Fire Mike Eaves?

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

Depends on if the contract has a buyout clause or if a buyout can be negotiated. If no buyout is reached, the university would be on the hook for the difference between the salary in the contract and what he would be making at the different job. Most likely they would negotiate a buyout because Eaves would get that money regardless of what his new job pays and it would open up his employment options because he would not have to report his new salary to the university which is super to a FOIA request.

Assuming eaves believes he can get a new job with little trouble, I'd guess that a buyout of about ~1/3 of the total remaing contract value would be enough. It would also allow eaves to save face by resigning as opposed to having his contract terminated.

That makes a firing seem much more reasonable if they were to go that route. A million dollar buyout is probably unreasonable for the hockey program...a 350k buyout is certainly possible.

I mean, considering the dip in attendance over the past few years...it might be the smart financial move. For every 1,000 seats not filled for a game that's 25k. Attendance is down about 3k per night from usual when Wisconsin is good. 75k times 20 home dates is 1,500,00 M per season they are losing.

Wisconsin Hockey: Do the math

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

That assumes that we'd be able to gain those attendance numbers back during the subsequent years. Rebuilding years (actual rebuilding years, not the ones we seem to have every other season) can't be that much better for the gate.

Short of raising Badger Bob from the dead, or dropping a semi-trailer full of cash at Gwoz's/Blasi's house, I'm not sure what good short term solutions we have.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

That assumes that we'd be able to gain those attendance numbers back during the subsequent years. Rebuilding years (actual rebuilding years, not the ones we seem to have every other season) can't be that much better for the gate.

Short of raising Badger Bob from the dead, or dropping a semi-trailer full of cash at Gwoz's/Blasi's house, I'm not sure what good short term solutions we have.

I'm sure I'll get in trouble for this, but I'd drive the semi to Gwoz's house myself.

 

[gwhinwi]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

I'm sure I'll get in trouble for this, but I'd drive the semi to Gwoz's house myself.

And I'm sure you'd have a caravan of cars behind you to help you with the packing.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

That assumes that we'd be able to gain those attendance numbers back during the subsequent years. Rebuilding years (actual rebuilding years, not the ones we seem to have every other season) can't be that much better for the gate.

Short of raising Badger Bob from the dead, or dropping a semi-trailer full of cash at Gwoz's/Blasi's house, I'm not sure what good short term solutions we have.

UW is ****ed whatever they do in the short-term. with the current record, being 55th in the rankings, it would take a miracle to make the NCAA's, and add to that Zengerle could bolt after the season and he's replaced by Besse...essentially nothing changes or it gets worse because Besse needs a year to adjust. beyond that there are no forwards lined up who can light it up. So w/Eaves it would take 3-4 years to turn this around...W/out him the same.

However, I think Blasi/Granato (either one) would get fans excited. Goal scoring and creativity. Someone brought up how the UW offense on a 3-2 does the dumbest things imaginable, all 3 just skate toward the net, no cross-overs, no drop passes, no creativity...they get one shot off (into the goalies stomach or they miss the net entirely) and then they have to regroup. How many times do you see that over the last 6 years before you're just tired of it?

I also honestly think the fanbase is tired of Mike Eaves' little metaphors and post-game comments about how the team is working hard. He's forgotten UW fired Sauer in part for missing the playoffs 3 of 4 seasons at the end. He's going to go 3 consecutive and 5 of 7 years out of the playoffs. He needs to be asked how he would defend that to an AD who cared.

Apparently in 2002 Jeff Jackson wanted the UW job. I'm guessing Eaves was chosen because he's an alum, leading scorer and all that, and a few years younger. The way Notre Dame plays hockey under Jackson and their recruiting suggests he's got a better long-term plan. No titles yet there but he seems to be in contention more frequently, in the NCAA's 4 of 6 years with what appears to be another strong team this year.

 

[Almington]

UW is ****ed whatever they do in the short-term. with the current record, being 55th in the rankings, it would take a miracle to make the NCAA's, and add to that Zengerle could bolt after the season and he's replaced by Besse...essentially nothing changes or it gets worse because Besse needs a year to adjust. beyond that there are no forwards lined up who can light it up. So w/Eaves it would take 3-4 years to turn this around...W/out him the same.

