OT: NIU giving away free student tickets to Orange Bowl

52 posts / 0 new
Login or register to post comments
Last post
December 3rd, 2012 at 12:57 PM
#1
MikeCohodes
MikeCohodes's picture
Joined: 08/28/2012
MGoPoints: 1277
OT: NIU giving away free student tickets to Orange Bowl

Whether you think NIU should be in the Orange Bowl or not (for the record I'm in the not category) you gotta at least admire their Athletic Dept for doing a rather cool thing: they are giving their student tickets to the students for free. (story LINK)

The catches:  1 free ticket per valid student, you have to register in advance on a first-come first-serve basis, and you have to present ID to pick up your ticket in Miami on game day.

Apparently this is something they have been doing for awhile now, they've done this for the past 5 bowl games NIU has been invited to.

I cannot find if this is open to NIU grad students or only undergraduates (I am a grad student, working on my MBA there) but I would not be able to go as I do not have the money for airfare and a hotel anyways.

But for real though, how cool is this? NIU doesn't need some rich donor donating $375k to make this happen like ND, they just do it.  How can we get Dave Brandon to do the same thing?

Twitter:  @MikeCohodes

My Blog - posts on movies, tv, and books; politics; and fatherhood  Updates minimum 3x a week

Top
Tags:

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
December 3rd, 2012 at 12:59 PM | the (Score:5 Normal)
jaggs
jaggs's picture
Joined: 02/03/2009
MGoPoints: 2443

A nice gesture but I think tickets will be basically free to public if you look to buy in the week before gameday. Going to be one empty stadium.

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:00 PM | DB has opposite reaction (Score:5 Normal)
jshclhn
jshclhn's picture
Joined: 09/12/2010
MGoPoints: 495

I think Dave Brandon's reaction to the story would be the opposite: hmm, I wonder how I can charge students more?

Crunch. Zip. Live to fight another day.

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:10 PM | Say what you want, but (Score:5 Normal)
a2_electricboogaloo
a2_electricboogaloo's picture
Joined: 04/21/2011
MGoPoints: 4028

Say what you want, but student tickets are very reasonably priced.  For example, I got my student ticket for the Alabama game for $50, and my seat was at the about the 7 yard line, 5th row up.

USING GRATUITOUS AMOUNTS OF CAPS LOCK SINCE APRIL 2011

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:03 PM | OSU students should get free (Score:5 Normal)
Bombadil
Bombadil's picture
Joined: 01/22/2011
MGoPoints: 692

OSU students should get free tickets as well since they put NIU in a BCS game.

December 3rd, 2012 at 4:12 PM | ...and Louisville (Score:1)
whitedawg
Joined: 07/08/2008
MGoPoints: 706

Terrelle Pryor did his part, but NIU also is in a BCS bowl thanks to the Big East, since Louisville finished behind NIU in the BCS standings.

On that note, who thought it was a good idea to guarantee a non-AQ school a bid if they finished 16th or better and higher than a conference champion?  By definition, a team ranked 16th in the BCS standings will be behind at least 7 other teams who don't make a BCS game.  Why would the non-AQ team deserve automatic priority over an AQ team (or vice versa)?  And if you want to give the non-AQ team to have some priority, why not limit it to teams in the top 10 or so?  As Boise State/TCU/Hawaii have proven, a non-AQ team that goes undefeated (or even has one loss, with a decent SOS) will certainly be in the top 10.

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:03 PM | i'll have to ask my NIU (Score:5 Normal)
oriental andrew
oriental andrew's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 4555

i'll have to ask my NIU friends if they're excited at all about the Orange Bowl.  Most of them don't really follow husky football.  In fact, a few of them are bigger Illini fans. 

For my privacy, my new username is "non-Oriental non-Andrew"
 

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:03 PM | Cool thing (Score:3 Normal)
JeepinBen
JeepinBen's picture
Joined: 01/22/2010
MGoPoints: 9542

Considering how much money teams lose on typical bowls, I wonder if a school with a relatively small AD operating budget comes out way ahead by making a BCS bowl, taking that chunk of cash, and if they'll actually make money this way (even by not charging for student tickets)

"Over? Did you say, over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!"

