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Goodbye Enrico!
- Thread starter Hockeybuckeye
- Start date
You can scratch Potulny from your list. He’s got a $280,000 salary and a $250,000 buyout clause in his contract. Bergeron has a pretty steep buyout too and I believe he’s under contract thru the 2022-23 season. But, could BG assistant Ty Eigner be a candidate?
Re: Goodbye Enrico!
I am not going to tell BG fans (or administrators) how to feel - and I'm sure such bitterness exists for some - but I don't really think its fair to blame Miami for BG not getting into the NCHC. First of all, the NCHC is essentially the WCHA cast-off league - the top remaining WCHA teams made six and then the search began for two remaining teams to round out the league. Miami was a no-brainer as a national power at the time. The NCHC was founded with the specific goal of becoming the 'top conference in college hockey'. UND, DU, UMD, SCSU and CC all had something to say about the eighth team in the league. It wasn't Miami's decision alone and Miami certainly didn't have the most influential voice in the room...
Bowling Green was a miserable team and a year or two removed from seriously considering dropping hockey all together. Western Michigan (another MAC/CCHA conference ally hoping for Miami's support), meanwhile, had made two-consecutive NCAA Tournaments - and had the added benefit of bringing Michigan into the conference footprint. WMU was likely a no-brainer for six of the seven teams in the conference, with the seventh pulled in two directions between two friendly ADs. Did BGSU seriously expect Miami to risk its lot in the new league to dig them out of a mess they'd made for themselves two years earlier? I doubt BGSU would have done so for Miami if the roles had been reversed - or would do so now if conference realignment was on the horizon with the Falcons up and Miami down. It was terrible timing for BG (including a couple of fluke seasons by their top competition, WMU) and nothing more...
Chris Bergeron is a Miami alum, who spent ten years as an assistant at Miami and played a MAJOR role in its recent run of national success. Barry Schutte is a Miami alum, who has spent a number of his professional years in and around the RedHawk program. If Miami offers and Bergeron turns them down, its probably because he thinks BGSU is a better fit for what he wants to accomplish. If there would be any personal reason not to take the job, it would probably be because he is close to Rico - not because he holds any ill-will towards his alma mater and a Miami administration that is long gone...
I am not going to tell BG fans (or administrators) how to feel - and I'm sure such bitterness exists for some - but I don't really think its fair to blame Miami for BG not getting into the NCHC. First of all, the NCHC is essentially the WCHA cast-off league - the top remaining WCHA teams made six and then the search began for two remaining teams to round out the league. Miami was a no-brainer as a national power at the time. The NCHC was founded with the specific goal of becoming the 'top conference in college hockey'. UND, DU, UMD, SCSU and CC all had something to say about the eighth team in the league. It wasn't Miami's decision alone and Miami certainly didn't have the most influential voice in the room...
Bowling Green was a miserable team and a year or two removed from seriously considering dropping hockey all together. Western Michigan (another MAC/CCHA conference ally hoping for Miami's support), meanwhile, had made two-consecutive NCAA Tournaments - and had the added benefit of bringing Michigan into the conference footprint. WMU was likely a no-brainer for six of the seven teams in the conference, with the seventh pulled in two directions between two friendly ADs. Did BGSU seriously expect Miami to risk its lot in the new league to dig them out of a mess they'd made for themselves two years earlier? I doubt BGSU would have done so for Miami if the roles had been reversed - or would do so now if conference realignment was on the horizon with the Falcons up and Miami down. It was terrible timing for BG (including a couple of fluke seasons by their top competition, WMU) and nothing more...
Chris Bergeron is a Miami alum, who spent ten years as an assistant at Miami and played a MAJOR role in its recent run of national success. Barry Schutte is a Miami alum, who has spent a number of his professional years in and around the RedHawk program. If Miami offers and Bergeron turns them down, its probably because he thinks BGSU is a better fit for what he wants to accomplish. If there would be any personal reason not to take the job, it would probably be because he is close to Rico - not because he holds any ill-will towards his alma mater and a Miami administration that is long gone...
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Re: Goodbye Enrico!
I don't know enough about Eigner to say one way or the other. I'm sure he's done a nice job at BGSU...
However, I will say, that I don't think Miami fired a coach like Enrico Blasi, and are willing to eat that buyout, to go cheap on a new hire. They'll spend if thats what they need to do to get their guy. They're committed to winning (and doing what it takes to do so) in the NCHC. We'll find out if this is the right move soon enough. Sayler has raised a lot of money since getting to Miami for capital purposes AND to aggressively clean up coaching situations. I would imagine Miami came into this year with a decision to make - football coach or hockey coach - and had already budgeted or raised the money to replace one of the two the right way. Unfortunately, Blasi seems to have drawn the short straw...
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That said, those are just the names that would be on MY list if I was an AD - hiring at any school. Bergeron is the only one with a direct Miami connection and Bennett is the only one without any notable connection at all to the school or the NCHC footprint. They may have an entirely different list - that likely includes candidates in all financial ranges. It would not surprise me, either, to see Mannino considered - based on how well received his recruiting has been. That would certainly be a cheaper and more risky route than I would prefer, but I think they'd be doing so because they believed in him (and they may or may not) not solely for the financial benefit...
I don't know enough about Eigner to say one way or the other. I'm sure he's done a nice job at BGSU...
However, I will say, that I don't think Miami fired a coach like Enrico Blasi, and are willing to eat that buyout, to go cheap on a new hire. They'll spend if thats what they need to do to get their guy. They're committed to winning (and doing what it takes to do so) in the NCHC. We'll find out if this is the right move soon enough. Sayler has raised a lot of money since getting to Miami for capital purposes AND to aggressively clean up coaching situations. I would imagine Miami came into this year with a decision to make - football coach or hockey coach - and had already budgeted or raised the money to replace one of the two the right way. Unfortunately, Blasi seems to have drawn the short straw...
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That said, those are just the names that would be on MY list if I was an AD - hiring at any school. Bergeron is the only one with a direct Miami connection and Bennett is the only one without any notable connection at all to the school or the NCHC footprint. They may have an entirely different list - that likely includes candidates in all financial ranges. It would not surprise me, either, to see Mannino considered - based on how well received his recruiting has been. That would certainly be a cheaper and more risky route than I would prefer, but I think they'd be doing so because they believed in him (and they may or may not) not solely for the financial benefit...
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Re: Goodbye Enrico!
Your correct. Thanks for clearing that up. I always forget about Omaha. Still, the point remains, there were five other programs with a lot to say (led by DU and UND) about who joined the league - and who were heavily focused on who was currently successful and would bring immediate prestige to the table...
BGSU was desperate to resurrect their program and I'm sure they understood Miami was their only avenue into the league (hence the frustration). But that knowledge should have indicated how realistic that was and what the remaining NCHC founder's really thought of the program at the time. They were two years away from threatening to shut things down and had won 15 games in the previous two seasons. That is what did them in, not Miami. Again, it was unfortunate timing - but likely fortuitous as it allowed them to quickly rebuild in a more manageable league...
Your correct. Thanks for clearing that up. I always forget about Omaha. Still, the point remains, there were five other programs with a lot to say (led by DU and UND) about who joined the league - and who were heavily focused on who was currently successful and would bring immediate prestige to the table...
BGSU was desperate to resurrect their program and I'm sure they understood Miami was their only avenue into the league (hence the frustration). But that knowledge should have indicated how realistic that was and what the remaining NCHC founder's really thought of the program at the time. They were two years away from threatening to shut things down and had won 15 games in the previous two seasons. That is what did them in, not Miami. Again, it was unfortunate timing - but likely fortuitous as it allowed them to quickly rebuild in a more manageable league...
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Ma#1ne Hky
New member
Redhawks25
New member
You sure seem to have something against Miami. Wonder what it could be with that username??
Re: Goodbye Enrico!
Also a UNH fan, having grown up in NH. No, thank you. Good for him accomplishing what he has at the prep-level, however. Who's your next suggestion, Red Gendron...
