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BU 2021-22: Albie's Great Adventure
- Thread starter Harry Cleverly
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That's the coach I'd get most excited about for sure (but I doubt it'd ever happen).
We are only in early November and we are supposed just accept playing out the string with a lame duck coach in embarrassing fashion. There is no upside just downside to keep O’Connell on past this weekend. They need to change the culture and fast or they will be on their way to being a subpar program like UNH and Maine who haven’t been relevant in a decade plus.
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Seems extremely realistic now.
manurespreader
Still upright
Looked to me that they struggled on special teams. Aside from that it was pretty equal.
At least Friday was a nice uniform game. NMU wore 1991 jersey's - complete with names - on Saturday? Is this true? Is there video evidence?
Remember when they were ranked #10 in the country and being talked about as a possible Frozen Four Team? Good times.
BU Hockey: When's Rock Bottom?
Remember when they were ranked #10 in the country and being talked about as a possible Frozen Four Team? Good times.
BU Hockey: When's Rock Bottom?
buoldtimer
The social ramble ain't restful
So, a week or two ago, USCHO ran a piece about BU "struggling to find consistency". Well, the struggle is over; BU has "achieved" a consistent level of ineptitude.
The real question is will the BU higher ups do what everyone on the planet and anyone who watches this team regularly for the past 4 season knows what needs to be done and that is a coaching change? It needs to be done NOW and not after the season. BU has a multitude of quality coaching candidates at their disposal to look at (Pandolfo!!!, even call Quinn, call Amonte, etc.). If this isn't fixed fast there could be massive repercussions - lets not forget there is a new transfer rule and players can leave without sitting out a year. Good luck recruiting to a bottom dwelling team with a reputation for poor coaching and poor results. Season is still young. Fix it now.
RossiRules
Registered User
Let's face it, this won't happen during the season. Certainly not for a guy under contract, you are talking like this is the revenue stream in HE is that of college football or basketball with national TV deals. It's college hockey 58 programs more than half lose money. Like it or not he won't be released during the season and we will just have to deal with it. I do agree that a change is needed, however this is BU not Alabama.
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Friend_of_BU_Hockey
Registered User
My sense is that the AD is well-aware that things are not working out (and is unlikely to work out) with Albie as head coach and would like to make a change, but is hamstrung by the upper-most administration's cost-consciousness when it comes to operating the University. I'm highly inclined to believe that Bob Brown does not want BU to pay Albie to not coach the remainder of this season (and spend more $ on an interim HC), would rather let Albie finish out the season and the remainder of his contract, announce after the season that his contract is not being renewed and move on to the next head coach.
I still suspect Pandolfo was hired at BU with an eye towards becoming Albie's successor. While it's nice to see one of BU's all-time greats back behind the BU bench in some capacity, my first thought after learning of Pandolfo's hire was that this could potentially be awkward and that it may not yield the desired performance/results on the ice -- and not necessarily due to Pandolfo and/or Albie's doing.
I will add that if this was a major, high-profile college football or men's b-ball program that was going thru what BU Hockey is currently experiencing, a head coaching change would be imminent if not already made.
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Friend_of_BU_Hockey
Registered User
Thanks for saying what I said but much more succinctly!
I also question how much do the players want a coaching change, know that Albie's contract is up after this season, and thus the performance we see is a byproduct of it?
I'll also add that I don't envy the situation Albie is in. I have no doubt he wants to succeed and feel that most BU fans were rooting hard for him to succeed after he was promoted. But, unfortunately, in a results and performance-based business, the body of work isn't there to support Albie when it comes to extending his tenure.
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moose97
Well-known member
Thanks for saying what I said but much more succinctly!
I also question how much do the players want a coaching change, know that Albie's contract is up after this season, and thus the performance we see is a byproduct of it?
I'll also add that I don't envy the situation Albie is in. I have no doubt he wants to succeed and feel that most BU fans were rooting hard for him to succeed after he was promoted. But, unfortunately, in a results and performance-based business, the body of work isn't there to support Albie's when it comes to extending his tenure.
If budget is so much of a concern then the reduction in fan attendance in interest if the team continues this trend will even hit the wallet worse. I would pay Albie the remainder of his contact (I assume he isn't paid nearly as much as some of the bigger named head coaches like a Leaman ($500K)) so bite the bullet and move on. As stated I like Albie -seems like a good guy but it isn't working and hasn't worked.
Friend_of_BU_Hockey
Registered User
As for attendance, I'd be highly interested to know what % of tickets (season-to-date, game-to-game) belonging to season ticket holders are being actually being used (re: scanned for entry). Just based on the eye test at every home game this season (with the Merrimack game due to Parents' Weekend as an exception), I sense that % is noticeably higher compared to even recent past years. Not to mention a likely drop-off to single-game ticket sales as well as concessions sales.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
When UNH sweeps you bwahahaha
and I'm old enough to remember when UNH WAS a top 10 team...In fact for a couple of months in the 2012-13 seasons they were #1. Anyway, I have a feeling the Terriers will land on their feet.
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Harry Cleverly
New member
Those that don't think BU can make a coaching change in-season, I give you one name: Leon Abbott.
Abbott was fired six games into the season 1973-74 season (4-2 record at the time), which yielded a very young assistant taking over named Jack Parker.
The circumstances were different, as BU had players (Bill Buckton, Peter Marzo and Dick Decloe) who had played Canadian Jr. A, and were 'temorarily' considered professionals because they had some expenses reimbursed. Buckton and Marzo were later reinstated, and Decloe ended up playing in the 1980 Winter Olympics for Holland with full amateur status. But Coach Abbott took the fall.
Now, or ASAP, would be the ideal time for BU to make a coaching change.
The heir apparent is already on staff: Jay Pandolfo. Making him the interim coach would give BU a chance to see what difference he would make. If he turns the team around, he could be hired as the permanent coach moving forward. If it still isn't working out, the job could be opened up at the end of the season.
This is an opportunity that the BU hockey program can't afford to pass up.
I feel badly for Albie. But there has been nothing "excellent" about his adventure.
It clearly is not working.
Relieve Albie now. Promote Pandolfo to interim head coach. Promote Doug Friedman from hockey ops to full-time assistant. And get someone to help with hockey ops.
Yes, it is that simple.
Abbott was fired six games into the season 1973-74 season (4-2 record at the time), which yielded a very young assistant taking over named Jack Parker.
The circumstances were different, as BU had players (Bill Buckton, Peter Marzo and Dick Decloe) who had played Canadian Jr. A, and were 'temorarily' considered professionals because they had some expenses reimbursed. Buckton and Marzo were later reinstated, and Decloe ended up playing in the 1980 Winter Olympics for Holland with full amateur status. But Coach Abbott took the fall.
Now, or ASAP, would be the ideal time for BU to make a coaching change.
The heir apparent is already on staff: Jay Pandolfo. Making him the interim coach would give BU a chance to see what difference he would make. If he turns the team around, he could be hired as the permanent coach moving forward. If it still isn't working out, the job could be opened up at the end of the season.
This is an opportunity that the BU hockey program can't afford to pass up.
I feel badly for Albie. But there has been nothing "excellent" about his adventure.
It clearly is not working.
Relieve Albie now. Promote Pandolfo to interim head coach. Promote Doug Friedman from hockey ops to full-time assistant. And get someone to help with hockey ops.
Yes, it is that simple.
Harry Cleverly
New member
How very sad. Considering Albie is quoted as saying that BU should have the best team in Hockey East this season, and were picked second in the HE Coaches Poll.
Injuries aside, are weekend splits with UConn and Merrimack now considered successes?!?
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