The battle to see which fanbase can be the most fragile, sensitive, and butthurt when anybody talks about their team is quite entertaining but lets be honest, you need to get a real forum like the BY so spread the delusion and whining about your situation if you want to keep up with UConn.

NIU fans seem to get along with most people unlike UConn fans who are famous on just about every realignment board for whining to the mods when something is said about their school that is true. Most fans simply won't waste the time to whine like that. It takes a certain type of person to go to all that trouble.

I don't mind the NIU fans as I can appreciate a proud fanbase but there is still a long way to go even to attain Boise level of popularity. Probably take a decade of real success with at least a couple of big wins. Looking at the OOC schedule the opportunity will be there.

(08-19-2015 02:20 PM)Okielite Wrote:  The battle to see which fanbase can be the most fragile, sensitive, and butthurt when anybody talks about their team is quite entertaining but lets be honest, you need to get a real forum like the BY so spread the delusion and whining about your situation if you want to keep up with UConn.

NIU fans seem to get along with most people unlike UConn fans who are famous on just about every realignment board for whining to the mods when something is said about their school that is true. Most fans simply won't waste the time to whine like that. It takes a certain type of person to go to all that trouble.

I don't mind the NIU fans as I can appreciate a proud fanbase but there is still a long way to go even to attain Boise level of popularity. Probably take a decade of real success with at least a couple of big wins. Looking at the OOC schedule the opportunity will be there.

I agree it will take some time but I think you can count as early as 2011 as part of the decade of real success. For the next 4-5 years we just need to turn it up a notch to the level that Boise, TCU and Utah had reached.

We have a great home OOC set up starting in 2017 next thing is we need a real skybox and club (expecting to have it in 2018) to get our alums with a bit of money out to the games regularly.

By then (2018-2021) its put up or shut up time for NIU, its Alums and fans as all of our major homer excuses will have run out.

(08-19-2015 02:49 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 02:20 PM)Okielite Wrote:  The battle to see which fanbase can be the most fragile, sensitive, and butthurt when anybody talks about their team is quite entertaining but lets be honest, you need to get a real forum like the BY so spread the delusion and whining about your situation if you want to keep up with UConn.

NIU fans seem to get along with most people unlike UConn fans who are famous on just about every realignment board for whining to the mods when something is said about their school that is true. Most fans simply won't waste the time to whine like that. It takes a certain type of person to go to all that trouble.

I don't mind the NIU fans as I can appreciate a proud fanbase but there is still a long way to go even to attain Boise level of popularity. Probably take a decade of real success with at least a couple of big wins. Looking at the OOC schedule the opportunity will be there.

I agree it will take some time but I think you can count as early as 2011 as part of the decade of real success. For the next 4-5 years we just need to turn it up a notch to the level that Boise, TCU and Utah had reached.

We have a great home OOC set up starting in 2017 next thing is we need a real skybox and club (expecting to have it in 2018) to get our alums with a bit of money out to the games regularly.

By then (2018-2021) its put up or shut up time for NIU, its Alums and fans as all of our major homer excuses will have run out.

Those schools had the benefit of playing is much better conferences than the MAC. Access from the MW was much different than access from the MAC as far as big bowls.

One big one that needs to change is ticket sales and donations. To only have 1 million in ticket sales and less than 2 million in donations is a real issue. That likely needs to increase by 10x to be ready to jump to the AAC.

But you are correct that the OOC schedule will certainly give NIU an opportunity to make a splash. Besting Nebraska at least once would be fun to watch.

I'm not sure about the donations number of $2 million. The new IPF cost almost 5 times that much and it was all donation dollars, then add the endzone facility and alumni center, each of which I think cost at least that much apiece. We will need more though, to upgrade the stadium, which is next, and is badly needed.

(08-19-2015 03:09 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I'm not sure about the donations number of $2 million. The new IPF cost almost 5 times that much and it was all donation dollars, then add the endzone facility and alumni center, each of which I think cost at least that much apiece. We will need more though, to upgrade the stadium, which is next, and is badly needed.

