I’ll admit it. When I heard last week that I had to walk all the way to the Convocation Center to get my ticket for the Iowa State game, I was less than thrilled.

That feeling seemed to be shared by many on campus. Just more than 5,100 of the 6,000 free tickets allotted for students were picked up. More than 5,900 students were at the Maryland game, according to the NIU ticket office.

After my initial laziness, a couple of friends and I decided to make the trek to the arena to get our tickets. I considered it worth it.

In return for walking the five minutes it takes to get from the residence halls to the Convocation Center, I got to watch one of the best college football teams in the country – No. 17 to be exact – take on more than a worthy opponent in Iowa State.

In other words, I have no sympathy for those who complain about having to walk to pick up their tickets. Students must understand that the days of rolling out of bed and going to a Saturday afternoon game are over.

Which would students prefer? Rolling out of bed, grabbing the student ID and strolling over to Huskie Stadium to watch an NIU team that will get pummeled, or taking a few minutes out of the day to walk to pick up tickets in advance and watching a team that can beat Maryland, Alabama, Iowa State and who knows who else?

I’ll take the latter.

For those who weren’t around, losing records used to be common at NIU. The administration was almost begging people to come to the stadium only a few years ago. Hop aboard a time machine and travel back to 1996-1997, where the Huskies combined for a whopping 1-21-0 record over two seasons. Here is a college football world where NIU beating Alabama would be an absurdity.

This year’s team already has won more games than Novak did in his first three years coaching.

As for those who don’t live fairly close to the Convocation Center, I’m confident that everyone knows someone on campus who owns a car. Get dropped off or take the bus. For true fans, it’s worth it.

Those whining about walking should be thankful they still get their tickets free. Compared to other top 25-ranked schools, Huskie students have it made. No. 23 Iowa is one of the cheapest schools for tickets in the Big Ten, with student costs at $12.50 a game. The University of Illinois charges $17 for students, a hefty fee for an Illini team that boasts a record of 1-4.

With the rest of the nation focusing on the successes of not only the Huskies, but the entire MAC, it’s time students lose their apathetic attitude and pick up their free tickets. If the team is to be respected as a quality football program, the fans should have to pick up the slack as well.

My advice to would-be Huskie fans: Walk the walk; get your tickets.