Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

[tnlong]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

We/I may or may not be there. Regardless, Coach should be given a list of potential topics well enough in advance for him to be prepared. Plus, it's a topic for advance thought for attendees also.

Anastos leaving the CCHA is a probably a great thing. It was unlikely that UAH would ever get into the CCHA as long as he was there. Unrest, discontent, and uncertainty in the CCHA may be a path for UAH's admittance.

The MSU job was Danton's to lose in 2007. 6-21-4, 5-20-5, and 12-18-3 at UAH sealed his fate.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

The "process" used for scheduling should be a primary topic. Specifically, how can the BLC and "friends" help? The Rensselaer alumni's involvement with their games here this year was impressive. A formal attempt should be made to connect UAH hockey with alumni leaders in Huntsville from schools that have relevant hockey programs. Additionally, each relevant hockey program in the country should be matched to either a UAH hockey alumni or influential booster for the purpose of that person reaching-out to his/her assigned program as a UAH hockey "ambassador".

Regardless of any future UAH conference affiliation, the next several weeks could be critical for scheduling for the next several years. With the BTHC being formed and Anastos abandoning the CCHA, there have to be some "assumed" games could could be "snaked" by UAH. UAH schedulers need to be putting maximum effort into scheduling before the next "coaches" meeting rather than setting-back and waiting until the meeting.

However, these comments are based on the assumption that there is anyone left at UAH who could/would sign a contract. The "would " part of that could be a major assumption. That's a point that I'd hope could be honestly and frankly addressed at your meeting.

These are good questions to ask. Scheduling is largely the domain of the coaches, who know the full dimension of what's at play: who is willing to come here, who's willing to home-and-home, who wants a one-off, etc. The coaching community is pretty close-knit, so it gets done pretty well. That said, I'm quite sure Chris would welcome any help we can provide.

 

[Back check]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

The "process" used for scheduling should be a primary topic. Specifically, how can the BLC and "friends" help? The Rensselaer alumni's involvement with their games here this year was impressive. A formal attempt should be made to connect UAH hockey with alumni leaders in Huntsville from schools that have relevant hockey programs. Additionally, each relevant hockey program in the country should be matched to either a UAH hockey alumni or influential booster for the purpose of that person reaching-out to his/her assigned program as a UAH hockey "ambassador".

Regardless of any future UAH conference affiliation, the next several weeks could be critical for scheduling for the next several years. With the BTHC being formed and Anastos abandoning the CCHA, there have to be some "assumed" games could could be "snaked" by UAH. UAH schedulers need to be putting maximum effort into scheduling before the next "coaches" meeting rather than setting-back and waiting until the meeting.

However, these comments are based on the assumption that there is anyone left at UAH who could/would sign a contract. The "would " part of that could be a major assumption. That's a point that I'd hope could be honestly and frankly addressed at your meeting.

If there is no conference home for UAH announced in the near future, is there any sense in scheduling out for years ahead ? UAH coaches, administrators have consistently said the program will not go on very long as an indpendent. Here`s hoping for some good news sooner than later re a conference for UAH to join.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

If there is no conference home for UAH announced in the near future, is there any sense in scheduling out for years ahead ? UAH coaches, administrators have consistently said the program will not go on very long as an indpendent. Here`s hoping for some good news sooner than later re a conference for UAH to join.

While I am not at liberty to discuss what I currently know about scheduling [which isn't very much], I can tell you that Danton was scheduling out to 14-15 after the CCHA's 2009 decision. That's as far out as anyone schedules. It's worth continuing to pursue the scheduling if for no other reason that you hope to get into a league and want to get your OOC dates lined up.

GFM

 

[Douglas]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

AD Search Update:

Three candidates will be on campus this week to interview for the Athletic Director position.

