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

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

Douglas said:
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...
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Interesting, too bad we're just going to have to fade into the background somewhat due to distance so I don't know what, if any, real part we're going to be able to have in this endeavor.

I want the arena on campus, I think we need about a 4,500 seat barn for hockey / basketball, the 7,000 is just too big and the 2,250 of Spragins is too small. Though if it could have some expansion options (some of the new ones are pretty versatile) to get configurations up over 5,000 that'd be great for other events like graduation, bands, etc. Having the banners for both sports in the rafters would be great too. They need a good home, and while the VBC is getting a serious facelift, it's just not the same as your own digs with your colors.

For the record, we neither watch nor care about either American Idol or Big Bang Theory. If I want to talk to physics geeks, I just go back to UAH. If I want to watch singing, I stick my head out the door. (It is Nashville, after all). Hockey first, always.

I don't know enough to have a legitimate opinion of the candidates for AD. I know which one strikes me as the best choice for the job based on a little reading, but that's very superficial and would merely prove the point of how dangerous a little information is. I'm going to hang back and wait to see whom they hire and just hope that they have sufficient information to make the best choice for the school. Easier said than done.

So, what is the time table on the AD decision? It's a complicated decision granted, and I know we're having issues right now with leadership, what with Williams jumping ship to Ohio State abruptly, and the loss of Jim Harris (hence the need, obviously). We're also replacing our VP of Research last I heard, and our assistant provost retired, so there will be a lot of new faces come this Fall. That's also on the heels of Shelia's (well deserved) retirement as Assistant AD last year. Hopefully the folks we fill in these positions will be as supportive of the Hockey (and other athletics) as some of the ones we lost.

Finally, I remember some discussion last year about redesigning the charger logo. Anyone have news on that? (If we have to, I'd like to steal our propulsion research center's artist.)
 
Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

Actually, the next meeting is Thursday. I tried to push it to May for two reasons: 1) I'm busy sports informing in April and 2) I wanted to see if folks wanted to meet sooner. They did. I expect that to be a smaller group. I am inclined for any other meetings in April to be BLC-only so people will have to pay up if they want a voice.

It was nice to see people care about some of the problems we face. We're a few years overdue to have that meeting, but isn't that one of the reasons I was pulled aboard? I just wish my life hadn't fallen apart in September so we could have gotten started sooner.

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

gfmorris said:
Actually, the next meeting is Thursday. I tried to push it to May for two reasons: 1) I'm busy sports informing in April and 2) I wanted to see if folks wanted to meet sooner. They did. I expect that to be a smaller group. I am inclined for any other meetings in April to be BLC-only so people will have to pay up if they want a voice.

It was nice to see people care about some of the problems we face. We're a few years overdue to have that meeting, but isn't that one of the reasons I was pulled aboard? I just wish my life hadn't fallen apart in September so we could have gotten started sooner.

GFM
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This Thursday (the 7th)? Assuming it's in the evening again, I might be able to make it (the family and I are driving to Huntsville that day).

"Sports informing." I like that. :)

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

UAHStatman said:
This Thursday (the 7th)? Assuming it's in the evening again, I might be able to make it (the family and I are driving to Huntsville that day).

"Sports informing." I like that. :)

Michael Napier
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Yeah, Thursday at 7. I have created a mailing list for those near and far. If you're interested, sign up: http://uahhockey.com/mailman/listinfo/friends_uahhockey.com

I thought you'd like "sports informing", Michael.

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

gfmorris said:
...I am inclined for any other meetings in April to be BLC-only so people will have to pay up if they want a voice...GFM
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PLEASE don't do that Geof. For one thing, you-know-who couldn't handle it (Example: I made my BLC donation before the first game last year and never was officially credited with even being in the BLC; never made the program; never got a membership card). I was told "Oops", you paid so early the list wasn't started yet. Only the people that joined the BLC after the season actually started last year made the "official" list.

