(03-23-2018 09:45 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(03-23-2018 09:13 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  While Frazier has lost some luster in my eyes as well, you all have to admit that being an AD today is harder than ever. At least more complicated. And while shaking hands and remembering names is nice, it doesn't make someone good at their job. Unless that job is a walmart greeter.

It's apparent Frazier his shifted his focus away from the lower level donors and season ticket holders. That pisses many off in that group. But maybe he's focusing on the highest level donors and they all love him. Idk.

Even though football attendance is dropping, NIUs home per game revenue has increased steadily from 2013-2016. I couldn't find the numbers for 2017. That again is from shifting the focus to bigger dollar fans buying premium seating and club passes. Season tickets are very cheap. But with that low price comes low priority.

I'm not saying Frazier is great, but I wouldn't judge the guy's ability to do his job based on how much you like his personality. And when comparing him to past ad's, just remember they didn't have the state rip their budget out from underneath them or have the conference force them into a garbage tv deal.

He has shifted his focus away from lower AND higher level donors. He prefers to hobnob with the mega donor Yordon and Chessick types. If you look at the list of donors, there's quite a few at the high, middle, and lower levels, and a tiny handful at the mega level, so it's easier for him to get chummy with a few and ignore the rest.

I have an association with another university Athletics department in the Chicago area and its AD (can't say more than this). I know the AD well and, believe me, he is always out engaging with fans and donors at all levels - even those donating small amounts. This is how you make fans feel like a part of the family and want to donate more.

Long term effects aside, is there anything to say his approach is worse, equal to, or better than previous AD's? Financially speaking only.

Ignoring any level donor is foolish in my opinion. But I have to believe it was a conscious decision based on finances only.

(03-23-2018 10:01 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Long term effects aside, is there anything to say his approach is worse, equal to, or better than previous AD's? Financially speaking only.

Ignoring any level donor is foolish in my opinion. But I have to believe it was a conscious decision based on finances only.

I don't think he's altered his approach since he came here from Wisconsin. At a school like that, the development staff can pump the big donors constantly. The littler guy does get lost in those numbers.

But at NIU, there aren't enough big donors to focus only there. And, if you work at it, small donors become bigger, then big donors.

You would think STF could call all 3000 season tix holders personally if NIU is in that bad a finacial situation. 10 per day seems pretty easy....90% of the time it would be a voicemail.

(03-22-2018 10:23 AM)GeorgeBorkFan Wrote:  If you don't think the program is making good use of your funds due to back leadership, then you should hold it back.

Point-worthy.

(03-22-2018 11:00 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  In the past, I have tried calling and e-mailing them. My calls and e-mails were gentle, positive, and professional. They did not work. One time I even got an attitude from someone in the HAF. Another time recently, I sent a glowing praise of Lukulos and the fantastic food they are providing in the HAF tent. I sent that to a couple Athletics administrators. No response. Sometimes it's like communicating with a wall. What's next? Just shut my mouth and donate more?

Point-worthy.

(03-22-2018 03:09 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  So many of you are right on here. You show your support, have for years and decide to make changes in your financial support, not out of hate or spite for the school but expectations. You then get ridiculed as you don't support the "team" or "school." Ridiculous.

I think also it isn't deaf ears or sense of ignoring. These people don't have answers to questions and concerns. And instead of turning that into simply giving a response, trying somehow to show understanding with your concerns, issue (if you can't agree) either written, verbally or perhaps more tokens of appreciation they do nothing. Heck, they lost everyone it seems. (Enter budget cut excuse)
And if they take that attitude with you, what does that say?

Especially point-worthy.

(03-22-2018 06:36 PM)62423dp Wrote:  

(03-22-2018 04:04 PM)BobL Wrote:  I have had an issue with STF since my first interaction with him his first summer...the guy was not personable at all and really standoff-ish and I dont think heard a word I said. I miss the days of Cary Groth walking through the tailgating areas, sitting down and discussing NIU sports. IMO she was the last real good AD NIU has had(including Jim Phillips). She had a true passion for NIU, loved interacting with all fans, not just big donors. STF is just looking for the next job, his heart has never been in this job, IMO.

Done with STF. He’s 0-7 on my first name. I finally called him on it. I’m not a big donor but after being polite and correcting him the previous 6 times I had enough.
I told him next time we shake hands just give me a “Hey buddy.” it will be closer than what you’ve said in the past. He laughed and when he noticed I wasn’t he looked at me with an awkwardly. I turned and walked away.
I’ll donate my minimal amount the way I damn well please. I’d love to walk into his office slap down a check with a massive amount on it and demand things be changed.
However that won’t happen. I’d rather meet individually with head coach of programs I want to support and I’ll dontate through them. “What can I donate? What do you need?” STF is an empty suit going forward.

Point-worthy from both posters.

Highlighted previous posts as being point-worthy because everyone should really read those carefully and think about them.

