Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12
I believe the University and the Athletics Department have simply done a terrible job promoting the school and the program. I mean just a really, really poor job.
The institutional rot within the CCHA offices was allowed to fester for too many years, and LSSU's leadership did not feel obliged, or interested, in addressing or correcting the perception that LSSU and the other GLIAC D-I Hockey schools were nothing more than a drain on the CCHA's coffers.
Say what you will about Frank, but at least in the 1980's Frank had a real vision for the hockey program -- and he sold that vision to the school, the town, the students, and the players. In those days, he was a single-minded man on a mission. Did he alientate some "power brokers" in the Soo? Oh yeah -- and he didn't care. He was not going to appease the "high school basketball" zealots who dislike hockey at any level, and were particularly resentful of COLLEGE hockey, played by non-Soo kids. Jeff Jackson took this to another level, spreading this vision outward from the UP to the rest of the college hockey world. And he worked hard, I promise you, hammering the administration and the students into supporting this program.
I don't want this to be a "slam the coach" matter, so I am not going to drop LSSU's current poor situation on Jim Roques lap. The administration on the Hill has been horrible in promoting the school, or taking action to promote the hockey program -- as the school's flagship team and the school's best and (really) only athletics-based major recruiting tool. The hockey staff have been far too willing to cede higher ground to NMU and CCHA offices.
Western has horse-dung facilities compared to LSSU. But they are putting together promotional web pages.
NMU is attacking the WCHA, attempting to sell themselves as best they can. LSSU doesn't appear to have even held a meeting to discuss any future plans. "Lets just sit back and play Robert Morris?" really?
Tech wears its pride on its sleeve. It hasn't had more than a handful of winning seasons in the past 25 years. They don't care. The leadership at Tech KNOW where they stand in college hockey -- they have a great stadium, tradition, funding, support, and facilities. Tech is presently placing itself at the forefront of the WCHA.
LSSU has a great tradition, an amazing building, excellent facilities, dedicated alumni, (the best uniforms in college hockey this side of the Fighting Sioux). Its absurd to me that the coach and the administration are not screaming at the top of their lungs about the quality of this program. Why is LSSU not asserting a leadership position? Why would LSSU try to cut a deal with Ferris and BGSU when they could be arguing their own merits and their own quality?
Why should LSSU have to go hat-in-hand to freaking Mankato or SCSU? What have those programs ever achieved?
Why is LSSU not pushing for a sit-down with NMU, Tech, and the Alaska schools and forcing the college hockey universe to revolve around them? Why is LSSU so willing to accept to middling Minnesota school's opnions? Why is LSSU seeking to retreat to quasi-D-II status with AHA schools?
I believe the University and the Athletics Department have simply done a terrible job promoting the school and the program. I mean just a really, really poor job.
The institutional rot within the CCHA offices was allowed to fester for too many years, and LSSU's leadership did not feel obliged, or interested, in addressing or correcting the perception that LSSU and the other GLIAC D-I Hockey schools were nothing more than a drain on the CCHA's coffers.
Say what you will about Frank, but at least in the 1980's Frank had a real vision for the hockey program -- and he sold that vision to the school, the town, the students, and the players. In those days, he was a single-minded man on a mission. Did he alientate some "power brokers" in the Soo? Oh yeah -- and he didn't care. He was not going to appease the "high school basketball" zealots who dislike hockey at any level, and were particularly resentful of COLLEGE hockey, played by non-Soo kids. Jeff Jackson took this to another level, spreading this vision outward from the UP to the rest of the college hockey world. And he worked hard, I promise you, hammering the administration and the students into supporting this program.
I don't want this to be a "slam the coach" matter, so I am not going to drop LSSU's current poor situation on Jim Roques lap. The administration on the Hill has been horrible in promoting the school, or taking action to promote the hockey program -- as the school's flagship team and the school's best and (really) only athletics-based major recruiting tool. The hockey staff have been far too willing to cede higher ground to NMU and CCHA offices.
Western has horse-dung facilities compared to LSSU. But they are putting together promotional web pages.
NMU is attacking the WCHA, attempting to sell themselves as best they can. LSSU doesn't appear to have even held a meeting to discuss any future plans. "Lets just sit back and play Robert Morris?" really?
Tech wears its pride on its sleeve. It hasn't had more than a handful of winning seasons in the past 25 years. They don't care. The leadership at Tech KNOW where they stand in college hockey -- they have a great stadium, tradition, funding, support, and facilities. Tech is presently placing itself at the forefront of the WCHA.
LSSU has a great tradition, an amazing building, excellent facilities, dedicated alumni, (the best uniforms in college hockey this side of the Fighting Sioux). Its absurd to me that the coach and the administration are not screaming at the top of their lungs about the quality of this program. Why is LSSU not asserting a leadership position? Why would LSSU try to cut a deal with Ferris and BGSU when they could be arguing their own merits and their own quality?
Why should LSSU have to go hat-in-hand to freaking Mankato or SCSU? What have those programs ever achieved?
Why is LSSU not pushing for a sit-down with NMU, Tech, and the Alaska schools and forcing the college hockey universe to revolve around them? Why is LSSU so willing to accept to middling Minnesota school's opnions? Why is LSSU seeking to retreat to quasi-D-II status with AHA schools?
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