Hockey support in Georgia

[JDUBBS1280]

Re: Hockey support in Georgia

BEMIDJI – When the Bemidji State men’s hockey team joined the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in 2010, expectations were high. Membership in a premier conference would pit the Beavers against the best teams in college hockey, offering a bruising schedule, an opportunity to generate more revenue and bringing prestige to the university. The newly opened Sanford Center and the promise of meaningful conference games against foes Minnesota, Minnesota-Duluth, North Dakota and Wisconsin appeared an indication the Beaver hockey team would help pay for itself and perhaps help the rest of BSU’s Division II sports. “The success of our hockey program and the revenue that’s brought in will help our Division II sports and that has been the plan,” Athletic Director Rick Goeb told the Pioneer in July 2009.

But things can change drastically in three years.

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Again, not sure why this is only being looked at as a negative. UW is considered a significant enough program where its support would matter. I just hope they do the right thing.

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Hockey support in Georgia

What is Wisconsin doing for those schools?

I'm not in the Minnesota thread demanding that we help out the small programs, so I get to ask what you're doing for ALL of the former conference mates.

Not asking Wisconsin to help out every single small school that remains in the WCHA either.

Yeah, just the Minnesota ones for some reason.

[JDUBBS1280]

I'm not in the Minnesota thread demanding that we help out the small programs, so I get to ask what you're doing for ALL of the former conference mates.




Yeah, just the Minnesota ones for some reason.

And if there were other Wisconsin schools that were being left behind in the WCHA that UW was choosing to give priority in helping, I would understand. But there isn't. So why should that mean not help anyone. If not the MN schools (though geography would make them the most sensible), how about Tech?

And I've said it before and I'll say it again, if the Gophers didn't give up two home games to try and help and if North Dakota didn't reaffirm their commitment to keep playing BSU, I'd be just as critical of them.

Again, your problem is that you can't look past borders and focus on what is best for the sport.

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Hockey support in Georgia

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Again, not sure why this is only being looked at as a negative. UW is considered a significant enough program where its support would matter. I just hope they do the right thing.

Sounds to me like someone in Bemidji overplayed their hand. More wasted taxpayer money.

[JDUBBS1280]

Sounds to me like someone in Bemidji overplayed their hand. More wasted taxpayer money.

Their old conference was desolving. They had to build the arena to get into the WCHA. Are you suggesting they should have demoted their program back to D3 or took the precarious route that Huntsville took? Do you think if offered a similar opportunity that Huntsville wouldn't have jumped at the opportunity too?

Perhaps you should go back to focusing on the T-Wolves and leave the welfare of hockey to those who actually care beyond their own entertainment.

[UncleRay]

Re: Hockey support in Georgia

Are all these Minnesota schools being talked about part of the Minnesota Public University system?

Nope.

Liar, liar, pants on fire.

So all the Universities you have been talking about UMD, SCSU, Mankato and BSU are all Minnesota public Universities. When I asked if all the teams being discussed were Minnesota public Universities, you said no. All the schools you want UW to schedule and "save" are all public Universities in Minnesota. Am I correct so far?

You are correct, bucky. The Exalted, Generous University of Minnesota is reaching down and helping out the small schools....in their own university system. They are sharing that revenue with - you've got it - themselves. Their kissing-cousin fellow state universities. Isn't that generous of them? Hip hip hooray for tEGUMn!!

[JDUBBS1280]

Liar, liar, pants on fire.

You are correct, bucky. The Exalted, Generous University of Minnesota is reaching down and helping out the small schools....in their own university system. They are sharing that revenue with - you've got it - themselves. Their kissing-cousin fellow state universities. Isn't that generous of them? Hip hip hooray for tEGUMn!!

They aren't in the same university system.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System (commonly abbreviated as "MnSCU") comprises 31 colleges and universities, including 24 two-year colleges and seven state universities. Its headquarters are in Suite 350 of the Wells Fargo Place in St. Paul.[2] The system is separate from the University of Minnesota system.

[UncleRay]

Re: Hockey support in Georgia

And if there were other Wisconsin schools that were being left behind in the WCHA that UW was choosing to give priority in helping, I would understand. But there isn't. So why should that mean not help anyone. If not the MN schools (though geography would make them the most sensible), how about Tech?