December 4th, 2012 at 3:08 AM | no, they lose. (Score:2)
DeathToTheBCS
Joined: 02/16/2011
MGoPoints: 274

after the MAC splits its 18mil payout evenly with 12 teams (UMass is not getting any due to them being in transition year), the money spent on travel, hotel, marketing, and the 17500 mandated ticket allottment (of which they are giving away alot of them and will not even sell half of them) they will lose close to $2m, if not more, to go to the orange bowl.

 

but the AD and every one of the coaches will get huge bowl and bcs bowl bonuses for getting there.

 

the killer for the small programs is that they cannot sell the 17500 tickets they are forced to buy. even the major programs lose money on bowl games because they cannot compete with stubhub in selling the tickets they are forced to by at a certain price. so they still have to eat the tickets not sold.

Wherever you go, Go Blue!

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:05 PM | Is it now a requirement that (Score:4 Normal)
State Street
State Street's picture
Joined: 07/09/2011
MGoPoints: 1117

Is it now a requirement that every thread somehow tie DB into it?  On these boards, DB < Abu Nazir.

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:13 PM | yeah I know, but (Score:1)
MikeCohodes
MikeCohodes's picture
Joined: 08/28/2012
MGoPoints: 1277

how do you do a post about another school's athletic dept and not compare it to ours under DB? At least it's a logical mention of DB and not a totally random one.

Twitter:  @MikeCohodes

My Blog - posts on movies, tv, and books; politics; and fatherhood  Updates minimum 3x a week

December 3rd, 2012 at 3:01 PM | Spoilers (Score:1)
thisisme08
thisisme08's picture
Joined: 12/02/2008
MGoPoints: 1464

Thanks, there goes Season 3's plot line........jerk.

 

/s

Blue is Faster

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:06 PM | Law of supply and demand (Score:2 Normal)
aratman
Joined: 10/02/2010
MGoPoints: 264

While I am sure both students that are going to the game are very excited about the free tickets, they are paying for there alotment of tickets either way.  I wonder how much NIU is paying for the empty seats.

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:08 PM | . (Score:1)
TBMWolverine
TBMWolverine's picture
Joined: 10/06/2009
MGoPoints: 120

This is why: http://www.businessinsider.com/uconns-bcs-bowl-bound-football-team-will-cost-connecticut-taxpayers-millions-2010-12

They're just giving up on selling the tickets right away. They would have to buy their allotment anyways.

"Urban Meyer has really put a strong wall of recruitment around the state of Ohio. No leaks anywhere." -Nobody

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:09 PM | this is a joke of a game. the (Score:4 Normal)
russale2012
russale2012's picture
Joined: 11/30/2011
MGoPoints: 2668

this is a joke of a game. the bcs totally dropped the ball on this. i'd take oklahoma over frickin niu every day of the week. but the orange bowl has had a tendency to be a joke of a game the past few years. why stop now? even fsu shouldn't be able to screw this game up.

It's been a lot. Its been a roller coaster that for some reason seemed like it would never get good. But you know what? We kept fighting. It's like that old saying goes, "Those Who Stay Will Be Champions." -David Molk

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:13 PM | It's arguably not worse than other BCS picks (Score:4 Normal)
Erik_in_Dayton
Erik_in_Dayton's picture
Joined: 12/03/2008
MGoPoints: 6784

Wisconsin has five losses.  FSU has no real quality wins.  The selection of NIU is only one of several dubious selections. 

It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra

                         

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:15 PM | All the more reason (Score:1)
MikeCohodes
MikeCohodes's picture
Joined: 08/28/2012
MGoPoints: 1277

a playoff cannot get to this sport soon enough!

Twitter:  @MikeCohodes

My Blog - posts on movies, tv, and books; politics; and fatherhood  Updates minimum 3x a week

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:21 PM | Except the playoff would have fixed none of that. (Score:5 Normal)
M-Wolverine
M-Wolverine's picture
Joined: 10/04/2009
MGoPoints: 38880

ND, Bama, Florida and Oregon are already in the BCS bowls.  And the Rose would still be Wisconsin vs. Stanford.

