By By James Cucchi, News Correspondent

Can’t make it to the game? No need to worry ‘- now there is a way for students to keep track of their favorite Husky teams on the iPhone.
The Northeastern Athletics Department released the ‘Go Huskies’ iPhone application on March 9 and it is currently available for download at the App store.’ The application allows Husky fans around the globe ‘access to updated information, real-time statistics and multimedia features relating to Northeastern University Athletics,’ according to a recent Northeastern press release.
This application is the first of its kind by a university athletics department and represents a major improvement in the ability of students to follow their favorite university teams, said Northeasern Associate Director of Athletics George Gardner.
Freshman music industry major Ian Connelly said he likes the idea that there is now a way ‘to conveniently see how the teams are doing if you can’t make it to the game.”
Apparently, others do as well.
During its first week of availability, the application was downloaded by 971 Huskies fans in 31 different countries, Gardner said.
‘The application is intended to allow Huskies fans worldwide, including the 196,000 university alumni and students in co-op, to follow the university teams and share in the excitement of their recent success’ Gardner said.
Gardner was the main designer of the application, while the programming was done by an outside company not affiliated with the university.
‘The overall layout is very easy to navigate and visually appealing,’ said freshman business major Greg Skloot, who helped the Athletics Department design the application and is now serving as a technology consultant for them.
One feature of the new application is live, streaming access to Northeastern’s student radio station WRBB 104.9 FM, which provides live audio coverage of many Husky sporting events. In addition to the live coverage, schedules for individual teams, news and headlines are available along with direct links through which athletics merchandise and tickets to upcoming games can be purchased.
‘The concentration of these features in a single application makes Husky athletics more accessible.’ said freshman engineering major Marissa Ender.
By making it easier to access information pertaining to Husky athletics, the ‘Go Huskies’ application ‘increases already school spirit that has resulted from the recent success of the hockey team.’ said freshman engineering major Bill Swasey.
The features of this application, Gardner said, are a first step in connecting the Athletics Department to students and alumni through mobile communications technology, which is owned by nearly 100 percent of the Northeastern community.
‘Northeastern athletics is doing a great job with this application of engaging students technologically in a manner very in tune with the way they function on a day to day basis,’ Skloot said.
Even though Northeastern is the first university to launch such a comprehensive application, it is not resting on its laurels. Future upgrades are already in the works, and will include ‘things like video highlights and eventually live video from the games’ Gardner said. Freshman business major Noah Mellen agreed that video highlights would ‘be a useful addition to the application.’
Other planned additions include a seating map of Matthews Arena, an electronic ‘Hall of Fame’ of Husky athletics, blogs written by student athletes and special offers from sponsors for Husky sports fans, Gardner said.
The digital seating map would allow potential ticket holders to view seat locations before purchasing tickets, similar to systems in place at the TD Banknorth Garden and other major sporting venues.
Plans for the future of the application go beyond the Athletics Department, including a collaboration with departments on campus, Gardner said.
‘The ultimate goal is to have a platform with modules for different departments, in addition to the athletics component,’ he said.