Right now we need all the help and volunteers we can get. Don't shut anyone out and don't get greedy just yet. Let's get everyone we can involved and "locked-in", they'll join when the season rolls around. Wait until the season is here before considering that sort of action.
 
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Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

Douglas said:
PLEASE don't do that Geof. For one thing, you-know-who couldn't handle it (Example: I made my BLC donation before the first game last year and never was officially credited with even being in the BLC; never made the program; never got a membership card). I was told "Oops", you paid so early the list wasn't started yet. Only the people that joined the BLC after the season actually started last year made the "official" list.

Right now we need all the help and volunteers we can get. Don't shut anyone out and don't get greedy just yet. Let's get everyone we can involved and "locked-in", they'll join when the season rolls around. Wait until the season is here before considering that sort of action.
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You're right, Doug.

I do think we need one BLC-only meeting at some point over the summer, if for no other reason than to discuss an organizational structure. I loved how everyone talked about committees and subcommittees as if we had any of either...

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

gfmorris said:
...I loved how everyone talked about committees and subcommittees as if we had any of either...GFM
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Aren't you a committee of one? ;):D

Hopefully we can get some of those people on actual committees soon...
 
Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

Douglas said:
PLEASE don't do that Geof. For one thing, you-know-who couldn't handle it (Example: I made my BLC donation before the first game last year and never was officially credited with even being in the BLC; never made the program; never got a membership card). I was told "Oops", you paid so early the list wasn't started yet. Only the people that joined the BLC after the season actually started last year made the "official" list.

Right now we need all the help and volunteers we can get. Don't shut anyone out and don't get greedy just yet. Let's get everyone we can involved and "locked-in", they'll join when the season rolls around. Wait until the season is here before considering that sort of action.
Click to expand...

We also didn't get our membership cards, and no sign of the shirt either, but at least we got into the program. Though your statement answers a question that's been nagging me about why some names didn't seem to be on the list, and why it was so small in the first couple of programs of the year.

We pay in September, yes before the season, but it was the same day we picked up our season hockey tickets which I think is a perfectly reasonable time to cut both checks, so there needs to be some clarification as to when the checks will be accepted for the upcoming year. The fiscal year is October 1, but it's not that hard to hold the checks (and paperwork) until the new year if it's a matter of making sure the accounting is correct.

*is still bummed about missing the dinner this week, okay not the food, but the company.*
 
Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

I'm glad to hear everyone's issues with this year's BLC, even though I'm certainly not happy that folks are having them. I don't know where the balls were dropped, but I'll find out. This is actually making the case for an off-campus, 501(c)3 organization.

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

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/04/ej_brophy_to_be_named_alabama-.html

Don't take this to mean "oh God varsity hockey is dead at UAH". Johnson said in his first-stage interview that no AD would save UAH hockey, and that it would come from outside forces. He's right about that.

I'm hearing enough good things about how the shakeout will happen out west that I'm very confident at this point. I have a proposed solution that I'm finishing writing up.

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

chargersupporter said:
Another recruit posted on Heisenberg site:

http://ojhlsite.stats.pointstreak.com/playerpage.html?playerid=3194557&seasonid=5985
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Have you noticed that this year's recruits almost all have size and heft? That's something that was obviously missing against several teams this past season. We were an overall very small team with only average speed. In the past our small players were all speedsters. Speed can make up for size in alot of instances... not all, but alot. Small size and average speed obviously does not bode well for outcomes... Hopefully, this year's recruits will contribute early.
 
Re: Declaring Our Independence: UAH 2010-11, Part the First

I believe we can do that one day next week. I'm out today and am pretty covered up tomorrow.

We'll have a BLC meeting early the week of May 2 [probably Monday, maybe Tuesday]. The coaches are heading to Naples next week for the AHCA meetings, which will certainly be interesting. We're also in the national signing period, so some of these verbal commitments y'all have unearthed should become things that the university can discuss.

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

Next BLC meeting is Monday 5/2 at 7:00 p.m. We'll have at least one more in May, probably on a Tuesday night.

GFM
 
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