For the first time since 1995 the UNI-Dome will be sold out when the Panthers host Southern Illinois in their annual homecoming game. UNI is 5-0 and this will be only the second home game of the season. Panther coach Mark Farley says this is the level they’ve been trying to attain with the program. He says a lot of people have worked to get it to that level, mainly the players and the way they’ve played on the field.
Both teams are unbeaten. The Panthers are ranked second nationally while Southern Illinois is seventh. Farley says after being away from home for four weeks, and then coming home to play an undefeated team is the best thing for fans.
UNI athletic director Rick Hartzell says they will have some added parking and shuttles to help accommodate the large crowd. Hartzell says they will also put the game on the video screen in the McCleod Center for anyone who can’t get in.
Hartzell says the game sold out so early because of the response from UNI students. He says selling 4,000 season tickets means you don’t have to sell as many tickets to the public to get a sell out. Hartzell says a lot of people didn’t believe they could sell out. "But when you’ve got the best football team in the state, you should sell the building out. Right?," Hartzell says.