I bet BYU would gladly move their road games against NIU to Soldier Field...if that's not in the contract already!

I think if we could switch our marquee homes games or a rivalry game in soldier field it would be a great plan

(08-10-2015 04:40 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 04:33 PM)domer1978 Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 04:28 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 04:23 PM)domer1978 Wrote:  Why would Notre Dame want to help you out? Not to be mean just curious, what does ND get out of it? Giving a school credibility in our own backyard doesn't seem like a great strategy.

A good OoC win over a quality G5 football powerhouse instead of mollywoppin, say, old dominion or a sunbelt team. Easy travel for fans to a historic venue in soldier field that also helps solidify ND's presence in Chicago? That sounds appealing

We are already secure with Chicago.. It just seems like it would be benefiting you but not much for us to gain from it. I like NIU I just don't see it ever happening.

There's nothing wrong then with putting your team in a historical venue to let your fans watch your team play a local college team that is well respected in the 3rd largest media market in a town you own... that is a sell point right there. It screams "televised nationally" game

As a confirmed Notre Dame h8ter I don' like to carry water for them but there are two problems with your hypothesis.

1) Every Notre Dame game is nationally televised, playing NIU is not some big draw for ND fans.

2) if Notre Dame wants to play in Chicago they could play ANYONE. They could play Northwestern or Illinois or pretty much any number of P5 teams that want to recruit in Illinois as a neutral site game. They don't need NIU to get their toe in the door.

(08-10-2015 04:37 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  Honestly I don't see NIU moving to the Big 12 under any conditions for the foreseeable future. Maybe way down the road they get a look by a lower P5 conference, but I think they've gotta move up to the AAC, dominate in football there, develop their other sports programs (particularly basketball), and get attendance up before they're under serious consideration. And even in that scenario, it's still extremely doubtful. If you look at UC, they've done everything right for the most part yet they're still sitting in a G5 conference despite having a firm grasp over the Cincinnati market.

Basically what I have tried to tell stay cool, but he doesn't want to listen. Although, judging by his first post in this thread, he might be finally coming around.

Also, look how long it took Louisville and TCU. Look what Boise has accomplished on the field etc. NIU has zero percent chance at the current Big 12. They also have a .00000000000000000000001 % chance of any type of Big 12.

AAC is a possibility, but even that is a long shot.

(08-10-2015 06:24 PM)YNot Wrote:  Start by getting the one game per year in Chicago - against anyone. Doesn't need to be a power team or anything - could even be a conference game. I agree that the Chicago game could help land some quality opponents though.

The stadium upgrade suggestions will help. May be front load the schedule with more home games, if possible - to try to limit the cold weather home games.

If NIU continues to win and can attract some new fans by playing more frequently in Chicagoland and can show substantial progress in getting fans to the home games - so that they're averaging close to 30K per home game - then they will significantly improve their value to any potential realignment call-up scenarios.

But the first goal should be AAC membership - forget the Big 12 for now. If NIU can improve in these areas, they would make a quality addition to the American.

AAC should be the target, and I believe it is. Agree with you.

Aint no magic formula.

The non-magic formula is schedule tough OOC, go undefeated, win the MAC CCG, have such a strong SOS that with 13-0 NIU cannot be denied the shot at the Access Bowl, and then win the sucker.

And repeat, two or three times.

Mind you, easier said than done. That's why its a non-magic formula.

When it comes to AAC candidacy, NIU isn't even the clear-cut, most desirable candidate in the MAC. Just compare NIU to Buffalo...

NIU trails Buffalo in:

Football Attendance
Stadium capacity
Athletic budget
Traction in their market
Academic rankings
Endowment
Olympic Sports
Current basketball product

NIU leads in the categories of current football product and "DMA." Is that enough? Maybe, but it's certainly not a slam dunk when College Presidents are the ones deciding...

I think NIU should schedule OOC games with some of the northern schools of the Big 12 like Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State. If NIU shows that it can compete against these schools and win, then perhaps the perception of the school will change among the stronger schools in the Big 12.

(08-10-2015 10:50 PM)NJ2MDTerp Wrote:  I think NIU should schedule OOC games with some of the northern schools of the Big 12 like Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State. If NIU shows that it can compete against these schools and win, then perhaps the perception of the school will change among the stronger schools in the Big 12.

I actually just had a conversation in another thread with an Iowa fan how NIU should build a rivalry with Iowa. We are the closest FBS team to them... could do a plains or Midwest themed rivalry, perhaps a corn one? Dont wanna upset Nebraska though

(08-10-2015 11:32 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 10:50 PM)NJ2MDTerp Wrote:  I think NIU should schedule OOC games with some of the northern schools of the Big 12 like Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State. If NIU shows that it can compete against these schools and win, then perhaps the perception of the school will change among the stronger schools in the Big 12.

