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Don Lucia steps down as Minnesota Gophers coach

First Time said:
They don't care that they have ties...they didn't play for the school which automatically makes them inferior. This group supposedly still hated Lucia after 2 national titles because he wasn't an "M" man.
I mean how much crap did he get when he was photographed wearing ND stuff in support of his son?
And small group or not...money talks.
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UMN didn't care when they hired Lucia, and doubtful they will now. They need to make the right hire or attendance will continue to decline. As you said, money talks. A small group of alums that are irrational hasn't and won't control the program.

And Motzko and Hastings have coached at Minnesota. They have ties to the state and school.

Not saying either will be the school's choice as there other great options, but the alums won't keep them from hiring the right person.
 
Re: Don Lucia steps down as Minnesota Gophers coach

Well, if it hasn't been said: Congratulations, Coach Lucia. Coached back-to-backs. How many have done that (since Kennedy)? Coached through some very tough years when he had to deal with serious medical issues and didn't make excuses. We S'awks fans like to hate anything Gopher, but he can be proud of what he did at UMinn.






feeling a little faint . . . .
 
mnstate0fhockey said:
UMN didn't care when they hired Lucia, and doubtful they will now. They need to make the right hire or attendance will continue to decline. As you said, money talks. A small group of alums that are irrational hasn't and won't control the program.

And Motzko and Hastings have coached at Minnesota. They have ties to the state and school.

Not saying either will be the school's choice as there other great options, but the alums won't keep them from hiring the right person.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm not articulating this correctly. I'm not saying Money Talks in terms of hiring, I'm saying money talks in terms of alumni influence. College hockey is a small community and these coaches talk a lot, in terms of Motzko Lucia at least once a week for the better part of a decade.
These issues with alumni are well known...so it's a no brainer that Motzko or Hastings would know them also.
If it's me...if I know a guy who has 2 national titles to his credit can't be accepted by some alumni because he isn't an "M" man...and I know I'm also not one...the choice would be easy...the money isn't worth the hassle.
 
First Time said:
Maybe I'm not articulating this correctly. I'm not saying Money Talks in terms of hiring, I'm saying money talks in terms of alumni influence. College hockey is a small community and these coaches talk a lot, in terms of Motzko Lucia at least once a week for the better part of a decade.
These issues with alumni are well known...so it's a no brainer that Motzko or Hastings would know them also.
If it's me...if I know a guy who has 2 national titles to his credit can't be accepted by some alumni because he isn't an "M" man...and I know I'm also not one...the choice would be easy...the money isn't worth the hassle.
Click to expand...

And I am saying that making the wrong coaching decision because a super small group of alumni get bent out of shape would lead to a further decline in attendance, which would cost far more financially than a small handful of alumni getting upset. Especially considering those same alumni never stopped donating when Lucia was here.

Keep grasping at straws.
 
Re: Don Lucia steps down as Minnesota Gophers coach

First Time said:
Maybe I'm not articulating this correctly. I'm not saying Money Talks in terms of hiring, I'm saying money talks in terms of alumni influence. College hockey is a small community and these coaches talk a lot, in terms of Motzko Lucia at least once a week for the better part of a decade.
These issues with alumni are well known...so it's a no brainer that Motzko or Hastings would know them also.
If it's me...if I know a guy who has 2 national titles to his credit can't be accepted by some alumni because he isn't an "M" man...and I know I'm also not one...the choice would be easy...the money isn't worth the hassle.
Click to expand...

I don't think the motivation of these guys is the same as the rest of us. They aren't putting in long days and weeks, coaching and traveling around to watch kids play year round just because of some money. They are competitive and challenge themselves. They accept and many probably relish being in the spotlight. For many, being in arguably the top position at the level of job they are in and some of the perks to increase the odds of getting an NC, along with the higher salary, can make a person tolerate a lot more than a handful of bitter alums. And I'm not saying either of those two will take it, if offered, as there are a lot more considerations for them. Just that I don't think the alum issue would be the deciding factor.
 
mnstate0fhockey said:
And I am saying that making the wrong coaching decision because a super small group of alumni get bent out of shape would lead to a further decline in attendance, which would cost far more financially than a small handful of alumni getting upset. Especially considering those same alumni never stopped donating when Lucia was here.

Keep grasping at straws.
Click to expand...

I'm not grasping at any straws...i don't think motzko leaves regardless...but i also don't think dealing with ahole alumni is not part of the equation either.
 
Re: Don Lucia steps down as Minnesota Gophers coach

Koho said:
I don't think the motivation of these guys is the same as the rest of us. They aren't putting in long days and weeks, coaching and traveling around to watch kids play year round just because of some money. They are competitive and challenge themselves. They accept and many probably relish being in the spotlight. For many, being in arguably the top position at the level of job they are in and some of the perks to increase the odds of getting an NC, along with the higher salary, can make a person tolerate a lot more than a handful of bitter alums. And I'm not saying either of those two will take it, if offered, as there are a lot more considerations for them. Just that I don't think the alum issue would be the deciding factor.
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I would love to hear the argument that the Gopher hockey job is the to position in NCAA hockey.
 
Re: Don Lucia steps down as Minnesota Gophers coach

Tipsy McStagger said:
I would love to hear the argument that the Gopher hockey job is the to position in NCAA hockey.
Click to expand...

An argument could be made. It’s one of the highest paid, has some of the nicest facilities, has a pool of talent to draw from that is second to none, it’s in a major metropolitan area, it’s in a top state to live in, it has prestige, and it has the history.

I don’t think there’s ever really a top position in any sport. So it’s hard to unequivocally state that we are the top position. But this will be the top position open this year.
 
dxmnkd316 said:
The fact that so many of us have Motzko high on our list is an implicit acknowledgment he’s correct. Right now, St. Cloud is the superior team.
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I have ZERO idea how that relates to what I said.

CC was a better team when Lucia left to take the job at Minnesota. It has to do with potential.

I love the Twins, but if I were coaching them and the NYY or Dodgers (with their considerably higher resources) offered me more money to coach them, I'd take the offer in a heartbeat.

Loose analogy, I know, but I think the money and resources to win are big factors.
 
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mnstate0fhockey said:
I have ZERO idea how that relates to what I said.

CC was a better team when Lucia left to take the job at Minnesota. It has to do with potential.

I love the Twins, but if I were coaching them and the NYY or Dodgers (with their considerably higher resources) offered me more money to coach them, I'd take the offer in a heartbeat.

Loose analogy, I know, but I think the money and resources to win are big factors.
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It may be a no brainer to you...it's not for others. I know plenty of coaches who are extremely happy being in the smaller environment for less money yes but also a lot less BS.
 
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