Hello Huskies!

The last six weeks at NIU have been a whirlwind – and I'm not just talking about the spring weather! When I sat down to put my thoughts together for this edition of Frazier's Corner, my list came together so fast, I'm worried about getting it all in! Here we go!

First, a huge thank you to all of the donors who braved a snowy April evening last Saturday to attend the Fourth Annual Victor E. Ball in Naperville. As you know, proceeds from this event, as well as the online Silent Auction, directly support NIU student-athletes, specifically by providing cost of attendance stipends. Thanks also go out to emcee David Kaplan and guest speakers Katrina Adams, Chicago native and immediate past president of the United States Tennis Association, and Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins. I know that everyone in attendance especially enjoyed hearing from our three outstanding student-athlete speakers and from football head coach Thomas Hammock.

Since the last Frazier's Corner, one accomplishment stands above the rest. Congratulations to head coach Sam Morreale and the NIU Gymnastics team for winning the FIRST MAC Gymnastics Championship in school history back on March 23^rd! It was truly inspiring to watch as every NIU competitor went up and hit her routine. With a chance to win going into the last rotation on balance beam, a four-inch piece of wood four feet off the ground, my nerves were shot! Luckily, the "beam team" turned out to be a "dream team" and then, oh my --- the tears were flowing, the hugs and high fives were pure joy!  Moments like that are the reason I'm in this business and I cherish them!



We're now in that time of year where four of our spring sports have completed their seasons, while three more teams will compete into May. The men's tennis team under Patrick Fisher made a great run in the MAC Championship, making it all the way to the finals and then pushing No. 1 seed Western Michigan all the way to a tiebreaker in the last match before falling 4-3.

Both the MAC men's and women's golf tournaments were affected by unseasonably cold spring weather. The women, who posted their third consecutive top three MAC finish, continue to rewrite the school record book. They bid farewell to a pair of four-year starters in Brielle Ward and Kelly Anderson, who both rank in the NIU career top four for stroke average. The NIU men's golf team saw their tournament trimmed from 72 holes to 36 due to weather, depriving several of their four seniors from completing their final rounds.

Softball and track and field compete at home this weekend (May 3-4) before heading to the MAC Championships next week, while baseball looks to solidify their spot in the MAC Tournament with a pair of home series over the next three weeks.

We were fortunate to get nice weather for the Huskie Bowl and Gear Sale on April 20th. Even with the early start, it was great to see so many Huskies at both events, as well as the Huskie Athletic Fund Luncheon. The night before the Huskie Bowl, Coach Hammock welcomed more than 50 NIU football alums to the Yordon Center. There was a lot of Huskie Pride on display by these former players who lived "The Hard Way"!

Huskie history was very much on our minds, and in our hearts, when we created the Bill Mallory Legacy Scholarship in honor of the former NIU head coach (1980-83), whose accomplishments in college football stretch far beyond DeKalb. The scholarship will be awarded to a football student-athlete who demonstrates selflessness, a positive attitude and an unwavering commitment to his team and to NIU. My wife Rosa and I are so pleased to personally support this scholarship in honor of a great man. More information, as well as the opportunity to donate is available here.

I'm happy to report that just a few short months after the completion of the new Nelson Suite in the Convocation Center, another exciting construction project is nearing completion. Seeing the progress on the Phi Sigma Kappa Alumni Nutrition Center, part of the Northwestern Medicine Performance Center, has our student-athletes fired up!  Located in the east corridor of the Barsema Hall of Champions between the Yordon Center and Kenneth and Ellen Chessick Practice Center, the Phi Sigma Kappa Nutrition Center is going to be a great place to provide healthy snack options for our student-athletes throughout their busy day, and will also be a source of nutrition and dietary information. We cannot thank the leadership of the Phi Sigma Kappa Alumni Association of NIU enough for their partnership in this effort, which is a game-changer for NIU student-athletes.

With the Huskie Bowl and spring football behind us, and graduation and the end of our 2018-19 sports seasons this month, the next big event on the Huskie calendar is the Summer Circuit, which returns in 2019 after a one-year hiatus.  I hope you will join me, our head coaches, including Coach Hammock, and members of the athletics staff at one of our three stops in Rockford, Aurora and Oakbrook Terrace from June 4-6. The Summer Circuit provides a great opportunity for fans to interact with our coaches and staff in a relaxed setting. To register, click here.

We'll have football and volleyball season tickets on sale at the Summer Circuit, or you can order anytime online at NIUHuskies.com/tickets. I'm excited about what Coach Hammock and his staff are bringing to NIU Football this fall. It's a new day and we need ALL our Huskies in the stands. If you have already renewed, THANK YOU! As you know, season tickets – at any level, from East Side general admission to our premium area seats - are absolutely critical to all our programs! I hope you will consider Joining the Pack!
 
I look forward to seeing many of you at the Summer Circuit stops in June and, of course, at Huskie Stadium and the NIU Convocation Center in the fall.

Go Huskies!


 Sean T. Frazier
Associate Vice-President/Director of Athletics