Feb. 21, 2008
DeKALB, Ill. - After suspending all athletic competitions for 10 days following the campus tragedy on Feb. 14, Northern Illinois University has announced revised schedules for three of its teams, including men's and women's basketball and women's gymnastics.
The Northern Illinois men's basketball team will play host to Western Michigan on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008 in the NIU Convocation Center beginning at 7 p.m. That game will be the first home athletics contest since the suspensions went into effect on Feb. 15. The men's basketball team will not play games at Toledo and versus Tennessee State originally slated for Feb. 20 and Feb. 24, respectively.
The Huskie women's team will meet Ohio in a home game on Monday, March 3 in a 7 p.m. match-up that had been scheduled for Feb. 16. NIU will not make up MAC women's basketball road contests versus Central Michigan (Feb. 19) and Toledo (Feb. 23).
Fans holding tickets for cancelled games will be able to exchange those tickets for any remaining men's or women's basketball game. For more information, contact the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-752-6800.
Meanwhile, the NIU women's gymnastics team will travel to Chicago for a meet with intra-state rival Illinois-Chicago on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008 in the UIC Physical Education Building beginning at 7 p.m. That meet was originally scheduled for Feb. 16. The Huskies' home competition versus Illinois will not be contested although the two teams will meet at the State Championships in March.
In addition, several Northern Illinois teams have confirmed that their cancelled events will not be made up, including softball (four games), women's indoor track and field, men's golf and wrestling. The Huskie baseball team will not reschedule its four-game series with Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, but is in talks with other potential opponents.
The NIU men's and women's tennis teams were each scheduled to play three matches between Feb. 16 and Feb. 24. The only match re-set so far is a women's contest at Iowa on Feb. 29 at 4 p.m. while competitions at Marquette (women), at Indiana State (men) and versus Valparaiso (men) will not be played.
"As our university continues the healing process, Huskie Athletics also must look forward to resuming competition," said Dr. Jim Phillips, Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics. "We appreciate the cooperation, understanding and support shown by the Mid-American Conference office and all of our opponents as the entire Northern Illinois community deals with this tragedy."
A listing of all suspended events and the current status is below.
2008 NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES - REVISED ATHLETICS EVENTS SCHEDULE
Affected Events (Original Date) -- Cancelled/New Date
Men's Basketball
vs. Western Michigan (Feb. 17, 2008) -- FEB. 26, 2008, 7 P.M.
at Toledo (Feb. 20, 2008) -- CANCELLED
vs. Tennessee State (Feb. 24, 2008) -- CANCELLED
Women's Basketball
vs. Ohio (Feb. 16, 2008) -- MARCH 3, 2008, 7 P.M.
at Central Michigan (Feb. 19, 2008) -- CANCELLED
at Toledo (Feb. 23, 2008) -- CANCELLED
Women's Gymnastics
at Illinois-Chicago (Feb. 16, 2008) -- FEB. 27, 2008, 7 P.M.
vs. Illinois (Feb. 24, 2008) -- CANCELLED
Baseball
at Texas Tech, Feb. 22-24, 2008 (4 games) -- CANCELLED
Replacement Games TBD
Women's Tennis
at Marquette (Feb. 16, 2008) -- CANCELLED
at Green-Bay (Feb. 17, 2008) -- TBD
at Iowa (Feb. 23, 2008) -- FEB. 29, 2008, 4 P.M.
Men's Tennis
at Indiana State (Feb. 16, 2008) -- CANCELLED
vs. Valparaiso (Feb. 23, 2008) -- CANCELLED
vs. Western Illinois (Feb. 24, 2008) -- TBD
Wrestling
at SIU-Edwardsville, vs. Truman State (Feb. 17, 2008) -- CANCELLED
Softball
at Louisville (Feb. 22, 2008) -- CANCELLED
vs. Mississippi (Feb. 23, 2008) -- CANCELLED
vs. Nebraska (Feb. 23, 2008) -- CANCELLED
at Louisville (Feb. 24, 2008) -- CANCELLED
Women's Indoor Track
at Iowa State (Feb. 15-16, 2008) -- CANCELLED
at Ball State (Feb. 22, 2008) -- CANCELLED
Men's Golf
vs. Cincinnati/Florida Gulf Coast (Feb. 15) -- CANCELLED
-- NIU --