Also a UNH fan, having grown up in NH. No, thank you. Good for him accomplishing what he has at the prep-level, however. Who's your next suggestion, Red Gendron...
purpleinnebraska
Well-known member
The bitterness wasn't about not being included. The bitterness stems from the fact that a long time friend didn't make a phone call to give a "hey, this is what we're doing." Bergeron found out with the rest of us when the media finally broke the story. The NCHC came calling two (?) seasons ago and BG turned them down.
Eddie Schorr
Member
He laughed at a joke about Rico staying home and watching The Flintstones while collecting his buyout. Is that so offensive to your sensibilities? Is that such an affront...such an insult..to Miami? Jesus, toughen up a bit or stay in your little echo chamber.
Hockeybuckeye
Well-known member
Re: Goodbye Enrico!
BTW, one of my son's is a Miami alum and he and his wife (also an alum) still live in Oxford. We have a friendly rivalry between us on Miami/OSU hockey and boy will I get to pick on him tonight!
BTW, one of my son's is a Miami alum and he and his wife (also an alum) still live in Oxford. We have a friendly rivalry between us on Miami/OSU hockey and boy will I get to pick on him tonight!
Can anyone back this up? I am skeptical.
Redhawks25
New member
Wow you got triggered fast
Redhawks25
New member
Too bad they don’t play each other anymore
Re: Goodbye Enrico!
I dont really want to turn this into a Miami/BG debate - I'd prefer to discuss who will eventually become Miami's head coach. However, assuming this is true and Bergeron was in fact upset about the reallignment because he never heard from Rico in advance, wouldn't his bitterness be directed at Rico and not Miami? That could/would remove what I speculated might be the largest potential hurdle - not wanting to replace his friend?
The bottom line is, Miami is going to reach out to Bergeron and he may have a decision to make. IF he gets the opportunity to turn down Miami and does so, I just can't see it being the result of lingering hurt feelings. It will be because he wants to stay at BGSU, whatever those reasons may be.
As for fans and administrators still bothered and pointing the finger at Miami, Im not going to try to talk anyone out of how they feel. I can understand the frustration...
I dont really want to turn this into a Miami/BG debate - I'd prefer to discuss who will eventually become Miami's head coach. However, assuming this is true and Bergeron was in fact upset about the reallignment because he never heard from Rico in advance, wouldn't his bitterness be directed at Rico and not Miami? That could/would remove what I speculated might be the largest potential hurdle - not wanting to replace his friend?
The bottom line is, Miami is going to reach out to Bergeron and he may have a decision to make. IF he gets the opportunity to turn down Miami and does so, I just can't see it being the result of lingering hurt feelings. It will be because he wants to stay at BGSU, whatever those reasons may be.
As for fans and administrators still bothered and pointing the finger at Miami, Im not going to try to talk anyone out of how they feel. I can understand the frustration...
TalonsUpPuckDown
Roll along you BG Warriors!
Re: Goodbye Enrico!
Yep, I can. Our AD made a public announcement about this, I then followed up with him personally. We were not officially offered a spot. We were extended an opportunity to apply with the implication being that an application would be looked upon highly favorably. We evaluated the landscape and responded with a very professional "Thanks, but not at this time." This all went down at the same time ASU and Mankato were trying to get in.
As for being butt hurt about not getting the Nacho nod, I am not aware of any BG fans, administrators/staff, coaches, or whatever being upset over what happened. Our program was not ready for that league and we all knew it. The WCHA has been good opportunity for us to get things back in shape. EDIT: And if Bergeron does leave, we're now a pretty attractive program that should draw someone with a solid resume.
Yep, I can. Our AD made a public announcement about this, I then followed up with him personally. We were not officially offered a spot. We were extended an opportunity to apply with the implication being that an application would be looked upon highly favorably. We evaluated the landscape and responded with a very professional "Thanks, but not at this time." This all went down at the same time ASU and Mankato were trying to get in.
As for being butt hurt about not getting the Nacho nod, I am not aware of any BG fans, administrators/staff, coaches, or whatever being upset over what happened. Our program was not ready for that league and we all knew it. The WCHA has been good opportunity for us to get things back in shape. EDIT: And if Bergeron does leave, we're now a pretty attractive program that should draw someone with a solid resume.
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