(04-21-2021 06:22 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(04-21-2021 03:53 PM)62423dp Wrote:  7-23

A laughable program with horrendous facilities.

Is that their record or the score from today's game?

Because I honestly don't know and either is plausible.

LOL. Sad but very true.

Hate to say it, but they should just shut it down. High travel costs and facilities need millions in improvements that they are not going to get. Let the southern schools have baseball. It is much cheaper for them to maintain a program.

(04-22-2021 07:57 AM)HuskieJ Wrote:  Hate to say it, but they should just shut it down. High travel costs and facilities need millions in improvements that they are not going to get. Let the southern schools have baseball. It is much cheaper for them to maintain a program.

I completely agree. NIU does not have the money to support the costs as well as upgrade or rebuild the embarrassing facilities. Yes, let the southern schools play baseball. Work towards shutting it down, and use the money elsewhere where most needed.

(04-22-2021 07:57 AM)HuskieJ Wrote:  Hate to say it, but they should just shut it down. High travel costs and facilities need millions in improvements that they are not going to get. Let the southern schools have baseball. It is much cheaper for them to maintain a program.

Agreed, if you aren't going to make the investment you need to have a good program or even give your program a chance to become good then just get rid of the program. The current baseball facilities are probably no better than high school baseball.

Here's a plan: for various reasons cited on this thread, cut baseball. Even if the team was good, most wins would be on the road and little draw to a campus stadium. Convert the existing field to more tailgate, parking and The Yard for football. Not that expensive; it's mostly open space anyway. Promote and market the hell out of the four Saturday home FB games. As for baseball, put up a marker or something ... big rock with a plaque. We will all salute and pet the rock (novelty = campus pet rock) as we walk by on our endless search for hot dogs.

...OR ... since Mary K. Bell softball stadium needs a major rehab, build a new Bell Field on the baseball field site. Still get an expanded Yard/tailgate/parking area since the softball field is smaller ... plus ... get open space on the east side for more parking and/or a student tailgate area (if students survive the shock of actually getting something special for their huge fees). Market and you might get more student interest. Worth a try.


Only ... keep softball home plate at southwest corner like it is now, where it belongs. Grandstand could also serve as a concessions/restroom stop for tailgaters. Or maybe hot dog storage.

(04-22-2021 09:23 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(04-22-2021 07:57 AM)HuskieJ Wrote:  Hate to say it, but they should just shut it down. High travel costs and facilities need millions in improvements that they are not going to get. Let the southern schools have baseball. It is much cheaper for them to maintain a program.

I completely agree. NIU does not have the money to support the costs as well as upgrade or rebuild the embarrassing facilities. Yes, let the southern schools play baseball. Work towards shutting it down, and use the money elsewhere where most needed.

Don't give up on MAC baseball.

Can anyone remember when this baseball program had more wins than losses???

(04-23-2021 08:28 AM)BDB5yp Wrote:  Can anyone remember when this baseball program had more wins than losses???

30-27 in 2011.

Lost the first game today 3-1.

7-24, 6-11.

Also lost second game today 6-2.

7-25, 6-12.

Pathetic.

The program needs a complete coaching change and reboot.

(04-23-2021 08:28 AM)BDB5yp Wrote:  Can anyone remember when this baseball program had more wins than losses???

The program was pretty decent during the mid-2000s when I was a student. I remember them recruiting well too. They signed a HS baseball pitcher that was so good he got drafted and never ended up at NIU.

I think UIC and Ill St got upgraded facilities and maybe the recruits we used to get started going to the Illinois colleges that invested money into their facilities and programs.

(04-23-2021 01:21 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(04-23-2021 08:28 AM)BDB5yp Wrote:  Can anyone remember when this baseball program had more wins than losses???

The program was pretty decent during the mid-2000s when I was a student. I remember them recruiting well too. They signed a HS baseball pitcher that was so good he got drafted and never ended up at NIU.

I think UIC and Ill St got upgraded facilities and maybe the recruits we used to get started going to the Illinois colleges that invested money into their facilities and programs.

I've never been to Illinois State's field but I've seen pictures and its much nicer than NIU. I have been to UIC and the setting and field (and view from home plate) is unmatched by any Illinois school, imo.

(04-23-2021 01:36 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(04-23-2021 01:21 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(04-23-2021 08:28 AM)BDB5yp Wrote:  Can anyone remember when this baseball program had more wins than losses???

