Hundreds of students at the Carl Sandburg Auditorium bellowed a collective groan Thursday as a 36-yard touchdown pass in the closing seconds burst the bubble on the 2005 season for NIU football.

A pin drop could be heard as silence replaced cheers when students filed out of the Student Affairs event.

Students sharply dressed for an adjoining winter formal mixed with students in their free red T-shirts. Both groups collapsed into agony as Luke Getsy found Domenik Hixon in the Ford Field end zone to give Akron its first MAC title and a 31-30 victory.

“They went to their best player and we couldn’t defend it,” freshman psychology major Stephanie Reilly said.

Students rode an emotional rollercoaster in a fourth quarter that saw Akron outscore NIU 21-6. Chest bumps and high fives were replaced with a tense confidence that permeated throughout the auditorium as Akron continued its push in the fourth quarter.

“I’m so tense right now; I’ve been waiting forever for this game,” freshman corporate communication major Sean Erickson said. “I’m that big of a fan. I’m a third generation NIU student.”

A table of free food and the chance to see life-size players projected enticed students to attend.

“We got a real small TV at my place,” freshman business major John Smith said. “I came here to watch the game on the big screen.”

Child development major Rita Nesbitt said she would have gone to the game if it wasn’t for a project due in her child nutrition class.

Midway through the third quarter Pat Reichel, president of the Inter Fraternity Council, took the stage and led prep rally-like cheers. The auditorium took on all the life of the east side bleachers.

“This is a great event – something we can build on in the future,” the second term president and athletic training major said. “Hopefully we can be in the MAC Championship next year.”