However, I think Blasi/Granato (either one) would get fans excited. Goal scoring and creativity. Someone brought up how the UW offense on a 3-2 does the dumbest things imaginable, all 3 just skate toward the net, no cross-overs, no drop passes, no creativity...they get one shot off (into the goalies stomach or they miss the net entirely) and then they have to regroup. How many times do you see that over the last 6 years before you're just tired of it?

I also honestly think the fanbase is tired of Mike Eaves' little metaphors and post-game comments about how the team is working hard. He's forgotten UW fired Sauer in part for missing the playoffs 3 of 4 seasons at the end. He's going to go 3 consecutive and 5 of 7 years out of the playoffs. He needs to be asked how he would defend that to an AD who cared.

I suspect that a new coach might be able to get significantly more our of the current lineup of forward grinders and stay-at-home defensemen. To many of these players showed offensive ability in the past, some of them still have to have it and maybe a new voice can bring it out of them again. pithy little saying are great for sound bites but if they are old for us fans I have to believe that they are old for the players also.

 

[dggoddard]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

I'm sure I'll get in trouble for this, but I'd drive the semi to Gwoz's house myself.

You'll have plenty of time to shop for quotes for the semi rental. Gwozdecky is under contract until 2013-14 and there's a golden parachute that kicks in on the last day of the contract.

 

[D2D]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

Nothing against Mr. Eaves whatsoever, but I do hope that this thread stays alive and near the top pretty much all season long.

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

Nothing against Mr. Eaves whatsoever, but I do hope that this thread stays alive and near the top pretty much all season long.

Well, if it is anything like the Fire Don Lucia thread, it will be on the first page or two for about 3 years.

 

[D2D]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

Well, if it is anything like the Fire Don Lucia thread, it will be on the first page or two for about 3 years.

Haha, that was then, this is now.

 

[Arafel]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

I have to say I find this thread humorous. I mean, since 2005, Wisconsin has one national title and one runner up; that's twice to the final in 7 years. Just two seasons ago, they made it to the final. How many other teams have that record? You've got Boston College, and that's it.

 

[Priceless]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

If you predicted Minnesota-Duluth, Maine and Wisconsin would be a combined 6-23-5 (.250) with an average rank of 52 in the RPI, come forward and accept your praise now...

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

Nothing against Mr. Eaves whatsoever, but I do hope that this thread stays alive and near the top pretty much all season long.

I know what you're getting at ... but the best types of these threads are the "Fire Umile" threads that pop up at the same time of the year every season. Long, drawn out threads looking for the axe to come down are boring.

 

[Almington]

I know what you're getting at ... but the best types of these threads are the "Fire Umile" threads that pop up at the same time of the year every season. Long, drawn out threads looking for the axe to come down are boring.

I suspect that his desire has more to do with the inverse nature of this thread's activity level and Wisconsin's on-ice performance than general entertainment purposes.

 

[Biddco]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

If you predicted Minnesota-Duluth, Maine and Wisconsin would be a combined 6-23-5 (.250) with an average rank of 52 in the RPI, come forward and accept your praise now...

What about if you actually believed Wisconsin and UMD would get home ice?!

 

[Dirty]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

What about if you actually believed Wisconsin and UMD would get home ice?!

I would hope that person wouldn't be teaching as with that sort of belief system one wonders if he/she also believed the Earth was flat and that the Sun rotated around it.

 

[UpNorthHockey]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

I think it's a little early for a "Fire Eaves" thread. On paper, Eaves has netted some very good recruits and has built some very talented teams. There no argument that he can coach - he coached a team to the IIHF World Junior championship and has been to the NCAA championship game twice. You don't throw out a guy like Eaves for a few rough seasons. However, I do think he has some shortcomings. First, I think he focuses too much on trying to bring in Wisconsin born players - i.e. trying to imitate Minnesota. Wisconsin doesn't have enough of a hockey critical mass to populate a D1 team with home-grown players, even if it is the only D1 team in the state. Also, he seems a bit autocratic and negative at times and is still dogged by the Leavitt incident. I wonder if some players choose to go elsewhere because of his leadership style. He has lost a few really talented Wisconsin born players recently to other programs. I'd personally rather see Mark Johnson as head coach, but Eaves deserves at least two more seasons to turn things around. It would be nice to see Wisconsin fans get behind their hockey team during tough times instead of being critical and calling for firings. As a long suffering Michigan Tech fan, it's hard not to think Wisconsin fans are overly fickle and fair-weather.

