NIU is much closer for me to get to, but I prefer the environment at ISU because of the intimacy of the stadium.
NIU and especially U of I are too big. When ISU gave up the playoffs several years ago, the game-day experience waned.
Attendance at various IHSA state championships have declined over the years and a smaller college would be more advantageous as football host site. I even noticed some of the basketball super-sectionals are vacating college arenas for large high schools.
Truth be told, best atmosphere is at the high schools themselves, but that would never fly for a football state final.

(03-26-2022 10:58 PM)acolbert Wrote:  NIU is much closer for me to get to, but I prefer the environment at ISU because of the intimacy of the stadium.
NIU and especially U of I are too big. When ISU gave up the playoffs several years ago, the game-day experience waned.
Attendance at various IHSA state championships have declined over the years and a smaller college would be more advantageous as football host site. I even noticed some of the basketball super-sectionals are vacating college arenas for large high schools.
Truth be told, best atmosphere is at the high schools themselves, but that would never fly for a football state final.

I think it is more for the student athlete. Other states are playing their championships in the NFL stadiums. If the Bears have an indoor stadium at Arlington Heights, what high school kid wouldn't want to play there?

NIU is a great fit - bigger feel than ISU/SIU, closer to the state population center, great indoor practice facility.

(03-27-2022 11:36 AM)Big_Man Wrote:  

(03-26-2022 10:58 PM)acolbert Wrote:  NIU is much closer for me to get to, but I prefer the environment at ISU because of the intimacy of the stadium.
NIU and especially U of I are too big. When ISU gave up the playoffs several years ago, the game-day experience waned.
Attendance at various IHSA state championships have declined over the years and a smaller college would be more advantageous as football host site. I even noticed some of the basketball super-sectionals are vacating college arenas for large high schools.
Truth be told, best atmosphere is at the high schools themselves, but that would never fly for a football state final.

I think it is more for the student athlete. Other states are playing their championships in the NFL stadiums. If the Bears have an indoor stadium at Arlington Heights, what high school kid wouldn't want to play there?

That's a good point. Hockey was at Chicago Stadium back in the day. Was awesome.

Of course, Bret Bielema wants all the games played in beautiful, bucolic Champaign.


Bielema wants IHSA football championship games in Champaign

(03-30-2022 09:44 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Of course, Bret Bielema wants all the games played in beautiful, bucolic Champaign.


Bielema wants IHSA football championship games in Champaign

Ok, we give them the IHSA games, and they let us play Northwestern in DeKalb.

(03-30-2022 08:37 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 09:44 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Of course, Bret Bielema wants all the games played in beautiful, bucolic Champaign.


Bielema wants IHSA football championship games in Champaign

Ok, we give them the IHSA games, and they let us play Northwestern in DeKalb.

Or he can just send his wife up in a bikini.

(03-30-2022 09:25 PM)HuskieJ Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 08:37 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 09:44 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Of course, Bret Bielema wants all the games played in beautiful, bucolic Champaign.


Bielema wants IHSA football championship games in Champaign

Ok, we give them the IHSA games, and they let us play Northwestern in DeKalb.

Or he can just send his wife up in a bikini.

I had no idea what his wife looked like so I googled it.

Hmmm...

In looking at a variety of pictures, it looks like as she lost the baby weight...she was just transferring it to him.

(03-30-2022 09:25 PM)HuskieJ Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 08:37 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 09:44 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Of course, Bret Bielema wants all the games played in beautiful, bucolic Champaign.


Bielema wants IHSA football championship games in Champaign

Ok, we give them the IHSA games, and they let us play Northwestern in DeKalb.

Or he can just send his wife up in a bikini.

Here is some eye candy for you.
https://againstthepoints.com/2021/08/27/...-hot-wife/

(03-30-2022 11:12 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 09:25 PM)HuskieJ Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 08:37 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 09:44 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Of course, Bret Bielema wants all the games played in beautiful, bucolic Champaign.


Bielema wants IHSA football championship games in Champaign

Ok, we give them the IHSA games, and they let us play Northwestern in DeKalb.

Or he can just send his wife up in a bikini.

I had no idea what his wife looked like so I googled it.

Hmmm...

In looking at a variety of pictures, it looks like as she lost the baby weight...she was just transferring it to him.

I'm sure that his seven figure salary and knowing that he would'nt be at home much due to the demands of a head coach takes the sting out of seeing that belly.

https://edgytim.rivals.com/news/5-big-st...hsa-season

Quote:. Who will host the IHSA State Championship Games starting in 2023?

The 2022 IHSA state championship games will be held at Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Illinois this season, then the contract will be up. According to the IHSA, a winning bid will be announced most likely at the IHSA Board December meeting. The IHSA has been playing it's IHSA State Finals games on a rotational basis between Illinois and NIU after Illinois needed to back out of hosting the IHSA games every other year after the Big Ten decided to add an additional game to it's schedule a handful of years ago.

