It's Realignment time, it's realignment time! Make it work

[uaafanblog]

Re: It's Realignment time, it's realignment time! Make it work

Why is it that nobody realizes that if there's any school out there that's open to flying around a lot, it would be Air Force. You guys do realize they go to school to fly stuff right?

You do realize that pilots are only a small percentage of graduates from the school right?

[bigmrg74]

Why is it that nobody realizes that if there's any school out there that's open to flying around a lot, it would be Air Force. You guys do realize they go to school to fly stuff right?

[boblav1]

Re: It's Realignment time, it's realignment time! Make it work

Isn't PC also one of the founding members?

Yes, and Lowell has been a member since the league started play.

[Jimjamesak]

Re: It's Realignment time, it's realignment time! Make it work

It's already the Big Twelve, which is the Big Ten plus at least two others.



UConn would be full member in the expansion to sixteen. They are an up-and-comer in all major sports--football had a BCS bid this year and played at the Big House, men's and women's hoops are always solid, and they hosted a baseball regional last year and are ranked again this year--quality in all three major sports. Hockey gives the rest of the conference a doormat for a while until that program grows. Plus you finally add the East Coast market for the network. UConn is a natural choice for expansion.

You do realize that UConn is a basketball heavy school in a basketball heavy conference right? They aren't leaving the Big East moneymaker anytime soon, certainly not for a hockey they care nothing about.

[RMUColonials]

Re: It's Realignment time, it's realignment time! Make it work

UConn would be full member in the expansion to sixteen. They are an up-and-comer in all major sports--football had a BCS bid this year and played at the Big House, men's and women's hoops are always solid, and they hosted a baseball regional last year and are ranked again this year--quality in all three major sports. Hockey gives the rest of the conference a doormat for a while until that program grows. Plus you finally add the East Coast market for the network. UConn is a natural choice for expansion.

Not a chance. The BTN isn't adding UConn. There are only 2 schools that they would add a 13th and 14th member for......Notre Dame or Texas.

[NMU8405]

Re: It's Realignment time, it's realignment time! Make it work

Air Force isn't going anywhere anytime soon. They've won three of the last four AHA championships but have only won four games against current WCHA members (DU once, CC once, Bemidji twice) in the last five years. There are significant obstacles (American-born players, service committment, etc.) that trump geography for conference affiliation. Plus, when you're in the Air Force, flying a lot isn't a problem.

Most explosive team in college hockey?

[AFHockeyFan]

Re: It's Realignment time, it's realignment time! Make it work

Air Force isn't going anywhere anytime soon. They've won three of the last four AHA championships but have only won four games against current WCHA members (DU once, CC once, Bemidji twice) in the last five years. There are significant obstacles (American-born players, service committment, etc.) that trump geography for conference affiliation. Plus, when you're in the Air Force, flying a lot isn't a problem.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: It's Realignment time, it's realignment time! Make it work

Why don't they take out the Ivy Leagues give them their own conference. Take The Air Force Academy, and put them into the WCHA. Then combine the remaining AHA schools into a new ECAC. You could also probably reunite the two Alaska schools into one conference.

And the actual retail price is.....

[NMU8405]

Re: It's Realignment time, it's realignment time! Make it work

Why don't they take out the Ivy Leagues give them their own conference. Take The Air Force Academy, and put them into the WCHA. Then combine the remaining AHA schools into a new ECAC. You could also probably reunite the two Alaska schools into one conference.

Air Force will stay with their rival Army...and with the rumors of Navy starting a program that would fit in the AHA...I doubt they will go anywhere.

[Spidermonkey86]

Re: It's Realignment time, it's realignment time! Make it work

Why don't they take out the Ivy Leagues give them their own conference. Take The Air Force Academy, and put them into the WCHA. Then combine the remaining AHA schools into a new ECAC. You could also probably reunite the two Alaska schools into one conference.

[redhead18]

Re: It's Realignment time, it's realignment time! Make it work

The most likely scenario is very little change. The BTHC teams will have their conference, the rest of the teams will probably line up just as they are, except I don't understand why AF isn't in the WCHA, and sharing the Alaska travel pain made sense once but not now when the CCHA is going to have serious money worries.

There is no reason for the eastern conferences to be affected at all.

I also think there will be very little change. I see the WCHA staying at 10, BTHC-6, CCHA either stays at 8 or could possibly add UAH, RMU and Mercyhurst bringing it back to 11 schools, AHA-10 or 12, ECAC-12 and HEA-10.

[redhawk95]

Re: It's Realignment time, it's realignment time! Make it work

So where does Notre Dame end up?

And why would the CCHA lose them?

[manurespreader]

Re: It's Realignment time, it's realignment time! Make it work

Ok, let's play what if for a second. These are rumors, but where there is smoke there is fire generally.

What if the revenue the CCHA team get from their remaining structure falls short of what they need, and two if not more of those teams drop hockey.

What if revenue in the remaining WCHA schools is about the same as before, ( a stretch I know)

what if additional present Big Ten schools add hockey, say two of them in 2015.

Where would we be then as a college hockey community?

This imho, is the real problem.

[Eaglefan06]

Re: It's Realignment time, it's realignment time! Make it work

It's already the Big Twelve, which is the Big Ten plus at least two others.

IF Notre Dame wanted to join the Big Ten (lets face it no way they are just going to join the Hockey league as the Big Ten wouldn't allow that) then the Big Ten would find someone to take that other spot. They for sure wouldn't take UConn.

[Almington]

Re: It's Realignment time, it's realignment time! Make it work

It's already the Big Twelve, which is the Big Ten plus at least two others.

Teams that only want to be partial Big Ten programs need not apply. We're elitist like that. All or Nothing. Deal with it.