Big Ten Hockey Conference

[bigmrg74]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

It is an academic institution first and foremost. They aren't going to make such drastic moves because one of 20+ sports teams at a school ends up playing in a different conference. Get a grip.

They can focus on it all they want, they still have zero leverage. What are they going to do - tell their flagship university that they must leave the most prestigious athletic conference in the country?

Yeah, I don't think so either.

They wouldn't have to tell UMTC to leave the Big Ten just so they can still play the other Minnesota schools. All the Minnesota legistature has to do is make it difficult for the Big Ten to have Hockey without Minnesota as part of the deal.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

You'd be lucky if the Alaskas...

I think you seriously underestimate the pull both Alaska schools have. Two free home games to make money and pad your pairwise for playing two games in a weekend in Alaska is hard to resist for schools. UAA and UAF's attendance is not affected greatly between playing Minnesota and Michigan versus Ferris State and Mankato. Winning records affect attendance more than anything up here, and I'd like UAA's chances in a Minnesota and Wisconsin less WCHA, and even more in a conference without UND and Denver in the mix.

Now if UAA would have to about as an Independent then yes, I'd say we'd be in trouble. As long as we have a conference to play in with an NCAA bid, we're good.

 

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

They wouldn't have to tell UMTC to leave the Big Ten just so they can still play the other Minnesota schools. All the Minnesota legistature has to do is make it difficult for the Big Ten to have Hockey without Minnesota as part of the deal.

Why do you think the Minnesota legislature has any say whatsoever in what the Big Ten does?

texashockeycoach: I believe that the BTN money is divided up equally between all the schools. A BTHC would not add any revenue to the BTN that doesn't already exist. As it is, they can pick any games they want that include BT teams...they just don't pick a lot of games...

 

[Beer Pong Horn]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

I think you seriously underestimate the pull both Alaska schools have. Two free home games to make money and pad your pairwise for playing two games in a weekend in Alaska is hard to resist for schools. UAA and UAF's attendance is not affected greatly between playing Minnesota and Michigan versus Ferris State and Mankato. Winning records affect attendance more than anything up here, and I'd like UAA's chances in a Minnesota and Wisconsin less WCHA, and even more in a conference without UND and Denver in the mix.

Now if UAA would have to about as an Independent then yes, I'd say we'd be in trouble. As long as we have a conference to play in with an NCAA bid, we're good.

You're definitely right - I more meant that as in, "the Alaskans and the Yoopers (minus Lake State) probably will keep playing, but the others will seriously consider dropping D-1 hockey." Michigan is in a rough financial state right now, and Ohio isn't exactly bursting with money, so anything that can save money at those state institutions would be considered.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

True, but they can cut the funding that UMTC gets. You start threatening any administration with that and you would be surprised at how fast they would start staying "Yes Sir" and "No Sir".

This.

See Big XII and SWC with specific attention paid to the Texas schools.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

You're definitely right - I more meant that as in, "the Alaskans and the Yoopers (minus Lake State) probably will keep playing, but the others will seriously consider dropping D-1 hockey." Michigan is in a rough financial state right now, and Ohio isn't exactly bursting with money, so anything that can save money at those state institutions would be considered.

Well, I was writing in answer to a thought that a BTHC would hurt the Alaska schools. To be honest I really don't care about the others.

 

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Here's the deal. If a Big Ten conference is formed, Minnesota has two options...

1) Leave the WCHA.
2) Leave the Big Ten, and stay in the WCHA.

Which one do you really think they're going to choose, and why do you think the legislature would pressure them to make the stupid one?

 

[bigmrg74]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Why do you think the Minnesota legislature has any say whatsoever in what the Big Ten does?

texashockeycoach: I believe that the BTN revenue is divided up between all the schools. A BTHC would not add any revenue to the BTN that doesn't already exist. As it is, they can pick any games they want that include BT teams...they just don't pick a lot of games...

They don't have any thing to say about what the Big Ten does, all they get to do is fund UMTC, and can hold the Gophers by the balls with this. All they need to do is make leaving the current WCHA difficult for them, and perhaps slap some clause on UMTC that their hockey team would have to visit the other D1 hockey schools in Minnesota every year for at least one game, ideally for 2 game series. That would chew up quite a bit of the Gopher's non-conference schedule in the BTHC, and would at least get those schools at least one Draw game where they don't have to pay for it. And if say MSU-Moorhead or another Minnesota school was to start up D1 hockey, they would have to go to them every other year. If say St. Cloud wants to play the Gophers at the XCel, that would be ok, but the Gophers would have to pay to rent out the X for that night. That would benefit the other Minnesota schools, and would put UMTC in a tough spot with regards towards life in the BTHC. They've got a pretty sweet deal with the way the WCHA is now, why would they want the BTHC if they're going to be stuck going to those schools? They would work harder to have the WCHA to reduce the schedules so that they could still have their little Big Ten Hockey matchups, but as far as what the NCAA would be conserned, UMTC would just be a member of the WCHA.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Here's the deal. If a Big Ten conference is formed, Minnesota has two options...

1) Leave the WCHA.
2) Leave the Big Ten, and stay in the WCHA.

Which one do you really think they're going to choose, and why do you think the legislature would pressure them to make the stupid one?

Again, see Texas and the SWC. They aren't going to force them to "leave" the big ten, they'll just make it worth their while to drag along the other minnesota schools or make it sufficiently painful to do so.

