Notre Dame stadium has an "Ara Parseghian Gate." !!!

Without looking things up, I KNOW other college stadiums are FILLED with such honors to former greats. And it costs NOTHING to do it.

To my knowledge, we STILL have NO tribute to Joe Novak in or around Huskie Stadium. Is that true?????? I mean, really? Is that true?

If it's not, I apologize. Please let me know where and what it is. But if it's true, that is an embarrassment! Makes me want to puke. Is it too much to rename "Stadium Drive" as "Joe Novak Way?"

I have suggested in the past putting up poles in a horseshoe configuration in the south end zone with each pole supporting a banner of a former huskie great. Joe Novak, Garrett Wolf, Jordan Lynch, Ryan Diem, etc. They could even have one or two permanent ones and others rotate. (Think about it -- these are low cost items.) But no... nothing.

As I write this, a thought popped into my head. What about Milwaukee sausage races type event at maybe the end of the first quarter where a Joe Novak guy races a Jordan Lynch, a Michael Turner, a Thomas Hammock? Include the Sonic mascot. Invite (dare/ challenge) local sports media member(s) to take part. That would be a riot! And it could be hyped (free) by the participating media member each week!

Could even do a mini-sausage race for kids.





So many ideas. If only there were like a fan led committee to come up with ideas that I could volunteer for and give my ideas instead of just taking pot shots from the peanut gallery. Oh wait, they did announce something.... and I did volunteer.... and... crickets. Still waiting to hear if I could be accepted into that inner circle worthy of providing feedback and ideas.

I agree, there should be something to honor Coach Joe. I few years ago, I suggested naming one of the roads around the stadium Coach Novak Way. Now I suggest still doing that and have it intersect with a road called The Hard Way.

(10-19-2021 06:20 PM)Schaefer Beer Wrote:  I agree, there should be something to honor Coach Joe. I fee years ago I suggested naming one of the roads around the stadium Coach Novak Way. Now I suggest still doing that and have it intersect with a road called The Hard Way.

I like having the stadium at the corner of Joe Novak and The Hard Way, good stuff.

Putting his name over one of the gates would cost zilch as well.

There is a banner of Joe in the East side concourse but that’s it as far as I know. Would it kill NIU to have a ring of honor with past greats?

It's not in the budget

A statue of him with his fists raised after the Maryland game win is the ONLY pose for a tribute to him.

As a general rule I think tributes should be to players not coaches (and even players you should wait a good 20 years to see what kind of humans they turn out to be), but renaming a street would be an appropriately modest gesture.

I think Joe Novak is an exception to any general rule one might have. I don't like to think about where this program would be if not for him and his team's. He and the players from that group that got those first winning seasons (Diem, McCareins, Hammock, Fleck, Haldi, etc..) are what rescued this program from turning into Idaho, UMass, EMU, etc... and it's worth celebrating while he's still around.

(10-20-2021 01:34 PM)Huskies2006 Wrote:  I think Joe Novak is an exception to any general rule one might have. I don't like to think about where this program would be if not for him and his team's. He and the players from that group that got those first winning seasons (Diem, McCareins, Hammock, Fleck, Haldi, etc..) are what rescued this program from turning into Idaho, UMass, EMU, etc... and it's worth celebrating while he's still around.

Cannot forget to mention Cary Groth. Without her patience, none of this happens.

(10-20-2021 04:44 PM)NIUAlum90 Wrote:  

(10-20-2021 01:34 PM)Huskies2006 Wrote:  I think Joe Novak is an exception to any general rule one might have. I don't like to think about where this program would be if not for him and his team's. He and the players from that group that got those first winning seasons (Diem, McCareins, Hammock, Fleck, Haldi, etc..) are what rescued this program from turning into Idaho, UMass, EMU, etc... and it's worth celebrating while he's still around.

Cannot forget to mention Cary Groth. Without her patience, none of this happens.

Agree 100%. I know people on the board have different opinions on Groth, but to get back into the MAC and to put In a coach who knew DeKalb and was willing to be invested in a complete rebuild of the football program were historic for the Athletic Program at NIU.

Now if we can find a School President that has a good rebuilding agenda like Groth, we might be able to grow again.

There should be some form of tribute for Coach Joe and there should be something to honor all the All-Americans we've had...