 

[BCHF]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

UW is ****ed whatever they do in the short-term. with the current record, being 55th in the rankings, it would take a miracle to make the NCAA's, and add to that Zengerle could bolt after the season and he's replaced by Besse...essentially nothing changes or it gets worse because Besse needs a year to adjust. beyond that there are no forwards lined up who can light it up. So w/Eaves it would take 3-4 years to turn this around...W/out him the same.

However, I think Blasi/Granato (either one) would get fans excited. Goal scoring and creativity. Someone brought up how the UW offense on a 3-2 does the dumbest things imaginable, all 3 just skate toward the net, no cross-overs, no drop passes, no creativity...they get one shot off (into the goalies stomach or they miss the net entirely) and then they have to regroup. How many times do you see that over the last 6 years before you're just tired of it?

I also honestly think the fanbase is tired of Mike Eaves' little metaphors and post-game comments about how the team is working hard. He's forgotten UW fired Sauer in part for missing the playoffs 3 of 4 seasons at the end. He's going to go 3 consecutive and 5 of 7 years out of the playoffs. He needs to be asked how he would defend that to an AD who cared.

Apparently in 2002 Jeff Jackson wanted the UW job. I'm guessing Eaves was chosen because he's an alum, leading scorer and all that, and a few years younger. The way Notre Dame plays hockey under Jackson and their recruiting suggests he's got a better long-term plan. No titles yet there but he seems to be in contention more frequently, in the NCAA's 4 of 6 years with what appears to be another strong team this year.

I would suggest the Wisconsin program give serious consideration to Troy Ward as a suitable replacement for Coach Eaves. Troy was a very successful assistant under Mike, responsible for special teams, intimately involved in recruiting at his time at Wisconsin. Troy has tremendous ties in the USHL, AHL, and the NHL which would serve him well in the role as head coach. His current tenor in the AHL has been highly successful for The Calgary Organization and he is certainly on their short list for a potential HC on the big club should the need arise.

He knows what it takes to be successful at all levels and was instrumental in recruiting a ton of the talent that delivered Wisconsin's last NCAA title.

Just something to chew on!

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

I think it's a little early for a "Fire Eaves" thread. On paper, Eaves has netted some very good recruits and has built some very talented teams. There no argument that he can coach - he coached a team to the IIHF World Junior championship and has been to the NCAA championship game twice. You don't throw out a guy like Eaves for a few rough seasons. However, I do think he has some shortcomings. First, I think he focuses too much on trying to bring in Wisconsin born players - i.e. trying to imitate Minnesota. Wisconsin doesn't have enough of a hockey critical mass to populate a D1 team with home-grown players, even if it is the only D1 team in the state. Also, he seems a bit autocratic and negative at times and is still dogged by the Leavitt incident. I wonder if some players choose to go elsewhere because of his leadership style. He has lost a few really talented Wisconsin born players recently to other programs. I'd personally rather see Mark Johnson as head coach, but Eaves deserves at least two more seasons to turn things around. It would be nice to see Wisconsin fans get behind their hockey team during tough times instead of being critical and calling for firings. As a long suffering Michigan Tech fan, it's hard not to think Wisconsin fans are overly fickle and fair-weather.

Your post went into "adult on Peanuts" mode for me right after the bolded section. It bears repeating: this will be the third year in a row of missing the NCAAs. 5th of the last 7 seasons. In 11 seasons, he'll have had only 5 NCAA appearances and absolutely no conference hardware.

Is it really fairweather to find that not acceptable? Even if it is, it sure beats the pants off of the Jan Brady existence of being okay with it.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Fire Mike Eaves?

Your post went into "adult on Peanuts" mode for me right after the bolded section. It bears repeating: this will be the third year in a row of missing the NCAAs. 5th of the last 7 seasons. In 11 seasons, he'll have had only 5 NCAA appearances and absolutely no conference hardware.

Is it really fairweather to find that not acceptable? Even if it is, it sure beats the pants off of the Jan Brady existence of being okay with it.

Wow. No conference hardware? I didn't realize that. So, the only banner hung was the national title. Wow.