Big Ten Hockey Conference

[mnstate0fhockey]

No denying that he was shooting in his pants over the idea. I guess I never read up on what the other ADs thought of it, but it was my impression was that the only people vehemently against the idea were hockey people and hockey fans... and let's be honest, we don't have all that much pull.

I figured that the average common idiot (the kind of idiot that would care more about hockey if it weren't for all the small schools) and the ADs (who make tons of money off of the average common idiot) were the ones who would have been supporting it the most.

Minnesota was pretty open about their feeling about ending the showcase and have continued to schedule Michigan State after the break-up.

I think more than just the Minnesota fans are bitter at Barry for how everything went down, but I doubt we'll ever hear anything publicly. You can tell by the way that the Minnesota media covered the breakup of the College Hockey Showcase and the eventual decision to form the Big Ten Hockey Conference that many within the Minnesota hockey circle felt that the transition felt kinda forced. At least that is the impression I got from how it was covered. That probably has magnified some of the Minnesota fans feelings on the issue.

Personally, I don't think Barry has done much to endear himself to college hockey fans, but I don't believe he had a grand scheme to orchestrate the Big Ten Hockey Conference. I just don't think he understands the culture (for lack of a better word) of college hockey and maybe doesn't care enough to try and understand. I'm sure it's that way with OSU's AD and will be the same way with PSU's AD as well. Hockey just isn't the big money maker football and basketball are, and some schools don't make it a priority. Otherwise we'd have more Big Ten teams with programs right now.

Just my $0.02

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Fine, but if we're going on the "AD's had some pull in this matter" premise, where were the AD's from Michigan and OSU, coz if pull is proportionate to the department that an AD represents, they would have had far more influence than ol' Barry.

My contention is that the AD's had no pull whatsoever and it wouldn't have mattered what any or all of them said. The B1G wasn't going to let any sport that qualified as a B1G conference go rogue.

I don't care if they had pull or not. Barry advocated for the pile of crap. Maturi didn't. That's what's on the record.

 

[bigmrg74]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

We laugh at you for many, many more reasons than just that.

Point is, Barry had no control over the formation of a BTHC, yet some choose to specifically blame him for it.

I haven't seen anyone tell you that you can't/shouldn't hate Barry or that only we can. Hate away. He's a d-bag and was as a HC too.

Truthfully, I just think he makes for a convenient face to pin to the proverbial dartboard for everybody else out there that really hates the BTHC to be able to throw darts at. Hell, look at that big fat face?? Even if you're off a little you're still going to hit him.

 

[bronconick]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

He may not have been able to stop it BUT he did choose to campaign for it. Maturi was the only AD to speak out against it. If most of the hockey schools had spoke out against it it may have made a difference. Barry (at least in the media) was the most vocal advocate.

I blame Penn State first and Barry second. And if you want my personal opinion I think college hockey is going to take a major step backwards in the next few years because of it. One conference with a TV Channel is not going to be enough to elevate college hockey nationally, and that one conference is doing it to the detriment of many other programs.

My new bet is that none of the western conferences even match the CCHA tourney average for attendance in recent years, much less sniff the WCHA final five.

 

[darker98]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Truthfully, I just think he makes for a convenient face to pin to the proverbial dartboard for everybody else out there that really hates the BTHC to be able to throw darts at. Hell, look at that big fat face?? Even if you're off a little you're still going to hit him.

Gurt Looks good blown up.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

My new bet is that none of the western conferences even match the CCHA tourney average for attendance in recent years, much less sniff the WCHA final five.

Sounds right to me.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

He may not have been able to stop it BUT he did choose to campaign for it. Maturi was the only AD to speak out against it. If most of the hockey schools had spoke out against it it may have made a difference. Barry (at least in the media) was the most vocal advocate.

I blame Penn State first and Barry second. And if you want my personal opinion I think college hockey is going to take a major step backwards in the next few years because of it. One conference with a TV Channel is not going to be enough to elevate college hockey nationally, and that one conference is doing it to the detriment of many other programs.

While it's fine that some of you like to debate this and the possibe implosion of college hockey, I ask one question- when do we just move on?

It's not as if we can go back and change anything, and it's pretty irrelevant to what happens in 2013- if Barry Alvarez is the next Anti-Christ joinging with Penn State to be the overlords. The Big Ten conference is going to happen- nothing is going to stop that, even if you want to reash who to blame coutless times.

This is a done deal- can we talk 2013 sometime?

 

[Tiggsy]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

While it's fine that some of you like to debate this and the possibe implosion of college hockey, I ask one question- when do we just move on?

It's not as if we can go back and change anything, and it's pretty irrelevant to what happens in 2013- if Barry Alvarez is the next Anti-Christ joinging with Penn State to be the overlords. The Big Ten conference is going to happen- nothing is going to stop that, even if you want to reash who to blame coutless times.

This is a done deal- can we talk 2013 sometime?

It's the off season and this is a message board full of bored, passionate fans who are witnessing a major change in the focus of their passion. What did you expect? Once the season rolls around this will die off a bit only to ramp up again next off season before the B1G actually starts. We all know it's going to happen but what's the point of the internet if you can't complain about things you have no control over?

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Gurt Looks good blown up.

'cept you can't see my teets in that crop.

 

[4four4]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

So many believe Barry made this mess. Has he come out of the closet and said why he came to this conclusion?

 

[UMICH]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

...what's the point of the internet if you can't complain about things you have no control over?

Porn, duh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[alfablue]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

It's the off season and this is a message board full of bored, passionate fans who are witnessing a major change in the focus of their passion. What did you expect? Once the season rolls around this will die off a bit only to ramp up again next off season before the B1G actually starts. We all know it's going to happen but what's the point of the internet if you can't complain about things you have no control over?

