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Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with us?

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Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

Did the Freep get any quotes about Saponari?
 
Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

Found this in my inbox. Doesn't seem like anything groundbreaking, but sharing in case anybody's interested:


Boston University Office of the President
Robert A. Brown
President

One Silber Way
Boston, Massachusetts 02215
T 617-353-2200 F 617-353-3278


March 7, 2012

Dear Colleagues and Students,

As you know from my February 23 announcement, I am convening a Task Force on Men’s Hockey which will examine the culture of our men’s ice hockey team and report back to me in the summer. I am writing to let you know that the formation of the Task Force is now complete, and you may find a list of members and read the charge to the Task Force on my web site. You can also find further information on BU Today.

This Task Force will meet and consult with the full spectrum of our community and outside experts. They will commence their work immediately and report their findings during the summer. This way, we will have an opportunity to consider how we can implement recommendations before the next academic year begins.

I am especially grateful to Dr. Jonathan Cole, chairman of the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees, and University Provost Jean Morrison for taking on the important work of co-chairing this group.

Sincerely,


Robert A. Brown
President
 
Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

One comment would be that the members appear so heavily steeped in academia that it is a possibility they don't have much perspective on leading, managing and disciplining college age athletes who are one step away from professional careers in sports.

To quote Hyman Roth "this is the business we have chosen". If BU is going to be a top hockey program then it won't be the same kids that are playing for fun at a D3 college nor will the choices made.

And no, I'm not saying that means any type of criminal or anti-social behavior should be tolerated or expected...only that those judging should have some idea of what they are benchmarking against.

I expected to see a retired AD or two from other colleges or even somebody current from an athletic department at another private school outside of our conference and sport affiliations but also trying to balance strong academics with national prominence in at least one sport (stanford, vanderbilt, wake etc).

I'm sure they are smart people and perhaps some did play sports in college but it is also possible the average age is 62 and they don't appreciate the balance of sports and academics.

That professor elbow patch has attended hockey games for the last 25 years is better than if he had never been in the building but where is the perspective on the practical nature of running a D1 top 10 sports program in 2012?
 
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Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

I've said for the past 25 yrs.... For all the smart people bu has, they do a lot of dumb things.
 
Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

pirate said:
To quote Hyman Roth "this is the business we have chosen".
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"I didn't ask who gave the order, because it had nothing to do with BUSINESS!!!" (greatest movie ever, IMHO)

"Those four tickets for the Frozen Four...I'm going in to take a nap. When I awake, if they're on the table, I'll know I have a partner. If they're not...I'll know I won't..."
 
Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

mookie1995 said:
I've said for the past 25 yrs.... For all the smart people bu has, they do a lot of dumb things.
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Why did they include someone from the dental school? Because they are just trying to save face. Unfortunately for you guys I'll be here all night.
 
Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

Agganis said:
Why did they include someone from the dental school? Because they are just trying to save face. Unfortunately for you guys I'll be here all night.
Click to expand...

I have received several e-mails already from people who strongly feel that the committee will do more harm than good. What often happens with these blue ribbon committees is that they pick people with all kinds of credentials but who have no feel for the subject matter. I can only hope they can be fair but in the words of one friend who responded to my posting the announcement "this is pure unadulterated bull **** (in my opinion).
 
Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

these people are all connected to the school. i would prefer outsiders who can come in with a fresh opinion.

if they are within the bu community, they fall into one of two groups - like the hockey team, or hate the hockey team.

ich
 
Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

mookie1995 said:
these people are all connected to the school. i would prefer outsiders who can come in with a fresh opinion.

if they are within the bu community, they fall into one of two groups - like the hockey team, or hate the hockey team.

ich
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I think you are right.
 
Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

mookie1995 said:
If they are within the bu community, they fall into one of two groups - like the hockey team, or hate the hockey team.
Click to expand...

And you can probably be sure that they didn't include any of the "hate the hockey team" people. Let's be real honest about this. They will pay lip service while it's a hot issue. Once everything dies down it will quietly fade into the night with findings along the lines of "no pattern could be shown to exist that is beyond the guidelines that have been set." The results will be "inconclusive" and everything will continue on as before. I mean, what else can you do? It's either that or you indict EVERYONE involved with the program, which would certainly mean the person at the top. And that will never happen. This program is a GIGANTIC revenue producer, and it is not a stretch to say it is comparable to a program of equivalent status at other schools, such as the basketball program at UCLA or the football program at Michigan. It's going to take a lot more than what has happened before any significant changes are made.