The candidates are:
E. J. Brophy, Ph.D., Director of Athletics, The University of West Alabama
Sean Johnson, Senior Associate AD for External Affairs, University of North Dakota
Leslie Claybrook, Senior Associate AD and Senior Woman Administrator, Rice University

You can view their resumes Here.

Which one do you think might know how important a DI hockey program can be to a DII school? I know my answer...

 

[tnlong]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

AD Search Update:

Three candidates will be on campus this week to interview for the Athletic Director position.

The candidates are:
E. J. Brophy, Ph.D., Director of Athletics, The University of West Alabama
Sean Johnson, Senior Associate AD for External Affairs, University of North Dakota
Leslie Claybrook, Senior Associate AD and Senior Woman Administrator, Rice University

You can view their resumes Here.

Which one do you think might know how important a DI hockey program can be to a DII school? I know my answer...

It also looks like he can score some points with the selection committee by doing the most important thing UAH needs at this time, marketing and bringing in $.

 

[moose97]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

AD Search Update:

Three candidates will be on campus this week to interview for the Athletic Director position.

The candidates are:
E. J. Brophy, Ph.D., Director of Athletics, The University of West Alabama
Sean Johnson, Senior Associate AD for External Affairs, University of North Dakota
Leslie Claybrook, Senior Associate AD and Senior Woman Administrator, Rice University

You can view their resumes Here.

Which one do you think might know how important a DI hockey program can be to a DII school? I know my answer...

To be fair, UND started it's transition to D-I in '07-'08, so I've got no idea how that translates to UAH's situation. Also, I've talked to someone who knows quite a few hockey folks over there, and they've never heard of Mr. Johnson. Take that for what it's worth.

 

[tnlong]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/03/uah_names_3_ad_finalists.html
http://www.fightingsioux.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=3745307
http://www2.und.edu/our/uletterArchive/uletter.php?backID=82#4805

 

[gfmorris]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

Conflicts of interest:
1. Given that I am presently Athletics staff, I will not be able or willing to comment.
2. Given that I am Blue Line Club president, I am excusing any chance to meet any of the candidates. I don't want anyone having the opinion that hockey got more facetime with these candidates than the other sports did. [I think that it's pretty unlikely that this would be an issue, but I just want to avoid it altogether.]

GFM <-- wants an AD who will be good for the entire Athletic department, with an eye to the fact that the bellwether sports at UAH are hockey, basketball, and softball.

 

[fangers]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

Seems like all three bring something unique to the table, from experience working within the Alabama state system to media/student engagement and hockey program experience to fairly high level NCAA level activity. Interesting that each of the bellwether sports the GFM mentioned appears to be represented.

 

[Douglas]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

E.J. is definitely a Baseball man.
Leslie is definitely a Basketball man.
With Sean it's hard to say exactly but he does acknowledge and is aware of hockey.
With that said, if none of the UND hockey folks that Moose knows have ever heard of him, exactly what has he done for hockey (his resume not withstanding) that the UND hockey folk don't know about? Hmmmmmm... Who ever we get, I hope he knows his way around the NCAA and can engratiate himself to the DI hockey folk quickly and effectively.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

If you come to the open BLC meeting tomorrow night, you'll get the coaches' take on each candidate. Brophy met with everyone Tuesday, Johnson today, and Claybrook rounds things out tomorrow morning.

GFM

 

[Douglas]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

If you come to the open BLC meeting tomorrow night, you'll get the coaches' take on each candidate. Brophy met with everyone Tuesday, Johnson today, and Claybrook rounds things out tomorrow morning.

GFM

We'll be there...

 

[fangers]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

E.J. is definitely a Baseball man.
Leslie is definitely a Basketball man.
With Sean it's hard to say exactly but he does acknowledge and is aware of hockey.
With that said, if none of the UND hockey folks that Moose knows have ever heard of him, exactly what has he done for hockey (his resume not withstanding) that the UND hockey folk don't know about? Hmmmmmm... Who ever we get, I hope he knows his way around the NCAA and can engratiate himself to the DI hockey folk quickly and effectively.

re: Leslie - I assumed female?

re: Sean - the couple UND folks I know & talked with (parents of current players) spoke well of him, so who really knows, maybe he was more behind the scenes, someone the fans may not directly interact with?

