April 11, 2007
DE KALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois head coaches and athletic staff, including football coach Joe Novak and director of athletics Jim Phillips, will take to the road this April and May to visit with Huskie fans and supporters at seven different events scheduled in DeKalb/Sycamore, Rockford and throughout the Chicagoland area.
The 2007 Huskie Spring Caravans, presented by the Daily Herald, begin Thursday, April 19 with a gathering for fans in DeKalb and Sycamore at The Stratford Inn (355 West State Street, Sycamore) from 5:30-7:30 p.m., and end Thursday, May 31 at McNally's Irish Pub (201 E. Main St.) in St. Charles from 6-8 p.m.. Each of the events is free to the public and will feature updates from the Huskie head coaches in attendance, as well as Phillips, along with a chance to visit one-on-one with the coaches and athletics staff members. New head men's basketball coach Ricardo Patton and women's basketball coach Carol Owens are among the Huskie head coaches scheduled to make appearances at several of the Spring Drive stops.
NIU Athletics will be "on the road" as part of the Caravans once a week. Following the April 19 event, the Huskies will be at Charlie's Ale House (301 East Loop Road, Wheaton, Ill.) on Thursday, April 26 from 6-8 p.m. for fans in Naperville and Wheaton, and will visit Rockford on Tuesday, May 1, where the Huskies will meet at Giovanni's (610 N. Bell School Road) from 6-8 p.m.
The Huskie Caravan stop in Chicago will be held at Goose Island in Wrigleyville on Thurday, May 10 from 6-8 p.m. The events in Aurora on Thursday, May 17 and in Schaumburg on Thursday, May 24, will be held at the Fox & Hound English Pub & Grille locations at 4320 E. New York Ave. in Aurora and at 1416 N. Roselle Rd. in Schaumburg from 6-8 p.m. (See the complete list of Huskie Caravan stops below.)
In addition to meeting, talking to and hearing from the Huskie coaches at the Caravan events, Northern Illinois fans can get information on purchasing 2007 football season tickets as well as tickets to the 2007 season opening game versus Iowa on Sept. 1 at Soldier Field. Fans who join or renew their membership in the Huskie Athletic Scholarship Fund during the Spring Drive or at one of the early caravan stops will qualify for priority seating locations at the NIU-Iowa game and receive priority for road contests at Wisconsin and Navy.
The NIU Athletics Spring Caravans are held as part of the Huskie Athletic Scholarship Fund Spring Drive, the annual effort to increase membership in the program's primary direct support organization. The HASF, which has gone to a universal anniversary date of May 1 in 2007, provides critical resources to each of NIU's 17-sport programs and 486 student-athletes.
Fans can also join the Huskie Athletic Scholarship Fund today by calling 815-753-1923 or by donating on-line. Click here < http://niuhuskies.cstv.com/support-groups/huskie-athletic-fund.html=""> and go to "Donate Now." If you have any questions regarding the HASF, the Huskie Spring Caravans, or any of the events and benefits offered exclusively to donors this spring and summer, contact the HASF office.
2007 HUSKIE SPRING CARAVAN STOPS
All events will be held from 6-8 p.m. EXCEPT the DeKalb/Sycamore outing, which will last from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Thurs., April 19 - DeKalb/Sycamore (The Stratford, 355 W. State St.)
Thurs., April 26 - Naperville/Wheaton (Charlie's Ale House, 301 East Loop Rd., Wheaton, Ill.)
Tues., May 1 - Rockford (Giovanni's, 610 N. Bell School Rd.)
Thurs., May 10 - Chicago (Goose Island, Wrigleyville)
Thurs., May 17 - Aurora (Fox & Hound English Pub & Grille, 4320 E. New York Ave.)
Thurs., May 24 - Schaumburg (Fox & Hound English Pub & Grille, 1416 N. Roselle Road)
Thurs., May 31 - St. Charles (McNally's Irish Pub, 201 E. Main St.)
--NIU--
