Every team receives gifts for participating in a bowl game, Krupica said.

“You get ‘x’ number because there’s a limit that the NCAA says you can give,” he said.

When participating in the Poinsettia Bowl, NIU went over this limit, as it gave players, coaches, donors and friends team gifts. In 2006 these gifts were an iPod Nano, an iPod Nano case, men’s/women’s watches, sweatshirt and ski cap. These gifts cost $12,000.

At the Independence Bowl, all members of the NIU football team received a Timely Watch Co. watch, New Era cap and Trek mountain bike.

Williams said the bikes were given to the players through a sponsor of the bowl, and were not paid for by NIU.

He thought, however, NIU paid $13,000 for the other gifts.

“I know that we got some things for the team… it’s on the budget, it was $13,000 on our budget. So something should be there somewhere, unless they ordered it through the I-Bowl,” Williams said. “I know what it was because I have it down at $13,000.”

Upon review, however, Williams said in an e-mail NIU did not spend any money on these gifts, although he had a budget for them.

Krupica said NIU did spend some money on gifts, but did not have a number.

“We spent a little bit, but not a fair amount beyond our complimentary packages,” he said. “That was to really take care of our staff and the folks who worked hard.”

Student packages

NIU offered a package for students that included a round trip bus fare, two nights in a hotel and ticket to the game at a total cost of $125. The bus for this package cost NIU $6,200, but half of that cost was split with the Student Association, Williams said. The lodging cost NIU another $6,435.72.

These costs are less than what NIU incurred from the student packages it put together for the Poinsettia Bowl. In 2006, the athletic department spent $44,000 on helping students get to and stay in San Diego.

After the Poinsettia Bowl, Williams said he thought NIU would no longer provide student packages because they were too expensive. He said, however, that NIU was able to do student packages for the Independence Bowl because the university was able to send students to the game on a bus instead of a plane.

“When you can use a bus when compared to buying an airline ticket, it’s a lot cheaper. That was the biggest thing,” Williams said. “I think the time and the date of the bowl had a big impact. This bowl is right at the holiday, so I think it had an impact there.”

Continue reading this story by clicking on part eight.