Huskie Nation,

I often say there is no such thing as standing still, you are either moving forward or moving backwards and there is no better example than the current landscape of college athletics. We have experienced firsthand the effects of both the transfer portal and Name Image and Likeness (NIL) on our athletic programs.

As I write this update, on a national level there are approximately 2,300 men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes from across the country in the transfer portal looking for new opportunities with nearly a month to go before the transfer portal for basketball closes on May 1. There has been significant change to many of our rosters in both our men’s and women’s sport programs.

Although, this has been and will continue to be a challenge for all of us in our department, we will continue to work extremely hard to protect our brand, secure our competitiveness and recruit student-athletes who meet our athletic and academic expectations, without compromising standards. In short, we have embraced this new evolution of intercollegiate athletics and, more than ever, need your continued support to be successful. Please consider getting involved with our many NIL student-athlete opportunities through the Boneyard Victor E. Collective. More information is available on the Name, Image and Likeness information page on NIUHuskies.com and hear what several of our head coaches had to say about the importance of this issue.

As NIL continues to evolve, we will once again be inviting local businesses and community partners to join us for an informal information session describing the ways that connecting with Huskie student-athletes can benefit both parties. Look for information on this spring event soon.

Before that, we have two exciting events coming up later this month. First, the SEF Huskie Royale on Saturday, April 20 at Acquaviva Winery in Maple Park. This year, we have partnered with the Sycamore Education Foundation for an exciting Vegas-themed night of casino games, food and fun. In addition to the traditional casino games, I’m looking forward to watching the professional cigar roller hand roll my custom SEF Huskie Royale CF Dominicana cigar and to interacting with the “Rat Pack” impersonators. There will also be a silent auction and raffles for fantastic prizes. Get all the details and make plans now to join us at the first SEF Huskie Royale!

One week later, on Saturday, April 27, it’s the Victor E. Fest and NIU Athletics Surplus Sale, followed by the NIU Football Spring Showcase at Huskie Stadium.  Beginning at 10 a.m, bring the family to the Chessick Practice Center and pick up some new or gently used Huskie gear while the kids hang out and play games in the Kids’ Zone with face-painters, Victor E. Huskie, the NIU spirit teams and more. Food and drink will be available for purchase before the Spring Showcase gets underway at Noon as the NIU Football team wraps up its 2024 spring practices. After the Showcase, get autographs from your favorite Huskies while season ticket members are invited to hear directly from Coach Hammock and enjoy lunch in the Hall of Champions.

If you haven’t renewed or purchased your NIU 2024 season tickets by April 27, ticket office personnel will be on hand at Victor E. Fest and the HAF season ticket members lunch to take your orders. Remember, if you are planning to see NIU play at Notre Dame for the first time in school history on September 7, 2024, you MUST be a football season ticket or Huskie Athletic Fund member to purchase tickets through NIU. The sooner, the better!

During the Spring Showcase, fans are invited to visit the Coaches Club on the West Side of Huskie Stadium, with tours of the Sky Box and Terrace available upon request.  There will also be information on the 1899 Club (link) as momentum for this project is building with several recent new commitments. A detailed schedule of events for the day will be announced next week.

April 27 will also mark the last chance (almost) to see the current version of the Huskie Stadium turf as a “wall to wall” replacement of the current turf is set to begin on May 3rd.  As you can see by this rendering, the biggest change to the design will be at midfield where the primary logo will replace the NIU wordmark. This is a much-needed upgrade that will be completed in time for the football camps in June.

It feels like we’ve barely wrapped up our winter sports, but we are actually just a few weeks away from MAC spring sports championship competition for the NIU golf and tennis programs. Congratulations to the NIU Wrestling team which earned a MAC West Division title and was undefeated at home for the first time since 1979, while wrestling and gymnastics both qualified individuals for NCAA postseason competition.

Men’s tennis is an impressive 16-3 on the year and is currently first in the MAC with a 5-1 dual match record with just two weeks and four matches left in the regular season, while women’s tennis has just six matches remaining as they battle for a spot at the MAC Championships. Women’s golf plays one more regular season tournament before MACs, while the men start a stretch of four tournaments in four weeks this weekend, culminating in a MAC title defense April 26-28 in Indiana.

After a long wait due to weather, the Huskie Baseball team plays at home for the first time this season this Friday (April 5^th) at Ralph McKinzie Field at Walt and Janice Owens Park. The “road warriors” are 6-6 in the MAC and have matched last year’s win total. Softball is coming off a series win in its first home MAC weekend as they look to build momentum with 11 home games versus league opponents left on the schedule. The NIU Track & Field team also competes at home this season when the Huskies host the MAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which will be held at the NIU Track & Field/Soccer Complex from May 9-11.

Whether it’s baseball, softball, tennis, track and field, the Spring Showcase or the SEF Huskie Royale, I hope to see YOU at a Huskie event this spring!

Go Huskies!

Sean T. Frazier

NIU Vice President/Director of Athletics and Recreation