 

[tnlong]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

http://www.riceowls.com/genrel/claybrook_leslie00.html

 

[tnlong]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

http://www.uwaathletics.com/staff.aspx?staff=1
http://www.fightingsioux.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&&DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=3745307

 

[Charger #2]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

An interesting article on a website (I believe geared to Miami Redhawks followers) out of Kentucy re: solution to conference realignment.

http://www.kypost.com/dpps/sports/s...t-option-is-merger-between-ccha,-wcha_6215725

I think all UAH supporters should lobby to have this writer appointed to a new position within the NCAA as "Director of NCAA DI Hockey - Conference Realignment Committee".

Charger #2

 

[jyoung]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

An interesting article on a website (I believe geared to Miami Redhawks followers) out of Kentucy re: solution to conference realignment.

http://www.kypost.com/dpps/sports/s...t-option-is-merger-between-ccha,-wcha_6215725

I think all UAH supporters should lobby to have this writer appointed to a new position within the NCAA as "Director of NCAA DI Hockey - Conference Realignment Committee".

Charger #2

Interesting read, thanks. Too bad I think the "common sense" solutions aren't going to win out, particularly not ones which we as UAH fans are likely to view as the most "reasonable". I'm just going to wait and see.

Now, what happened last night Geoff?

 

[fangers]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

An interesting article on a website (I believe geared to Miami Redhawks followers) out of Kentucy re: solution to conference realignment.

http://www.kypost.com/dpps/sports/s...t-option-is-merger-between-ccha,-wcha_6215725

I think all UAH supporters should lobby to have this writer appointed to a new position within the NCAA as "Director of NCAA DI Hockey - Conference Realignment Committee".

Charger #2

Yeah, John is a friend. He's big Miami fan and writes for the Cincinnati/NKy papers (hockey primarily). I like his thinking, but more importantly it's a concept that Jeff Jackson has voiced support for.

 

[Douglas]

Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

The Blue Line Club meeting last night came off quite well. The room was, surprisingly to me, packed (SRO) especially against such TV competition as American Idol and The Big Bang Theory... but hey, hockey people have their priorities straight! The scheduled for barely an hour meeting went on for over two hours with some good info coming out (nothing that wasn't expected though) and good enthusiasm for moving things forward. Gavin put on a presentation that really put the plight of a team whose facilities are not their own into perspective and it really fired up the discussions. Ideas started flying and we even had a professional lobbyist throwing his two-cents in claiming to be "fired up" about the program and expressing a willingness to get involved. Geof (BLC Prez) certainly has his work cut out for him in organizing all this energy into focused action, not to mention the coaches roles in all of this. Discussions even came out as to the possibility of moving the BLC out of school control and once again becoming an independent organization so the restrictions of a school based club could be overcome.

A teacher gave her thoughts on how to get more teachers, and thus more students, involved in supporting hockey as well as other UAH sports. Good info as it involves the players in the classrooms to help do her suggestions. The long range plans of having an on-campus arena was, as always, discussed and ways of making the building a multi-use facility is likely the way to get it on the school's priority list sooner than later. Especially if the Basketball team keeps up its winning ways as people have been turned away from their present arena due to its high-school sized seating capacity. Baseball and softball has their own on-campus facilities now so it's only logical to want to move hockey on campus and if we can combine the functionality of that home, all the better for our chances.

Geof is scheduling another meeting in early May for more organizing and to hear about the results of the Frozen Four meetings and the Coaches conference in late April. By then we should have a much better feeling for what coaches in the WCHA and CCHA are thinking about... but not necessarily what the Presidents and AD's of those schools are thinking. Next up, more wait and see...