Thought I’d make a thread for anyone to post Sea of Red pics from that world class afternoon in Evanston (I previewed this post in the Easy OOC thread but it stretched the page too wide for a thread with discussion).

We took care of business that day. Drew Hare coming out party too.

I was there with my bro-in-law who used to play for NU. Fun day :)

Huge NIU crowd. We have the support, need to shift the culture away from TV viewing and back to Dekalb game day visits.

It sucked that our fans/alum showed up in droves at NU yet won't go to DeKalb on a Saturday.

(01-17-2018 10:13 AM)murph83 Wrote:  It sucked that our fans/alum showed up in droves at NU yet won't go to DeKalb on a Saturday.

IMO, it's three reasons:

1) Easily accessible for fans in Chicago and immediate surrounding suburbs.

2) Big time opponent with good publicity leading up to the game.

3) There was more excitement about NIU then than there is now. I don't believe we'd have close to the same attendance if the game were played this year.

We need more threads like this! At least I do....

How would I post a short video clip I have from that day??

a great, great day. That's all.

Do we have any NU or U of I games on the horizon at all?

Sad, as its good for the IL economy, and Illinois college football mojo in general. Michigan was smart to push the local FBS teams to play each other.

Guessing we brought 15000 fans to NU instead of the 1500 that WMU would have or the 150 that San Diego State would. Assuming thats an extra million $ or so for NU and the evanston economy that weekend?

Same windfall would apply if NU came to Dekalb once a decade, which they should.

#sweethuskie$

(01-18-2018 11:34 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  Do we have any NU or U of I games on the horizon at all?

Sad, as its good for the IL economy, and Illinois college football mojo in general. Michigan was smart to push the local FBS teams to play each other.

Guessing we brought 15000 fans to NU instead of the 1500 that WMU would have or the 150 that San Diego State would. Assuming thats an extra million $ or so for NU and the evanston economy that weekend?

Same windfall would apply if NU came to Dekalb once a decade, which they should.

#sweethuskie$

I think illinois does play a state school almost each year right? But only at their place.

Illinois will never play in DeKalb. Ever. Book it.

(01-19-2018 10:15 PM)murph83 Wrote:  Illinois will never play in DeKalb. Ever. Book it.

If we had the stadium suggested in the master plan, with a luxury complex and end zone seating, it would certainly make a stronger argument for in-state 1 and 1's.

Fingers crossed we sell some naming rights :)

That was indeed a great day!
Loved being able to attend an "away" game that was not too far from home ( a little under 3 hours) and the area where we tailgated was right on Lake Michigan. Then to follow it up with an awesome Huskie Victory....ahhhh. When can we do it again??!!

I generally have a group who only likes to attend big games (Wiscy and Iowa at SF, Orange Bowl, UNLV in Vegas etc). We had a huge group for the NU game and had a blast!

(01-21-2018 12:17 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  I generally have a group who only likes to attend big games (Wiscy and Iowa at SF, Orange Bowl, UNLV in Vegas etc). We had a huge group for the NU game and had a blast!

I have those friends as well. Those are the fans that need to be groomed for 1 or 2 trips to Dekalb each year.

(01-21-2018 12:35 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(01-21-2018 12:17 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  I generally have a group who only likes to attend big games (Wiscy and Iowa at SF, Orange Bowl, UNLV in Vegas etc). We had a huge group for the NU game and had a blast!

I have those friends as well. Those are the fans that need to be groomed for 1 or 2 trips to Dekalb each year.

Agreed, they do go to homecoming as well. We are also planning a trip to FSU next year.

(01-21-2018 12:17 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  I generally have a group who only likes to attend big games (Wiscy and Iowa at SF, Orange Bowl, UNLV in Vegas etc). We had a huge group for the NU game and had a blast!

I think you'll find that 'group' is there for most franchises, for those 'average' home games, have to be able to drum up local support (within a 30'ish minute drive).

I was able to bring 3 to the SDSU game last year. My wife and I are planning Iowa followed by the Utah game at NIU next year. Utah the following year and Maryland the year after that. My wife is a Utah Grad so those 2 were easy to get her to go. LOL

Maryland is right near the Smithsonian. Another easy sale. LOL Not sure about games after that.