(10-04-2013 08:07 PM)bigdhuskie Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 07:25 PM)niucyberdawg Wrote:  send me whatever folks here are drinkin and smokin...money talks loudest and the gaps between NIU and B12 are H U G E.

This won't happen in my lifetime.....an ABSOLUTE PIPE DREAM.

Let me see, we're still trying to fill a 24,000 seat stadium......yeah, build a horseshoe and they will come.

So you don't think people would be able to fill up a 40,000-50,000 person stadium if Texas(or even Iowa State) come to town?

(10-04-2013 08:13 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 08:07 PM)bigdhuskie Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 07:25 PM)niucyberdawg Wrote:  send me whatever folks here are drinkin and smokin...money talks loudest and the gaps between NIU and B12 are H U G E.

This won't happen in my lifetime.....an ABSOLUTE PIPE DREAM.

Let me see, we're still trying to fill a 24,000 seat stadium......yeah, build a horseshoe and they will come.

So you don't think people would be able to fill up a 40,000-50,000 person stadium if Texas(or even Iowa State) come to town?

Start lining up the donors, because you'll need some serious cash to double the size of the stadium. The IPF was a great addition for the program, but that was chump change compared to the $$$ needed to expand HS.
We're a very successful mid-major program.....Enjoy The Ride

(10-04-2013 08:13 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 08:07 PM)bigdhuskie Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 07:25 PM)niucyberdawg Wrote:  send me whatever folks here are drinkin and smokin...money talks loudest and the gaps between NIU and B12 are H U G E.

This won't happen in my lifetime.....an ABSOLUTE PIPE DREAM.

Let me see, we're still trying to fill a 24,000 seat stadium......yeah, build a horseshoe and they will come.

So you don't think people would be able to fill up a 40,000-50,000 person stadium if Texas(or even Iowa State) come to town?

I for sure do. It would be a cultural shift for university with regards to football. Mostly Saturday games and name opponents at home almost every week versus once every five season. It becomes the thing to do on campus. Lots of big matchups during the season and tons more press on the league and prime time exposure. You think the communiversity wouldn't take off with Texas and Oklahoma coming to Dekalb every other year? Gamedays would be a boon for the entire area.

There is a definite ceiling to remaining in the MAC and selling out to playing half your schedule on weeknight games for ESPN2 (at best) coverage. It stunts the growth of a program which is why CUSA and the Big East (now AAC) have been so against it for years.

If we somehow pulled off the Big 12 it would be a success. The issue is really how to get there. We are sort of in a no mans land. Near the top of the MAC in success, fan support, etc. but nowhere ready for the Big time yet. Ideally there would be an intermediate step (old CUSA, Big East) but with all the shifting in the conferences there really is none left so I am not sure there will ever be a way to bridge the gap.

Do we still have bonds to pay for the convo? If we didn't we could get $$$ that way

This story may not be as outlandish as some people think. First, the Big 12 network does not have a Chicago affiliate and if NIU was invited there would be a valid reason for them to get one and televise numerous games in the Chicago market. Secondly, if NIU was invited, the University of Texas would demand that local cable, Direct TV and Dish Network carry the Longhorn Network in their standard package.

That would be big money for the BIG 12 and we all know that it is about money. (Rutgers and Maryland to the Big 10).


Check out this link, no Chicago affiliate for the BIG 12. This has to help out NIU big time.

http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.d...ID=1523659

(10-04-2013 05:41 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 05:38 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Before any talk of a conference upgrade can occur, home scheduling must improve.

How about the bathrooms and consessions first.

If we were in the B12 we wouldn't need a good OOC schedule.

We'd have to be sure to have a Big 12 quota of hot dogs too!

Is there any room to expand Huskie Stadium?? If a horseshoe were to be created, it would have to be done on the scoreboard side. With the stadium already backing up to the street and apartment complex there, they would probably have to get rid of the street and knock some of the apartment buildings down. I don't know who owns the apartments and how easy it would be to make a deal, but this is likely to be another obstacle of expansion if the time ever comes. I supposed adding a second deck to one or both grandstands could be another option, but how much tailgating space would be lost? I would imagine if we ever get to the point where we are getting 40k+ in the stands, many more people are going to want to be able to tailgate as well.

(10-04-2013 07:49 PM)niubrad00 Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 07:21 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 05:16 PM)MacDaddie Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 04:49 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  ...wha???

