How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

[RSTuthill]

... have to occur before the Men's Hockey program gets some scholarships?

I ask this because once again the Huskies look like they are uncompetitive at the D-1 level. Maybe I am being too pessimistic, but the early going suggests that at long last the Huskies will wrest the AHA cellar from AIC this year.

UConn just staged a celebration at the Rent in conjunction with the North Carolina football game a few weeks ago -- commemorating 50 years of men's varsity hockey at Storrs. The program is now at the perfect juncture. It's time to either get serious about the sport or put it out of its misery.

I am off to the Rent to see UConn/Rutgers in a somewhat saddened state of mind. What does it mean that a one-time diehard Huskies Hockey fan such as myself has seen more football games in the last few years than hockey games? And I am not even a football fan.

 

[btg1204]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

Maybe you should work on getting your bowl games in America....

 

[critsports]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

It doesn't seem all that long ago that my son (now 24) used to travel to Storrs to play in Youth hockey games at that horrid old outdoor arena.

I really thought that UConn would make an upgrade to their program and that they would vie to join Hockey East at some point but the program does seem to be going in the opposite direction. The women's team seems much more competitive a program than the men's team does.

I don't think in the present economic climate, nor with the football and basketball teams being the darlings that the hockey team will do anything but maintain the status quo.

 

[LtPowers]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

Scholarships are not a magic bullet. Three AHA teams do quite well without scholarships at all, and several AHA teams with scholarships still struggle. I don't know much else about the college's financial support of hockey, but I do know that scholarships are not the only route to success on the ice, nor will they produce that success without help in other areas.


Powers &8^]

 

[Patman]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

Scholarships are not a magic bullet. Three AHA teams do quite well without scholarships at all, and several AHA teams with scholarships still struggle. I don't know much else about the college's financial support of hockey, but I do know that scholarships are not the only route to success on the ice, nor will they produce that success without help in other areas.


Powers &8^]

Its about dedication to the program and how you present yourself. What are you about? Are you trying to get there? What is your plan for the student athletes?

The thing is UConn has enough more or less to compete in Atlantic Hockey. They have a strong institution, they have suitable facilities, they have a sufficient rink. They just lack in many other aspects.

 

[RSTuthill]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

Scholarships are not a magic bullet. Three AHA teams do quite well without scholarships at all, and several AHA teams with scholarships still struggle.

Who exactly are we talking about? The service academies give rides to the entire teams, not just the AHA limit of 11/13 or the NCAA limit of 18. The whole teams are on scholarship.

Additionally Holy Cross now gives scholarships. So we are left with RIT which is practically in Canada and which can give need based aid to foreign students (Canadians) under American income standards and the type of cross cultural financial aid that Union gives ("loans" which are really grants) also to "foreign" students.

So I guess that I fail to see the point.

There may be a glimmer of hope, though. There seems to be a new "spirit squad" of young women at UConn football games. I would not be completely surprised to see them at BB too. They have about the right number of members that if they were on scholarship they could make scholarships for men's hockey under Title IX possible. I will believe it when I see it, however.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

Who exactly are we talking about? The service academies give rides to the entire teams, not just the AHA limit of 11/13 or the NCAA limit of 18. The whole teams are on scholarship.

Additionally Holy Cross now gives scholarships. So we are left with RIT which is practically in Canada and which can give need based aid to foreign students (Canadians) under American income standards and the type of cross cultural financial aid that Union gives ("loans" which are really grants) also to "foreign" students.

So I guess that I fail to see the point.

There may be a glimmer of hope, though. There seems to be a new "spirit squad" of young women at UConn football games. I would not be completely surprised to see them at BB too. They have about the right number of members that if they were on scholarship they could make scholarships for men's hockey under Title IX possible. I will believe it when I see it, however.

Big difference between a scholarship at a regular school and a service academy. BIG difference.

 

[Patman]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

Who exactly are we talking about? The service academies give rides to the entire teams, not just the AHA limit of 11/13 or the NCAA limit of 18. The whole teams are on scholarship.

There's quite a gulf of difference between the cost of an Air Force/Army education and the cost of a Holy Cross education (amongst others)

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3671255

Additionally Holy Cross now gives scholarships. So we are left with RIT which is practically in Canada and which can give need based aid to foreign students (Canadians) under American income standards and the type of cross cultural financial aid that Union gives ("loans" which are really grants) also to "foreign" students.

Boo hoo. Are we back to the "illegal canadian players" again?

So I guess that I fail to see the point.

Yes.

There may be a glimmer of hope, though. There seems to be a new "spirit squad" of young women at UConn football games. I would not be completely surprised to see them at BB too. They have about the right number of members that if they were on scholarship they could make scholarships for men's hockey under Title IX possible. I will believe it when I see it, however.

Even if they were scholarship they are non-athletic... you can't use cheerleaders or the band to off-set Title IX. Besides, even if Title IX wasn't an issue you have other institutional desires and visions which you would need to overcome.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

Big difference between a scholarship at a regular school and a service academy. BIG difference.

as well as a big difference in the babe factor for filling out these "spirit squads" at state schools vs service academies to entertain the boys

 

[RSTuthill]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

Even if they were scholarship they are non-athletic... you can't use cheerleaders or the band to off-set Title IX. Besides, even if Title IX wasn't an issue you have other institutional desires and visions which you would need to overcome.

Don't know about bands (I doubt it), but cheerleading does come under Title IX, is regarded as athletic, and is used in the calculation. I think spirit squads are in the same category.

And, btw, no one ever talked about "illegal Canadians".

 

[LtPowers]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

The thing is UConn has enough more or less to compete in Atlantic Hockey. They have a strong institution, they have suitable facilities, they have a sufficient rink. They just lack in many other aspects.

Watching the games this weekend, UConn looks like they've got a good core of young player, particularly Ambrosie and Larson. It's gonna be a painful year for the Huskies, but I think Larson's going to steal a game one of these weeks.


Powers &8^]

 

[Patman]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

And, btw, no one ever talked about "illegal Canadians".

my bad, the "illegal" scholarships given to Canadians... either case the northern menace must be stopped.

 

[Patman]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

Watching the games this weekend, UConn looks like they've got a good core of young player, particularly Ambrosie and Larson. It's gonna be a painful year for the Huskies, but I think Larson's going to steal a game one of these weeks.


Powers &8^]

i can't really comment on uconn how they are on the ice... being down from Virginia divorces me from much of college hockey... especially when there's limited ways to follow both teams without foregoing social life or other things.

 

[RSTuthill]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

Patman, Patman, Patman ....

How many times do we have to tell you that the rules are different for public universities compared to private universities?

I would love to see more Canadians in Storrs. In fact when I was at Clarkson, the team was almost 100% Canadian. I have got nothing against Canadians. I am, however, innately suspicious when large numbers of them suddenly start turning up at a college that says they are not giving scholarships. And my objection in the past was not to the SA's themselves, but to the pompous "we don't give scholarships" attitude heard from the college and its boosters. That point is now moot though (since now they do give scholarships), isn't it?

One other point should be made, particularly to the gentleman who said that UConn Women's Hockey is doing much better than the men. Good observation, and that kind of proves the point. The women are certainly competitive in D-1. (They just beat UNH this weekend in fact.) Thing is, that program had 18 scholarships right from the get-go, not counting the short start-up transient

 

[LGR03]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

I don't know much about UConn's current Title IX standing but now that the Big East has a men's lacrosse league, my hunch is that UConn will be more inclined to invest in bringing that team up to varsity than throw any more money at the men's hockey program than they do now.

 

[Patman]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

I don't know much about UConn's current Title IX standing but now that the Big East has a men's lacrosse league, my hunch is that UConn will be more inclined to invest in bringing that team up to varsity than throw any more money at the men's hockey program than they do now.

i'd tend to agree but that's mostly looking at the fanbase for football/basketball... its a strong lax crowd and UConn has always been a school that sees itself firmly amongst the mainstream and anything out of step isn't a priority.

 

[CHFAN222]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

Correct me if I'm wrong but if UCONN really wanted the mens team to take the next step they would have them join HE. However HE has a requirement that any new team have an arena that sits at least 5000 and has replay equipment installed already correct? This would require a massive investment on the school's part and they would either have to build a new hockey arena, renovate their basketball arena, or play games at the Hartford Civic Center to accommodate it.

 

[RSTuthill]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

Correct me if I'm wrong but if UCONN really wanted the mens team to take the next step they would have them join HE. However HE has a requirement that any new team have an arena that sits at least 5000 and has replay equipment installed already correct? This would require a massive investment on the school's part and they would either have to build a new hockey arena, renovate their basketball arena, or play games at the Hartford Civic Center to accommodate it.

Interesting thought. But HE took UVM in a NY minute without the minimum size being met. And I don't think replay equipment is much of an investment. That said, I am sure that Freitas would have to be enlarged somewhat, just not sure that it would have to go all the way to 5,000.

First things first, though. The next step isn't HE. It is getting back to the AHA level of play which they are not at now.

W/r to Title IX, I would be very surprised if UConn is not at full compliance by now. Doubt very much if they will be adding a men's varsity sport anytime soon. Not only do the scholarships have to balance, but so do roster spots. Men's lacrosse is club while women's lacrosse is varsity. D-1A football means that more women's sports are needed to offset all those football rides and roster spots. So even adding men's lacrosse on a non-scholarship basis would require roster offsets on the women's side.

 

[Jon]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

However HE has a requirement that any new team have an arena that sits at least 5000 and has replay equipment installed already correct? T

I'm not sure about: UVM, MC and PC play in rinks smaller than 5,000.

 

[CHFAN222]

Re: How Many UConn Trips to Bowl Games ...

I'm not sure about: UVM, MC and PC play in rinks smaller than 5,000.

From what I know the rule was implemented after UVM joined HE and only applies to schools seeking membership. Schools in it currently are grandfathered in.