Yeah i can personally tell you those donation numbers are a far cry from the truth, maybe I'll go snooping again (and i won't throw out a number, but i like my job) but when i did last time i saw a much more comforting number that is MUCH closer to okielite's "target" number. Ticket sales do need a big bump though

(08-19-2015 03:09 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I'm not sure about the donations number of $2 million. The new IPF cost almost 5 times that much and it was all donation dollars, then add the endzone facility and alumni center, each of which I think cost at least that much apiece. We will need more though, to upgrade the stadium, which is next, and is badly needed.

Northern Illinois
Conference: MAC

SCHOOL FINANCES
REVENUES
YEAR TICKET SALES CONTRIBUTIONS RIGHTS / LICENSING STUDENT FEES SCHOOL FUNDS OTHER TOTAL REVENUES
2014 $1,097,519 $1,724,111 $3,247,556 $9,101,312 $9,238,102 $2,598,453 $27,007,054
2013 $2,203,585 $1,305,957 $3,162,675 $8,978,949 $8,593,495 $2,014,622 $26,259,284
2012 $1,824,668 $1,184,136 $2,234,722 $8,917,520 $8,093,033 $1,250,426 $23,504,505
2011 $864,185 $1,329,546 $2,258,754 $8,769,232 $7,960,385 $2,966,500 $24,148,602
2010 $908,503 $1,158,340 $1,764,396 $8,333,419 $7,796,572 $2,249,570 $22,210,800
2009 $1,016,563 $1,087,486 $2,364,564 $7,748,529 $7,397,518 $1,629,020 $21,243,679
2008 $2,215,645 $1,226,237 $1,944,254 $7,128,877 $8,306,573 $2,520,421 $23,342,006
2007 $1,368,752 $1,335,269 $2,195,427 $6,535,717 $5,619,450 $2,345,655 $19,400,270
2006 $902,056 $1,019,791 $1,731,336 $6,228,207 $5,371,910 $2,283,791 $17,537,089
2005 $1,022,586 $1,268,164 $1,691,444 $5,883,125 $4,751,288 $1,242,600 $15,859,206

Don't give them facts Okie. The NIU fan base HATES facts. They would rather live in fantasy land with their 13,000 fans per game.

(08-19-2015 06:02 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 03:09 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I'm not sure about the donations number of $2 million. The new IPF cost almost 5 times that much and it was all donation dollars, then add the endzone facility and alumni center, each of which I think cost at least that much apiece. We will need more though, to upgrade the stadium, which is next, and is badly needed.

Yeah i can personally tell you those donation numbers are a far cry from the truth, maybe I'll go snooping again (and i won't throw out a number, but i like my job) but when i did last time i saw a much more comforting number that is MUCH closer to okielite's "target" number. Ticket sales do need a big bump though

LMAO, You don't need to do any snooping, you can get the approximate amount from the NIU's Athletic Fund website which has a ballpark amount of $2,035,493 in 2014. Of course this is lower considering no announced projects in FY14 and before the announcement of the Athletics master plan/renovations, and a year after a major project (IPF). The year prior was was IPF which was approx. $9.5mil collected from donations, w/ 3mil donated by the Chessick family alone. Years prior to that was a 3.5mil soccer field renovations, a couple of mils for a new scoreboard and tickers. The Yordon Center was 16mil. Moving forward, and the announced plans for the stadium and other facilites, fans/alums are going to need to reach into their pockets if NIU wants to be big time.

(08-19-2015 06:33 PM)FlyHawk98 Wrote:  Don't give them facts Okie. The NIU fan base HATES facts. They would rather live in fantasy land with their 13,000 fans per game.

Like the one you live in thinking CUSA is what it is now like it was 15 years ago...

(08-19-2015 06:54 PM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 06:02 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 03:09 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I'm not sure about the donations number of $2 million. The new IPF cost almost 5 times that much and it was all donation dollars, then add the endzone facility and alumni center, each of which I think cost at least that much apiece. We will need more though, to upgrade the stadium, which is next, and is badly needed.

