Welcome to 2020 Huskies!
After a fantastic finish to 2019, from the academic front to football's latest signing class, the NIU Huskies are already off to a fast start in 2020 on the basketball court and the wrestling mat as we enter a new decade of Huskie Athletics.
In case you missed it, NIU's men's sports teams opened the year with a couple of streak-breaking victories. First, the men's basketball team defeated league banner-carrier Buffalo for th
e third straight game, and earned its first win IN Buffalo since 2003, with a 73-72 victory last Saturday. Led by senior Eugene German, who is on his way to becoming the top scorer in school history, the Huskies opened MAC play with a big win after posting a 7-6 record during a rigorous non-conference schedule that included games at Pitt, St. Mary's and Iowa State.
The next day in Victor E. Court, the wrestling team came up with a big win of its own when NIU defeated traditional MAC powerhouse Central Michigan 19-12 to earn its first dual meet victory over the Chippewas since 2003 (link to highlights). I was on hand to see the grit and determination throughout the line-up as the wrestlers in Cardinal and Black fought for every point. What a win for the Huskies, who are 6-3 on the season and 3-1 in the new, 15-team MAC!
Meanwhile, the NIU women's basketball team is opening MAC play with a pair of road games at Ohio and Miami before returning to the Convocation Center for its conference home opener Saturday at 1 p.m. versus Toledo. That game will be the first half of a doubleheader as the Huskie men take on Eastern Michigan to open their MAC home slate.
Both basketball teams are ready for battle in the MAC and I'd love to see a crowd in the Convocation Center to welcome them home on Saturday. The doubleheader is a "Black Out," as well as Pup Club (
link) Day so wear your best Huskie black and bring out your Pup Clubbers! In addition to forming the high-five tunnel before each game, Pup Club members will be treated to a pizza party in the multi-purpose room (enter across from Victor E. Court)!
We're also upping the game experience and value inside the NIU Convocation Center at men's and women's basketball games this year with the new Victor E. Pub, located on the west end of the concourse. All fans are invited to come by before or during the game, hang out in the comfortable seats or at the high-top tables, and watch the action while enjoying $2 drink specials, a full-service bar featuring mixed drinks and a unique drink offering for each game. We hope to make this a gathering place for all Huskie fans beginning one hour before and throughout every game, so be sure to stop in and check it out beginning this Saturday!
You'll also want to check out the NIU gymnastics team as the defending MAC Champion Huskies open their season this weekend at Kent State and open the home schedule on Friday, January 17 at 7 p.m. versus Western Michigan in the Beauty and the Beast Meet alongside the NIU Wrestling team. Remember, admission to all gymnastics and wrestling meets is absolutely free.
Gymnastics also led the way academically in 2019 as they capped off the year by posting a 3.76 team grade point average for the fall semester to lead all Huskie teams. NIU's 16 programs and 400-plus student-athletes combined for a record-setting semester in the classroom. I am so proud of the Huskies' 3.24 cumulative GPA, the highest in school history and the 16
th straight semester above 3.0. In addition, our
student-athletes' semester GPA of 3.17 in the fall was the highest term GPA in school history with 297 student-athletes recording a 3.0 or higher. Men's soccer earned team-high honors among men's programs with a 3.46 fall term GPA.
Finally, we saw 21 student-athletes earn their undergraduate degrees in December, including 10 from the Huskie football team. Congratulations to all of our student-athletes on their diligence and hard work in the classroom, and especially to these new Northern Illinois University alumni on achieving their goal of becoming college graduates.
The NIU Football program closed out 2019 with some big victories on the recruiting trail, leading to one of the highest rated classes in school history. The first complete class for
Thomas Hammock and his staff consists of 26 players (so far) from 10 different states. This group, with more to be added in February, has me – and I hope, you - fired up for the future of NIU Football!
Speaking of recruiting, your next chance to hear from Thomas about the new additions and the outlook for 2020, to mingle with the coaching staff and other special guests to talk Huskie Football is scheduled for
Sunday, February 9 in Chicagoland! So
Save the Date and look for an announcement on this exciting event coming soon!
I hope you also have
Saturday, May 2nd circled on your calendar as the new
"Victor E. Bash" will be held that evening beginning at 6 p.m. here at the NIU Convocation Center. This new incarnation of the Victor E. Ball promises fun for all in a more casual and interactive event as we continue to count on your support of Huskie student-athletes through this premiere fundraising event.
A couple more dates of note as on
Saturday, February 22nd, we will once again
"Cram the Convo," welcome basketball and all alumni back to campus and help kick off the year-long
125th Anniversary celebration of Northern Illinois University during the Huskie basketball doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
Finally, mark your calendars for
March 7-8 when NIU will host the
MAC Wrestling Championships in the Convocation Center. This first of its kind MAC tournament will bring together 15 teams with as many as four mats of action as wrestlers vie for a spot in the NCAA Championship as well as MAC titles. This event is going to be intense and NIU is honored to be the host!
As you can see, 2020 is going to be action-packed at NIU and we want you, your friends and family to be a part of the fun!
Hope to see you soon and Go Huskies!
Sean T. Frazier
Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics
