BU 2021-22: Albie's Great Adventure

[Sean Pickett]

I heard that Drew is going to give Coach O'Connell a one year extension. I have written to Drew that if he does so I will not longer support the program. After 37 years of attending games (36 as a season ticket holder) you might think it would be hard for me to give up my tickets, but after the last four seasons I find it's really not hard at all.

For four straight years BU has collapsed at the end of the season. Albie's first season BU was humiliated at Maine, losing 6-0. If they had won the game they would have finished tied for 4th and earned the #4 seed as they would have won the tiebreaker over UML. His second season the collapse was worse, losing 4 out of the final 5 games, 3 at home. if they had won just 2 of those 4 games they would have tied for third and been the #3 seed as again they won the tiebreaker over UML and if they had won 3 of the games they would have finished second. Last season BU lost to Merrimack at home the final weekend of the regular season. That loss cost them first based on points percentage. They then lost to UML and St. Cloud in the postseason. This season they collapsed again, losing 2 of the final 3 regular season games, again costing them home ice in the quarterfinals and possibly a share of first. They then bowed out against UConn with nary a whimper.

Maybe Drew likes that BU isn't hosting Hockey East playoff games; it probably saves BU money. But as a fan I don't and I'm no longer willing to give BU my money for what I consider unacceptable results. My wife's not happy at all, as she likes to go to BU games, but I've told her we can still go to the women's games and there are other options for men's games that are both closer and less expensive.

Sean

[buoldtimer]

I heard that Drew is going to give Coach O'Connell a one year extension. I have written to Drew that if he does so I will not longer support the program. After 37 years of attending games (36 as a season ticket holder) you might think it would be hard for me to give up my tickets, but after the last four seasons I find it's really not hard at all.

For four straight years BU has collapsed at the end of the season. Albie's first season BU was humiliated at Maine, losing 6-0. If they had won the game they would have finished tied for 4th and earned the #4 seed as they would have won the tiebreaker over UML. His second season the collapse was worse, losing 4 out of the final 5 games, 3 at home. if they had won just 2 of those 4 games they would have tied for third and been the #3 seed as again they won the tiebreaker over UML and if they had won 3 of the games they would have finished second. Last season BU lost to Merrimack at home the final weekend of the regular season. That loss cost them first based on points percentage. They then lost to UML and St. Cloud in the postseason. This season they collapsed again, losing 2 of the final 3 regular season games, again costing them home ice in the quarterfinals and possibly a share of first. They then bowed out against UConn with nary a whimper.

Maybe Drew likes that BU isn't hosting Hockey East playoff games; it probably saves BU money. But as a fan I don't and I'm no longer willing to give BU my money for what I consider unacceptable results. My wife's not happy at all, as she likes to go to BU games, but I've told her we can still go to the women's games and there are other options for men's games that are both closer and less expensive.

Sean

This post says it all.

I love this... "They then bowed out against UConn with nary a whimper".

[lifeoncommave]

I heard that Drew is going to give Coach O'Connell a one year extension. I have written to Drew that if he does so I will not longer support the program. After 37 years of attending games (36 as a season ticket holder) you might think it would be hard for me to give up my tickets, but after the last four seasons I find it's really not hard at all.

Thanks for summing it up so well, Sean. I've had season tickets for 31 years. I once followed BU Hockey passionately. I thought nothing of making the trip to Orono or Albany to see them. Now, my feeling is, if they don't care (from the administration down to many of the players), why should I? Too much toleration of mediocrity. Too many Zegrases lollygagging onto the ice during team introductions, like they are bigger than the team.

I will likely keep my tickets if only for the nostalgia. I've been going with my daughters since they were teeny-tiny, and the sports gods have already robbed us of our other tradition (Lowell Spinners games in the summer), so I'm not going to voluntarily give up 15-20 pleasant family nights every winter. And I still love the game of hockey. But the excitement I get seeing my alma mater on the ice is quickly evaporating.

[defkit]

This myth about the program needs to stop - Albie did exactly this on this year's roster.

• 18 of 29 roster players are upperclassmen
• 13 of 17 skaters on Saturday were upperclassmen, two were freshmen
• Solid transfer portal addition in Brown
• No legitimate one-and-done candidates*
• Almost no legitimate two-and-done candidates

*Intentionally excluded Boucher who I do not consider in the one-and-done. No one in their right mind will put him on a pro roster next year. 6 points in 12 games in the OHL. Ottawa badly screwed up that pick.

There's plenty to criticize Albie on, roster construction and recruiting is not one of them. He built a solid roster for this season and should be commended for that.

The problem is, he can't coach them to success on the ice. Unfortunately, that's the #1 job responsibility and for that reason BU needs to move on.

