May 31, 2012

DeKALB, Ill. - What better to do during the summer months while waiting for your favorite Northern Illinois team to return to action than talk Huskie sports online with other NIU fans, and Northern Illinois coaches, win prizes and have fun while keeping up with your social media platforms? That's exactly what the Northern Illinois Huskies are doing this summer during a two-month social media initiative from June 4th through August 3rd.

Aptly named #NIUSocialSummer, the plan will feature different interactive components for each day (Monday-Friday) via Twitter (@NIUAthletics), Facebook (NIU Huskies), YouTube (NIUhuskiesdotcom), and NIUHuskies.com, as well as other special features. Don't miss out on following and participating!

The daily themes for the #NIUSocialSummer include:

#MicdUpMonday - Watch a "Five Questions With" interview with some of the most interesting people in Huskie Athletics. Meet one of Dwyane Wade's former teammates, some of the longest-tenured employees in athletics or one of our new head coaches.

#TriviaTuesday - @NIUAthletics Twitter followers and "NIU Huskies" Facebook friends will be asked to correctly answer a Huskie Trivia Question. Everyone with a correct answer will be entered into a drawing to win two tickets to any NIU football game this year. Better study up on your Huskie History!

#WebPollWednesday - Vote in our Facebook poll question and let your voice be heard on different Huskie Sports topics. The questions might be for fun but your feedback is important.

#ThrowbackThursday - We're scouring the archives for fun photos, old game programs and maybe even a newspaper article from the past. See them on Twitter and Facebook. You'll be surprised at how awesome some of our uniforms and logos were back in the day!

#FootballFriday - Catch up on the latest happenings with Huskie Football as NIU players, coaches and staff prepare for the 2012 season. Read or watch an interview, hear a quote, catch the links or find out a fun Huskie football fact. Dabble with the defending MAC Champs!

In addition to the daily schedule, watch for these regular features throughout the summer:

NIU Classic Match-Ups
Every week, we'll give you the numbers, the top players and the team results from two Huskie greats of the past, and you tell us who you think would have won. It might be two football championship teams, two heavyweight wrestlers or two women's basketball squads. A different take on Huskie History!

Live Chats Galore
Audience participation REQUIRED as NIU coaches Dave Doeren (football), Mark Montgomery (men's basketball), Eric Luzzi (men's soccer) and Ray Gooden (volleyball) and athletic director Jeff Compher take your questions during an online forum on NIUHuskies.com every other week in June and July. Send your questions in advance or during the 45-minute session and the guests will answer as many as they can. Doeren is first in the live chat chair as he will conduct his first NIUHuskies.com chat on Tuesday, June 12 at 2 p.m. Check NIUHuskies.com next week for all of the details.

Huskie "How To" Videos
NIU coaches Ryun Ferrell (tennis), Tom Porten (golf) and Greg Hipp (cross country) will give you some quick tips sure to help you conquer the competition on the tennis court, golf course and road races this summer!

If you haven't joined the social media revolution yet, now is the time! Create your accounts on Twitter.com, Facebook.com and YouTube.com and get social with the Huskies!