Yeah i can personally tell you those donation numbers are a far cry from the truth, maybe I'll go snooping again (and i won't throw out a number, but i like my job) but when i did last time i saw a much more comforting number that is MUCH closer to okielite's "target" number. Ticket sales do need a big bump though

LMAO, You don't need to do any snooping, you can get the approximate amount from the NIU's Athletic Fund website which has a ballpark amount of $2,035,493 in 2014. Of course this is lower considering no announced projects in FY14 and before the announcement of the Athletics master plan/renovations, and a year after a major project (IPF). The year prior was was IPF which was approx. $9.5mil collected from donations, w/ 3mil donated by the Chessick family alone. Years prior to that was a 3.5mil soccer field renovations, a couple of mils for a new scoreboard and tickers. The Yordon Center was 16mil. Moving forward, and the announced plans for the stadium and other facilites, fans/alums are going to need to reach into their pockets if NIU wants to be big time.

Your numbers do not add up to what's reported. I"m sorry but it's clear that NIU typically gets just under 2 million in donation. People throw around big numbers but at the end of the day this is what was reported by all public schools. If you want proof look at OSU's donations and how they swing when t-boone gets his check book out. They range from about 20 million to over 200 million year by year depending on how much he donates.

NIU does not get 10 million a year in donations. Boise barely gets 10 million. The 2 million $ or less is correct for NIU most years. You guys need to look at the finances of your school before you act like it is a wealthy one with money rolling in the AD. It's the other way around. You are spending money but it is mostly subsidy. The AD is not funded by donations or ticket sales.

(08-19-2015 07:01 PM)Okielite Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 06:54 PM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 06:02 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 03:09 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I'm not sure about the donations number of $2 million. The new IPF cost almost 5 times that much and it was all donation dollars, then add the endzone facility and alumni center, each of which I think cost at least that much apiece. We will need more though, to upgrade the stadium, which is next, and is badly needed.

Yeah i can personally tell you those donation numbers are a far cry from the truth, maybe I'll go snooping again (and i won't throw out a number, but i like my job) but when i did last time i saw a much more comforting number that is MUCH closer to okielite's "target" number. Ticket sales do need a big bump though

LMAO, You don't need to do any snooping, you can get the approximate amount from the NIU's Athletic Fund website which has a ballpark amount of $2,035,493 in 2014. Of course this is lower considering no announced projects in FY14 and before the announcement of the Athletics master plan/renovations, and a year after a major project (IPF). The year prior was was IPF which was approx. $9.5mil collected from donations, w/ 3mil donated by the Chessick family alone. Years prior to that was a 3.5mil soccer field renovations, a couple of mils for a new scoreboard and tickers. The Yordon Center was 16mil. Moving forward, and the announced plans for the stadium and other facilites, fans/alums are going to need to reach into their pockets if NIU wants to be big time.

Your numbers do not add up to what's reported. I"m sorry but it's clear that NIU typically gets just under 2 million in donation. People throw around big numbers but at the end of the day this is what was reported by all public schools. If you want proof look at OSU's donations and how they swing when t-boone gets his check book out. They range from about 20 million to over 200 million year by year depending on how much he donates.

NIU does not get 10 million a year in donations. Boise barely gets 10 million. The 2 million $ or less is correct for NIU most years. You guys need to look at the finances of your school before you act like it is a wealthy one with money rolling in the AD. It's the other way around. You are spending money but it is mostly subsidy. The AD is not funded by donations or ticket sales.

I agree those numbers reported to the NCAA from the school don't match up. It's really not a exact science, same concept with # of attendance reported to NCAA by school. NIU fans are not acting like it's a wealthy school, i don't need to look at tOSU's number realize they have large donors, its tOSU! NIU knows who they are. PS These projects aren't exactly small unnoticeable projects and pretty much well publicized to the campus and those that are donors and affliated with the school. Anyone can google these facilities and find the cost. The numbers and naming rights given to high donors of the two projects i mentioned above are well beyond the reported amount. Also, I'm not exactly claiming NIU got 10 million in one year to build a facility, I'm simply stating the total cost of that facility was done through donations.

It's not about which number is accurate its about the message , regardless, the 100+ mil privately funded future projects is going to require reaching deep in alums pockets, or expanding corporate sponsorship.

LOL. You guys can keep claiming the numbers are wrong but it won't change the reality of the situation.

It's funny to watch a fanbase spin the truth when faced with Facts that they don't want to believe.

(08-19-2015 08:04 PM)Okielite Wrote:  LOL. You guys can keep claiming the numbers are wrong but it won't change the reality of the situation.