I actually just had a conversation in another thread with an Iowa fan how NIU should build a rivalry with Iowa. We are the closest FBS team to them... could do a plains or Midwest themed rivalry, perhaps a corn one? Dont wanna upset Nebraska though

Let's make this real! LOL It would be an awesome trophy!

New Series Trophy for NIU vs Iowa Rivalry

(08-10-2015 04:43 PM)domer1978 Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 04:40 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 04:33 PM)domer1978 Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 04:28 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 04:23 PM)domer1978 Wrote:  Why would Notre Dame want to help you out? Not to be mean just curious, what does ND get out of it? Giving a school credibility in our own backyard doesn't seem like a great strategy.

A good OoC win over a quality G5 football powerhouse instead of mollywoppin, say, old dominion or a sunbelt team. Easy travel for fans to a historic venue in soldier field that also helps solidify ND's presence in Chicago? That sounds appealing

We are already secure with Chicago.. It just seems like it would be benefiting you but not much for us to gain from it. I like NIU I just don't see it ever happening.

There's nothing wrong then with putting your team in a historical venue to let your fans watch your team play a local college team that is well respected in the 3rd largest media market in a town you own... that is a sell point right there. It screams "televised nationally" game

All our games are nationally televised, what do we get from it again? It would be absolutely awesome for your team.

I'm 100% sure that NIU getting a game with ND football would be an indicator of NIU "making it big time," because for many folks including most of my very catholic family, college football in only ND and no one else. Not going to happen, but I hate ND and would love to see NIU their CFB illuminati asses!

(08-10-2015 09:32 PM)HuskyU Wrote:  When it comes to AAC candidacy, NIU isn't even the clear-cut, most desirable candidate in the MAC. Just compare NIU to Buffalo...

NIU trails Buffalo in:

Football Attendance
Stadium capacity
Athletic budget
Traction in their market
Academic rankings
Endowment
Olympic Sports
Current basketball product

NIU leads in the categories of current football product and "DMA." Is that enough? Maybe, but it's certainly not a slam dunk when College Presidents are the ones deciding...

Replace basketball with football, and you can say the UCONN trails Buffalo in the same criteria you listed.... So.. UB to the Big12?!

Very few fans don't really think NIU to the BIG 12 is going to happen anytime soon. The good thing is the Athletic Dept. and University are in pretty good hands at the moment and moving in the right direction. Maybe in a couple more years.

I'm in the minority that actually likes the MAC, but I can see how much perception of the conference really bothers alot of fans. No matter how well NIU does, and they've done might fine over the last decade, that negative tone "but they're in the MAC" caveat always gets thrown out there to minimize NIU's success, even if the conference is having a great season. The biggest thing that bothers me about the MAC is that it seems like a lot of the programs are apathetic towards improving or "taking the next step," sometimes it really does feel like the poor man's Ivy League, programs with a lot of history that's just happy to be playing D1 FBS.

(08-11-2015 12:06 AM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  Very few fans don't really think NIU to the BIG 12 is going to happen anytime soon. The good thing is the Athletic Dept. and University are in pretty good hands at the moment and moving at in the right direction. Maybe in a couple more years.

I'm in the minority that actually likes the MAC, but I can see how much perception of the conference really bothers alot of fans. No matter how well NIU does, and they've done might fine over the last decade, that negative tone "but they're in the MAC" caveat always gets thrown out there to minimize NIU's success, even if the conference is having a great season. The biggest thing that bothers me about the MAC is that it seems like a lot of the programs are apathetic towards improving or "taking the next step," sometimes it really does feel like the poor man's Ivy League, programs with alot of history that's just happy to be playing D1 FBS.

I think some people are just anxious on what could happen. Same goes for the Toledo fan base. We get tired of playing the schools that just don't care. I.E. EMU, Akron, Ball State, Kent, especially on a football level. It's only fun for so long.

I would love to see Toledo and NIU in the big 12, but I know that won't happen. Especially if Texas and Oklahoma are still around. I'd be happy with the AAC, but I don't think UC would want to be in the same conference as Toledo.

(08-10-2015 07:30 PM)FlyHawk98 Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 04:37 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  Honestly I don't see NIU moving to the Big 12 under any conditions for the foreseeable future. Maybe way down the road they get a look by a lower P5 conference, but I think they've gotta move up to the AAC, dominate in football there, develop their other sports programs (particularly basketball), and get attendance up before they're under serious consideration. And even in that scenario, it's still extremely doubtful. If you look at UC, they've done everything right for the most part yet they're still sitting in a G5 conference despite having a firm grasp over the Cincinnati market.

Basically what I have tried to tell stay cool, but he doesn't want to listen. Although, judging by his first post in this thread, he might be finally coming around.