Horseshoe?
Improved academic standards?
Convo improvements?


More like...
Capasity requirement of XX,xxx
A min of X,xxx season tickets sold per year for 3 seasons in a row.
FB Attendance average of xx,000 for 3 seasons
MBB Attendance average of x,000 for 3 seasons
A real skybox with visiting AD box and room for B12 officials.
Plan to expand DeKalb airport for team charters. (Biggest issue no doubt)

HJ - I agree with most of your points but you are way off on the airport. All of NDs opponents (including Ok and Tx) fly through O'Hare and make the 2 hr bus trip to South Bend. DeKalb is less than an hour from O'Hare so that is not an issue at all.

I read at some point that the Dekalb airport was upgraded to allow for full-size jets to land.

The main runway at DeKalb Municipal Airport is longer than ALL the runways at Midway International Airport. True story.

It sounds horrible, but Midway is still an accident waiting to happen.

(10-04-2013 09:15 PM)wjfoulks Wrote:  Is there any room to expand Huskie Stadium?? If a horseshoe were to be created, it would have to be done on the scoreboard side. With the stadium already backing up to the street and apartment complex there, they would probably have to get rid of the street and knock some of the apartment buildings down. I don't know who owns the apartments and how easy it would be to make a deal, but this is likely to be another obstacle of expansion if the time ever comes. I supposed adding a second deck to one or both grandstands could be another option, but how much tailgating space would be lost? I would imagine if we ever get to the point where we are getting 40k+ in the stands, many more people are going to want to be able to tailgate as well.

Not to sound like a dick, but they wouldn't have invested millions of dollars for the endzone facilities if they couldn't expand.

(10-04-2013 05:15 PM)niubrad00 Wrote:  I talked to the Easter Bunny today who heard from Santa Claus that the SEC is interested in us. They're ready to extend the offer as soon as the south end zone berm is available for seating and we start paying our players under the table.

I heard the same crap from Batman today. This madness must stop... win the MAC 5 times in a row, then we can talk about leaving the MAC... Beat Kent State

(10-04-2013 09:15 PM)wjfoulks Wrote:  Is there any room to expand Huskie Stadium?? If a horseshoe were to be created, it would have to be done on the scoreboard side. With the stadium already backing up to the street and apartment complex there, they would probably have to get rid of the street and knock some of the apartment buildings down. I don't know who owns the apartments and how easy it would be to make a deal, but this is likely to be another obstacle of expansion if the time ever comes. I supposed adding a second deck to one or both grandstands could be another option, but how much tailgating space would be lost? I would imagine if we ever get to the point where we are getting 40k+ in the stands, many more people are going to want to be able to tailgate as well.

Would be more realistic to just play all home games at Soldier Field and abandon Huskie Stadium. You'd probably draw a better crowd there. NIU needs to work with Metra to extend the UP West line out to DeKalb. That would not only make it more accessible, but also grow the DeKalb\Syc area.

Even in our 4-0 state plus post BCS euphoria, I don't see us filling a stadium that would hold 30k. We need donoations to increase significantly, plus all sports upping their ante before we can talk big 12, 10 or whatever conference. Its nice talk but not realistic.

(10-04-2013 09:34 PM)MileHighHuskie Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 05:15 PM)niubrad00 Wrote:  I talked to the Easter Bunny today who heard from Santa Claus that the SEC is interested in us. They're ready to extend the offer as soon as the south end zone berm is available for seating and we start paying our players under the table.

I heard the same crap from Batman today. This madness must stop... win the MAC 5 times in a row, then we can talk about leaving the MAC... Beat Kent State

Besides a fluke td IN 2010, we would be working on MAC #4. This is the 4th year in a row we have the best team in the MAC.

(10-04-2013 10:16 PM)NIU17 Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 09:34 PM)MileHighHuskie Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 05:15 PM)niubrad00 Wrote:  I talked to the Easter Bunny today who heard from Santa Claus that the SEC is interested in us. They're ready to extend the offer as soon as the south end zone berm is available for seating and we start paying our players under the table.

I heard the same crap from Batman today. This madness must stop... win the MAC 5 times in a row, then we can talk about leaving the MAC... Beat Kent State

Besides a fluke td IN 2010, we would be working on MAC #4. This is the 4th year in a row we have the best team in the MAC.

