Save Uah Hockey!

[davyd83]

Re: Save Uah Hockey!

The 48 hr rule isn't really a factor for Ferris because the trip is 5 hrs shorter from Big Rapids than from Marquette by bus. NMU flew in last time. In light of budget cuts, those airplane dollars arent there for NMU, which means they can leave no earlier than 8pm Wednesday night for the 1000 mile ride, roughly 18-19 hrs, when you add meal and gas stops. The bus trip to Huntsville is about 200 miles longer than the Omaha trip for NMU and that trip is at the far outer edge of what you can do and still be within 48 hrs.

[moose97]

Re: Save Uah Hockey!

The 48 hr rule isn't really a factor for Ferris because the trip is 5 hrs shorter from Big Rapids than from Marquette by bus. NMU flew in last time. In light of budget cuts, those airplane dollars arent there for NMU, which means they can leave no earlier than 8pm Wednesday night for the 1000 mile ride, roughly 18-19 hrs, when you add meal and gas stops. The bus trip to Huntsville is about 200 miles longer than the Omaha trip for NMU and that trip is at the far outer edge of what you can do and still be within 48 hrs.

I love the argument that NMU is "so far" from Huntsville. You know what - I went to school there and know exactly how in the middle of nowhere it is. You can scream budget cuts all you want, but every school in the country has had to deal with them over the last decade as well. And you know what? CHA schools had to deal with budget cuts and travel.

I suggest you take a look at a school like Bemidji State's travel (Bemidji, much like NMU is in a poor economic area, and is state supported). Now you're telling me that BSU can support flying to Huntsville, Pittsburgh twice and Niagara Falls (with a week long stay in there to save flight costs), plus n/c flights to Vermont and Colorado Springs, yet NMU can't fly once a year (probibly once every other year based on unballanced scheduling, then throw in the UAH travel subsidy on top of that) to Alabama?

Heck, just so we're comparing apples-to-apples, NMU didn't fly once last year... So, just to be clear, BSU flew six times, had a week-long (actually, seven day, six night) stay between RMU and NU, and bussed three weekends. NMU didn't fly once, and bussed nine times (I'm not including play-offs at all). UAH fans can fill me in on how may flights and how many bus trips, since the Chargers are known for bussing long distances.

Either way you look at it, a school like NMU should be able to budget in one flight to Alabama (once every other year) if a school like BSU can afford as many as they have done over the length of their CHA life...

[beaverhockeyfan]

Re: Save Uah Hockey!

I have made the trip to Huntsville several times from Minnesota, and it is not as bad as going to Alaska. Took a fan bus from Bemidji once and it was 22 hours. Drove it once and with three of us driving non-stop, we did it in 17-18 hours. Flew twice into Atlanta and made the three hour drive to Huntsville and actually flew into Huntsville out of Minneapolis through Detroit. It was an little under a two hour flight from Detroit. I also have heard of BSU fans flying into Nashville and driving the 90 minutes to Huntsville. Flight costs to Atlanta and Nashville are fairly reasonable, definitely cheaper (and shorter) than flying to Alaska.

So, I just don't buy why some people are trying to treat Huntsville like it is a trip to Fairbanks or Anchorage?????

[moose97]

Re: Save Uah Hockey!

I have made the trip to Huntsville several times from Minnesota, and it is not as bad as going to Alaska. Took a fan bus from Bemidji once and it was 22 hours. Drove it once and with three of us driving non-stop, we did it in 17-18 hours. Flew twice into Atlanta and made the three hour drive to Huntsville and actually flew into Huntsville out of Minneapolis through Detroit. It was an little under a two hour flight from Detroit. I also have heard of BSU fans flying into Nashville and driving the 90 minutes to Huntsville. Flight costs to Atlanta and Nashville are fairly reasonable, definitely cheaper (and shorter) than flying to Alaska.

So, I just don't buy why some people are trying to treat Huntsville like it is a trip to Fairbanks or Alaska?????

My sister lives in Nashvegas, and this is how I went my one trip down. Not a bad trip - turbo prop BJI to MSP, but only an hour flight, two more hours on the "big plane" (maybe closer to an hour and 45) to Nashville, and the 90 minute drive into downtown. It's a nice city, and great people (hi Geoff and thanks again for the puck tnlong - btw, haven't heard from Terry in a while - hope all is well)...

I definatly agree with your last line there Millsy. I know folks in Bemidji treat UAH as if it is a long trip/huge deal to get there, but UAA is now the new long trip/huge deal, and I'm guessing it'll blow UAH out of the water in terms of pain in the rear (from everything I'm told)...

[joecct]

Re: Save Uah Hockey!

So, I just don't buy why some people are trying to treat Huntsville like it is a trip to Fairbanks or Alaska?????

If you can see Russia from Alaska, can't you see Cuba from Alabama?

[gfmorris]

Re: Save Uah Hockey!

