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Big Ten- Adding affiliate members for hockey isn't off the table

Re: Big Ten- Adding affiliate members for hockey isn't off the table

huskyfan said:
UND would never make the B1G if academics are involved. DU probably would. wouldn't it be funny if DU bolted the new formed NaCHo to join the B1G in hockey. they would no doubt pull Miami along and CC if they could. Western, UND, SCSU, Omaha, UMD would be left homeless. karma. karma. karma. in this scenario, I would love to see UMD rejoin the WCHA.
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So I guess the NCHC is just karma for MTU bolting the WCHA for the CCHA?
 
Re: Big Ten- Adding affiliate members for hockey isn't off the table

Nick Papagiorgio said:
JH is a lacrosse superpower and has no need for the B1G. They are something the B1G wants to get to 6.
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And moreover, they're the only worthwhile candidate left on the table, barring another ACC defection. The B1G isn't going to go after Marquette or Mercer.
 
Re: Big Ten- Adding affiliate members for hockey isn't off the table

5mn_Major said:
I don't know that this gets to the real criteria for affiliate selection which will lead to big chests of money for B1G.

The real criteria in my mind is a national university brand...and demographics (as Delaney puts it) or population. UND I don't think qualifies along those lines. John Hopkins does only mildly more being in Baltimore and being so dominant in Lacrosse. But the difference is that B1G hockey will happen no matter what...while B1G Lacrosse will only happen with a JH...and the other big difference is that new member Maryland would love the whole set up.
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All of this rings true.

Some quick reactions, just thinking out loud:

1. The phrase "affiliate member" has Notre Dame's fingerprints all over it. Notre Dame may be Our Lady, but she's also the Mother of Affiliate Membership. Trouble is, does the idea pass the plausibility test at this point in time? ND just joined Hockey East amid much fanfare. Are we really to believe they'd leave before playing a single conference game? Doesn't feel plausible to me.

2. Despite what both of us think the "real" criteria are, suppose additions were made purely on hockey grounds. In that case, North Dakota would be a great catch. But for this to happen, Delaney & Co. would have to do something FOR the hockey community, as opposed to doing something TO the hockey community. Never say never, but that would almost require a paradigm shift. Throughout the formation of the BTHC, the powers-that-be have treated hockey as a resource to be deployed, as opposed to a partner with legitimate wants and needs.

3. I can imagine that any number of things are honestly "on the table." But my guess is the conference line-up for 2013-14 won't change from what's already been announced.
 
Re: Big Ten- Adding affiliate members for hockey isn't off the table

Why do people want johnny come lately Miami (OH) for anything? Ben Rapelisberger is the only famous player from there, and they aren't a national brand in any way.
 
Re: Big Ten- Adding affiliate members for hockey isn't off the table

You guys are blowing this all way out of proportion. 5 teams in the B1G have lacrosse. You need 6 to get an autobid and create a league. The B1G wants a league to justify putting more games on BTN. The lacrosse members are worried they'll be stuck at 5 members desperately waiting for a 6th like hockey was. So one possibility would be to add a non B1G school just to get to 6.

This isn't an audition for expansion. And I highly doubt they would consider this for hockey just because it would be cool to see more strong teams play together. B1G Hockey already has their league. There's nothing to say they even will do this for lacrosse. I'm sure it's a "we're willing to talk about anything" kinda deal. Get all options on the table. Plus what would you do with an affiliate member if another B1G school joined lacrosse? Kick the affiliate member to the curb? Keep them forever? I doubt they'd want that. I don't mean to come across as so negative on this, but I would be VERY surprised if it happened. I'm sure they'll just goad another team into joining, like MSU trying to keep up with UM.
 
Re: Big Ten- Adding affiliate members for hockey isn't off the table

Instead of adding a 6th Lacrosse team they should consider just folding the 5 existing ones. Problem solved! What a crappy sport. I'd rather watch paint dry.
 