Would rather win the MAC each year than be a middle-pack Big12 team. Oklahoma and Texas run that conference, thats why Nebraska left. Plus if I'm not mistaken, the highest ranked team from non-BCS conferences is guaranteed a major bowl in the new system starting next year.

SEC or bust

(10-04-2013 09:18 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 09:15 PM)wjfoulks Wrote:  Is there any room to expand Huskie Stadium?? If a horseshoe were to be created, it would have to be done on the scoreboard side. With the stadium already backing up to the street and apartment complex there, they would probably have to get rid of the street and knock some of the apartment buildings down. I don't know who owns the apartments and how easy it would be to make a deal, but this is likely to be another obstacle of expansion if the time ever comes. I supposed adding a second deck to one or both grandstands could be another option, but how much tailgating space would be lost? I would imagine if we ever get to the point where we are getting 40k+ in the stands, many more people are going to want to be able to tailgate as well.

Not to sound like a dick, but they wouldn't have invested millions of dollars for the endzone facilities if they couldn't expand.

That's a logical point which I agree with and I'd be curious to know what plan they have in mind. As things currently stand, there is little room, but that's not saying room can't be made by moving/demolishing other structures/buildings. I personally would favor the horseshoe if the owner of Lincolnshire Apts. is willing to relocate or sell some of the buildings closest to the stadium.

(10-04-2013 04:58 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 04:54 PM)NIU17 Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 04:49 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  ...wha???

Horseshoe?
Improved academic standards?
Convo improvements?


More like...
Capasity requirement of XX,xxx
A min of X,xxx season tickets sold per year for 3 seasons in a row.
FB Attendance average of xx,000 for 3 seasons
MBB Attendance average of x,000 for 3 seasons
A real skybox with visiting AD box and room for B12 officials.
Plan to expand DeKalb airport for team charters. (Biggest issue no doubt)

Good points. But the expansion of airport for team charters doesn't seem like a real concern. do many teams have charter flights, and if they do, can't the teams fly into Rockford or ohare?

Teams had a hard enough time accepting WV because they had to fly into Pittsburgh then bus to Morgantown.

Pitt to Morgantown is a lot different than Rockford to DeKalb.

(10-04-2013 09:34 PM)MileHighHuskie Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 05:15 PM)niubrad00 Wrote:  I talked to the Easter Bunny today who heard from Santa Claus that the SEC is interested in us. They're ready to extend the offer as soon as the south end zone berm is available for seating and we start paying our players under the table.

I heard the same crap from Batman today. This madness must stop... win the MAC 5 times in a row, then we can talk about leaving the MAC... Beat Kent State

Win the MAC five times in a row? What will that do?

I still have no clue why the former Big East invited schools like Tulsa, Tulane, SMU, and Memphis. Neither of them, except maybe Tulsa, is any good in football.

(10-04-2013 07:57 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 07:25 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  https://www.facebook.com/NIUToTheBig12

Me likey.

I am not sure who runs the site but it is maintained really well and has tons of articles and information. I always check it out for updates.

They need to somehow market that thing better though and add more followers. Get the word out by going around campus and games and tell people to like it. I also think the same should be done for this board. The more people you can connect and follow the school the better. Even if we never make the Big 12 there is tons of great information both places to get fans excited about the school and athletics. The only reason I now know about the watch parties for football in Chicago is from stumbling onto this site and most of the people I went to NIU with are in the same boat. Marketing really is everything.

+1

(10-04-2013 09:55 PM)imagambler Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 09:15 PM)wjfoulks Wrote:  Is there any room to expand Huskie Stadium?? If a horseshoe were to be created, it would have to be done on the scoreboard side. With the stadium already backing up to the street and apartment complex there, they would probably have to get rid of the street and knock some of the apartment buildings down. I don't know who owns the apartments and how easy it would be to make a deal, but this is likely to be another obstacle of expansion if the time ever comes. I supposed adding a second deck to one or both grandstands could be another option, but how much tailgating space would be lost? I would imagine if we ever get to the point where we are getting 40k+ in the stands, many more people are going to want to be able to tailgate as well.

Would be more realistic to just play all home games at Soldier Field and abandon Huskie Stadium. You'd probably draw a better crowd there. NIU needs to work with Metra to extend the UP West line out to DeKalb. That would not only make it more accessible, but also grow the DeKalb\Syc area.

Now your forgetting that this is college football. If you take the college part out you seriously constrain the student body. Btw student attendance and weekend participation are essential to growing the program and any chance of jumping to a major conference.