So who will be bidding and who will host the games after 2022? I can say with pretty good confidence that Illinois State will be putting in a bid for the state final games. ISU was host of the IHSA state football championship for years, then decided to back out of the IHSA games when Illinois State instead wanted the ability to host potential FCS playoff games. I'm also very confident that NIU will also present a bid. NIU, while not having the updated facilities and overall curb appeal of say Illinois, has been a very good host for the IHSA and a DeKalb community that has embraced IHSA football weekend, plus the close location to the Chicagoland market along with several smaller schools is a real positive. Illinois? If the feedback from the IHSFCA clinic in January is any indication, look for the Fighting Illini to do everything within it's power to keep the games in Champaign. Unfortunately, the Big Ten schedule (hell...the Big Ten in general these days) is still pretty much an unknown, and the IHSA has also indicated that they expect this contract will run from 2023 thru the 2027 season with no exceptions....so will overall timing and schedule question marks potentially eliminate Illinois?

My best guess? I personally like the rotating host sites. It allows more than one town to host the games, spreads the wealth across the state to other colleges and also keeps towns a bit more on their toes when it comes to putting forward it's best efforts.

In the end.....I have said for a while now that I can see the IHSA games going back home to Illinois State. ISU has done several renovations to Hancock Stadium, they are in the middle of adding a brand new indoor practice facility which should be ready for 2023 and the IHSA offices are located within minutes of Illinois State. This is a pretty hard home field advantage to beat in my opinion for the IHSA.....but time will tell.

(08-25-2022 07:51 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  https://edgytim.rivals.com/news/5-big-st...hsa-season

Quote:. Who will host the IHSA State Championship Games starting in 2023?

The 2022 IHSA state championship games will be held at Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Illinois this season, then the contract will be up. According to the IHSA, a winning bid will be announced most likely at the IHSA Board December meeting. The IHSA has been playing it's IHSA State Finals games on a rotational basis between Illinois and NIU after Illinois needed to back out of hosting the IHSA games every other year after the Big Ten decided to add an additional game to it's schedule a handful of years ago.

So who will be bidding and who will host the games after 2022? I can say with pretty good confidence that Illinois State will be putting in a bid for the state final games. ISU was host of the IHSA state football championship for years, then decided to back out of the IHSA games when Illinois State instead wanted the ability to host potential FCS playoff games. I'm also very confident that NIU will also present a bid. NIU, while not having the updated facilities and overall curb appeal of say Illinois, has been a very good host for the IHSA and a DeKalb community that has embraced IHSA football weekend, plus the close location to the Chicagoland market along with several smaller schools is a real positive. Illinois? If the feedback from the IHSFCA clinic in January is any indication, look for the Fighting Illini to do everything within it's power to keep the games in Champaign. Unfortunately, the Big Ten schedule (hell...the Big Ten in general these days) is still pretty much an unknown, and the IHSA has also indicated that they expect this contract will run from 2023 thru the 2027 season with no exceptions....so will overall timing and schedule question marks potentially eliminate Illinois?

My best guess? I personally like the rotating host sites. It allows more than one town to host the games, spreads the wealth across the state to other colleges and also keeps towns a bit more on their toes when it comes to putting forward it's best efforts.

In the end.....I have said for a while now that I can see the IHSA games going back home to Illinois State. ISU has done several renovations to Hancock Stadium, they are in the middle of adding a brand new indoor practice facility which should be ready for 2023 and the IHSA offices are located within minutes of Illinois State. This is a pretty hard home field advantage to beat in my opinion for the IHSA.....but time will tell.

Each location brings something to the table. I think if they go (stick) to the geographical playoff setup for 1A-6A that could strike a nerve with schools far south routinely going to DeKalb. It would be interesting to see if DeKalb ever sells out rooms.

Arlington Heights will probably make a bid once the Bears move there.

(08-25-2022 11:54 AM)Big_Man Wrote:  Arlington Heights will probably make a bid once the Bears move there.

Which may be by the time the 2033-2037 contract is out for bid.

Of course, the city of Chicago will have an available Soldier Field to bid as well!

(08-25-2022 01:50 PM)niu79 Wrote:  

(08-25-2022 11:54 AM)Big_Man Wrote:  Arlington Heights will probably make a bid once the Bears move there.

Which may be by the time the 2033-2037 contract is out for bid.

Of course, the city of Chicago will have an available Soldier Field to bid as well!

If they took away the crappy grass at Soldier Field, it would have everything the IHSA would be looking for in a venue.

(03-25-2022 11:31 PM)The Huskie Wrote:  I have a question? Does NIU earn any money from hosting the ISHA Football State Championships? That should be first and foremost in any bid. If not why would NIU want to host it? If the City of DeKalb and local businesses contribute to guaranty that NIU breaks at least even, that is fine. if not why bother?

It also helps in the recruiting process. Not only for football but also for students to have these players and student fans on campus.

(03-31-2022 05:18 AM)Schaefer Beer Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 11:12 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 09:25 PM)HuskieJ Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 08:37 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  

(03-30-2022 09:44 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Of course, Bret Bielema wants all the games played in beautiful, bucolic Champaign.


Bielema wants IHSA football championship games in Champaign

Ok, we give them the IHSA games, and they let us play Northwestern in DeKalb.

Or he can just send his wife up in a bikini.

I had no idea what his wife looked like so I googled it.

Hmmm...

In looking at a variety of pictures, it looks like as she lost the baby weight...she was just transferring it to him.

I'm sure that his seven figure salary and knowing that he would'nt be at home much due to the demands of a head coach takes the sting out of seeing that belly.

Re, the belly, our coach could give him a run for his money.