Dear Huskie Nation,
 
On August 8^th, the Mid-American Conference announced that the league members had made the decision to postpone all intercollegiate athletics competitions this fall. President Freeman and I were in full support of this extremely difficult decision, and believe that – based on the expert information we received from medical professionals – it was the only decision that could be made to safeguard the health of NIU student-athletes.
 
While many of our student-athletes, coaches and staff were working diligently in preparation for a fall season, now we must shift gears. For the student-athletes, that means focusing on academics, working out and practicing as NCAA and MAC rules permit. As a staff, we have begun working to address the financial realities facing the department as a result of COVID-19.
 
I have heard from many of you with questions. In the attached video and below, I will attempt to provide as much clarity as possible, given that this is an ever-changing situation which none of us have ever encountered before. Going forward, as plans are solidified, we will be transparent and share that information with you, our loyal Huskies.
 
Postponement of Fall Sports
As mentioned above, the MAC's decision to postpone the fall sports seasons was reached after careful and thorough consideration of all available facts, with the guidance of our medical staff and state and county health officials, and input from coaches, staff and student-athletes. I'm proud of the leadership displayed by the league's presidents as the MAC became the first Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conference to make this difficult call. They realized that ultimately, the risks associated with COVID-19 and the liability of putting our students in harm's way out-weighed any benefits of continuing with a fall season. As a former student-athlete and coach, I know our Huskies are disappointed that they will not be able to compete this fall. The decision to postpone the fall is just as heart-wrenching as the one that saw our 2020 winter and spring sports seasons cut short. Thankfully, this fall, our Huskies will be here in DeKalb and we will provide the same services that we always do while also following our extensive safety and testing protocols. Student-athlete well-being – both the physical and mental health aspects – has been and will continue to be a priority at NIU.     
  COVID-19 Financial Implications
Minimally, NIU Athletics projects a 23 percent decrease in revenue in 2020-21. Following the cancellation of sports this past spring, we were prepared for a shortfall of approximately three million dollars due to a significantly reduced NCAA disbursement, university budget cuts and other factors. Internally, our Financial Impact Working Group put together a thorough plan to further reduce our expenses, which for the first time during my tenure, directly impacted our student-athlete experience. Given the circumstances, we simply had no other choice because being fiscally sound stewards of our resources is a cornerstone of our department. No one in our department is unaffected by our financial situation, from our senior administrators to our graduate assistants. We will all see varying levels of reductions as will our general operating budgets.    
 
Now that the final decision about the postponement of the fall sports seasons has been made, we will have to make even more hard decisions, including those that may have personnel implications. These are incredibly difficult times and without our football guarantee game, the financial outlook is daunting. During my tenure as AD, Huskies have a history of coming together to overcome similar – if not quite as serious – challenges. I have seen it and been inspired by the passion and dedication of the Huskie faithful.
 
Donor and Fan Support
I have made this statement multiple times in the last couple years, but it has never been truer than in 2020: we need you more than ever. Not only do we need you, we need your friends, fellow alumni and all who care about Huskie sports and NIU student-athletes. This virus is unlike anything we have ever experienced, and it has brought a new kind of financial stress on our department. In response, our annual Huskies Invest campaign will take on an even more significant role this fall. While sports-specific support is always welcome and beneficial, we have a significant shortfall and would strongly encourage any gifts be designated as unrestricted so they may be used to offset the immediate needs of the department this fall.
 
Each November, we have seen a great response to Huskies Invest: A Week of Giving. Based on the anticipated budgetary shortfalls in 2020 due to COVID-19 and the postponement of fall sports, we will hold Huskies Invest in October with a kickoff earlier this fall. As I noted above, our challenges are real, and we hope you will consider making that gift a bit sooner this year through the Huskie Athletic Fund. All contributions at any time are greatly appreciated and in these unprecedented times, much-needed.
 
Football Ticket Information
For those who graciously renewed their 2020 football season tickets, we thank you for sticking with us and appreciate your patience. The MAC has started the process of modeling what a spring football season looks like. At this point, I do not have more details other than to say NIU and our fellow MAC institutions will do everything we can to provide competitive opportunities for our fall sports teams this spring. That includes a – most likely modified – football season with games in Huskie Stadium. If you – like us – are hoping and planning for spring games, you do not need to take any action at this time. Once a spring plan is finalized, we will be in touch and move forward. In lieu of that, we continue to offer these options to those who have renewed; 1) donate, 2) rollover, or 3) refund.
 
1 – DONATION OPTION
The money from a modified season remains with NIU Athletics as a donation and goes to offset the extensive departmental expenses associated with COVID-19.
 
INCENTIVE: If you make a donation this year and next year, we will upgrade your donor benefits by one HAF membership level in year two (2).  
 
2 – ROLLOVER OPTION
The money from a modified season remains with NIU Athletics and will be used as a credit for the 2021 fall football season.
 
3 – REFUND OPTION
Request for a refund of your 2020 football season tickets.
 
To select one of these options, contact the NIU Athletics Ticket Office by sending an email to huskiestickets@niu.edu or calling (815) 753-PACK (7225).  
 
Upcoming Events
Due to local and state guidelines, we have not been able to hold some of the events we have enjoyed together over the years. Fortunately, we were able to host both the Huskie Summer Circuit and Victor E. Bash by utilizing our NIU Athletics YouTube channel, social media and additional online platforms earlier this summer. With the late summer and fall traditionally providing so many opportunities for Huskies to gather, we will once again plan a series of virtual chats with me and our coaches, along with other creative fan engagement opportunities. More information will be forthcoming as we finalize those plans in the coming weeks.
 
Meanwhile, the MAC has put together working groups that are creating a calendar for 2021 which includes spring competitions for football, volleyball and soccer. Both Coach Hammock and I are a part of this process and we are committed to doing everything possible to make this happen for our student-athletes. Discussions are also underway as we look toward our winter sports seasons, specifically men's and women's basketball. Let's all do what we can to stay safe so that we can come together to cheer on the Huskies together again soon!
 
Huskie Nation – Thank You
The outpouring of support for our student-athletes, coaches and staff over the last several months has been inspiring. Your unwavering commitment to NIU, the DeKalb/Sycamore communities and specifically to our department, has never been more apparent.  We know this journey has not been easy and is not over, but we are Huskies and Huskies. Never. Quit. This too shall pass, and we will emerge stronger and more resilient than ever.
 
Go Huskies!
 
 
Sean T. Frazier
Associate Vice-President & Director of Athletics