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All Things Denver XXIX

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Re: All Things Denver XXIX

I seriously doubt that NCAA performance is affecting DU's attendance. People are just very price sensitive right now. The CC games are "FUN" with tons of atmosphere. The Bemidji games are "BORING" with no atmosphere. Read the Denver Post recaps and check out the photos. There's no comparison between the two events.

If Gwoz left, a lot of people would be out the door with him either voluntarily or involuntarily. And I'm not just talking about the assistant coaches.

Most frightening, if he left, the people who selected Joe Scott would be the people who who be picking the replacements. And Chancellor Coombes would have the final say.

Recruits are not the only ones who come to DU because of Gwozdecky, schools like BC & BU schedule DU regularly because they want a tune-up against top-flight competition.

Very few NCAA programs in any sport prosper after a Hall-of-Fame caliber coach leaves the school. Look at Alabama after Bryant, Michigan after Schembechler, Nebraska after Osborne or UCLA after Wooden. Anyone remember Ray Perkins, Gary Moeller, Frank Solich & Gene Bartow? Schools with a lot more money than DU & years to find a replacement couldn't get it done.

All you need to know about college sports is its the coach who makes "The Program" not the school & on the field success is 90% recruiting, 10% coaching.
 
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Re: All Things Denver XXIX

DG's point about following a legend is well taken. In the pros, my favorite example is Phil Bengston. Anybody remember him? He's the poor schnook who replaced Vince Lombardi. How'd that work out? I forget.

And Zucker and company show the importance of recruiting, don't they?
 
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Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Old Pio said:
I think some of this hesitation to back Gwoz enthusiastically here is a residual from last year. We had such high hopes and expectations and an early out at the hands of RIT just wasn't in our thinking. Later we learned of a very high total of off season surgeries, which might have explained the upset in part.
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To be honest, I completely back Gwoz and if it were my money to spend I would give him what he wants. I hope DU does as well, however it does not appear that way right now and that was my point. There already is an obvious willingness on DU's behalf for the cruddy BBall program to chew into, and use, the hockey program's financial successes for said cruddy program and I'm not sure that is going to stop anytime soon.

DU probably feels as though they have a top-end brand to sell, no matter if it is Gwoz at the helm or not and if they feel as though they can sell that brand without Gwoz, then they probably feel as though they could get away with a less expensive coaching option if they wanted to -- which was, again, one of the points I was trying to make.

In the end, DU should probably just give the man what he wants as I'm sure it's reasonable for what is provided and allow the hockey program to flourish as the flagship it is...
 
Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Chris said:
To be honest, I completely back Gwoz and if it were my money to spend I would give him what he wants. I hope DU does as well, however it does not appear that way right now and that was my point. There already is an obvious willingness on DU's behalf for the cruddy BBall program to chew into, and use, the hockey program's financial successes for said cruddy program and I'm not sure that is going to stop anytime soon.

DU probably feels as though they have a top-end brand to sell, no matter if it is Gwoz at the helm or not and if they feel as though they can sell that brand without Gwoz, then they probably feel as though they could get away with a less expensive coaching option if they wanted to -- which was, again, one of the points I was trying to make.

In the end, DU should probably just give the man what he wants as I'm sure it's reasonable for what is provided and allow the hockey program to flourish as the flagship it is...
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I sure hope you're wrong Chris, IMHO, it was the attitude that they can put lipstick on a pig and call it DU hockey that got us into two decades of trouble.
 
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Re: All Things Denver XXIX

You have to think that the WAC Fiasco and the 2-9 start has some of the DU Hoops proponents in a very uncomfortable position. Its not like Mike Chambers didn't lay all this out in some of his early season articles.
 
Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Puck Swami said:
It's too early to call Scott a failure at Denver. He has built progressivly better teams in his first few years at DU, and this year was supposed to be his best one yet, but this year has been a struggle for a number of reasons. First, his best 6-8 senior forward (Rob Lewis) hurt his leg and hasn't played all year, and Lewis' substitute,a 6-9 junior (Trevor Noonan), has also struggled with illness, which means the teams rebounding capability has been quite crippled. Then you add the fact that the schedule is much tougher this year, and the fact that two other players (Andrew Hooper and Brian Stafford) who were good shooters last year have been very inconsistent this year, and you have the recipe for a bad start. I think DU will win some games this year in the Sun Belt, but this season has been much more disappointing than anyone thought.

Scott does have a reputation as a yeller, but I think the guys know he's trying to make them better. I've seen no signs that the players don't respect him. He's gone out of the way not to blame them so far, and I am hopeful that things will improve.

DU can't go out and get a million dollar coach. They need to win with a $400,000 coach, and Scott has taken Air Force to the NCAAs. so Scott didn't get stupid. With an average incoming SAT of 1200 and GPA of 3.7, there are a lot of good hoops players who won't be admitted to DU. The Pios need to win with gym rats rather than thoroughbreds, and Scott's system is tailor made for gym rats. They just have to hit their shots....
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Thanks Swami. Much appreciated. A lot of high profile coaches watch the program very carefully.
 