The 48 hr rule isn't really a factor for Ferris because the trip is 5 hrs shorter from Big Rapids than from Marquette by bus. NMU flew in last time. In light of budget cuts, those airplane dollars arent there for NMU, which means they can leave no earlier than 8pm Wednesday night for the 1000 mile ride, roughly 18-19 hrs, when you add meal and gas stops. The bus trip to Huntsville is about 200 miles longer than the Omaha trip for NMU and that trip is at the far outer edge of what you can do and still be within 48 hrs.

It's just as long for us the other way, and we're not complaining.

GFM

[GreatLakerMohawk]

Re: Save Uah Hockey!

If you can see Russia from Alaska, can't you see Cuba from Alabama?

Even better, you can see Brazil.

[bigmrg74]

Re: Save Uah Hockey!

Even better, you can see Brazil.

That's Venezuela! Not Brazil!!! look on a map!!

[aparch]

Re: Save Uah Hockey!

...
Either way you look at it, a school like NMU should be able to budget in one flight to Alabama (once every other year) if a school like BSU can afford as many as they have done over the length of their CHA life...

Is Bemidji's Ice Hockey operating budget for 2009-2010 the SAME as it is for 2002-2003? Because NMU's is. Personally, I'd like my team to save $15k per year by not having to travel to Omaha or Alabama.

[GreatLakerMohawk]

Re: Save Uah Hockey!

That's Venezuela! Not Brazil!!! look on a map!!

Chavez won't allow anyone from America to look into Venezuela. Brazil allows it though and welcomes our fine American eyes.

[gfmorris]

Re: Save Uah Hockey!

Is Bemidji's Ice Hockey operating budget for 2009-2010 the SAME as it is for 2002-2003? Because NMU's is. Personally, I'd like my team to save $15k per year by not having to travel to Omaha or Alabama.

... which ignores, again, the fact that UAH offered $70k to the CCHA, in perpetuity, to cover travel costs. Figure that gets divided seven ways each year by the schools who have to travel to Huntsville, and your trip is paid for.

But then given your .sig, I'm unlikely to sway you with any such arguments. Won't keep me from making them.

GFM

[aparch]

Re: Save Uah Hockey!

... which ignores, again, the fact that UAH offered $70k to the CCHA, in perpetuity, to cover travel costs. Figure that gets divided seven ways each year by the schools who have to travel to Huntsville, and your trip is paid for.

But then given your .sig, I'm unlikely to sway you with any such arguments. Won't keep me from making them.

GFM

15k > 10k

And that's just me more being an a** and trying to have some balance to all the anti-CCHA rhetoric that was circling.



I do see how it's easy to plug in UAH instead of UNO and there be virtually zero differences; but with all the smaller schools struggling in recruiting, a trip to UAH is still a burden. The Ferris States, Lake States, and possibly even Western Michigan's cannot survive by bleeding money on road trips and having perennial losing teams. That money could be better used to improve the infrastructure and recruiting and compete against the Michigan/Michigan State/Notre Dames of the CCHA. If UAH is accepted to the CCHA, I would bet you could kiss BGSU and Ferris State goodbye.

[MikeAnderson]

Re: Save Uah Hockey!

15k > 10k

My guess is that NMU spends at least $5,000 on a bus trip for a road series to anywhere, including Michigan Tech.

Just sayin'.

[davyd83]

Re: Save Uah Hockey!

I really do hope that the UAH program finds a way to make it work, but I am also looking at reasons why some schools would oppose the bid of UAH to the CCHA. Each school bases its vote on what they feel is best for their program. I didn't see anyone from the WCHA inviting UAH to maintain their conference rivalry with Bemidji and admit them too. When it came time to find a 12th team to join the Beavers, the WCHA looked to Northern Michigan and Nebraska-Omaha, because those made better sense to their membership, both financially and logistically. To be honest about BSU, they only made those flights because they had no other options. They will be very happy to be bussing on all but one or two conference trips per year.

[moose97]

Re: Save Uah Hockey!

Is Bemidji's Ice Hockey operating budget for 2009-2010 the SAME as it is for 2002-2003? Because NMU's is.

Alright, let's compare '02-'03 then. BSU flew to conference games at Findlay, Niagara, UAH, Wayne (yep, BSU used to fly into Detroit) and Air Force, and bussed to n/c games at Mankato, Clarkson (I remember that they wanted to team build with a long bus trip to Ppotsdam), UMD, NoDak and Omaha, while NMU bused to LSSU twice, MTU once, Wisconsin, Miami, Omaha, Milwaukee, Ferris, Michigan, and Lansing.

To be honest about BSU, they only made those flights because they had no other options. They will be very happy to be bussing on all but one or two conference trips per year.

I never said BSU isn't thrilled that their travel is decreasing. Back to comparing travel. Look at any BSU schedule I've posted, then look at the 2010-2011 BSU WCHA schedule. They've got one flight to Denver, and one n/c flight to UAH and every other series is a bus trip. Compare that to the six flights BSU is used to taking. Quite a change for the positive...

All I said re: NMU, is that if a school like BSU coould do it up to six times a year, Northern could do it once every other year. Especially with the depth of alumni base (especially hockey with a 25 year D-I head start on BSU, and all those pros I read about on the alumni board) of a school twice the size...