STRENGTHENING THE POSITION. Northern Illinois University lost money on the International Bowl.

The NIU athletic department incurred a loss of $271,152 from the football team’s participation in the International Bowl. This deficit will be covered by the internal athletic department fund. One way this fund has been developed is by playing “guaranteed games” against opponents like Wisconsin, Tennessee and Minnesota.

The guarantee, a payment from a program with a bigger stadium and stronger attendance, is not necessarily a bought win for those teams any more.