It's funny to watch a fanbase spin the truth when faced with Facts that they don't want to believe.

I think this got blown out of proportion man... i saw something i may have misinterpreted or might have had numbers listed as a set of years, i didn't exactly have the opportunity to stare at it... i think you're coming down to harshly on people for MY mistake, so why not chill a bit?

(08-19-2015 08:04 PM)Okielite Wrote:  LOL. You guys can keep claiming the numbers are wrong but it won't change the reality of the situation.

It's funny to watch a fanbase spin the truth when faced with Facts that they don't want to believe.

The reality of the situation is of course NIU's Athletic Dept. is not Alabama nor a tOSU nor will ever be. You're not reading the message buddy and arguing. It's not about spinning the truth, because it's not what i believe, what I'm telling you is that the way those figures are reported to the NCAA is not an exact science. There are major discrepancies in those numbers and how schools report them. Again, I will use the latest AD project the Chessick Practice Facility as an example. The amount donated to build the project, which was widely publicized and donor amounts hang on the walls of the building, even if you were to look at the largest donation, which is from the Chessick family (which were given the naming rights) by themselves were 3 million dollars. The FY 12 and 13 figures for contributions reported to NCAA in those years were around 2million total. Do you see the discrepancy?!?! The chessicks were not the only donors giving in the million dollar club. So added together obviously there is a mismatch. Do I know why the numbers are funky? No, and in reality I don't care about reported numbers to NCAA? Do you or any other NIU fans know why this is? There is a documentary about student-athletes that talks about schools facility arms race and how revenue is reported on netflix, there are also multiple articles written about this over the years, it's not really unique to NIU.

Press release for 3 million donation (from 2011 reported figure to NCAA was $1,329,546)
Link to article of IPF construction and donated amounts
Link to the developer's site

(08-19-2015 07:01 PM)Okielite Wrote:  Your numbers do not add up to what's reported. I"m sorry but it's clear that NIU typically gets just under 2 million in donation. People throw around big numbers but at the end of the day this is what was reported by all public schools. If you want proof look at OSU's donations and how they swing when t-boone gets his check book out. They range from about 20 million to over 200 million year by year depending on how much he donates.

NIU does not get 10 million a year in donations. Boise barely gets 10 million. The 2 million $ or less is correct for NIU most years. You guys need to look at the finances of your school before you act like it is a wealthy one with money rolling in the AD. It's the other way around. You are spending money but it is mostly subsidy. The AD is not funded by donations or ticket sales.

Ah, see Typical is the problem word there. Our last AD SUCKED at fundraising or generating fan excitement of any kind. He was a very good AD at supporting the student athletes and he also picked some decent search firms to help him find good Head coaches.

Our new AD is super focused on building the business side of the program. All of our numbers are up considerably from last year.

http://www.niuhuskies.com/genrel/080315aad.html

You are correct though NIU has not passed 2mil in donations to its general athletic fund. Actually its closer to 1mil. By next year I expect it to break that 2mil cash threshold and in 2018 is should break the 4mil threshold because of our skybox opening.

(08-19-2015 07:01 PM)Okielite Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 06:54 PM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 06:02 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 03:09 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I'm not sure about the donations number of $2 million. The new IPF cost almost 5 times that much and it was all donation dollars, then add the endzone facility and alumni center, each of which I think cost at least that much apiece. We will need more though, to upgrade the stadium, which is next, and is badly needed.

Yeah i can personally tell you those donation numbers are a far cry from the truth, maybe I'll go snooping again (and i won't throw out a number, but i like my job) but when i did last time i saw a much more comforting number that is MUCH closer to okielite's "target" number. Ticket sales do need a big bump though

LMAO, You don't need to do any snooping, you can get the approximate amount from the NIU's Athletic Fund website which has a ballpark amount of $2,035,493 in 2014. Of course this is lower considering no announced projects in FY14 and before the announcement of the Athletics master plan/renovations, and a year after a major project (IPF). The year prior was was IPF which was approx. $9.5mil collected from donations, w/ 3mil donated by the Chessick family alone. Years prior to that was a 3.5mil soccer field renovations, a couple of mils for a new scoreboard and tickers. The Yordon Center was 16mil. Moving forward, and the announced plans for the stadium and other facilites, fans/alums are going to need to reach into their pockets if NIU wants to be big time.

