Happy Fall Huskies!

As the leaves begin to change colors and the temperature slowly drops, I am reminded how much I love this time of year on the intercollegiate athletics calendar.  Of course, the fall sports seasons for Huskie men's and women's soccer, volleyball, cross country and football are in full swing.  And while it's fun to see our teams compete all over the country – like NIU volleyball team did throughout September -  and play regional and in-state teams – like men's soccer – it's a whole new ballgame when league play starts.

Around the athletics offices, around our student-athletes and coaches, I can tell that conference competition has started.  There's that extra bit of intensity in their faces, just a touch more focus on the opponent. Now the match (or game) isn't so much about where the team is traveling to, or what they might see on the trip, or even the challenge of playing a highly-ranked team, or testing yourself against a squad from a different conference. 

Now, it's about the team across the field and beating them so that you can achieve your goal of becoming a Mid-American Conference Champion.  These road trips are strictly business.  We know the opponents, we've been to the towns, the fields, courts and stadia before.  These are the games that make or break your season and our coaches and student-athletes know it.  I LOVE IT!

Our student-athletes are rising to the challenge.  Women's soccer, behind dynamic goal scorer Taylor Sarver and goalkeeper Amy Annala, is a prime example.  The team opened conference play by knocking off an undefeated Central Michigan team and added a 2-1 win over Eastern Michigan for an opening weekend sweep. Then last weekend, they split two matches on the road. Entering the third weekend of conference play, John Ross' team has more wins, and more conference wins, than it did all of last year.

The Huskie men's soccer team – with just five conference matches – opens MAC play this Saturday at Western Michigan.  NIU has already claimed one rivalry trophy this season with a 2-1 win at Milwaukee to reclaim the Lewang Trophy.  The trophy is named in honor of the former Milwaukee assistant and NIU head coach who tragically died in a car accident and has been contested against the two teams since 1981. The Huskies will take on Akron, currently ranked No. 23 in the country, at the NIU Soccer Complex on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. I know the team would love to see fans come over after the football game to cheer them on to the upset win.  Admission is free.

Volleyball is once again on a roll as Ray Gooden's team has picked up where they left off a year ago, when they won the MAC regular season championship.  This team must be pretty deep because every Monday, two different Huskie players than the week before win MAC Player of the Week honors!  Volleyball is 4-0 in the MAC right now, 12-4 overall and play their next four matches in the "friendly confines" (well, friendly for the Huskies) of Victor E. Court on October 7-8 and 14-15.  If you haven't seen our volleyball team play, you need to check it out.  The game is fast, it's exciting, the crowd is close and the skill of our ladies is impressive.  Remember, NIU will play host to the Mid-American Conference Tournament on November 17-20.  Make plans now to be here!

Women's cross country is gearing up for the first MAC Championship of the season as they run for the title on October 29^th at Kent State.  Head Coach Adrian Myers has this team running strong and I'm expecting great things from them this year.  I know he is too!   

Of course, MAC Championships and NIU Football have become synonymous over the last six years. After a rocky start to the non-conference season, the Huskies put together their best game of the year last weekend at Ball State.  The 31-24 win secured the Bronze Stalk Trophy for the eighth straight year.  After this Saturday's game at Western Michigan, NIU plays four consecutive home games. I look forward to seeing many of you in Huskie Stadium on October 15, October 22 for the 110^th Homecoming, and on November 1, when we will celebrate Senior Day.  Then on November 9, it's the historic Huskie Chi-Town Showdown game versus Toledo at Guaranteed Rate (formerly U.S. Cellular) Field, home of the Chicago White Sox.  Chicago fans and alums, we're bringing one of the biggest #MACtion games of the season TO YOU, and we need to fill the stands with Huskie fans.  It's time for our 120,000 Chicagoland alums to be SEEN – and heard!        

With the fall sports seasons off to these starts as conference play gets underway, it's time to start thinking about winter! Not so much in terms of weather (I can wait a little while for that), but definitely in terms of basketball!  As of this week, the men's and women's teams are out there practicing every day as they get ready for the 2016-17 seasons. After the success our men's basketball team had last year, now is the time to get behind this group and plan to be in the Convocation Center for every game in 2016-17. 

There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with both the men's and women's teams this year.  Buy season tickets, join us for "Coffee with Carlsen" and/or "Mondays with Monty."  All basketball season ticket members are invited to the Basketball Tip-Off event at Eduardo's in DeKalb on Thursday, Oct. 27. Doors open at 6 p.m. I encourage you to get to know these coaches and their teams, I have a feeling the Convo is going to heat up this winter!

While I'm excited about what's happening this year in Huskie Athletics, I am also very proud of what was accomplished last year by our student-athletes, coaches and staff.  Those accomplishments are detailed in the 2015-16 NIU Athletics Annual Report, now available online. The Annual Report includes a look at each team's season highlights and accolades, our financial summary, academic accomplishments, thank you's to our sponsors and donors, and an update on our Strategic Plan.  Take a look back at the inaugural Victor E. Ball, the NCAA-MOAA Award for Diversity and Inclusion and the many ways we celebrated the great history and tradition of NIU Athletics last year.

Thanks to all of you who were part of our success last year, and know that our staff, student-athletes and coaches are determined to make 2016-17 even better!

Go Huskies!
 
 
Sean T. Frazier
NIU Associate Vice-President & Director of Athletics  
 
PS – Don't forget about the 2017 NCAA Men's and Women's Golf Championships hosted by NIU and coming this May to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. See the best college golfers in the country and the pros of tomorrow.  Volunteer sign-up and ticket information will be available this month on NIUHuskies.com!