After NIU’s first football victory over a Big Ten Conference school last Saturday at Wisconsin, many people are showing more enthusiasm than ever. Matt Miller is extending his duty even further.

The junior transfer student from College of DuPage is trying to organize a weekly pep rally for the Huskies, and while the event started as a small idea, it may be growing into a campus organization.

“I think Northern (the football team) deserves more support than it is getting,” said Miller, president of the Program Activities Committee at Grant Towers South.

“I went to (Director of Promotions and Marketing) Mary Mihelich to present my idea, and she was willing to help, but I was told I needed to be backed by a student organization.”

So Miller turned to the Student Association. SA Vice President Greg Bliss told Miller they would be glad to help in the program and provided names of various campus groups.

“We’re thrilled and love his enthusiasm,” Mihelich said about Miller’s idea. “The problem is that it’s more than having people getting together.

“He had suggested a pep rally at 9 p.m. on Thursday night, but that is really hard to ask since everyone is leaving Friday morning for Minnesota.

“He had suggested a bon fire but I told him Wednesdays between noon and 1 p.m. at the King Commons might be better. It is the lunch hour for administrators. At night, it might be hard to get people.

“A program like this is for success. You don’t want the team or the band or the cheerleaders there and then have 20 students show up.”

While Mihelich said she would “love to see it happen,” she also admitted this is a tough time to help out since Parents’ Day and Homecoming are just around the corner.

“I can’t switch gears now with the huge projects coming up,” Mihelich said. “I can support his efforts but not in two days.”