Had the horse died anytime in the last 6 months, sure. But the B1G horse died a few years ago. For a conference that has so much potential for entertaining hockey, the gloomers and doomers here sure like to take the wind out of the sails.

(I now need to think of a bunch of cliche's to post, I suppose)

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

I stand by what I said, and I also stand by the notion that the BTHC was happening independent of what anyone else said.

Your really going out on a limb on that one. Not one person has said that Alverez could launch the BTHC by himself.

The desired effect for ending the showcase was to start including OSU on the non-con schedule more and to not continually bury B1G non-con games on a holiday weekend.

That said, all of Barry's statements surrounding the final showcase had to do with getting OSU into the mix.

You're making it sound like Barry was just kind of watching without any bias except for a concern for OSU. Definitely not the case...he was pushing for the BTHC all along:

Plan for Big Ten hockey league iced in summer of ’09

A series of high-level discussions took place this summer about the creation of a new men's hockey league featuring the five Big Ten Conference members that sponsor the sport.

UW senior associate athletic director Sean Frazier, who oversees the men's and women's hockey programs, said he and athletic director Barry Alvarez share "major concerns'' about the overall health and direction of men's hockey at the NCAA Division I level.

Alvarez believes the sport needs to be more regionalized, especially as it relates to programs in the CCHA and WCHA. Both leagues have schools that stretch from the Eastern time zone to Alaska. They also have diverse memberships, with schools whose other athletic programs are classified from NCAA Division I to I-AA to Division III, as well as carrying varied academic requirements.

Ohio State officials are openly supportive of the idea of a Big Ten affiliation. Calls to administrators at Michigan and Michigan State were not returned, but multiple sources around college hockey say they brought open minds to the summer talks.

Whatever momentum the initiative seemed to have gained, though, apparently slowed because Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi spoke out strongly against it.

 

[JDUBBS1280]

Your really going out on a limb on that one. Not one person has said that Alverez could launch the BTHC by himself.



You're making it sound like Barry was just kind of watching without any bias except for a concern for OSU. Definitely not the case...he was pushing for the BTHC all along:

Plan for Big Ten hockey league iced in summer of ’09

A series of high-level discussions took place this summer about the creation of a new men's hockey league featuring the five Big Ten Conference members that sponsor the sport.

UW senior associate athletic director Sean Frazier, who oversees the men's and women's hockey programs, said he and athletic director Barry Alvarez share "major concerns'' about the overall health and direction of men's hockey at the NCAA Division I level.

Alvarez believes the sport needs to be more regionalized, especially as it relates to programs in the CCHA and WCHA. Both leagues have schools that stretch from the Eastern time zone to Alaska. They also have diverse memberships, with schools whose other athletic programs are classified from NCAA Division I to I-AA to Division III, as well as carrying varied academic requirements.

Ohio State officials are openly supportive of the idea of a Big Ten affiliation. Calls to administrators at Michigan and Michigan State were not returned, but multiple sources around college hockey say they brought open minds to the summer talks.

Whatever momentum the initiative seemed to have gained, though, apparently slowed because Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi spoke out strongly against it.

Everyone knows the real reason Barry pulled UW out of the Showcase had everything to do with pressuring Minnesota. Some people just aren't honest enough to admit it.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Everyone knows the real reason Barry pulled UW out of the Showcase had everything to do with pressuring Minnesota. Some people just aren't honest enough to admit it.

Timing is suspicious. The talks to advance the BTHC fell apart...and low and behold:

2010 will be final Showcase among 4 Big Ten schools
11/09

After this year's games at MSU and U-M and next year's stop in Minneapolis and Madison, Wis., the showcase will end after an 18-year run.

"My preference would be to play (Minnesota and Wisconsin) twice (each season),'' said Comley, who is not in favor of a Big Ten league at this point.

"We have one more year after this and that's it,'' MSU coach Rick Comley said. "Wisconsin did not want to extend the Showcase. They want to get Ohio State involved and they prefer a Big Ten Conference.''

 

[bronconick]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Alvarez believes the sport needs to be more regionalized, especially as it relates to programs in the CCHA and WCHA. Both leagues have schools that stretch from the Eastern time zone to Alaska.

Oh yes, that worked out really well.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Oh yes, that worked out really well.

Yes. Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, OSU, and MSU will have WAY less travel now that they're in the Big 10. It's a miracle how that worked out so well.

 

[bronconick]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Yes. Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, OSU, and MSU will have WAY less travel now that they're in the Big 10. It's a miracle how that worked out so well.

I went from 4 road trips that I could make by leaving work an hour or two early on a Friday in conference play to none. Definitely a bonus for your actual college hockey fans.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

I went from 4 road trips that I could make by leaving work an hour or two early on a Friday in conference play to none. Definitely a bonus for your actual college hockey fans.

Seriously, what the hell was Alvarez talking about? It couldn't have been more regionalized. With the exception of the Alaska schools it was an exact East/West split.

 

[Tiggsy]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Had the horse died anytime in the last 6 months, sure. But the B1G horse died a few years ago. For a conference that has so much potential for entertaining hockey, the gloomers and doomers here sure like to take the wind out of the sails.

(I now need to think of a bunch of cliche's to post, I suppose)

It's their own fault then for not launching the conference a year sooner. I still am suprised you expect everyone to just say okay and move on happily with the biggest shake up in colelge hockey, which is still over a year away. Sure there is some potentially entertaining hockey but lets not forget all the entertaining hockey that will be no more. Many great, regional rivalries ended. Not sure why the fact people are upset about that is still shocking. People accept it because there is nothing that can be done at this point, but no one has to like it. It will fade in time, but it's still pretty fresh since it hasn't happened yet.