Re: Big Ten- Adding affiliate members for hockey isn't off the table

JF_Gophers said:
Why do people want johnny come lately Miami (OH) for anything? Ben Rapelisberger is the only famous player from there, and they aren't a national brand in any way.
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I have never understood this. I am of the opinion that SCSU would be a far more valuable conference add for the NCHC than Miami. This in terms of MN state recruiting, fan base size, travel, rivalries, geographic fit, etc. The only thing I can think of is that it was done to get Notre Dame and how'd that work out?

JF_Gophers said:
Instead of adding a 6th Lacrosse team they should consider just folding the 5 existing ones. Problem solved! What a crappy sport. I'd rather watch paint dry.
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The only reason lacrosse is a sport at all is that hockey is so awesome. But rather than trying to compete...others felt they needed to sign up for a sport where they didn't feel at a disadvantage. Just look at the pros to see how the two sports compare.
 
Re: Big Ten- Adding affiliate members for hockey isn't off the table

5mn_Major said:
The only reason lacrosse is a sport at all is that hockey is so awesome. But rather than trying to compete...others felt they needed to sign up for a sport where they didn't feel at a disadvantage. Just look at the pros to see how the two sports compare.
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Except to me they are nothing alike. People keep saying its just like hockey. Well it's not. Saying it is doesn't make it true.

Field Hockey is (more) like hockey. Lacrosse is crap.
 
Re: Big Ten- Adding affiliate members for hockey isn't off the table

I find this comical... The rules will be amended when it benefits the machine... Since the machine knows this (and the peons don't) then there's no hypocracy.
 
Re: Big Ten- Adding affiliate members for hockey isn't off the table

JF_Gophers said:
Why do people want johnny come lately Miami (OH) for anything? Ben Rapelisberger is the only famous player from there, and they aren't a national brand in any way.
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Really? Ben Rapelisberger is the only famous person from there? Little guy coaching the Super Bowl this weekend might have something to say about that. But in all seriousness, Miami has more notable alumni than you may think. As for a being a national brand, how many schools with college hockey programs can be considered national brands? Not many.
 
SweeneyHawksHockey said:
Really? Ben Rapelisberger is the only famous person from there? Little guy coaching the Super Bowl this weekend might have something to say about that. But in all seriousness, Miami has more notable alumni than you may think. As for a being a national brand, how many schools with college hockey programs can be considered national brands? Not many.
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I can name at least 6. Thats better than 10% of all teams.

edit: TBH its more than that. But the B1G is an obvious group. BC, BU, ND, can be added to that list. Could argue for Harvard certainly and maybe some others. So now we are at 10 (16.9%).
 
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Re: Big Ten- Adding affiliate members for hockey isn't off the table

MGoBlueHockey said:
The B1G would probably go after the best option for an affiliate. The one with enough history & one with a huge dedicated fanbase. North Dakota would be the perfect affiliate addition. Michigan, minnesota, state & north dakota would be reunited in one conference for the first time since 1980-81.
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Dirty said:
Holy Moly would that be hilarious. WCHA fans would really have a hissy fit if UND were to become an affiliate member. It's not going to happen, but it would be hilarious.
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Gurtholfin said:
Heck, let's take Denver too while we're at it. :D

Who wouldn't LOVE that conference!?!
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Denver bolting for the BTHC would be hilarious.
 
Re: Big Ten- Adding affiliate members for hockey isn't off the table

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
Denver bolting for the BTHC would be hilarious.
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This would be a GREAT conference:

Wisconsin
Michigan
North Dakota
Denver
Michigan State
Ohio State
Penn State
Minnesota


One can dream...
 
Re: Big Ten- Adding affiliate members for hockey isn't off the table

The last sentence of that article about the ECAC made me giggle.

As for the future, it is clear that ECAC Hockey shall continue to occupy its spot among ice hockey's elite conferences.
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