(11-19-2017 10:16 AM)Max Power Wrote:  

(11-19-2017 09:50 AM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(11-18-2017 06:57 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I really wonder whether the IHSA finals being at NIU have more to do with any recruiting gains more than any other factor.

Exactly why Bradley men's basketball has one great recruiting class after another; all the top girls basketball and volleyball players flock to Illinois State; in years past North Central College factored into the decisions of the best of boys and girls soccer; plus the cream of the crop in track and field pick Eastern over anywhere else.

Bradley has had a handful of commits cite the state tournament as a reason for their commitment. Philip Gilbert who played for East St Louis with Darius Miles and was all MVC cited it. But not very many.

I wouldn't say having the finals at NIU is the reason, per se, but the exposure to NIU's facilities might put NIU on the radar where they wouldn't have been otherwise.

(11-21-2017 07:58 AM)Max Power Wrote:  Mo did pretty well, going to an NCAA and 5 NITs before he was fired in 2001 because of his style of play. Bradley made a mistake firing him -- he had a freshman by the name of Danny Granger who transferred to UNM and another in Joah Tucker who went to UW-M and led them to the Sweet 16. Then after some NBA scouting he coached the Golden Gophers and WIU in tough spots and I would argue did about as well as could be expected.

Just to add on, Mo currently an assistant at Nebraska.

(11-21-2017 09:06 AM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  Are there potential recruits we should be on the lookout for this weekend? It seems with HF and Maine South being out we don't have a lot to look out for. Perhaps some juniors?

In the 4A matchup Rochester vs. Morris, watch out for the Rochester QB named Baker. Rochester is a small town right next to Springfield. This Baker kid can throw. He's a little undersized so he has not received much D-1 attention but he is solid, one interception the whole year. Further, Rochester's coach will eventually be a D-1 coach as he is an offensive genius.

Just a small scouting report from downstate. Rochester is so good, this state championship game could have a running clock........

5A title game features both an NIU commit (DT Queneil Morrisson) and Toledo commit (DE Terrance Taylor) on Phillips's D line. Phillips QB is a South Dakota State commit. Dunlap's only D1 commit is Northwestern's TE/LB Charlie Mangieri.

(11-21-2017 08:25 PM)DiehardHuskie Wrote:  

(11-21-2017 07:58 AM)Max Power Wrote:  Mo did pretty well, going to an NCAA and 5 NITs before he was fired in 2001 because of his style of play. Bradley made a mistake firing him -- he had a freshman by the name of Danny Granger who transferred to UNM and another in Joah Tucker who went to UW-M and led them to the Sweet 16. Then after some NBA scouting he coached the Golden Gophers and WIU in tough spots and I would argue did about as well as could be expected.

Just to add on, Mo currently an assistant at Nebraska.

With the exception of Hammel, all NIU coaches have gone on to other assistant jobs. Hammel has been quite successful as the president of Northridge Hospital Foundation out in California. Interim head coach Andy Greer went to the Knicks (2001-03), then the Houston Rockets (2003-07), the Memphis Grizzilies (2007-09), the Trail Blazers (2009-10), assistant to Thibodeau for the Bulls (2010-15), the Raptors again (2015-16), and is now back with Thibs with the Timberwolves (2015-present).
Rob Judson was an assistant at Indiana but is now an assistant at Marquette.
Even Ricardo Patton went from NIU to being an assistant at Maryland-Eastern Short before four years with Central High School in Tennesse prior to being back with the Univ. of Denver (2016-present),

NIU007 I really wonder whether the IHSA finals being at NIU have more to do with any recruiting gains more than any other factor.

BDB5yp A good chunk of these players are being recruited and getting interest as early as their sophomore years. NIU may not be on their radar, but it’s a good conversation starter....

Wonder if learning about a 17-0 halftime deficit turning into a loss and lesser bowl game invite could be a factor in recruiting? It may be a conversation ender.

(11-19-2017 09:50 AM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(11-18-2017 06:57 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I really wonder whether the IHSA finals being at NIU have more to do with any recruiting gains more than any other factor.

Exactly why Bradley men's basketball has one great recruiting class after another; all the top girls basketball and volleyball players flock to Illinois State; in years past North Central College factored into the decisions of the best of boys and girls soccer; plus the cream of the crop in track and field pick Eastern over anywhere else.

EIU and ISU do not have the facilities to atract top instate talent, NIU for football does. That is the difference, get the talent on campus so they can see what NIU has done to improve the program and the coaching staff now has a better chance to get the players the need.

If you think U of I or Northwestern would not want to be able to host the IHSA finals you are sadly mistaken

Any update on the crowds?

