Hello Huskies!
 
If the past six months has taught us anything, it is to be prepared for change, to be willing to adjust and to be grateful for every aspect of life that signifies a return to what we once took for granted. We appreciate simple activities like eating in a restaurant, going to the gym for a workout and watching a game on TV.
 
In September, we saw the return of college football. Yes, schedules changed every week or sometimes every day, games were postponed and rescheduled, but at the end of the day, games are being played. Across the country, student-athletes and coaches still on the sidelines or waiting for spring, including those at NIU, asked – "what about us?" 
 
Last Friday, the answer came - the MAC IS BACK! Huskie Football will be played in 2020, beginning November 4, and a MAC Champion will be crowned. We know it won't quite look like a "normal" season, but our football student-athletes will – SAFELY – have the opportunity to play the game they love, and I know our fans will be cheering them on every step of the way. 
 
You may remember, the Mid-American Conference was the first FBS league to postpone the season back on August 8 based on the advice of our medical professionals and the scientific facts available at the time. In order to return to play, we once again turned to the experts, the doctors and scientists who make up the MAC Medical Advisory Panel as well as NIU's own medical team at Northwestern Medicine.  
 
This group has been engaged every step of the way, tracking developments and availability of testing, keeping up with the latest research and communicating with their counterparts across the country. Our own team doctor, Dr. Brian Babka, and his colleagues at Northwestern Medicine, have been at the forefront of the conversation.
 
Details of the MAC COVID-19 testing protocol are as follows:

• Four antigen tests per week beginning October 5;
• All positive tests to be confirmed by a PCR test;
• Any student-athlete with a positive test will enter a cardiac screening protocol;

This is a very robust and comprehensive testing protocol which I fully support!
 
The availability of tests and timeliness of receiving results was also a big factor in the MAC Council of Presidents approving the return of MACtion beginning November 4th. League teams will play six regular season games – three at home – with a championship game on December 18^th or 19^th. There will be #MACtion in November and Saturday games too. Look for the complete schedule soon!
 
Due to Mid-American Conference and state restrictions, attendance will be extremely limited and tickets will not be available to the public. We are currently working through all of the regulations and will be communicating with our season ticket members who have not yet chosen an option for their 2020 season tickets.
 
Although the parking lots will be empty, tailgating will not be permitted even for those few individuals who may be permitted into the gates (e.g. player families). However, as you've seen on TV in professional leagues and even some college games, you can show your support for Huskie Football and maybe even show up on a NIU Football broadcast by purchasing a cardboard cutout to be placed in the stands during NIU home games. I'm excited to see who will be "attending" our games.  We'll have more details on how you can order your very own cardboard cutout next week.
 
We'll be introducing more ways you can engage with us during games this year, including by downloading the new NIU Huskies mobile app, on our social media platforms, and more. 
 
Football isn't the only sport ready to return with the NIU men's and women's basketball teams set to open practice on October 14th in preparation for their 2020-21 seasons.  The conference schedules for both teams have been announced (MBB; WBB) and season tickets are on sale for the MAC games only. Both coaches are finalizing their non-conference schedules as well.   
 
Yet more scheduling news!  The NIU volleyball and men's and women's soccer teams will all play their seasons next semester with volleyball getting underway in late January while soccer will be played beginning in March. Those schedules will be announced soon. Needless to say, it's going to be a busy beginning to 2021 and I can't wait!
 
Our student-athletes work so hard to represent NIU, our alumni, their fellow students and this community.  It's been a tough year for so many of them with seasons cancelled last spring and postponed and/or shortened this fall. We've had to make a lot of tough decisions, and we need your support, this year more than ever. This year's Huskies Invest fundraising campaign gets underway next week with a focus on COVID Relief and unrestricted gifts. I hope you will consider making a donation so that NIU Athletics can continue to thrive and advance during these difficult times.
 
I also hope you will join NIU and the NIU Alumni Association next week to celebrate the university's Virtual Homecoming. As the celebration of the 125^th Anniversary of NIU comes to a close, a Virtual Homecoming is not what any of us imagined. We'll be celebrating the 114^th Homecoming with a special presentation of one of the most historic homecoming football games in school history. Voice of the Huskies Bill Baker and Mark Lindo will offer some additional commentary as we hit the highlights of the 1998 win over Central Michigan that launched NIU on the road to 21^st century success, and launched at least one goalpost into the lagoon! Tune in to the NIU Huskies YouTube Channel on Friday, October 9^th at 7 p.m. and join the conversation.
 
Finally, linked here and now available is the 2019-20 NIU Athletics Annual Report. I'm sure none of us will ever forget 2020. However, the response of our staff and student-athletes to this pandemic, and the successes recorded during the past year – from MAC Championships to record-setting performances – deserve to be celebrated.  I hope you will enjoy this look back as we move forward.
 
As always, thank you for your support of NIU Athletics and Go Huskies!

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