I think people are going to be sorely disappointed in the magic elixir a playoff will actually be.

"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:23 PM | I'm holding out hope (Score:1)
MikeCohodes
MikeCohodes's picture
Joined: 08/28/2012
MGoPoints: 1277

that the playoff will expand to 8 teams before long. That would've probably avoided this matchup right?

Twitter:  @MikeCohodes

My Blog - posts on movies, tv, and books; politics; and fatherhood  Updates minimum 3x a week

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:28 PM | I am hoping against the move to eight (Score:5 Normal)
Erik_in_Dayton
Erik_in_Dayton's picture
Joined: 12/03/2008
MGoPoints: 6784

At that point the benchmark will be "Does Team X deserve to be in the playoff?" like is is now for basketball and not "Does Team X have a legitimate claim to being the No. 1 team in the country?"  The regular season will be greatly devalued at that point, as will the non-playoff bowls (though they already will be b/c of the four-team playoff). 

It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra

                         

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:43 PM | To Hell with the Regular Season (Score:0 Overrated)
December 3rd, 2012 at 2:02 PM | Michigan this year is a great argument against 8 teams (Score:5 Normal)
Erik_in_Dayton
Erik_in_Dayton's picture
Joined: 12/03/2008
MGoPoints: 6784

Michigan had its chances against three of the best teams in the country and lost each time.  Why give them a chance to play ND, Alabama, or OSU again?  People treat a playoff as if it's more definitive than a regular season game, but why is that so?  The winner of a tournament is nothing more or less than the winner of  a tournament - it's not necessarily the best team.

College football is special in large part because a game in September can be as important as a game at the end of the year (that and rivalries).  Take that away, add a dash of conference realignment that matches up teams like Nebraska & Maryland, and college football is nothing but the NFL, Jr. 

It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra

                         

December 3rd, 2012 at 2:21 PM | "People treat a playoff as if (Score:1 Overrated)
RONick
Joined: 02/04/2009
MGoPoints: 656

"People treat a playoff as if it's more definitive than a regular season game, but why is that so?  The winner of a tournament is nothing more or less than the winner of  a tournament - it's not necessarily the best team. "

I'm going to argue against your straw man and say that the idea of a playoff isn't to decide the "best" team.  It is an opportunity to give the best teams an opportunity to prove it on the field.  Human voters and computers probably can get much closer to getting the top 6-8 teams correct than they can the top two.  At least there is a little bit more wiggle room since the 7th best or 9th best teams have a much weaker argument that they deserve a chance.

December 3rd, 2012 at 2:33 PM | At the risk of going round and round (Score:4 Normal)
Erik_in_Dayton
Erik_in_Dayton's picture
Joined: 12/03/2008
MGoPoints: 6784

Teams already have a chance to prove it on the field.  LSU, Georgia, South Carolina, KSU, Stanford (I'm picking teams whom I think would be left out of a four-team playoff this year) all had their chances on the field and didn't come through at one point or another. 

It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra

                         

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:48 PM | Well, I thought you were talking about the playoff (Score:2 Normal)
M-Wolverine
M-Wolverine's picture
Joined: 10/04/2009
MGoPoints: 38880

that is coming.  And it's speculative what an 8 team playoff would be like, and where'd they play.  So I don't know if it would solve any of these problems. What makes one think that a playoff with 8 teams wouldn't have an anti-trust requirement to allow a non-qualifier team in if they had a certain rank? And we've already seen the Big Ten and Pac-12 protect the Rose Bowl, so I'm not sure that keeps Wisconsin out.  Not to mention the multitude of problems it creates on top of that which are already pointed out.

"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk

December 3rd, 2012 at 2:16 PM | As far as the requirements for allowing other teams in... (Score:2 Normal)
justingoblue
justingoblue's picture
Joined: 11/16/2010
MGoPoints: 10886

I'm always confused about this. If the Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Pac and BXII decide to form a league and play a series of postseason games against each other, is that an antitrust issue? I can't for the life of me understand how that's any different than AHL or KHL teams not getting a shot to play for the Stanley Cup, or how Western Michigan can't play for the Big Ten championship.