Agree 1000%. The recruiting/roster make-up issue has been addressed well (helped by the ease of transferring). We had a strong roster this year. A good blend of experience and talent at forward. We had a guy who had two lacrosse goals and a faceoff goal. Heck, we had a 4th liner (Stevens) who also cored a face-off goal. On d we had size and skating, experience and youth. And we had two strong goalies. There is a reason this team was picked to finish 2nd in the league.

The problem was the coaching. It took too long for this team to figure things out. They finally did, went on a nice run, but then couldn't close the deal. Parker was known for having slow-starting teams. The difference was that 1) the slow starts weren't as terrible as this team's was, and 2) they usually carried the strong play into the playoffs. As Sean alluded to, this team has had 4 years of mediocrity. I won't hammer them for 2020-21. It was such an odd season and they team actually made the NCAAs. But the other three seasons have been disappointments.

[defkit]

I heard that Drew is going to give Coach O'Connell a one year extension.

This is maddening! Who gives a 1-year extension??? Either you think the coach is worth keeping or you don't. If you do, give him 3 or 4 years. If you don't, DON'T EXTEND HIM! This seems like just trying to be nice - "well maybe if I give him one more season he'll figure it out and then I won't have to let him go".

[Terrier86]

I heard that Drew is going to give Coach O'Connell a one year extension. I have written to Drew that if he does so I will not longer support the program. After 37 years of attending games (36 as a season ticket holder) you might think it would be hard for me to give up my tickets, but after the last four seasons I find it's really not hard at all.

For four straight years BU has collapsed at the end of the season. Albie's first season BU was humiliated at Maine, losing 6-0. If they had won the game they would have finished tied for 4th and earned the #4 seed as they would have won the tiebreaker over UML. His second season the collapse was worse, losing 4 out of the final 5 games, 3 at home. if they had won just 2 of those 4 games they would have tied for third and been the #3 seed as again they won the tiebreaker over UML and if they had won 3 of the games they would have finished second. Last season BU lost to Merrimack at home the final weekend of the regular season. That loss cost them first based on points percentage. They then lost to UML and St. Cloud in the postseason. This season they collapsed again, losing 2 of the final 3 regular season games, again costing them home ice in the quarterfinals and possibly a share of first. They then bowed out against UConn with nary a whimper.

Maybe Drew likes that BU isn't hosting Hockey East playoff games; it probably saves BU money. But as a fan I don't and I'm no longer willing to give BU my money for what I consider unacceptable results. My wife's not happy at all, as she likes to go to BU games, but I've told her we can still go to the women's games and there are other options for men's games that are both closer and less expensive.

Sean

Thanks for your post. If the one year extension happens, this furthers my beliefs that mediocrity is acceptable. In all likelihood, 2022-2023 will bring further unacceptable results given what will be coming back and coming in on the roster.

Clearly a one year extension is not glowing confidence in Albie and the staff. If you plot out a decision tree on this, it is the least decisive option. Sigh.

[buoldtimer]

This is maddening! Who gives a 1-year extension??? Either you think the coach is worth keeping or you don't. If you do, give him 3 or 4 years. If you don't, DON'T EXTEND HIM! This seems like just trying to be nice - "well maybe if I give him one more season he'll figure it out and then I won't have to let him go".

They can't possibly think that they'll sell more season tickets for next season. It can't have been a factor in the decision, if in fact extending him for a season is the decision.

[joen05]

I heard that Drew is going to give Coach O'Connell a one year extension. I have written to Drew that if he does so I will not longer support the program. After 37 years of attending games (36 as a season ticket holder) you might think it would be hard for me to give up my tickets, but after the last four seasons I find it's really not hard at all.

For four straight years BU has collapsed at the end of the season. Albie's first season BU was humiliated at Maine, losing 6-0. If they had won the game they would have finished tied for 4th and earned the #4 seed as they would have won the tiebreaker over UML. His second season the collapse was worse, losing 4 out of the final 5 games, 3 at home. if they had won just 2 of those 4 games they would have tied for third and been the #3 seed as again they won the tiebreaker over UML and if they had won 3 of the games they would have finished second. Last season BU lost to Merrimack at home the final weekend of the regular season. That loss cost them first based on points percentage. They then lost to UML and St. Cloud in the postseason. This season they collapsed again, losing 2 of the final 3 regular season games, again costing them home ice in the quarterfinals and possibly a share of first. They then bowed out against UConn with nary a whimper.

Maybe Drew likes that BU isn't hosting Hockey East playoff games; it probably saves BU money. But as a fan I don't and I'm no longer willing to give BU my money for what I consider unacceptable results. My wife's not happy at all, as she likes to go to BU games, but I've told her we can still go to the women's games and there are other options for men's games that are both closer and less expensive.

