NIU Intercollegiate Athletics has named Tom Mitchell as Associate Athletic Director for Development and Tommy Bell as Assistant Athletic Director of Chapter Development, Athletic Director Gerald K. O'Dell announced Oct. 22. "We're positioning ourselves...

Six former Huskies will be inducted into NIU's Hall of Fame Oct. 5 as part of the 83rd Homecoming weekend festivities, but there will be no celebrating by some former NIU male gymnasts. Allegations have surfaced that members of the men's gymnastics program...

Coach Spanky McFarland jumped the first hurdle in the building of the baseball program on Friday. McFarland now has an official team to coach. The team consists of 32 players and is top-heavy in the pitching department. "I kept 15 pitchers," McFarland...

A colleague of mine was telling me yesterday that she didn't see the appeal of boxing. "The sport of boxing is really stupid because if you want to watch two people beat the hell out of each other, go to Chicago and watch a street fight," the co-worker...

Baseball tryouts for the 1990-91 squad have turned into a numbers game. Of the 187 players who began the tryouts last week, only 60 are still seeing some hope for their Huskies baseball careers. Head coach Spanky MacFarland expects to dim the picture...

Dropping a successful program is never easy for an athletic director. But, in the case of men's gymnastics last year, the decision came easy for O'Dell. As a requirement to join the Association of Mid-Continent Universities now called the Mid-Continent...

Over 150 students began their quest Tuesday for a spot on the 1990 NIU baseball team. Everyone came out with the same intentions, but the reasons they came out is what made the situation unique. It's more than just trying out for a baseball team. "Hopefully,...

Home sweet home takes on a new meaning for NIU athletes, coaches and fans, who will find their "homes" have been remodeled or newly constructed. It's all a part of NIU's renovation and expansion of athletic facilities. The first two of four phases in...

It isn't heaven or even Iowa, but NIU has its own field of dreams brewing thanks to new head baseball coach Joe "Spanky" McFarland. It is a field of dreams filled with uncertainty and challenges, but McFarland is ready. McFarland likes a challenge. "Starting...

NIU soccer coach Willy Roy's 1989 squad accomplished a feat that has always been elusive in the world of sports: they retired as champions. Last season's 14-4-2 mark, a record for most NIU soccer victories, was capped off by a 2-1 win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee...

The 1990 NIU Softball season hasn't even started yet and the accolades are already coming in. Senior physical education major, and Huskie softball catcher, Julie Sexton will be presented with her 1990 GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America award during the halftime...

HELP WANTED: Baseball players. Some travel, no heavy lifting required. EOE. Contact Spanky McFarland at NIU. New NIU baseball coach Spanky McFarland hasn't yet resorted to taking out the above ad, but that's not because he doesn't need the help. McFarland,...