March 30, 2007

DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois fans are invited to "chow down" at the HASF Tailgate Showdown prior to the NIU Football Spring Game on Saturday, April 21 at Huskie Stadium. The Tailgate Showdown, a competition to determine the best Huskie tailgate team, kicks off at 10 a.m. on the West Side of Huskie Stadium and will close just before kickoff of the Spring Game at 1 p.m.

The Tailgate Showdown will feature 14 teams of cookers who will share their favorite tailgating recipes and food samples with fans in attendance. Fans will be able to sample the fare at each of the 14 stops and then vote for their favorites in several categories, including Best Huskie Tailgaters, Best Huskie Theme, Best Huskie Cook and Best Huskie Spirit. The winners will be announced and presented with their awards at the conclusion of the event. Cost to join in the fun of the HASF Tailgate Showdown is $10 per person and includes all food, plus drinks (including soda, water and beer).

All proceeds from the Tailgate Showdown benefit the Huskie Athletic Scholarship Fund, the primary direct support organization for NIU Athletics. The HASF provides all 17 NIU sports and 486 student-athletes with the resources to enable them to be successful while they represent the Huskies while giving every student-athlete a world-class experience.

The Northern Illinois Spring Game, which marks the end of 2007 spring practices, will begin at 1 p.m. at Huskie Stadium. The West side of the stadium will be open and admission to the game is free.

Prior to and during the game, NIU Athletics will hold a "Select a Seat" event with the top 100 available season ticket seats in the stadium marked. Fans will be able to purchase those exact seats or any other available seat for 2007 at the Huskie Stadium Ticket Office on Saturday.

Season tickets are available for just $95 for five exciting games at Huskie Stadium in 2007, while faculty and staff, senior citizens and varsity club members can purchase season tickets for just $79 each. Northern Illinois alumni who have graduated within the past five years receive a "Young Alumni" discount and can purchase season tickets for the amazing value of just $50.

In addition, fans will be able to order tickets to the NIU season opener at Soldier Field on Sept. 1 versus Iowa at the spring game.

For more information on the HASF Tailgate Showdown, go on-line at www.niuhuskies.com and click the Spring Game button on the front page, or call the HASF Office at 815-753-1923.

-- NIU --