Go Blue!

December 3rd, 2012 at 4:29 PM | I'm not sure there is a legit issue. (Score:3 Normal)
M-Wolverine
M-Wolverine's picture
Joined: 10/04/2009
MGoPoints: 38880

It's more the threat of an issue that keeps them in line.  I don't know that if the Senator from Utah decided to try and bring hearings in front of Congress because Utah State was left out that any law they put out would even be upheld.  Or frankly, passed. But they don't want the fight, or more importantly, all the scrutiny. Because then people look at how "professional" the "amateur" NCAA treats all those $$$$. And they don't want that spotlight.  But the opening to make noise about it is there because unlike the NHL, these are mostly "public" universities receiving tax dollars. So that gives them an in to "protect our interests." (i.e., grandstanding)

"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk

December 3rd, 2012 at 4:14 PM | FSU's win over Clemson is (Score:1)
whitedawg
Joined: 07/08/2008
MGoPoints: 706

FSU's win over Clemson is more impressive than NIU's entire schedule put together (which is saying far more about NIU's strength of schedule than about Clemson).

December 3rd, 2012 at 2:33 PM | The BCS did nothing wrong. (Score:3 Normal)
User -not THAT user
User -not THAT user's picture
Joined: 06/05/2012
MGoPoints: 364

They honored the rules that were set at the beginning of the season.

If you want to tell me the rules are whack, that's fine.  But it's not NIU's fault that the level of competition in FBS play (particularly the B1G, unfortunately) is so godawful this year that they end up ranked in a position to be overcompensated for what was "a nice little season" in the MAC because there weren't enough other good teams in the BCS conferences to keep them out of the Top 16.

The worst thing about this isn't that it leaves "Big Game Bob" and the Sooners out of the BCS...it's that it effectively wrecks two bowls; the Orange (which with a Big East-ACC tie-in was always going to suck ANYWAY) AND the Sugar, which gets stuck with the Big East champ against one-loss ESS EEE SEE lurker Florida.

But again, them's the rules.  And the "playoff" we've got coming in 2014 isn't necessarily going to be any better. 

December 3rd, 2012 at 4:14 PM | the rules are whack. (Score:1)
whitedawg
Joined: 07/08/2008
MGoPoints: 706

the rules are whack.

December 4th, 2012 at 12:34 PM | They might be (Score:1 Normal)
Arrogant MichMan
Joined: 04/10/2011
MGoPoints: 144

but a playoff will not work either.  I laugh at everyone who say NIU is a "joke" for being in a BCS game.  This is the exact same situation that can happen any given year.

Let's say we end up with 4 Mega-conferences like everyone tells us we will have.  Then the winners of each conference gets seeded 1-4.  Take Wisky this year.  They would be a number 4 seed.  1) ND 2) Bama 3) Stanford 4) Wiskey. 

Wiskey is playing very well.  Lets just say they continue their hot streak and win it all in this situation. 

Does anyone really think a 5-loss Team is the "best" team?  We will call them National Champions.  They will get to hoist the trophy.  But are they the "best" team?  The hottest team?, yes but not the best.

The BCS gives us #1 vs #2.  There is not debate about it.  This is guaranteed to happen.  There cannot be any suprises.  NIU cannot get into the title game.  Wiskey could not get into the title game regardless of how hot they are.

So do we want the "hottest" team or the "best" team?

I am actually taking some schadenfraude with this situation.  NIU is a joke but we will get this same situation with a playoff.  So everyone who supports a playoff, get ready to start bitching again.

December 3rd, 2012 at 2:59 PM | the bcs totally dropped the (Score:3 Normal)
Lionsfan
Lionsfan's picture
Joined: 06/03/2011
MGoPoints: 3909

the bcs totally dropped the ball on this

Blame the crappy Big Ten and Big East. The BCS had to select them because not 1, but two conference champions were lower than 16, (neither one was ranked). If the conferences had put out quality Champions, and not a 5 loss team, NIU wouldn't be going

If you're doing nothing, how do you know when you're finished?

