Happy Homecoming Huskies!

What a great time of year!

October means mid-season football and volleyball, soccer and cross country in the homestretch of their seasons and fall tennis and golf. Softball and baseball are wrapping up their fall practices. Plus, we are just weeks away from the start of basketball and wrestling seasons.

And of course, it is Homecoming Week as NIU celebrates its 117th Homecoming, capped off by Saturday’s football game versus Toledo. There are special events planned every day both on campus and in DeKalb as we welcome Huskies home. On Thursday, everyone is invited to the Homecoming Block Party in Downtown DeKalb with a Kids’ Zone, discounts at local businesses, a classic car show and the March of the Huskies featuring NIU student-athletes and coaches, the Huskie Marching Band, Silverettes and cheerleaders, Victor E. Huskie and more.

Friday evening, I hope to see many of you at the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in the Holmes Student Center as we welcome seven new members to the Hall of Fame. This event is also free to the public and begins at 5 p.m. with a meet and greet with this year’s class as well as past inductees. The Hall of Fame is always a fantastic event and a chance to celebrate our history and the Huskie greats.

On Saturday, Toledo is in town for the Homecoming game, and you know these teams will get after it. I love the fight and determination of this Huskie team, and it has been a long time since we have seen a defense like this at NIU. As I travel to meetings in different areas of the country, I am still hearing from alumni and fans excited about the win over Notre Dame. I still get a smile on my face thinking about it! That was a day no Huskie fan or alumni – especially anyone lucky enough to be in Notre Dame Stadium – will forget about anytime soon.

We felt the effects of that win almost immediately with a flood of national media attention; there was a tremendous response to our Donate the Score campaign, and calls and commitments from companies like our local Jersey Mike’s stepped up to be a part of the excitement of Huskie football and NIU Athletics. There was a buzz throughout campus and across our alumni base after that huge Boneyard Win.

Next week is another opportunity for fans to step up to support NIU student-athletes during Huskies Invest, NIU Athletics’ annual Week of Giving. This year’s goal is $1 million from 1,250 gifts in honor of the 125th Anniversary of Huskie Athletics. During Huskies Invest, gifts can be made to any individual sport program or to NIU Recreation, to specific areas of the department, or to an initiative like the 1899 Club. Donations can also be split among the different funds. Check out all the options, get more information or call the Huskie Athletic Fund at 815-753-1923.

Funds raised from the Week of Giving support projects like the renovated Huskie Basketball locker rooms unveiled last week. What a great upgrade for those teams as the locker rooms had not received a significant overhaul since the opening of the Convocation Center. Thanks to everyone who contributed to provide this updated area for NIU men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes.

Recently, we had a chance to bring together NIU student-athletes and coaches, community and corporate partners and a representative from the Boneyard Victor E. Collective for a Name, Image and Likeness Summit at the NIU Convocation Center. During the event, the student-athletes in attendance were provided information on available NIL opportunities as well as a compliance education session, while the corporate partners heard from administrators and coaches who discussed the NIL landscape and how each coach navigates NIL within their programs. The community members also learned more about the Boneyard Victor E. Collective including information on how to donate and/or connect with NIU student-athletes for business opportunities. At the end of the evening, the corporate partners and student-athletes and coaches came together for a meet and greet.  As I have said, NIU is in the NIL business and events like this NIL Summit help educate and foster those relationships that are beneficial to all.

As I mentioned, basketball season is basically here!  The women’s basketball season starts with an exhibition game this month – on October 27 versus Benedictine in the Convo – and then opens the regular season with Education Day, that’s an 11 am start on Monday, November 4 versus Louisiana.  Men’s basketball is also in action November 4 as they take on Georgia Southern in the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge road game before the home opener on November 7.  Basketball tickets are on sale now, check out all of the options, including premium experiences at great prices, at NIUHuskies.com/tickets and join us in the Convocation Center for Huskie Basketball all winter!

It is – as always – a great time to be a Huskie and I hope you will join us here in DeKalb and show your Huskie Pride this Homecoming Week and throughout the year!

Go Huskies!

Sean T. Frazier

Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation