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/stat...5573374976

Pretty dicey situation in the MAC now with their presidents meeting tomorrow, per sources. Potential play is to punt on the fall season with NIU and a couple of other programs in a bad financial spot. The lack of guarantee $$ games makes paying for testing protocols difficult.

Tony Paul
https://twitter.com/TonyPaul1984/status/...3072825345

Source: A spring football season is absolutely being considered by the MAC, whose presidents will vote on the plan Saturday. Last FBS conference without a plan yet.

Northern might be smart dropping 2020, and leaving spring 2021 as an option. Just from "pay" games, NIU "lost" $1.4 million from Iowa and Maryland, and "saved" $400K when Rhode Island cancelled. If BYU plays, they'll want to stay out West and maybe play NIU later sometime.

Unless there is very careful cost-revenue projection and analysis for spring, I'd say punt the 2020 season, punt spring 2021, use spring for good prep for fall, and have a great 2021. The impacts of Covid-19, possible vaccine, hotspots, infectious parameters, non-compliance with avoidance tactics, etc., are too fluid and foggy.

Just one factor to consider ...

Assuming a social distancing limitation of 20% capacity, would the ticket revenue really cover the costs of fan testing, player testing, staff & official testing, utilities, travel (if not at home), maintenance and other game costs?

Capacity--@20% ...

East Division:
Kent State 20,500--4,100
Bowling Green St. 23,724--4,745
Maimi-O 30,012--6,002
Akron 30,000--6,000
Ohio 24,000--4,800
Buffalo 29,031--5,806

West Division:
NIU 23,595--4,719
Toledo 26,248--5,250
CMU 30,255--6,051
EMU 30,200--6,040
Ball t. 22,500--4,500
WMU 30,200--6,040

(Source for capacities: collegegridirons.com)

(08-07-2020 08:15 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Bruce Feldman
https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/stat...5573374976

Pretty dicey situation in the MAC now with their presidents meeting tomorrow, per sources. Potential play is to punt on the fall season with NIU and a couple of other programs in a bad financial spot. The lack of guarantee $$ games makes paying for testing protocols difficult.

NIU should start a fundraiser to help make up the loss of football guarantees and costs of testing. Even if football isn't played it still cost money to have student-athletes on scholarship and all the coaches and staff with salaries.

Unless the P5 conferences don't end up playing this fall and also get delayed to spring there won't be any money games available then either. So NIU needs to make up this shortfall somehow.

I saw Wisconsin is fundraising in anticipation of digging out of a $60 million hole.

Just empty your wallets and bank accounts, and send everything to NIU Athletics!

Toledo board has a post saying ticketholders have been asked to donate the cost rather than ask for refunds. Story about the Wisconsin effort says AD Alvarez has asked ticket holders to reinvest in the "legacy" campaign. Alvarez said donors would get some recognition and some memorabilia/trinkets.

https://www.channel3000.com/uw-athletics...ue-losses/

Also, could Huskie athletics go the GoFundMe route?

In any case, our beloved U is going to have to come clean with some $$ numbers if it/they want help.