Also, look how long it took Louisville and TCU. Look what Boise has accomplished on the field etc. NIU has zero percent chance at the current Big 12. They also have a .00000000000000000000001 % chance of any type of Big 12.

AAC is a possibility, but even that is a long shot.

TCU was already in a P5 like conference with the SWC. They got left out, and finally justice came to them to get them into the Big 12. TCU had a much better tv market than Baylor.

(08-10-2015 07:30 PM)FlyHawk98 Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 04:37 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  Honestly I don't see NIU moving to the Big 12 under any conditions for the foreseeable future. Maybe way down the road they get a look by a lower P5 conference, but I think they've gotta move up to the AAC, dominate in football there, develop their other sports programs (particularly basketball), and get attendance up before they're under serious consideration. And even in that scenario, it's still extremely doubtful. If you look at UC, they've done everything right for the most part yet they're still sitting in a G5 conference despite having a firm grasp over the Cincinnati market.

Basically what I have tried to tell stay cool, but he doesn't want to listen. Although, judging by his first post in this thread, he might be finally coming around.

Also, look how long it took Louisville and TCU. Look what Boise has accomplished on the field etc. NIU has zero percent chance at the current Big 12. They also have a .00000000000000000000001 % chance of any type of Big 12.

AAC is a possibility, but even that is a long shot.

That's still a much greater shot than Marshall! That's why Marshall got left behind and play in the Sun Belt eeerrr CUSA!!

(08-11-2015 12:23 AM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 07:30 PM)FlyHawk98 Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 04:37 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  Honestly I don't see NIU moving to the Big 12 under any conditions for the foreseeable future. Maybe way down the road they get a look by a lower P5 conference, but I think they've gotta move up to the AAC, dominate in football there, develop their other sports programs (particularly basketball), and get attendance up before they're under serious consideration. And even in that scenario, it's still extremely doubtful. If you look at UC, they've done everything right for the most part yet they're still sitting in a G5 conference despite having a firm grasp over the Cincinnati market.

Basically what I have tried to tell stay cool, but he doesn't want to listen. Although, judging by his first post in this thread, he might be finally coming around.

Also, look how long it took Louisville and TCU. Look what Boise has accomplished on the field etc. NIU has zero percent chance at the current Big 12. They also have a .00000000000000000000001 % chance of any type of Big 12.

AAC is a possibility, but even that is a long shot.

That's still a much greater shot than Marshall! That's why Marshall got left behind and play in the Sun Belt eeerrr CUSA!!

NIU is in the top 10 of lowest game day attendance. Marshall exposed you guys last year in Boca. There is zero chance they will ever play in the Big 12. It's absolutely delusional. No way is Texas, WVU, Oklahoma, ect... going to come to your place and hang 100 on you in front of 13,000 people.

(08-11-2015 08:25 AM)polkhigh Wrote:  

(08-11-2015 12:23 AM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 07:30 PM)FlyHawk98 Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 04:37 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  Honestly I don't see NIU moving to the Big 12 under any conditions for the foreseeable future. Maybe way down the road they get a look by a lower P5 conference, but I think they've gotta move up to the AAC, dominate in football there, develop their other sports programs (particularly basketball), and get attendance up before they're under serious consideration. And even in that scenario, it's still extremely doubtful. If you look at UC, they've done everything right for the most part yet they're still sitting in a G5 conference despite having a firm grasp over the Cincinnati market.

Basically what I have tried to tell stay cool, but he doesn't want to listen. Although, judging by his first post in this thread, he might be finally coming around.

Also, look how long it took Louisville and TCU. Look what Boise has accomplished on the field etc. NIU has zero percent chance at the current Big 12. They also have a .00000000000000000000001 % chance of any type of Big 12.

AAC is a possibility, but even that is a long shot.

That's still a much greater shot than Marshall! That's why Marshall got left behind and play in the Sun Belt eeerrr CUSA!!

NIU is in the top 10 of lowest game day attendance. Marshall exposed you guys last year in Boca. There is zero chance they will ever play in the Big 12. It's absolutely delusional. No way is Texas, WVU, Oklahoma, ect... going to come to your place and hang 100 on you in front of 13,000 people.

Yes bring up the worst year in NIU attendance over the past 15 years even though NIU consistantly averages 20K plus per season, which is still not too much but when you see that the stadiun only holds 24k then that shows the fans will show up. Last years schedule has EVERYTHING to do with why attendance was the way it was.

Also, congratulations to Marshall on beating the worst NIU team since 2009! NIU was expected to have a down year with Jordan Lynch departing and they still somehow won the MAC and 11 games total, including a win over Northwestern. Any of the NIU teams from 2010-2013 would have beaten Marshall and this year's upcoming team is still young and returns 15-16 starters. They will be much better.

