Sharing a post and my thoughts around my day in DeKalb and around NIU campus today.

Started the morning by going to the NIU football season ticket holder event at Fatty's. They had eggs, breakfast potatoes, biscuits & gravy, and some humongous sausages.

Bill Baker was the MC for the event. He made it a point to tell everyone who came last year that he told them to bring one more person to this event or to a game and to grow the Huskie Nation fandom. It was a large crowd and there was no parking spots left at Fatty's. They were happy with the turnout.

He introduced President Freeman, then Sean Frazier, and then Coach Hammock. Hammock did a Q&A. Some questions asked were how Rudolph was doing, who will do kick returns without Rudolph, the most competitive positions (RB, secondary, and defensive lines were called out). Hammock introduced the football captains but none of them spoke to the crowd.

I met Coach Hammock for first time and we talked and good 5-7 mins. Also briefly spoke with DC Derrick Jackson.

Walked and drove around campus. I went inside the Stevens Bldg, Holmes Student Center, and went by the Ralph McKinzie baseball field. Not much going on with the Field Turf installation there. Many of the classroom buildings around campus I was unable to get into.

Holmes Student Center and Huskie Den 1st and 2nd floors are really nice since the renovations. Bought a few things from the NIU Bookstore but a bit disappointed with the t-shirt and baseball hat selection.

Few other thoughts. A lot of the roads around Neptune, Stevenson dorms and parking lots really need to be replaced. A lot of the roads are in very bad condition. There is essentially plastic tarps all on the roof of Swen Parson (law school building). I assume they are having roof/water issues and the university is waiting (or can't afford) to replace the roof.

I took a bunch of pictures. I can post them later if anyone is interested. But for now I'm going to grab some Fatty's cajun potato salad to go.

Go Huskies!

Thanks for sharing and great to hear the turnout for the event was even bigger this year. Hope it translates to bigger home crowds as many of us are excited for another great year! Would like to see that pics!

Quote: Bought a few things from the NIU Bookstore but a bit disappointed with the t-shirt and baseball hat selection.

That is disappointing, hope they get a new designer and bring some fresh design and options to NIU gear soon!

Thanks for posting.

I was at the student center bookstore last year, also surprised at the lack of hat and t-shirt options. They had almost zero larges in t's, the manager said it had been that way for weeks. Either Follett or the manager needs to get the axe.

Nice vibe though in the store and lower student center, hope they get some better gear soon.

(08-29-2022 07:36 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  Thanks for posting.

I was at the student center bookstore last year, also surprised at the lack of hat and t-shirt options. They had almost zero larges in t's, the manager said it had been that way for weeks. Either Follett or the manager needs to get the axe.

Nice vibe though in the store and lower student center, hope they get some better gear soon.

Of course!!!! It's "supply chain" issues!

Just saw a FB post that the football brunch and Cornfest were both packed, good to hear.