Not saying one way or the other what SHOULD happen, since I'm obviously not privvy to the facts...just saying what I think WILL happen.
 
chickod said:
And you can probably be sure that they didn't include any of the "hate the hockey team" people. Let's be real honest about this. They will pay lip service while it's a hot issue. Once everything dies down it will quietly fade into the night with findings along the lines of "no pattern could be shown to exist that is beyond the guidelines that have been set." The results will be "inconclusive" and everything will continue on as before. I mean, what else can you do? It's either that or you indict EVERYONE involved with the program, which would certainly mean the person at the top. And that will never happen. This program is a GIGANTIC revenue producer, and it is not a stretch to say it is comparable to a program of equivalent status at other schools, such as the basketball program at UCLA or the football program at Michigan. It's going to take a lot more than what has happened before any significant changes are made.

Not saying one way or the other what SHOULD happen, since I'm obviously not privvy to the facts...just saying what I think WILL happen.
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Agree 100%
 
Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

They'll probably make a lot of low level recommendations, things such as curtailing players entry to on campus bars, maybe a couple of more academic requirements if that's found to be a player here, restricting access to outsiders and groupies to the locker room and lounges post-game, things like that. It could be that's all that's really necessary, we don't really know. But I agree there will not be any sweeping changes coming out of this task force. Task forces by nature generally don't come back with much sweeping change at large institutions of any kind.
 
Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

brassbonanza said:
They'll probably make a lot of low level recommendations, things such as curtailing players entry to on campus bars, maybe a couple of more academic requirements if that's found to be a player here, restricting access to outsiders and groupies to the locker room and lounges post-game, things like that. It could be that's all that's really necessary, we don't really know. But I agree there will not be any sweeping changes coming out of this task force. Task forces by nature generally don't come back with much sweeping change at large institutions of any kind.
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I've never been on a task force of any kind, let alone one in an academic environment. However, after reviewing the job titles of the members of this task force, my assumption is that they'd be reluctant to submit a list of recommendations like those you list above. Why waste their time, effort and reputations to attach their names to a measure to keep gladhanders out of the FOH lounge?
 
Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

buoldtimer said:
I've never been on a task force of any kind, let alone one in an academic environment. However, after reviewing the job titles of the members of this task force, my assumption is that they'd be reluctant to submit a list of recommendations like those you list above. Why waste their time, effort and reputations to attach their names to a measure to keep gladhanders out of the FOH lounge?
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Agreed. When I read the message my first thought is that this doesn't bode well for the team or the coaches. Not only is there no athletic department representation of any sort (not that there should be mind you, but I'm surprised there's not), but they don't even have any MET school people there which is where a lot of the players go. I also noticed a lot of women on the task force who I doubt are inclined to whitewash a sexual assault issue.

So, I say so far so good. While I too would have liked some outside representation, at the very least I can say this isn't a bag job for the hockey program.
 
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Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

I'm going to float this out... maybe they're trying to do this on the cheap? External committees = cost.
 
Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

chickod said:
And you can probably be sure that they didn't include any of the "hate the hockey team" people. Let's be real honest about this. They will pay lip service while it's a hot issue. Once everything dies down it will quietly fade into the night with findings along the lines of "no pattern could be shown to exist that is beyond the guidelines that have been set." The results will be "inconclusive" and everything will continue on as before. I mean, what else can you do? It's either that or you indict EVERYONE involved with the program, which would certainly mean the person at the top. And that will never happen. This program is a GIGANTIC revenue producer, and it is not a stretch to say it is comparable to a program of equivalent status at other schools, such as the basketball program at UCLA or the football program at Michigan. It's going to take a lot more than what has happened before any significant changes are made.
Click to expand...

So then you could say that a group of Parker's cronies are investigating the big boss? Where have I heard that before?
 
Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with

chickod said:
This program is a GIGANTIC revenue producer, and it is not a stretch to say it is comparable to a program of equivalent status at other schools, such as the basketball program at UCLA or the football program at Michigan.
Click to expand...

This comment is so ignorantly wrong it's laughable. You think BU hockey (or any hockey program), brings monies to their universities equivalent to big time hoops or football programs? Seriously?

I think you need to do some research and you'll see hockey, at best, is a break even program. The reason why big time basketball/football schools generate income from those programs is due to TV contracts. The SEC, ACC, Big Ten, etc pay those schools big time money and most conferences have revenue sharing from Bowl games, etc.

Bottom line, yes, it is a stretch to compare any hockey program's financial imput to a school to a what Michigan, OSU, Texas, etc brings to the school from their football program. Ludicrous actually.
 
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