I am not proclaiming for NIU to be in the Big 12 because everyone knows that is a longshot, but for the continued attendance bullsh*t and loss to Marshall last year propaganda has nothing to do with the continued success of NIU when you take into effect attendance and results over the past 13-15 years. Lets take a look just for sh*ts and giggles. Since 2002, NIU's and Marshall's football records are as followed:

NIU: 113-56
Marshall: 88-74

And if you take out the worst season over the span for both teams the records would be as followed:

NIU: 111-46
Marshal: 85-65

(08-11-2015 12:06 AM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  Very few fans don't really think NIU to the BIG 12 is going to happen anytime soon. The good thing is the Athletic Dept. and University are in pretty good hands at the moment and moving in the right direction. Maybe in a couple more years.

I'm in the minority that actually likes the MAC, but I can see how much perception of the conference really bothers alot of fans. No matter how well NIU does, and they've done might fine over the last decade, that negative tone "but they're in the MAC" caveat always gets thrown out there to minimize NIU's success, even if the conference is having a great season. The biggest thing that bothers me about the MAC is that it seems like a lot of the programs are apathetic towards improving or "taking the next step," sometimes it really does feel like the poor man's Ivy League, programs with a lot of history that's just happy to be playing D1 FBS.

I think you guys have established yourselves as a winner. I think what makes CUSA a step up from the MAC is that we play most of our games on Saturdays. It's hard to build a fan base playing on Tues and Weds night.

If NIU could keep winning, and play on Saturday's THEN you have a chance to build a fan base. Getting 20k fans there every game would make a good atmosphere in your stadium. Plus, playing on Saturday day, would not be as cold as a night game in later October/November.

(08-11-2015 08:41 AM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(08-11-2015 08:25 AM)polkhigh Wrote:  

(08-11-2015 12:23 AM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 07:30 PM)FlyHawk98 Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 04:37 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  Honestly I don't see NIU moving to the Big 12 under any conditions for the foreseeable future. Maybe way down the road they get a look by a lower P5 conference, but I think they've gotta move up to the AAC, dominate in football there, develop their other sports programs (particularly basketball), and get attendance up before they're under serious consideration. And even in that scenario, it's still extremely doubtful. If you look at UC, they've done everything right for the most part yet they're still sitting in a G5 conference despite having a firm grasp over the Cincinnati market.

Basically what I have tried to tell stay cool, but he doesn't want to listen. Although, judging by his first post in this thread, he might be finally coming around.

Also, look how long it took Louisville and TCU. Look what Boise has accomplished on the field etc. NIU has zero percent chance at the current Big 12. They also have a .00000000000000000000001 % chance of any type of Big 12.

AAC is a possibility, but even that is a long shot.

That's still a much greater shot than Marshall! That's why Marshall got left behind and play in the Sun Belt eeerrr CUSA!!

NIU is in the top 10 of lowest game day attendance. Marshall exposed you guys last year in Boca. There is zero chance they will ever play in the Big 12. It's absolutely delusional. No way is Texas, WVU, Oklahoma, ect... going to come to your place and hang 100 on you in front of 13,000 people.

Yes bring up the worst year in NIU attendance over the past 15 years even though NIU consistantly averages 20K plus per season, which is still not too much but when you see that the stadiun only holds 24k then that shows the fans will show up. Last years schedule has EVERYTHING to do with why attendance was the way it was.

Also, congratulations to Marshall on beating the worst NIU team since 2009! NIU was expected to have a down year with Jordan Lynch departing and they still somehow won the MAC and 11 games total, including a win over Northwestern. Any of the NIU teams from 2010-2013 would have beaten Marshall and this year's upcoming team is still young and returns 15-16 starters. They will be much better.

I am not proclaiming for NIU to be in the Big 12 because everyone knows that is a longshot, but for the continued attendance bullsh*t and loss to Marshall last year propaganda has nothing to do with the continued success of NIU when you take into effect attendance and results over the past 13-15 years. Lets take a look just for sh*ts and giggles. Since 2002, NIU's and Marshall's football records are as followed:

NIU: 113-56
Marshall: 88-74

And if you take out the worst season over the span for both teams the records would be as followed:

NIU: 111-46
Marshal: 85-65

13 years. hmmmmm wonder if that just has anything to do with your agenda. A better one, would be to either just do that last decade, or since Marshall re-joined D1 in 1997.

You might still be better, I don't know and don't care. Marshall has accomplished more than NIU since we rejoined FBS. I don't have time to look all that up, just found it ironic that you used 2002 to start. Especially considering we shared a conference together in the late 90s. You also never mentioned our head to head record since 1997, Top 25 Finishes, Heisman Finalists, bowls, bowl wins, etc.