Your numbers do not add up to what's reported. I"m sorry but it's clear that NIU typically gets just under 2 million in donation. People throw around big numbers but at the end of the day this is what was reported by all public schools. If you want proof look at OSU's donations and how they swing when t-boone gets his check book out. They range from about 20 million to over 200 million year by year depending on how much he donates.

NIU does not get 10 million a year in donations. Boise barely gets 10 million. The 2 million $ or less is correct for NIU most years. You guys need to look at the finances of your school before you act like it is a wealthy one with money rolling in the AD. It's the other way around. You are spending money but it is mostly subsidy. The AD is not funded by donations or ticket sales.

So in other words, OSU better hope Pickens doesnt die tomorrow..

(08-20-2015 07:56 AM)TheNealT Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 07:01 PM)Okielite Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 06:54 PM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 06:02 PM)Stay Cool Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 03:09 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I'm not sure about the donations number of $2 million. The new IPF cost almost 5 times that much and it was all donation dollars, then add the endzone facility and alumni center, each of which I think cost at least that much apiece. We will need more though, to upgrade the stadium, which is next, and is badly needed.

Yeah i can personally tell you those donation numbers are a far cry from the truth, maybe I'll go snooping again (and i won't throw out a number, but i like my job) but when i did last time i saw a much more comforting number that is MUCH closer to okielite's "target" number. Ticket sales do need a big bump though

LMAO, You don't need to do any snooping, you can get the approximate amount from the NIU's Athletic Fund website which has a ballpark amount of $2,035,493 in 2014. Of course this is lower considering no announced projects in FY14 and before the announcement of the Athletics master plan/renovations, and a year after a major project (IPF). The year prior was was IPF which was approx. $9.5mil collected from donations, w/ 3mil donated by the Chessick family alone. Years prior to that was a 3.5mil soccer field renovations, a couple of mils for a new scoreboard and tickers. The Yordon Center was 16mil. Moving forward, and the announced plans for the stadium and other facilites, fans/alums are going to need to reach into their pockets if NIU wants to be big time.

Your numbers do not add up to what's reported. I"m sorry but it's clear that NIU typically gets just under 2 million in donation. People throw around big numbers but at the end of the day this is what was reported by all public schools. If you want proof look at OSU's donations and how they swing when t-boone gets his check book out. They range from about 20 million to over 200 million year by year depending on how much he donates.

NIU does not get 10 million a year in donations. Boise barely gets 10 million. The 2 million $ or less is correct for NIU most years. You guys need to look at the finances of your school before you act like it is a wealthy one with money rolling in the AD. It's the other way around. You are spending money but it is mostly subsidy. The AD is not funded by donations or ticket sales.

So in other words, OSU better hope Pickens doesnt die tomorrow..

Unless we have a life insurance policy on him. LOL.

(08-19-2015 08:04 PM)Okielite Wrote:  LOL. You guys can keep claiming the numbers are wrong but it won't change the reality of the situation.

It's funny to watch a fanbase spin the truth when faced with Facts that they don't want to believe.

I don't see ANYBODY claiming we get a lot of donor money. We know we don't.

(08-20-2015 08:53 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 08:04 PM)Okielite Wrote:  LOL. You guys can keep claiming the numbers are wrong but it won't change the reality of the situation.

It's funny to watch a fanbase spin the truth when faced with Facts that they don't want to believe.

I don't see ANYBODY claiming we get a lot of donor money. We know we don't.

Read the last 2 pages. There are multiple examples of people claiming the data is wrong and there are many more million in donations than what that shows.

(08-20-2015 07:32 PM)Okielite Wrote:  

(08-20-2015 08:53 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 08:04 PM)Okielite Wrote:  LOL. You guys can keep claiming the numbers are wrong but it won't change the reality of the situation.

It's funny to watch a fanbase spin the truth when faced with Facts that they don't want to believe.

I don't see ANYBODY claiming we get a lot of donor money. We know we don't.

Read the last 2 pages. There are multiple examples of people claiming the data is wrong and there are many more million in donations than what that shows.

Well i stated my assumption was wrong, idk what else you want man. A song and dance apologizing?