Not renewing a season ticket because of the lack of Saturday games, etc., is a way to drive home that dislike.
Many of us have reached out via calls, e-mails, etc. and either literally get no response or end up feeling like everything fell on deaf ears.
The only next step is to alter your donation.
And yes, any dissatisfaction is quickly labeled as being anti-Huskie, non-supportive of the teams or athletes, etc. Those of you defending STF and the administration itself need to quit being defensive and try to find answers to those who have questions or are not happy.
The budget scenario is the reality, so quit blaming it and work harder and smarter to get past it because it's not going to be solved any time soon.
Athletes graduating and staying out of trouble is what should be expected, not used constantly as a plus.
At this point STF's Master(bation) Plan needs a major overhaul. Since so many on here don't give a damn about anything other than football, perhaps men's basketball, and maybe women's basketball, get realistic. IF dropping a sport is being considered, it's all the more reason to focus on nutrition, etc., than a new baseball field or Olympic sport lockerrooms. I am not saying those things should never be done, but at this time those are low priority if not zero priority.
Some wondered if former Huskies give back, as was answered, yes they do and in respectable numbers. BUT, even more disconcerting is that many of those athletes receive the same "non-response" from coaches and administrators that we do. There are exceptions, but many former athletes have tried alerting various sport coaches to potential recruits and have actually been ignored.
NIU athletics desperately needs to either be re-charged, revamped, or reformed because the current administration is turning fans off.

(03-21-2018 03:12 PM)Milwaukee Pilot Wrote:  

(03-21-2018 02:29 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(03-21-2018 02:07 PM)Milwaukee Pilot Wrote:  Speaking of donations, does anybody know if there is data on the percentage of NIU athletes that donate back once they leave NIU. I’m not talking about the Ryan Diems and Justin McCareins of the world specifically.....I’m including the wrestler that never got into a match, the backup shortstop and/or the third string tight end....

I’m interesting in what percentage of those that have benefited from the opportunity of free or adjusted education (realize that most sports are not full rides) costs and also benefited from the generosity of people like those on this board—�just what percentage become donors.

With over 400 athletes in programs at any given time—�over the period of years there have to be thousands of former athletes out there—�-what do they give to help those who have followed????

I would imagine that this number should be pretty simple to find—�—just pull out the football roster of say, 2000 or 2010 and match it up against a donor list. Any guesses at what the percentage would be?

I hope they give back. Would love to see our numbers compared to some P5 schools and FCS programs. At least pony up for the alumni association each year and throw a small donation now and then...

I’m just wondering—small would be good—-just $100 a year by 1,000 athletes is $1,000,000.....and there have to be more than 1,000 former athletes out there going back many years.

$100,000. (Leave him alone he's on a roll.) Now is the place where someone wittier than I would insert NIU math major joke.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

letter to editor regarding NIU basketball printed in the Star:



http://northernstar.info/opinion/letters...3cf01.html

(03-25-2018 05:01 PM)Teamduh Wrote:  

(03-21-2018 03:12 PM)Milwaukee Pilot Wrote:  

(03-21-2018 02:29 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(03-21-2018 02:07 PM)Milwaukee Pilot Wrote:  Speaking of donations, does anybody know if there is data on the percentage of NIU athletes that donate back once they leave NIU. I’m not talking about the Ryan Diems and Justin McCareins of the world specifically.....I’m including the wrestler that never got into a match, the backup shortstop and/or the third string tight end....

I’m interesting in what percentage of those that have benefited from the opportunity of free or adjusted education (realize that most sports are not full rides) costs and also benefited from the generosity of people like those on this board—�just what percentage become donors.

With over 400 athletes in programs at any given time—�over the period of years there have to be thousands of former athletes out there—�-what do they give to help those who have followed????

I would imagine that this number should be pretty simple to find—�—just pull out the football roster of say, 2000 or 2010 and match it up against a donor list. Any guesses at what the percentage would be?

I hope they give back. Would love to see our numbers compared to some P5 schools and FCS programs. At least pony up for the alumni association each year and throw a small donation now and then...

I’m just wondering—�small would be good—�-just $100 a year by 1,000 athletes is $1,000,000.....and there have to be more than 1,000 former athletes out there going back many years.

$100,000. (Leave him alone he's on a roll.) Now is the place where someone wittier than I would insert NIU math major joke.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

LOL......and I was so proud to find NIU so much money!!! Certainly wasn’t an accounting major at NIU, but that was pretty bad....I guess that is an instance where an extra “0” makes a difference. So if we just had 10,000 former athletes each give $1,000......

(03-21-2018 10:48 PM)HUSKIEFOOTBALLFAN Wrote:  

(03-21-2018 03:12 PM)Milwaukee Pilot Wrote:  

(03-21-2018 02:29 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(03-21-2018 02:07 PM)Milwaukee Pilot Wrote:  Speaking of donations, does anybody know if there is data on the percentage of NIU athletes that donate back once they leave NIU. I’m not talking about the Ryan Diems and Justin McCareins of the world specifically.....I’m including the wrestler that never got into a match, the backup shortstop and/or the third string tight end....

I’m interesting in what percentage of those that have benefited from the opportunity of free or adjusted education (realize that most sports are not full rides) costs and also benefited from the generosity of people like those on this board—�just what percentage become donors.

With over 400 athletes in programs at any given time—�over the period of years there have to be thousands of former athletes out there—�-what do they give to help those who have followed????

I would imagine that this number should be pretty simple to find—�—just pull out the football roster of say, 2000 or 2010 and match it up against a donor list. Any guesses at what the percentage would be?

I hope they give back. Would love to see our numbers compared to some P5 schools and FCS programs. At least pony up for the alumni association each year and throw a small donation now and then...

I’m just wondering—�small would be good—�-just $100 a year by 1,000 athletes is $1,000,000.....and there have to be more than 1,000 former athletes out there going back many years.

$100 a year by 1,000 athletes is $100,000. I guess raising $1,000,000 through fundraising isn't quite that easy.

Yes, raising $1,000,000 is 10x harder.