Here we go Huskie fans!

On Sunday, the women's soccer team officially kicks off the NIU Athletics 2019-20 competitive season when they play at Milwaukee. Five days later, the volleyball, women's cross country and men's soccer teams open play and on Saturday, August 31^st, the Thomas Hammock era of NIU Football begins at Huskie Stadium.
 
I have said it before, and it's still true. I love this time of year. I love having our student-athletes back on campus. I enjoy getting the opportunity to speak to every team at a preseason meeting or practice. Across the board, hopes are high and all their goals – team and individual – are in front of them. Every year, we get to start anew and that's part of what makes intercollegiate athletics so special.
 
When I meet with our teams in the preseason, I am energized and envision which teams will bring home NIU's next MAC Championships.
 
Last year, we celebrated two MAC Champion teams. The Huskie football team continued its decade of dominance with NIU's fourth MAC title in the last eight years, thanks to a thrilling comeback victory over Buffalo in Detroit.  Just as exciting was the NIU gymnastics team hitting routine after routine on the most nerve-wracking event in the sport – the balance beam – to win the first MAC Championship in NIU gymnastics history.  That team proved to be just as adept in the classroom as they posted the third highest team GPA of any women's gymnastics team in the country in 2018-19.
 
The two MAC titles last year were the seventh and eighth won by Huskie teams since I arrived on campus in July 2013, with at least one championship in five of my six years at NIU. Prior to last year, the men's tennis team earned MAC regular season titles in 2014 and 2015, volleyball won regular season championships in 2015 and 2016, and won the tournament in 2016 to advance to the NCAA Tournament, while football won the MAC in 2014.
 
Looking at the history of NIU's tenure in the conference, the eight championships ties the mark for the most MAC Championships won under the leadership of any athletic administration in NIU history. Add in the first-ever Jacoby Trophy win by our women's sports programs in 2017, the postseason appearances – after decades-long droughts - by men's and women's basketball in 2016 and 2017, and you can make a convincing argument that NIU Athletics is in the midst of the most successful era of our 32-year MAC history. This is a credit to all the student-athletes and staff who have contributed to these accomplishments!
 
With gymnastics breaking through with its first MAC Championship, which they won at home in the Convocation Center, could NIU cross country be next? Coach Adrian Myers is certainly fired up about his team and their chances, especially with the Huskies playing host to the MAC Championship at the North 40 Course on November 2. You can see his team, and view the course, on Friday, Sept. 6 when they host the Huskie Classic beginning at 5 p.m.
 
The Huskie soccer teams are ready to get their 2019 seasons started too. Head coach Julie Colhoff's NIU women's team brought in eight freshmen and features 15 Illinois natives as they look to make their mark in the MAC in 2019. On the men's side, Ryan Swan's club is ready to break through in his third season after they posted an 8-9-1 record a year ago with a win over the Akron team that played in the NCAA Championship match.
 
While not technically "fall sports," the NIU tennis and golf teams will be starting competition in September as well. I'm pleased to welcome John Carlson and Eric Burns to the Huskie Family as our new men's golf and women's tennis head coaches, respectively. John previously served as head coach at the University of Minnesota where he was the 2014 Big Ten Coach of the Year and led the Gophers to the league title that season, while Eric previously coached both the men's and women's teams at both Wright State and Purdue Fort Wayne with great success at the conference level.
 
Volleyball, under the direction of NIU's longest-tenured head coach - Ray Gooden - opens its season with the NIU Invitational on August 30-31. I'm excited to see his 2019 team come together with some exciting young players from last year taking the next step, a new group of freshmen added and the upperclassmen supplying plenty of leadership. Get your season tickets (just $35 for every home match), sign the kids up for the Pup Club for free admission to all volleyball matches (just $10 and they get into every basketball game too), and come out to Victor E. Court for a great time with the family this fall.
 
Saturday August 31^st is going to be a great day! Start it out with NIU volleyball in Victor E. Court at 11 a.m. After the match, it's tailgating time! Head over to The Yard in the West Lawn, grab some food, a beverage, let the kids enjoy the Kid's Zone and get fired up for the football season opener versus Illinois State at 6 p.m.
 
New head coach Thomas Hammock and his staff have injected a whole new energy into this Huskie Football team. Players on both offense and defense are fired up, there are talented newcomers and great competition at practice. I cannot wait to see the team in action. 
 
If you don't have your tickets yet, what are you waiting for? With new, mobile ticketing options, there is no reason to come to the stadium and wait in line to buy or pick up tickets on game day! My favorite new ticket option has to be the Huskie Flex Pass. Get five or MORE tickets for $15 each and use them for any game or combination of games! We have a Saturday only mini-plan that includes a ticket, plus a food voucher good for a hot dog, chips and a soft drink at each of our three Saturday home games.
 
Inside Huskie Stadium, fans will notice a change to what was previously called the End Zone Club as Huskie Sports Properties and NIU Athletics have partnered with Fatty's Pub and Grille to create Fatty's Touchdown Village in the South End Zone. This area is going to give NIU students and East Side ticket holders a chance to tailgate at field level inside Huskie Stadium beginning 90 minutes before the game. Come in and watch the teams warm-up, then stay for the entire game. There will be concessions specials, including $2 beer, soda, water and pizza. I might even stop by!
 
Football attendance is critically important: to the student-athletes, who feed off the energy of the crowd; and frankly, to our bottom line as the ability to generate revenue through ticket sales is an important component of our annual budget. Another important piece of our revenue generation puzzle as we work toward financial stability as detailed in our Strategic Plan, is growing the HAF Annual Fund, with a key to that building our donor base. As we know, there are 180,000 NIU alumni in the greater Chicagoland region alone!
 
We have rebounded nicely since the state budget impasse, thanks to the donors and corporate partners who have stepped up to help us start on the road to stability, as evidenced by a $1 million increase in support from 2017 to 2019, from $4.9 million to $5.9 million in 2018-19.  
 
You can help us grow, by spreading the positive messages about NIU Athletics, inviting a fellow Huskie, a neighbor or a friend to one of our events or games, or even by providing a member of our staff with names and contact information of potential donors. Bring your church group, local youth team or even a company outing to a Huskie game. Just as in football or in any sport, it is the little things, the details and the teamwork that will allow us to continue to build on our success. 
 
I hope to see YOU in the stands in 2019-20!  Go Huskies!
 
 
 




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