StraightDave owes me a steak dinner

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:17 PM | This game (Score:4 Normal)
BiSB
BiSB's picture
Joined: 08/15/2009
MGoPoints: 27921

is going to cost NIU $Texas

They no longer call me Bisbiño

December 3rd, 2012 at 4:54 PM | Texas with a dollar sign in (Score:1)
Avant's Hands
Avant&#039;s Hands's picture
Joined: 10/22/2011
MGoPoints: 777

Texas with a dollar sign in front of it. I'm speechless.

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:25 PM | I love the fact that NIU is in the Orange Bowl (Score:5 Normal)
Don
Don's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 19222

I couldn't care less that OU (or whatever team you choose) is a more powerful team full of 4- and 5-star studs. There's only one game that I'll have a stronger rooting interest in than UM-SC, and that's this game.


December 4th, 2012 at 12:40 PM | I agree (Score:1)
MGoSoftball
MGoSoftball's picture
Joined: 10/18/2010
MGoPoints: 3602

with you Don.  This is is going to be my 2nd favorite game.  I have said for several years on this board that a playoff will not "solve" anything.  This is a perfect example.  The method of choosing the top 4 teams will guarantee not to pick the 4 best teams everytime.

Then when there is a really hot team that gets in and kicks ass, everyone will be saying "we need an 8 team playoff to stop this from happening"

 

From the Red Cedar Message Board:  "God hates us."  Yes He does Lil Bro, yes he does.  Everyone hates you.

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:26 PM | That's one way to try and fill the stadium (Score:0 Flamebait)
December 3rd, 2012 at 1:34 PM | I'm not so sure about that. (Score:5 Normal)
mGrowOld
mGrowOld's picture
Joined: 10/04/2010
MGoPoints: 13180

I'm not so sure about that.  When it comes to under-achieving and playing down to the competition FSU stands pretty tall in the saddle.  

I'm with Don - there arent many Bowls that I'l be as fired up to watch as this one.  

 

 

December 3rd, 2012 at 4:19 PM | Huh? (Score:0 Flamebait)
December 3rd, 2012 at 4:57 PM | Just like Utah was going to (Score:1)
Avant's Hands
Avant&#039;s Hands's picture
Joined: 10/22/2011
MGoPoints: 777

Just like Utah was going to get smoked by Alabama. Not saying it definitely won't happen, but that's why they play the game. And yes Florida State does have a reputation for blowing games they shouldn't, much like Clemson does.

December 3rd, 2012 at 9:26 PM | That Utah was better equipped to handle Bama's (Score:1)
SalvatoreQuattro
SalvatoreQuattro's picture
Joined: 11/30/2010
MGoPoints: 2801

physicality then this NIU team is. MAC teams are smaller, quicker, squads. Those type of teams don't fair well versus teams with size and in FSU's case, speed.

 

This game may be close for a quarter, but FSU's superior talent is going to cause a few turnovers. The game will be decided by half.

"The Ruhr will not be subjected to a single bomb. If an enemy bomber reaches the Ruhr, my name is not Hermann Göring: you can call me Urban Meyer!"

December 3rd, 2012 at 11:01 PM | 2008 Utah (Score:2 Normal)
whitedawg
Joined: 07/08/2008
MGoPoints: 706

That Utah team was undefeated against a much tougher schedule than NIU played, including wins over #7 TCU, #18 Oregon State, and #25 BYU.  NIU's only win over a ranked team was last week's OT win over #25 Kent State, and as I previously mentioned, they lost to an incredibly crappy Iowa team.  Claiming NIU has a chance because this one upset happened a few years ago is disingenuous, because they don't have much in common with 2008 Utah.