(11-24-2017 05:15 PM)Policiious Wrote:  EIU and ISU do not have the facilities to atract top instate talent, NIU for football does. That is the difference, get the talent on campus so they can see what NIU has done to improve the program and the coaching staff now has a better chance to get the players the need.
If you think U of I or Northwestern would not want to be able to host the IHSA finals you are sadly mistaken

Dude, you are aware that the U of I has hosted the IHSA football finals in the past and continues to do so on even years during this rotation with NIU. In addition, Northwestern did not put in a bid with the IHSA for football.
The point is that hosting may be an element in recruiting, but it alone will not "attract top in-state talent" for football. And point of fact, EIU's track facilities are of a quality to attract talent in that sport and it's ridiculous to think Redbird Arena would be unattractive to potential volleyball and girls basketball recruits. Reading is fundamental and comprehension is equally important.

(11-26-2017 12:01 AM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  Any update on the crowds?

The crowd for LW East seemed pretty damn large. They appear to travel well.

(11-26-2017 08:41 PM)pjfleck82 Wrote:  

(11-26-2017 12:01 AM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  Any update on the crowds?

The crowd for LW East seemed pretty damn large. They appear to travel well.

Batavia drew a gigantic crowd. Being 30 minutes away certainly helps.

(11-26-2017 10:36 PM)murph83 Wrote:  

(11-26-2017 08:41 PM)pjfleck82 Wrote:  

(11-26-2017 12:01 AM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  Any update on the crowds?

The crowd for LW East seemed pretty damn large. They appear to travel well.

Batavia drew a gigantic crowd. Being 30 minutes away certainly helps.

If I had to guess I would say that the attendance for Batavia-Lake Zurich was larger than any NIU home game this season

Nice article from EdgyTim on NIU as the host.

http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/preps-t...all-finals

wonder if they ran out of hot dogs?

(11-24-2017 04:05 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  NIU007 I really wonder whether the IHSA finals being at NIU have more to do with any recruiting gains more than any other factor.

BDB5yp A good chunk of these players are being recruited and getting interest as early as their sophomore years. NIU may not be on their radar, but it’s a good conversation starter....

Wonder if learning about a 17-0 halftime deficit turning into a loss and lesser bowl game invite could be a factor in recruiting? It may be a conversation ender.

I'm hoping they didn't see that game.

(11-28-2017 02:14 PM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  Nice article from EdgyTim on NIU as the host.

http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/preps-t...all-finals

wonder if they ran out of hot dogs?

NIU is the perfect venue. The right size, and it's close to the Chicago area. Even for downstate schools, it's conveniently close to I-39 and I-88. It could be closer to downstate, but 4 years ago one downstate fan from a suburban St. Louis school told me his fan base would travel anywhere to attend a state title game. And let's face it, not many southern schools make it to the state title game (Rochester and Pleasant Plains should not be considered "southern schools."). Someone I know said he felt ISU was the perfect venue. But ISU doesn't have the indoor practice facility that NIU does. When the bids come up again, NIU will be tough to beat.

anyone find this year's official total attendance figures, and how they stacked up vrs other years?

(11-26-2017 12:18 AM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(11-24-2017 05:15 PM)Policiious Wrote:  EIU and ISU do not have the facilities to atract top instate talent, NIU for football does. That is the difference, get the talent on campus so they can see what NIU has done to improve the program and the coaching staff now has a better chance to get the players the need.
If you think U of I or Northwestern would not want to be able to host the IHSA finals you are sadly mistaken

CHampaign has hoster football finals in the past but it's been a while since that has happened and not hosting football title games has impacted Illini football recruiting without a doubt. The coaching turnover in CHampaign is a significant negative and then not being able to get recruits on campus because your program is not hosting the state championship finals gamss is just another issue that Lovie has to over come.


ISU has not succeeded to any degree in women's sports and EIU's issue is that despite hosting the track finals they have to compete with bigger named programs for difference making talent in track (Illinois, Indiana, Wisky, Kansas)

(11-29-2017 09:51 AM)Policiious Wrote:  

(11-26-2017 12:18 AM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(11-24-2017 05:15 PM)Policiious Wrote:  EIU and ISU do not have the facilities to atract top instate talent, NIU for football does. That is the difference, get the talent on campus so they can see what NIU has done to improve the program and the coaching staff now has a better chance to get the players the need.
If you think U of I or Northwestern would not want to be able to host the IHSA finals you are sadly mistaken

CHampaign has hoster football finals in the past but it's been a while since that has happened and not hosting football title games has impacted Illini football recruiting without a doubt. The coaching turnover in CHampaign is a significant negative and then not being able to get recruits on campus because your program is not hosting the state championship finals gamss is just another issue that Lovie has to over come.


ISU has not succeeded to any degree in women's sports and EIU's issue is that despite hosting the track finals they have to compete with bigger named programs for difference making talent in track (Illinois, Indiana, Wisky, Kansas)

The University of Illinois hosts the high school championship games every other year. Under the current contract, it alternates between DeKalb and Champaign. UI hosted the championships last year, so it hasn't been all that long.

I am still surprised NIU go these games.

Not because of location, facilities but for the fact that overnight accommodations are so limited for teams that have to travel.

But then again, majority of schools, namely larger ones, are within a 2 hr, many an hr.

I just know we always used to stay in Bloomington and CU. CU was always know for the price gauging.