|
|
Comparable Schools'
Athletics Grades:
Quick StatsAthletic Division
NCAA Division I
Conference
Mid-American Conference (MAC)
School Colors
Scarlet and white
School Mascot
Victor E. Huskie
Men Playing Varsity Sports
255 - 3 %
Women Playing Varsity Sports
165 - 2 %
College Prowler Take
Athletics at NIU begin and end with the football team, and luckily, there have been a lot of happy endings lately. The football team recently played and won its first bowl game in more than 20 years. They have been building considerable momentum with high-profile victories over big programs like Maryland and Alabama. It would be nice if they could beat Toledo and Bowling Green consistently, but the MAC is a tough, underrated conference that has produced NFL stars like Daunte Culpepper, Chad Pennington, and Byron Leftwich. Football eclipses all other sports at NIU. The wrestling team has a national reputation but doesn’t receive much attention, and the less that is said about the basketball teams the better. Intramurals are generally a non-factor in student life, except for the gym rats who live for tournaments at the rec center.
In terms of school spirit, NIU students are decidedly fair-weather fans. Unless the football team is competitive, devotion to sports on campus is sub-par, with the basketball teams consistently failing to draw crowds despite playing in a beautiful facility like the Convocation Center. The school has even struggled to sell out the student section for nationally televised games when the team is doing well. However, the diehards are fanatical and rowdy, even touting some players for the Heisman. Too bad there aren’t more of them. Students Speak Out
Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
Anonymous says:  |
It would be really something if...
It would be really something if the teams that played in the Convocation Center were of the same quality as the building they are playing in. They aren’t, though. Both basketball teams suck, although the games are sometimes fun to attend. |
Anonymous says: |
The football team has been...
The football team has been improving in the past few years, and games are a blast. The volleyball team is a solid squad, but under appreciated. The basketball team is a team that I wouldn’t expect to see playing in the NCAA tourney any time soon. As for intramural sports, they’re pretty big. There are a lot of different sports offered at any given time. |
Anonymous says: |
The football team has beaten...
The football team has beaten Maryland and Alabama recently and got to play Michigan, so the program is really going places. However, the MAC conference doesn’t get many bowl bids, so it’s very rare for them to be playing in January. |
Anonymous says: |
The football stadium is way better...
The football stadium is way better than many of the other MAC stadiums, and the team draws good crowds. The team is pretty good, and a few former players are actually playing in the NFL now. |
Anonymous says: |
They could do a much better job of...
They could do a much better job of promoting intramurals. Unless you make the effort, you are not going to hear about what’s going on. I couldn’t tell you anything about them other than that basketball is pretty popular. |
FactsMen's Varsity Sports
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Wrestling
Women's Varsity Sports
- Basketball
- Cross country
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and field
- Volleyball
Intramurals
- Badminton (singles, doubles)
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Dodgeball
- Flag football
- Floor hockey
- Golf
- Racquetball
- Shotokan Karate
- Soccer (indoor)
- Softball
- Table tennis
- Tennis
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
- Yahtzee
Club Sports
- Aikido
- Baseball
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu
- Equestrian
- Fencing
- Ice hockey
- Kodokan judo
- Kyuki-do
- Lacrosse (Men's)
- Rugby (Men's & Women's)
- Soccer (Men's)
- Swimming
- Table tennis
- Tennis
- Triathlon
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball (Men's)
- Water polo
- Waterskiing & wakeboarding
Gyms and Facilities
- Anderson Courts - Located next to Anderson Hall, there are six tennis courts that see heavy use.
- Chick Evans Field House - Once the home to NIU’s basketball teams, this facility serves as a nice alternative to the often-crowded Recreation Center, with two basketball and volleyball courts and two floor hockey and indoor soccer courts.
- Convocation Center - The current home to NIU’s basketball teams, the Convocation Center has a capacity of 10,000 and is a testament to NIU’s tremendous growth over the years. In the lower levels of the stadium, Victor E. Court serves as a practice facility.
- Recreation Center - Well maintained, with an excellent staff, the Recreation Center is very popular among NIU students. Its features include eight multipurpose courts, a well-stocked weight room, and a lengthy track.
Athletic Fields
Huskie Soccer Field, Huskie Stadium, Mary M. Bell Field, Ralph McKinzie Field
Getting Tickets
Getting tickets to NIU sporting events is easy, especially since only the football team draws huge crowds. Football tickets are free to students and can be picked up at either the Holmes Student Center or the Convocation Center during the week before a game.
Most Popular Sports
On the varsity level, football is a dominant presence on campus. When the team is playing well, it’s all anybody can talk about. Games are well attended, and tailgating is an essential part of the collegiate experience. Women’s volleyball games are a lot of fun to attend for a variety of reasons. Intramural sports don’t get that much attention, but basketball tournaments at the Recreation Center are highly competitive.
Most Overlooked Teams
The wrestling team is perhaps NIU’s most consistent winner but rarely generates the media coverage and fan attention that the football team does. They frequently find themselves ranked in the top 25.
Best Place to Take a Walk
The East Lagoon, Welsh Park, and the indoor track in the NIU Recreation Center.
Write for Us! College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating
the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally
recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is
really like at your college. Read more >
|
|