Sean

If this turns out to be true - I'm absolutely floored. I found it difficult to make it to games this year based off of their schedule and poor performance. That was already weighing on the decision for next year (15 year season ticket holder). If this is what BU finds acceptable, it may be the breaking point for me.

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

I heard that Drew is going to give Coach O'Connell a one year extension. I have written to Drew that if he does so I will not longer support the program. After 37 years of attending games (36 as a season ticket holder) you might think it would be hard for me to give up my tickets, but after the last four seasons I find it's really not hard at all.

For four straight years BU has collapsed at the end of the season. Albie's first season BU was humiliated at Maine, losing 6-0. If they had won the game they would have finished tied for 4th and earned the #4 seed as they would have won the tiebreaker over UML. His second season the collapse was worse, losing 4 out of the final 5 games, 3 at home. if they had won just 2 of those 4 games they would have tied for third and been the #3 seed as again they won the tiebreaker over UML and if they had won 3 of the games they would have finished second. Last season BU lost to Merrimack at home the final weekend of the regular season. That loss cost them first based on points percentage. They then lost to UML and St. Cloud in the postseason. This season they collapsed again, losing 2 of the final 3 regular season games, again costing them home ice in the quarterfinals and possibly a share of first. They then bowed out against UConn with nary a whimper.

Maybe Drew likes that BU isn't hosting Hockey East playoff games; it probably saves BU money. But as a fan I don't and I'm no longer willing to give BU my money for what I consider unacceptable results. My wife's not happy at all, as she likes to go to BU games, but I've told her we can still go to the women's games and there are other options for men's games that are both closer and less expensive.

Sean

Sean - I'm glad you reached out directly to Drew. I know of others - some who provide/have provided considerable financial support to the program - who have already done the same as you, or plan to do the same.

I've heard the same thing (re: 1-year extension) from other sources close to the program, dating back to before the Beanpot final. The longer we DON'T hear from Drew, the more likely it is that Albie remains head coach next season.

One interesting observation is that the Athletics leadership DID NOT accompany the team to UCONN. They were very present the last 2 times BU had to play on the road for the HE QFs (2016 and 2019 @ Lowell). There were no other postseason competitions from other BU Athletics teams this past weekend.

Another thing I've heard is that Pandolfo supposedly may not be interested in being the head coach. I've been told a major reason for him leaving the Bruins is attributed to seeking enhanced quality of life at home with his wife & young children. I've also been told this is why he may not be as interested (as many think / want him to be) in becoming BU's next head coach and assuming additional duties and time commitments compared to his current role.

[Lemonade]

A one year extension is an absolute joke. What recruit would ever commit to a program where the head coach is shaky and is on a one year contract? If Albie is back I expect a bunch of players to be on the transfer portal once it is announced.

[J.D.]

Wouldn't a one year extension indicate his contract isn't actually up? Unless Albie is a rare bird and doesn't mind going year to year. But that seems unlikely to me. If Sean Pickett is out you know there's a problem!

[J.D.]

I think BC might have extended Steve Addazio a couple years ago but only did so to lower his buyout. Is that a possibility?

[brassbonanza]

As others have stated, a one-year extension is a colossal mistake for a multitude of reasons - for both sides.

- It's a clear indication the school is not committed to him
- It hamstrings his ability to recruit
- It leaves current players in limbo of the future of the program

This would be a horrendous mistake for all involved. Either decide he's the guy and give him a multi-year extension or move on.

[Bomber]

I came here to reiterate that the "greasy pork sandwich served in a dirty ashtray" taste this season left me with still lingers.

14-1-1 hot streak only to lose a 3-1 game to your arch-rival (A night after you pinned a 6 spot on 'em.) and then to lose 8-1 to the worst team in the league on the last night of the season with a #2 seed and home ice on the line .... I mean ...

Down 2-0 to UConn, did anyone here think they had any shot of coming back? They were frontrunners all season.

And then that post-game press conference. No passion. No answers.

BU needs a leader of men who can get the most out BU-caliber talent. (Speaking of which, The two Charley's and Greenway played strong games last night in St. Paul.)

BU Hockey: Change Required

[Sean Pickett]

Wouldn't a one year extension indicate his contract isn't actually up? Unless Albie is a rare bird and doesn't mind going year to year. But that seems unlikely to me.

I believe that coaching contracts generally parallel the fiscal year, which ends on 30 June for BU. Furthermore, Coach O'Connell was introduced on 5 June, so either way I don't think his contract is officially up just yet.

However, to be clear, I heard Albie was getting another year. Maybe an extension, maybe a new one year contract. Either way it's going down the same road Maine and UConn have taken since 2013; believing in unicorns and a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Sean