It's not geography that makes them the most sensible, it's the $$$$.

[JDUBBS1280]

It's not geography that makes them the most sensible, it's the $$$$.

Wrong again.

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Hockey support in Georgia

Their old conference was desolving. They had to build the arena to get into the WCHA. Are you suggesting they should have demoted their program back to D3 or took the precarious route that Huntsville took? Do you think if offered a similar opportunity that Huntsville wouldn't have jumped at the opportunity too?

Perhaps you should go back to focusing on the T-Wolves and leave the welfare of hockey to those who actually care beyond their own entertainment.

Everyone knew the Big 10 would happen if another team came into being. Everyone knew there would be casualties. They overplayed their hand. The business model needed to be the median, not Minnesota/UND and Wisconsin are going to make our bank for us. It's simple economics.

[UncleRay]

Re: Hockey support in Georgia

They aren't in the same university system.

You're just parsing words now. They are all public institutions supported by Minnesota and its taxpayers. I could give two bleeps how they are organized. It still makes sense to the Minnesota taxpayer for tEGUMn to favor their kissing cousin state universities, regardless of how the family tree splits.

[JDUBBS1280]

Everyone knew the Big 10 would happen if another team came into being. Everyone knew there would be casualties. They overplayed their hand. The business model needed to be the median, not Minnesota/UND and Wisconsin are going to make our bank for us. It's simple economics.

So, what would you have done if you were BSU? Pretend for a minute you care about hockey in the state and country outside of the Gophers. Pretend for a minute that you care about giving kids the most opportunities to play at the next level as possible. Pretend for a minute you care about anything other than your own entertainment.

What would you have done? Remember, hindsight is 20/20. No one knew for certain PSU would ever get their program to the next level.

You act like I'm some provincial monster. I just care a great deal.

[JDUBBS1280]

You're just parsing words now. They are all public institutions supported by Minnesota and its taxpayers. I could give two bleeps how they are organized. It still makes sense to the Minnesota taxpayer for tEGUMn to favor their kissing cousin state universities, regardless of how the family tree splits.

So, Minnesota taxpayers are supposed to subsidize hockey programs? That makes more sense than all of the big programs in the area doing a little bit extra to make sure that those programs and college hockey in general (in which they have a vested interest) stay viable?

Dohkay

[scsutommyboy]

Re: Hockey support in Georgia

Not as much worried about Cloud as I am about Bemidji and Mankato. Are you suggesting playing UW at home wouldn't benefit those programs? Serious question. I realize UW probably isn't as big of a draw as Minnesota or North Dakota, but I imagine they would draw better than many other schools.

You do bring up a great point on recruiting that I certainly agree with. This will certainly hurt Wisconsin's recruiting more than Mankato or Bemidji's. from a purely fiscal standpoint though, I am worried about these schools not getting as many visits from the larger schools.

BSU and Mankato are bigger draws in Cloud than Sconnie. I know Motzko plans on playing BSU on a regular basis, but not sure about mankato. Motzko knows he has a great conference schedule every year and can pay to get teams to come the Herb, so he doesn't need sell out to Sconnie. He does it with the Gophers because it benefits us recruiting wise and the fans want them in our building.

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Hockey support in Georgia

So, what would you have done if you were BSU? Pretend for a minute you care about hockey in the state and country outside of the Gophers. Pretend for a minute that you care about giving kids the most opportunities to play at the next level as possible. Pretend for a minute you care about anything other than your own entertainment.

What would you have done? Remember, hindsight is 20/20. No one knew for certain PSU would ever get their program to the next level.

You act like I'm some provincial monster. I just care a great deal.

College Sports is big business now. It's not a charity. It used to be a charity. It used to be part of the college experience. That's no longer the case. You get hired to coach D1 college hockey you're expected to win and you're expected to put butts in the seat. If you can't hack it then find another job.

We all knew there would be casualties when the Big 10 went hockey. Not enough people cared. I did. I was one of the biggest campaigners on this site that was anti-Big 10 Hockey. It happened anyway. Now the fallout begins. College hockey will lose more programs than it gains at the expense of Penn State who you cheer for it's expansion.