Not that it would have made it any better had it been another school, but this felt like a member of the family.

In our coverage of the Mid-American Conference here at MAC Report Online we feel as if we have pretty much adopted each and every MAC school - yes even Temple - into a quasi-family of like-minded, chip-on-the-shoulder schools of higher learning in the hard-nosed Midwest (and a little bit to the East also). We may squabble amongst each other but outsiders beware, attack one of us and feel the wrath of the family.

Now the family was having to deal with tragedy. A tragedy that has been repeated far too often.

Northern Illinois now will inevitably join the grim roll call of institutions of higher learning that have had to deal with carnage on campus. The MAC of course already has a charter member of this unfortunate fraternity with the Kent State tragedy of 1970 forever burnished in the memories of the nation. Now Northern Illinois joins this unwanted fraternity alongside the likes of the University of Texas and Virginia Tech.

There isn't much we know as to why the gunman, described so far only as a skinny white guy wearing black, committed this heinous act, bursting into a lecture hall and opening fire on the unsuspecting students. Frankly, I don't care what the reasons may be. It doesn't matter. The gunman is a coward. The only unfortunate thing is that he committed suicide. Sorry, but he should have to suffer and pay for his crimes. But like all cowards, he took the easy way out.

The latest reports are that as many as five people have died beside the gunman and approximately 15 or more wounded. Think about it for a moment. Six families, yes I include the killer's family here, will now have to deal with the unimaginable grief of not seeing their child, brother, sister, cousin ever again. The grief will be unbearable for many. You don't send your child to college and not expect to see your child ever again. My heart aches beyond words for these families.

The wounded have very likely suffered serious lifelong injuries as well that they will have to deal with both from a physical and psychological standpoint. So many lives changed in a short couple of moments.

The killer apparently came armed with a shotgun and either one or two pistols, fired the shotgun and pistol, reloaded and resumed firing according to some reports. I will spare the reader some of the graphic accounts we have received. It took just moments to shatter so many lives.

There will be the usual knee-jerk reaction to ban guns and some will use this incident to put forth gun control arguments. Save it. Nut jobs will get their hands on guns and those intent on killing will not simply hand over their weapons.

From all accounts Northern Illinois responded swiftly with campus police arriving on scene within two minutes and the schools' alert system went into full effect within several minutes, potentially saving more lives.

Immediately prior to the shooting my biggest concern was getting a story posted about Ball State head football coach Brady Hoke receiving a pay raise. Suddenly that is so very unimportant. We will of course get back to reporting on sports but we pause in prayer for everyone associated with the NIU family.

We will remember those fallen, and their families, in this senseless tragedy with the placement of a virtual ribbon for NIU on our homepage for the foreseeable future. We welcome others to join us in doing the same.

 A person whom I greatly admire once told me that sports and music are the candy departments of life. I have been fortunate to make my living writing about both subjects. Sports and music can be great escapism until stark, cold reality strikes.

Damn that coward.

Northern Illinois will survive. Time will heal. But time won't bring back the loss of life that has been inflicted upon the community. That loss is incalculable.