Aug. 17, 2009

DeKALB, Ill. -- Plenty of red, black, the ever-popular Thunderstix and special group days, along with a separate date to honor the 2009 Northern Illinois Hall of Fame class, highlights the Huskies' 2009 football promotions schedule announced Monday by NIU Associate Athletic Director for Marketing Shelley Binegar.

Fans attending the Huskies' home opener versus Western Illinois on Sept. 12 are encouraged to wear red or, even better, NIU Cardinal, while the Thursday night home finale versus Ball State on Nov. 12 has been designated as the annual "Black Out" Night. Black T-shirts (5,000) will be distributed to fans at the conclusion of the Nov. 5 contest versus Eastern Michigan with instructions to return a week later wearing the shirt.

Thunderstix, always a student favorite, will be available at three games - the season opener versus Western Illinois (courtesy of game sponsor TCF Bank), the Oct. 3 Homecoming contest versus Western Michigan and the Ball State game. NIU Rally Towels are the giveaway item for the Sept. 26 contest versus Idaho.

NIU's new multi-media rights partner, ISP Sports, has secured three game sponsors to date, with TCF Bank on board for the season opener, University Plaza lined up for the Sept. 26 game versus Idaho, and Kishwaukee Community Hospital committed for the Homecoming contest versus Western Michigan on Oct. 3. Opportunities for sponsorship for the 2009 football season are still available and interested parties should contact the NIU ISP Office at 815-753-9229.

In addition, Northern Illinois will have bins of pom pons available for pick-up at all gates for every game. Fans can pick up a pom pon on the way into the game, and return it following the contest for use at the next game.

In terms of groups and designated days, the Huskies will celebrate their traditional Biz/Ag Day at the season opener versus WIU, which is also NIU Family Day. On Sept. 26, the 1,000th game in Huskie Football history, Northern Illinois will welcome another large group of high school bands and cheerleaders, along with the Boy Scouts, who will attend the game and then "camp out" in the adjacent fields. Huskie players also will sign autographs following the game.

Northern Illinois will celebrate the school's 103rd Homecoming on Oct. 3 when Western Michigan comes to campus for the 2009 Mid-American Conference opener. The Huskies will hold their first "Hall of Fame Weekend" Oct. 30-31 with five Huskie legends and the 1981-82 basketball team set to be inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame Friday night at the annual banquet, and introduced at halftime of the NIU-Akron game Saturday. All Hall of Famers, as well as all former NIU student-athletes, are invited to attend as it will also be Varsity Club Day in honor of former letterwinners in all sports.

On Nov. 5, the first of two Thursday games on the Huskie schedule, NIU will welcome civic organizations, while looking to Northern Illinois fans to take part in two community service efforts. Through its partnership with Secretary of State Jesse White, volunteers will be signing up Huskie fans for the "Life Goes On" statewide organ donor program. Northern Illinois will also hold a canned food drive Nov. 5 and will collect toys for the "Toys for Tots" program Nov. 12.

Other efforts throughout the season will specifically target Northern Illinois students, with a Student Spirit Contest on Oct. 31 and the Golden Greek Challenge scheduled for Nov. 5. NIU Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day will be held at the last home game versus Ball State on Nov. 12.

Season and single game tickets for the 2009 Northern Illinois Football season are on sale now. Season tickets for the entire six-game home schedule can be purchased for the value price of just $90 with discounts available for NIU Faculty and Staff, NIU Alumni Association and Varsity Club members and senior citizens. A three-game "mini-plan" and single game tickets are also on sale. With the mini-plan priced at $50 and single game tickets priced at just $20 for general public. Tickets can be ordered at www.niuhuskies.com, by calling 815-752-6800, or in person at the Athletics Ticket Office in the NIU Convocation Center.

-- NIU --

Keep up with all the latest news on Northern Illinois Athletics, read "Huskie Happenings" daily on www.niuhuskies.com.

Northern Illinois University Football

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