Players are professionals first, and students second. If that.

We have a minor league football team attached to the university. Let's not pretend things are like they used to be.

If I'm wrong, and our players are students, then we won't be able to win.

If NIU can pull off a good season, many of those "NIU students" will be "students" at other schools next year. They are mercenaries, not "lads" or "students." And I say that without judgement of them. Who can blame them? Unfortunately, it destroys all that we loved about college football.