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:33 PM | Orange Bowl Payout... (Score:3 Normal)
LSAClassOf2000
LSAClassOf2000's picture
Joined: 01/07/2011
MGoPoints: 8754

http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl_games - this site lists the per team (and by extension, in many cases, per conference since they split the money) payouts this year, and the Orange Bowl is listed at an estimated $17 million, so I imagine they are very excited for an over $1.3 million payday, assuming the MAC splits the money between the teams. This is a conference that doesn't walk into those opportunities on a regular basis.

In reality though, this is a great gesture by NIU, and hopefully they represent their school as best they can in Sun Life Stadium. This is nice opportunity for them and it seems like they will make the best of it.

"Funny isn't it, how naughty dentists always make that one fatal mistake."

Follow the random tweets of a Michigan alum - http://twitter.com/#!/LorneEC3

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:37 PM | ... (Score:3 Normal)
michimoby
michimoby's picture
Joined: 04/13/2009
MGoPoints: 4288

Whatever takes attention away from ND, I'm all for it.

--------------------------------------------

"I cannot think of a better person to guide our university's athletic strategy than the inventor of The Noid."

December 3rd, 2012 at 1:54 PM | Last night on the bowl (Score:3 Normal)
allintime23
allintime23's picture
Joined: 09/21/2009
MGoPoints: 2383

Last night on the bowl selection show Jesse Palmer said straight up that so many other teams deserved the BCS over northern Illinois. Then he started naming teams and the first on out of his mouth was Michigan. Smart guy, smart bachelor.

All in for some manball.

December 3rd, 2012 at 2:09 PM | I just don't understand why the BCS (Score:1)
Moonlight Graham
Moonlight Graham's picture
Joined: 09/12/2011
MGoPoints: 229

didn't set the threshold at 12 or 14. Didn't Michigan need to move up above 14 to be considered for the Sugar Bowl last year? Perhaps I'm mistaken, but in the case of these non-AQ conferences I'm surprised the bar wasn't set at 12. That would guarantee only undefeated teams with a strong win over an AQ'er would get in. I suspect it would not have locked out Utah, Hawai'i, Boise State or TCU in the past either. 

"Is there enough magic out there in the moonlight to make this dream come true?" 

December 3rd, 2012 at 3:39 PM | Well... (Score:3 Normal)
Tater
Tater's picture
Joined: 08/13/2008
MGoPoints: 10384

Since schools are forced to eat tickets to bowls, they might as well give them to students and make a better showing.  It creates goodwill all around, and the adults who are going to "travel" still do.  

It would be interesting to know how much revenue they are actually losing by this.  I am guessing it isn't nearly as much as it looks.  The only true lost revenue would be from tickets given to students who would have paid for them.  

I like the move, though.  The NCAA constantly tries to feed the public a line of BS about how sports is really "all about the students."  NIU is putting their money where the NCAA's collective mouth is.  

 

 

 

December 3rd, 2012 at 4:27 PM | Nice to see (Score:4 Normal)
kb
Joined: 10/31/2009
MGoPoints: 1428

as an NIU alumnus. Go huskies.

December 3rd, 2012 at 5:50 PM | Got mine on stubhub! (Score:1)
ILMichFan70
ILMichFan70's picture
Joined: 06/09/2011
MGoPoints: 506

Amazing how cheap the tickets are on stubhub! Looking forward to making the trip down to check out the game. Would love to be able to hit the Outback Bowl earlier that day and then the Orange Bowl at night. I think the times of the games may be 1pm and 8:30pm. Would be a great day! Just depends on how long it would take to go from Tampa to Miami. Would probably be too tight to make both.

December 3rd, 2012 at 6:00 PM | Alligator Alley is your (Score:2)
UMgradMSUdad
UMgradMSUdad's picture
Joined: 07/02/2011
MGoPoints: 1963

Alligator Alley is your friend.

December 3rd, 2012 at 8:48 PM | Just noticed that! (Score:1)
ILMichFan70
ILMichFan70's picture
Joined: 06/09/2011
MGoPoints: 506

I won't be stopping in the Everglades to check any out although I know they tend to show up as well as the pythons on the streets of Miami.

Theme provided by Roopletheme; sidebars adapted from Chris Murphy.