It's been five long years since DU has won a game in the NCAAs and it's not as if the talent wasn't there to win aganst lower seeds. I think DU will pay for NCAA excellence, but they won't pay top dollar for first round flameouts against RIT. If Gwoz can get to a Frozen Four again, I could see himbagging a big new contract. A fourth consecutive playoff turd, and I don't think he gets the big dough again.
 
Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Puck Swami said:
It's been five long years since DU has won a game in the NCAAs and it's not as if the talent wasn't there to win aganst lower seeds. I think DU will pay for NCAA excellence, but they won't pay top dollar for first round flameouts against RIT. If Gwoz can get to a Frozen Four again, I could see himbagging a big new contract. A fourth consecutive playoff turd, and I don't think he gets the big dough again.
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Agreed, this time of year we all love Gwoz, especially this year. What a pleasant surprise this team is!! Come playoff time though, I'm starting to hold my breath and am losing confidence. It's been very frustrating. At least RIT beat UNH too, that helped a little.
 
Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Interesting program DU has just started called the Pioneer Professors.

Modeled off of Princeton University's highly successful "Faculty Fellows" program, the "Pioneer Professors" program is an academic-oriented initiative designed to further integrate the University of Denver's athletic and academic programs.
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See Full Press Release
 
Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Puck Swami said:
It's been five long years since DU has won a game in the NCAAs and it's not as if the talent wasn't there to win aganst lower seeds. I think DU will pay for NCAA excellence, but they won't pay top dollar for first round flameouts against RIT. If Gwoz can get to a Frozen Four again, I could see himbagging a big new contract. A fourth consecutive playoff turd, and I don't think he gets the big dough again.
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If NCAA victories were so important they could be easily incentivized in his contract. Not only that but Gwozdecky is tied with the 2nd longest win streak in NCAA history with eight (2004-05).

DU is playing Russian Roulette with Gwozdecky. If he gets a big offer, DU may only get 48 hours to match it and that's only if he's not really interested in switching schools.

If DU is really this stupid, they will lose him.
 
Re: All Things Denver XXIX

dggoddard said:
If NCAA victories were so important they could be easily incentivized in his contract. Not only that but Gwozdecky is tied with the 2nd longest win streak in NCAA history with eight (2004-05).

DU is playing Russian Roulette with Gwozdecky. If he gets a big offer, DU may only get 48 hours to match it and that's only if he's not really interested in switching schools.

If DU is really this stupid, they will lose him.
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Does Coach Gwoz's daughter graduate from high school this year or is she enrolled at DU?
What other schools pay more for their hockey coach that might be in the market?
Penn State, Minnesota, ????
 
Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Don't assume the Big 10 schools automatically pay more than DU does. Some of these schools are quite constrained where it concerns hockey.
 
Re: All Things Denver XXIX

dggoddard said:
If NCAA victories were so important they could be easily incentivized in his contract. Not only that but Gwozdecky is tied with the 2nd longest win streak in NCAA history with eight (2004-05).

DU is playing Russian Roulette with Gwozdecky. If he gets a big offer, DU may only get 48 hours to match it and that's only if he's not really interested in switching schools.

If DU is really this stupid, they will lose him.
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Losing Gwoz would be the worst possible message at the worst possible time.
 
Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Gwoz still has several years left on his current contract, and he's already top 5 in his sport. He'll have more contract leverage if he can get deep into the NCAAs this year. Right now, Gwoz has far less contract leverage with the last 5 early playoff exits and the decline in ticket sales.
 
Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Puck Swami said:
Gwoz still has several years left on his current contract, and he's already top 5 in his sport. He'll have more contract leverage if he can get deep into the NCAAs this year. Right now, Gwoz has far less contract leverage with the last 5 early playoff exits and the decline in ticket sales.
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Let's hope this discussion becomes moot--soon.
 
Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Dmann said:
Bump!! I told CC was coming!!! They are on a roll!
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Hope for a tie tonight. That would put UND with 22 points, DU and UMD with 20 points, UNO with 18 points, CC with 17 points and Minneosta and Wisconsin with 14 points. Everyone else is pretty much out of the MacNaughton race.
 
Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Since DU is off and I woke up way too early this morning, thought I would check on some former Pioneers. (more to come)
How are they doing?

NHL
Paul Stastny--Avs-13-19-32
Matt Carle--Flyers-1-14-15
Chris Butler--Buffalo-0-3-3
Tyler Bozak--Maple Leafs-4-7-11

AHL
J.P. Testwuide--Adirondak Phantoms-0-1-1
(little mikey testwuide--Adirondak-1-10-11)
Keith Seabrook -Abbotsford-4-9-13
Peter Mannino--Chicago Wolves-GAA-3.09 Sv%-.897
Joe Colborne--Providence-7-9-16
Patrick Wiercioch--Binghamto-1-2-3
Rhett Rakhshani--Bridgeport Sound-10-18-28
Patrick Mullen--Manchester-1-9-10
Gabe Gauthier-Syracuse-0-0-0

Source IHDB thru 12/18/10)
 
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