Empty bleachers are the norm at the NIU Soccer Complex and the athletics department might have shot itself in the foot.

In what might be one of the biggest sports days in Huskie history, the athletic department decided to line up football’s game against Temple and the soccer match against No. 1 Akron just hours apart.

No doubt Huskie Stadium will be packed for a potential MAC Championship prequel, but will fans, students especially, be filled with enough energy to attend both?

Hopes are high in the soccer camp.

“My hope is that we’re going to get at least 1,000 people, and I think with some luck we can get 1,500 and with some real luck maybe even close to 2,000,” said NIU head coach Eric Luzzi.

With a capacity of just under 2,000, that might be a tall order.

Attendance here in DeKalb has broken 500 just twice since the 2005 season. The first came in 2006 against Loyola in the opening round of the NCAA tournament where 500 piled in and the other came in 2008 against Akron with 570.

The athletics department is muscling together all of its resources and have come up with a few ways to try and improve the experience for everyone.

Rumor is that even more seating will be available come game time and students who want a more intimate setting will get just that.

Temporary seating will be set up behind one of the goal lines and that will add somewhere in the ballpark of 600 to the seating capacity.

A reverse tailgate is even being tried as tailgating will be executed in-between the games.

“I think it’s awesome,” Luzzi said. “We are really appreciative of all the work that our athletic department has put in to try and cross promote the game and the reverse tailgate and get people there after football.”

Even with all of the promotions, it’s still hard to believe that the general NIU sports fan, who most likely doesn’t watch or enjoy soccer, will be drawn into this game after a night of partying and an early football game.

Prove me wrong students, and fight off your hangover with what should be a great soccer match.