To your last point, because that's what the legislature does.

 

[4four4]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

http://rinkandrun.areavoices.com/2010/09/13/update-big-ten-hockey/

Lucia said: “I can’t imagine Penn State going to the effort of adding hockey without the understanding it will be playing other Big Ten schools.”

Wow, I never thought I would see Lucia saying that.

 

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Again, see Texas and the SWC. They aren't going to force them to "leave" the big ten, they'll just make it worth their while to drag along the other minnesota schools or make it sufficiently painful to do so.

To your last point, because that's what the legislature does.

Completely different situation. A new conference was being formed. The Big Ten already exists, they just don't sponsor hockey at the moment. The Big 12 and SWC also does/did not have the academic alliance the Big Ten does which a lot of people seem to be forgetting in all this...

Point taken on this one.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

I dunno. I still see the legislature leaning hard on the U to either bring other teams with them or staying in the wcha. Wisconsin seems to be the only WCHA team intent on a BTHC. Hell, maybe one of only a handful of teams that want it that aren't bottom feeders.

I'd rather see wisconsin take a hike if that's what it comes to. Easier to schedule them for nonconference than to destroy all of our other rivalries.

(And don't kid yourself, the U is NOT going to schedule non-conference games loaded up with WCHA talent. Sorry, that's suicide and it's just not going to happen.)

 

[Dude Love]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

That is why I think, DU, UND, CC, UMD, Miami, ND, BC, BU, UNH and ME all look at forming a super conference to compete with the BTHC.

For real? The Bulldogs are the Andy Roddick of college hockey. All sorts of hype with no substance (minus the hot girlfriend).

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

For real? The Bulldogs are the Andy Roddick of college hockey. All sorts of hype with no substance (minus the hot girlfriend).

I see them having one role in that conference, "Bring out the gimp."

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

I think many of you are underestimating the tradition of these schools. Combined together they would form a league that includes 4 of the 17 schools that have won an NCAA championship. No other league would have more. Makeshift CCHA and WCHA castoffs 4, BTHC 4, WCHA 3, HEA 3, ECAC 3 and AHA 0.

The BGSU's and FSU's of the world may have won titles, but that doesn't change the fact that their programs don't make money.

If there is a weighing in BTN revenue, that's where the speculation is and all the "follow the money" rhetoric begins. Anything could happen.

And that's a big IF. I think you're right that its just an equal split currently. If only because I'm willing to bet that **** near 95% of the revenue from the BTN comes from football and basketball, which all schools sponsor.

texashockeycoach: I believe that the BTN money is divided up equally between all the schools. A BTHC would not add any revenue to the BTN that doesn't already exist. As it is, they can pick any games they want that include BT teams...they just don't pick a lot of games...

Which is exactly why I call shenanigans on anyone who thinks that the BTN would look at this as any sort of cash cow. They currently have plenty of opportunity to show Big Ten schools playing hockey, and they do so sparingly. There was an uptick last year, but it remains to be seen just how committed/interested they really are.

Wisconsin seems to be the only WCHA team intent on a BTHC.

That's because our AD is a classic "the only sport that matters is football" types. And he's a gigantic tool.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

That's because our AD is a classic "the only sport that matters is football" types. And he's a gigantic tool.

Wow, it's nice to see a badger that actually gets why a BTHC isn't a smart idea. They seem to be few and far between. Which isn't a knock on UW, I just find it amazing that Wisconsin seems to have a far higher number of BTHC supporters than any other school.

 

[Biddco]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

For real? The Bulldogs are the Andy Roddick of college hockey. All sorts of hype with no substance (minus the hot girlfriend).

Does that make St. Cloud the Anna Kournikova of college hockey(plus one win?)

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Wow, it's nice to see a badger that actually gets why a BTHC isn't a smart idea. They seem to be few and far between. Which isn't a knock on UW, I just find it amazing that Wisconsin seems to have a far higher number of BTHC supporters than any other school.

Huh. Where are you getting that from? Certainly not from UW posters here, that's for sure.

 

[Sterling Cooper]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

True, but they can cut the funding that UMTC gets. You start threatening any administration with that and you would be surprised at how fast they would start staying "Yes Sir" and "No Sir".

You act like UMTC has no alumni or supporters in the legislature or governor's office. Being the state's flagship and land grant campus, you're kidding yourself if you don't believe that their economic (and political) influence reaches into every country in the state through extension programs and research projects.

If Minnesota is anything like the other Big Ten states, for every state rep that's willing to try and punish UM over the hockey issue, there will be three to defend it.

 

[Sterling Cooper]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

I could be very wrong, but I can't see the formation of a BTHC with no non-BT teams in the mix. 6 teams even with the name brand just doesn't seem to carry much imho and would make for a crappy pre-NCAA post-season.

It's an impossibility. First of all, the Big Ten will NEVER do a single favor for the domers. They've made it clear to ND that they want them to join but on Big Ten terms: full membership and no special treatment. Until the domers agree to that, they can rot as far as the Big Ten offices and presidents are concerned.

I also see no way that they cut a Miami of Ohio or UND into the pie. Why? It would set a very bad precedent, and if they're looking to form a BTHC, they want it to be exactly that: a BTHC.. Also, why would any of these schools go along with it? So they could get kicked to the curb five years down the road when Purdue and Illinois make the jump to D1. It makes no sense on either side.