To all the incoming freshman at Northern Illinois University, I offer you these suggestions in an attempt in making your first year as a Huskie a good one.

I’m not offering the best schemes to ditch class or the locations of elaborate party spots.

Instead, these five suggestions are brought to you in hopes of making you a better NIU sports fan.

1) Don’t wear other college apparel to games: The key words here are logic and school pride. Do you really want to be the guy wearing his knock-off Brady Quinn Notre Dame jersey at Huskie Stadium? I’d hope not. Perhaps your parents or other relatives graduated from another college and you love to rock the sweater they got you many Christmases ago. But, once you’re in Huskie country, leave your blood ties and family obligations at the door. It doesn’t cost an arm and a hand to get a shirt let alone get together with your friends and have an arts and craft session and make your own shirts.

2) Avoid parking in Jerry Kill’s Fatty’s parking spot: Presumably, you won’t be doing any drinking within the bar scene in DeKalb. However, if you decide to indulge in NIU’s best bar food, don’t swipe the head football coach’s V.I.P. spot. If you’re looking to get a few laughs from your friends than expect some frowns from the angry folks who don’t take kind to any form of disrespect towards their favorite football coach. Kill is kind and warm at heart, but if you mess with the man’s stomach and appetite he might just have you running wind sprints at 6 a.m.

3) No tomahawk chants: This isn’t Turner Field and you won’t be seeing any special appearances from any of the Atlanta Braves. Some fans attempt to get this arm bending motion to spread like the cheesy wave after the Huskies get a first down. No, no and no. The roaring of “oooooo” throughout the crowd goes with this as well. There are plenty of alternative chanting solutions and if you can’t think of one besides the tomahawk chant then you should be stripped of your foam finger privileges.

4) Create your own favorite player section: The Philadelphia Phillies routinely did this in the early 2000s by showing affection towards their players. Harnish’s herd, Coffman’s cluster, Silas’ soldiers; the possibilities are endless. Just make sure you come up with one that is fitting and obviously appropriate.

5) Try to make it out to at least one game for every team: This final recommendation might be the toughest to fulfill with crammed studying and attempts at making friends. Besides the beloved football team, our other teams seem to not have a strong base. Head over to Victor E. Huskie Court and watch head coach Ray Gooden and the lady Huskie volleyball team or wander to Ralph McKinzie Field and enjoy a day in the sun and watch the men’s baseball team. Going to multiple sporting events offers a chance for you to meet new people while getting acclimated with the teams you hopefully plan to follow and cheer for the next four years.