How about those 2018 MAC Football Champion NIU Huskies?!
What a comeback! What a game! Congratulations to Coach Carey and the team for a tremendous victory over Buffalo to win the fifth Mid-American Conference Championship in school history.
Down 29-10 early in the third quarter, we saw the resolve and the togetherness this team has displayed all season long as they staged an epic comeback. It took a total team effort to get the win over a talented Buffalo team. I could not stop smiling watching the guys celebrate on the field after the game. In fact, I haven't stopped smiling yet thinking about that night!
I hope you are smiling too. About the MAC Championship win, sure, but also in knowing that NIU remains one of the premiere programs in the Mid-American Conference, and among the best "Group of Five" teams in the country.
This can be seen in our seven MAC Championship game appearances in the last nine seasons – an accomplishment matched by only one other FBS team all-time; in our four outright MAC titles this decade – equalled only by Alabama, Clemson and Oklahoma in the FBS; and in our nine
Vern Leadership Award winners, four more than any other MAC program.
Congratulations to Sutton Smith on adding his name to that list, becoming just the third defensive player all-time to win the MAC MVP award. Then this past week, Sutton became the first Huskie two-time first team All-American in school history. Wow! What a special player.
Later this week, Sutton, first team Academic All-American Max Scharping and the rest of the Huskies will head to Boca Raton, Florida. On Tuesday, Dec. 18, I hope you will join us – either in person or by tuning in on ESPN – for the Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl as NIU takes on Conference USA Champion UAB. If you can't make it to the game, please consider
purchasing a ticket which will then be donated to a local charity designated by the bowl game.
It's great to be humbled by all these MAC Championship games and bowl trips. When your team goes to bowl games in 10 of 11 seasons – a feat matched only by Boise State among Group of Five teams - that is quite an
accomplishment! Please take a moment to appreciate the consistency, the effort and the hard work by so many people to sustain this tradition of success which should fill every Huskie fan with pride.
A lot of hard work also went into our
2018-21 Strategic Plan released on November 16. This three-year "road map" clearly outlines our priorities for the next three years, building upon four pillars identified as Student-Athlete Experience, Communication and the NIU Family, Community Connection and Financial Stability. The new Strategic Plan also introduces "The Huskie P.A.C. – Promoting Athletes to Champions." I hope you will take a look at this important document, put together by an inclusive committee consisting of athletic department staff at all levels, student-athletes, community members and supporters.
Also completed in November, our second
Huskies Invest: A Week of Giving, was a HUGE success with $272,887 contributed by 137 donors. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone that stepped up to support NIU student-athletes during this important – and impactful - week. During this year's Huskies Invest, which took place from November 5-9, you absolutely crushed our $200,000 goal. Thanks to every single person that gave – whether it was $10 or $75,000, whether you gave to a sport program, to Cost of Attendance or an unrestricted gift – please know how much your support means to us and to our student-athletes.
Soon, another project funded by our amazing donors will be unveiled in the NIU Convocation Center when the renovated
Nelson Club opens in January. Thanks to Dave and Linda Nelson, we have really "upped our game" with this complete re-do. The new carpeting, permanent bar area, drink rail facing the court and upgraded furnishings are going to provide a whole new atmosphere to the Nelson Club. If you're interested in enjoying this type of pregame experience during Huskie men's basketball games in 2019, please contact the Huskie Athletic Fund at 815-753-1923.
As you know, basketball season is in full swing and both teams return to action at home on Monday, December 17 following this week's break for finals. There has already been plenty of success this season with both the men's and women's teams entering finals week with winning records. With a veteran team featuring stalwarts like Levi Bradley, Eugene German and Dante Thorpe, the Huskies won the Men Against Breast Cancer Oakland Hoops Challenge with wins over Oral Roberts and Oakland. NIU's first three losses were by a total of just nine points! Head Coach
Mark Montgomery's team has four more non-conference games, including home games with Western Illinois (Dec. 17) and Chicago State (Dec. 22), and a big homecoming match-up for Monty at Michigan State (Dec. 29), before jumping into MAC play on January 5 at Ohio. There is still time to join us at the Convo this winter with some great deals on Mini-Plans for both men's and women's basketball coming out soon.
Head Coach
Lisa Carlsen's women's team is coming off a big win at the Compass Challenge where senior guard Mikayla Voigt – who, by the way, carries a 3.924 GPA in n
ursing – scored a school and MAC record 52 points to lead the Huskies while pouring in 11 three-pointers. The Huskies will play three more non-conference games in DeKalb before opening league play at home on Saturday, January 5
th. The women will lead off the Monday night doubleheader on Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m. versus Eastern Illinois, take on Chicago State on Friday, Dec. 21 and face Brown in a special New Year's Eve matinee at 1 p.m.
Hope to catch up with you in the Convocation Center, or better yet, in the new Nelson Club, in 2019!
On that note, I want to take this opportunity to wish each of you a wonderful holiday season, and a safe, happy and healthy New Year. Thank you for being part of our Huskie Family and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Go Huskies!
Sean T. Frazier
Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics
