UNH Hockey 2023 Off Season Thread Turn and Face the Strange

[Snively65]

Without even seeing the plans, I'd still like to know if an underground garage could be built underneath the space currently occupied by the field hockey pitch? Given that they were able to "dig down" to construct the subgrade bowl for The Whitt, I'd guess the chances were pretty good that (finances aside) you could construct at least a 2-3 level undergound parking deck on that land, and then put the field hockey pitch right back on its "roof". The deeper, the better, and think of the space that would open up for the school on the other side of the tracks to be used for further housing, fields, or (if you're thinking really big, as in "Joe Faro big") a public/private venture akin to the huge development the Krafts have built adjacent to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.

Except this would be "Wildcat" themed. The possibilities are endless, if you use your imagination, and Faro is not someone who dreams little. Oh, and BTW, he's a UNH grad AND his Tuscan Village development in Salem MA is eventually going to max out, and Faro is going to be looking for a 3rd and final chapter to ride off into the sunset with ... why not this?

Just in case you don't know who Faro is, here's a dated item from an unlikely WIS source to bring you up to a few years ago, and as many of you probably already know, the TV project down in Salem is exceeding all expectations ...

Joe Faro - Made From Scratch | HuffPost Contributor

Unfortunately, the Exetergranodiorite bedrock is close to the surface under most of the UNH campus and even blasting enough bedrock to construct one level of an underground parking garage near the Whitt would be prohibitively expensive. The shallow depth to bedrock was the reason that repairing the faulty ice chiller system under the Whitt was so expensive. Nice idea, though.

[Chuck Murray]

Unfortunately, the Exetergranodiorite bedrock is close to the surface under most of the UNH campus and even blasting enough bedrock to construct one level of an underground parking garage near the Whitt would be prohibitively expensive. The shallow depth to bedrock was the reason that repairing the faulty ice chiller system under the Whitt was so expensive. Nice idea, though.

Bummer. Now that you mention it (again), I think you've told us this before. Back to the drawing board ... but now that you've introduced Key Auto into the picture, there's no excuse not to reach out to Faro. The guy still keeps in touch with his UNH professor(s), and he's a visionary. I should not have to draw a diagram. Darius, get these kids together!! ;-)

[d.gerry]

Bummer. Now that you mention it (again), I think you've told us this before. Back to the drawing board ... but now that you've introduced Key Auto into the picture, there's no excuse not to reach out to Faro. The guy still keeps in touch with his UNH professor(s), and he's a visionary. I should not have to draw a diagram. Darius, get these kids together!! ;-)

That would be a great partnership, and yes he is absolutely a visionary! Except the obvious, who would have ever envisioned what has become of the old Rockingham Park? What a transformation, and much better than the casino many wanted. I can't imagine if approached by UNH with a good plan he wouldn't want to be park of it. If he had been part of this renovation it could have been called the Joe Faro Complex! ;-)

[Chuck Murray]

That would be a great partnership, and yes he is absolutely a visionary! Except the obvious, who would have ever envisioned what has become of the old Rockingham Park? What a transformation, and much better than the casino many wanted. I can't imagine if approached by UNH with a good plan he wouldn't want to be park of it. If he had been part of this renovation it could have been called the Joe Faro Complex! ;-)

LOL

Actually I spent a lot of fun times with friends over at the old Rockingham Park back in the day, beautiful old facility, sadly once legalized betting expanded away from racing and lotteries, the thoroughbred industry in New England was DOA. I hear Belmont is on its last legs, which would be stunning to see that go away ... but if NY bettors on the ponies have a choice between Saratoga Springs and Belmont, you know who's gonna win.

Many older posters on here will no doubt remember when for roughly two decades (1975-1995), the Salem NH Rockingham property was touted as the "next home of the Bruins" before the Jacobs Family finally got the Fleet Center done. Now a half-century out, a mall was built, a racetrack was razed, a new arena built within inches of the old arena in Boston, and Tuscan Village is likely to move Salem up next to Concord as the #3 biggest town/city in NH, behind only Manchester and Nashua. As long as nobody lays a finger on Canobie Lake Park, I'm good.

It's encouraging to see private money coming into UNH Sports at last, though. Even at the remote outpost that is UMaine, they've had the benefit of Harold Alfond for a long time now. Not sure what's going on at UVM - probably still too socialist up there for them to be thinking of "frivolities" like college sports, not when there's a planet to be saved (LOL). But I'd love to see Faro and UNH getting together. Heck, he'd even be paisan, which should pass muster with Dickie U!!

[d.gerry]

It's encouraging to see private money coming into UNH Sports at last, though. Even at the remote outpost that is UMaine, they've had the benefit of Harold Alfond for a long time now. Not sure what's going on at UVM - probably still too socialist up there for them to be thinking of "frivolities" like college sports, not when there's a planet to be saved (LOL). But I'd love to see Faro and UNH getting together. Heck, he'd even be paisan, which should pass muster with Dickie U!!

It's a very positive sign. As you mentioned he still has a connection with a UNH professor(s), gives UNH a plug on his website "our story" page, and obviously has some level of affinity to the school, and yeah the paisan thing can't hurt! Now the university needs to think big, like what is your ultimate wish list for hockey big, talk to Joe and come up with a plan to really put UNH athletics on the map (with the focus on hockey of course)! Problem is, not sure if Joe is a big sports guy or is even interested. He's probably more focused on developing and expanding the Tuscan brand, not necessarily partnering with is alma mater.

So with that in mind, what would you guys add to your "Ultimate Wish List" for UNH Hockey?

[Scott]

So with that in mind, what would you guys add to your "Ultimate Wish List" for UNH Hockey?

That's a loaded question!! :-)

For starters:

1. A coaching staff with well-honed salesmanship skill levels that can sell the living s**t about the benefits of being a Wildcat hockey player.
2. State of the art facilities. We starting to move in that direction thankfully.
3. A return to national prominence. See #1 and #2.
4. The return of a normal sports atmosphere, rather than the family-friendly "carnival" that we're besieged with at a lot of home games

And of course:

5. A NATTY :-)

[grooverider]

I'll see you crazy wildcat fans during White out the Whitt weekend against Maine, just purchased some front row seats in 107aa one night and 105aa the second night... and I'll be cheering on the road team

[Chuck Murray]

I'll see you crazy wildcat fans during White out the Whitt weekend against Maine, just purchased some front row seats in 107aa one night and 105aa the second night... and I'll be cheering on the road team

Good for you, groovy. Hoping we can return the favor at Alfond in a few years once we have a real coach in charge.

[grooverider]

Good for you, groovy. Hoping we can return the favor at Alfond in a few years once we have a real coach in charge.

I'm honestly hoping you guys turn it around eventually. We will see what happens this season we aren't out of the woods yet but finally have a good coach. I went to the Friday game last year and I have always liked UNH fans. They give you some **** but it's all in good fun. I do enjoy your student section too.

[Robert Balin]

Well it looks like BU and Harvard are the big winners in early recruiting.Harvard alone has 9 07's. I won't mention who one of the big losers is. lol

[Chuck Murray]

Well it looks like BU and Harvard are the big winners in early recruiting.Harvard alone has 9 07's. I won't mention who one of the big losers is. lol

I guess the NHL sized sheet and Key Auto Group's souped-up locker room facilities haven't quite landed yet?

Geez, I wonder what could be leading the best young D-1 prospects NOT to come to Durham ...

[d.gerry]

Watching UNH men’s soccer on ESPN+. Whats the construction about at Wildcat Stadium?

[Felger]

Watching UNH men’s soccer on ESPN+. Whats the construction about at Wildcat Stadium?

I know they are resurfacing the track. Not sure if it is more than that.

[HockeyRef]

That's a loaded question!! :-)

For starters:

1. A coaching staff with well-honed salesmanship skill levels that can sell the living s**t about the benefits of being a Wildcat hockey player.
2. State of the art facilities. We starting to move in that direction thankfully.
3. A return to national prominence. See #1 and #2.
4. The return of a normal sports atmosphere, rather than the family-friendly "carnival" that we're besieged with at a lot of home games

And of course:

5. A NATTY :-)

All good stuff Scott! Whatever happened to that great anthem singer, I believe he was a Reverend? I'd add that to the list Seriously, the coaching piece
I believe is #1 on my list..facilities second like you said. What would a 'normal sports' atmosphere look like to you?

Wow, almost Sept 1!! Won't be long before the 'Cats name a captain. Who you got? I'm going with Luke Reid getting the C, Blaisdell and Sweeney with the A's. Not
necessarily in that order...

[Chuck Murray]

What would a 'normal sports' atmosphere look like to you?

I'm not 100% sure, but I know Scott goes back a long time with the program, and I'm guessing he's referencing the colorful chants we used to hear from the student section before BS35+ No More went all controlling Karen on The Whitt, and instructed the pep band to play over the most purportedly "offensive" chants. And, of course, put "Black Betty" on the Naughty List. The atmosphere at The Whitt - which used to be amazing for the first decade-plus of the venue - slowly withered and died a quiet death. I truly believe that "feisty" atmosphere used to be a selling point for some of the recruits back in the day, and kind of typified the whole "Live Free or Die" spirit in its own unique way.

Now there is virtually no difference between The Whitt and any other arena. Scott - am I on the right track here?