No, Northern Illinois has NOT left the Fontainebleau to "avoid distractions"

NIU players avoid South Beach trappings

Published on Trib College Sports | shared via feedly

After spending six days in South Florida in advance of Tuesday night's Orange Bowl against Florida State, Northern Illinois coach Rod Carey says he is proud of the way his players have conducted themselves so far.

“I’m impressed with them You come down to South Beach with a bunch of 18- and 22-year-olds…we were all 18 and 22 at some point…and we can remember what that was like,” Carey said Monday morning. “We haven’t had one single incident as far as bad decision making. I give them all of the credit for that.

Huskies say they’re ready
Published on Northwest Herald | shared via feedly

NIU has had its share of fun this week, staying right on the beach at the Fontainebleau Hotel, but Carey said that since Saturday, the team has been 100 percent business.

“This is a reward, and it should be. We wanted to let them have some fun, and they did, and they were respectful,” he said. “They made good decisions, super proud of them. They snapped back in. They’ve been going to work.”

This shouldn't be a big deal, and it wouldn't be if @TomahawkNation hadn't retweeted this silly rumor:

RT @jmnpb: Lol, NIU having to leave the Fontainebleau to avoid distractions. Not the best hotel choice.
— TomahawkNation.com (@TomahawkNation) December 31, 2012

The Fontainebleau is an upscale Miami Beach Hotel. It's quite poshy and full of opportunities for mischief. It's also the hotel where the Alabama contingent will be staying for the BCS  Championship preparations and game next week.