The old training adage “no pain, no gain” apparently refers to football scheduling too.

In order to move into the big time of college football, the NIU athletics hierarchy decided that NIU should play big-time programs.

The cost might be numbers like Nebraska 60, NIU 14 (a result from last year’s schedule), but the benefit can be found in exposure and in some other numbers.

Numbers like $100,000 to $200,000—the amount a school like NIU will be guaranteed in exchange for a single football game against a national power in a 70,000-seat stadium.

The 1991 schedule features two preseason AP Top-20 programs, Iowa (ranked No. 18) and Florida (No. 5).

“You have to play quality competition if you’re to be recognized by your peers,” NIU Athletic Director Gerald O’Dell said. “If we played three or four Division I-AA schools it doesn’t help us.

“One of our goals is to have a balanced schedule and we have certain criteria,” O’Dell said.

O’Dell listed NIU’s three main scheduling criteria: 1—”It’s vitally important for our growth to play teams with a national image.” 2—”We want to play teams that are similar in size and scope to us, especially Independents.” 3—”To enhance our home schedule. That’s the most difficult factor because of our facilities,” he said.

O’Dell cited the condition of those facilities as being the main hindrance to an improved schedule in all sports.

“All of our facilities were in deplorable condition, the baseball field was an eyesore. (But) we plan to keep working on generating funds for renovations,” O’Dell said.

As for the tough road games, O’Dell denies that the large financial guarantees are the main motive for scheduling national powers.

“We don’t use guarantee money for operations—we’re not forced to play people for money,” he said.

O’Dell sees a conference affiliation, with a resulting set schedule, in NIU’s future.

“Conference affiliation is critical to long-term growth but our facilities don’t allow us those opportunities right now,” O’Dell said.

Football coach Charlie Sadler feels NIU should be cautious about any move from the Independent ranks.

“Maybe I’m hard-headed. I wouldn’t mind being in a conference, but I don’t want to be in just any conference,” Salder said.

Another factor in scheduling is the new NCAA regulations outlining requirements for an institution to retain its Division I status. One of the requirements is playing a minimum number of games against Division I teams.

O’Dell said NIU is committed to continue it’s current scheduling policies (schedules are planned as far as 10 years in advance) for the near future.

“We don’t go in to lose,” O’Dell said. “We have to play the best. If you don’t, you’ll be criticized as being second-rate.