Hockey East Quarterfinals UNH (10) @ Lowell (1) 3/10-3/12

[bottomdweller]

Re: Hockey East Quarterfinals UNH (10) @ Lowell (1) 3/10-3/12

Us? ouch...

That quote came a question or two after he said "no comment" to if he'd be back next year.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Sorry to see all of you blaming Umi for the decline of the team! You want the truth, then blame Scarano and the Admission Director, both of which began the decline of both UNH hockey programs 10 years ago......you think it's just coincidence that B-Ball and football have physical coaches, with incidents over their coaching years but McCloskey is fired because he coaches women? Recruiting couldn't get anyone of stature when it would've made a difference in keeping the pipeline improving the team's...........Sorry but the once Nationally ranked programs are now second and third thoughts to football, b-ball, volleyball, gymnastics.......how can other schools maintain all their team's without choosing? UNH men's couldn't even sell half of Lake Whitt for Michigan 2 years ago.....once impossible tickets couldn't sell at $11 with hot dog! So sorry to ruin your funeral guys but it's not Umile's doing........maybe Chuck can explain better......

Neil, I don't think resources were taken away from Umile. And I really don't think other sports at UNH are getting more favorable admissions policies than the hockey team. What I do think is that recruiting took a precipitous nose dive over the past five years or so and no one stepped in to correct it.

Please don't take offense when I say this, but it is silly to say that the man at the top of the pyramid holds no responsibility for what has happened to the program. For years I have defended the guy because I truly believe that he embodied what UNH Hockey was all about. The team would never have reached the level that it did without his leadership. But, unfortunately, he just doesn't appear to be as decisive now as he used to be.

Umile is the same age as me. He will be 69 on his next birthday. Take it from one who knows that giving your all at his age is not the same as giving your all when you are 20 or 30 years younger. It's the rare person who can maintain that intensity for a long period. Unfortunately many who continue to work as they approach 70 don't even realize that they are slowing down. As I said, it is easy for others to see that someone has lost his fastball. It's not so easy when you're the guy throwing the ball.

 

[zoofer]

Re: Hockey East Quarterfinals UNH (10) @ Lowell (1) 3/10-3/12

I appreciate your viewpoint Greg, as you've seen as much as I, though differing perspectives.....while a few years younger than you, I understand what you're saying, especially as I look ahead to shoveling 14-18" tomorrow! I will mention that as one who deals daily with physical pain, I once saw Umi take the ice for practice a day after surgery, and a painful surgical procedure it was....
so I don't doubt his ability to cope.....as anyone who has gone thru an 8 month season in the rink, come playoffs or not, you're ready for the off season,( especially if you add a 6 goal first).....
And I have no doubt that he'd love hanging with his 6 grand kids, so for me, in reading all the thread comments, I think it boils down to money......if they have to honor the contract with Umi not retiring, then they let him earn the money and work his last year......

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: Hockey East Quarterfinals UNH (10) @ Lowell (1) 3/10-3/12

And I have no doubt that he'd love hanging with his 6 grand kids, so for me, in reading all the thread comments, I think it boils down to money......if they have to honor the contract with Umi not retiring, then they let him earn the money and work his last year......����

There's no question they have to honor the contract, and that involves paying him his salary as head coach.

The question is really going to be whether UNH actually requires him to earn it behind the bench or not.

And if they do decide to buy him out, they will probably frame it as Coach's decision to "retire" regardless.

This is why coaches entering the last year of their contract often get the label "lame duck" coaches, and why organizations who hire these coaches will often extend the head coach for another year or two, so as to avoid the perception that they're not 100% behind their top guy, and shore up their credibility/strength with the players, etc.

In the pros and in many college settings, extending a head coach just for show usually isn't a huge financial commitment. At UNH, I don't see them being able to afford such "window dressing", so hence we all got to see BS35+4's so-called "three year plan" up front instead.

It will be interesting to see if Coach attends the annual HE Awards Banquet later this week on UNH's behalf ...