The program was pretty decent during the mid-2000s when I was a student. I remember them recruiting well too. They signed a HS baseball pitcher that was so good he got drafted and never ended up at NIU.

I think UIC and Ill St got upgraded facilities and maybe the recruits we used to get started going to the Illinois colleges that invested money into their facilities and programs.

I've never been to Illinois State's field but I've seen pictures and its much nicer than NIU. I have been to UIC and the setting and field (and view from home plate) is unmatched by any Illinois school, imo.

That’s what happens when you get a big donor. Granderson’s big donation did it for UIC.

(04-23-2021 01:40 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(04-23-2021 01:36 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(04-23-2021 01:21 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(04-23-2021 08:28 AM)BDB5yp Wrote:  Can anyone remember when this baseball program had more wins than losses???

The program was pretty decent during the mid-2000s when I was a student. I remember them recruiting well too. They signed a HS baseball pitcher that was so good he got drafted and never ended up at NIU.

I think UIC and Ill St got upgraded facilities and maybe the recruits we used to get started going to the Illinois colleges that invested money into their facilities and programs.

I've never been to Illinois State's field but I've seen pictures and its much nicer than NIU. I have been to UIC and the setting and field (and view from home plate) is unmatched by any Illinois school, imo.

That’s what happens when you get a big donor. Granderson’s big donation did it for UIC.

Very true. I completely forgot he paid for that field. it's ridiculously nice. He got his money's worth.

UIC has a long history of MLB draftees, winning seasons (including some 30-gamers) and connections to local city baseball. Mike Dee (hc since 1999) is one of the best college bball coaches in the country, according to several national sports media. His staff, btw, is twice as big as NIU's. In addition to the impressive field, they also have an almost 5,000-sq-ft clubhouse (the lead gift came from another big supporter, Pat Colvin, who named it after his wife Peggy.)

Unless NIU is willing to make a real commitment, baseball is going to trudge along like it is for a very long time. The current fund-raising campaign is a three-phase: infield, outfield, grandstand. Is that even still going on? Heard nothing for a while.

BTW ... the master plan 2014-15 called for a new stadium just west of the Stevenson parking lot, and Bell Field to stay where it is. That was not even mentioned when they announced the "new grand plan" of three phases at the current field. I guess if pieces of STF's grand plan don't work out, they just let them fade away. Convo naming rights, anyone?

(04-23-2021 05:49 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  The current fund-raising campaign is a three-phase: infield, outfield, grandstand. Is that even still going on? Heard nothing for a while.

BTW ... the master plan 2014-15 called for a new stadium just west of the Stevenson parking lot, and Bell Field to stay where it is. That was not even mentioned when they announced the "new grand plan" of three phases at the current field. I guess if pieces of STF's grand plan don't work out, they just let them fade away. Convo naming rights, anyone?

Honestly, who knows. This athletic department is very secretive. I donated to the baseball campaign last year and never heard anything from it. I wouldn't be surprised if the money I donated ended up in the general Athletics fund to pay for COVID testing or something.

Just found this Huskies Invest website. You can donate to a bunch of teams or various projects, including the baseball field upgrades.

https://crowdfund.niu.edu/g/athletics

(04-23-2021 08:16 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(04-23-2021 05:49 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  The current fund-raising campaign is a three-phase: infield, outfield, grandstand. Is that even still going on? Heard nothing for a while.

BTW ... the master plan 2014-15 called for a new stadium just west of the Stevenson parking lot, and Bell Field to stay where it is. That was not even mentioned when they announced the "new grand plan" of three phases at the current field. I guess if pieces of STF's grand plan don't work out, they just let them fade away. Convo naming rights, anyone?

Honestly, who knows. This athletic department is very secretive. I donated to the baseball campaign last year and never heard anything from it. I wouldn't be surprised if the money I donated ended up in the general Athletics fund to pay for COVID testing or something.

That’s the risk of sport-specific donations. They may put it in the sport’s fund, but then reduce that sport’s budget by that amount, thus effectively using the money originally allocated for another purpose. Sort of like the lottery money going to education.

I made another donation to the baseball stadium. Maybe it will help. Looks like they need more donations and to find some successful NIU baseball alumni to join in.

(04-24-2021 08:38 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  I made another donation to the baseball stadium. Maybe it will help. Looks like they need more donations and to find some successful NIU baseball alumni to join in.

Hope your donation was in six figures.