Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread
Good luck with that. University has its own long list of issues to deal with. Committing to Laker Hockey is not one of them.
In the 80's and early 90's, Lake State was a fun school to attend. That is no longer.
Lake State's budget in the 80's and 90's was always in top half of budgets in the CCHA.
Lake State's enrollment in the late 80's and 90's was 3000 and not 2100(seeking a four year degree) like the current enrollment. The one thing Lake State has going for them is they don't have high admission standards.
Bud Cooper was the AD and he was a champion in positioning Lake State in the CCHA. Bud had respect amongst his peers.
There are NCAA rules in place now pertaining to many of the things that Frank Anzalone did as a coach. The NCAA made rules like these to prevent coaches like him from harassing and abusing players. The rules were in place before he came around the second time. It is against NCAA rules to get your players off the bus after a road trip and skate them.
People in the Sault are never going to come out to see the likes of Mankato and Bemidji like they did for Michigan, Michigan State, and Notre Dame. The CCHA was prestigious. The WCHA is no longer prestigious. That ship has sailed.
There are probably 300 plus Full scholarships available to play Division 1 hockey that were not available to hockey players in the late 80's and early 90's. Penn State, All the MIAC schools, Conneticut, etc and all the Ivy League Schools that give full financial aid packages now just as if they are scholarships because their endowments are so large. More people fighting over a small pool of athletes. A kid who got a half ride at Lake State in the 80's is now going to Canisius on a full ride. Not to mention private schools have other scholarships available via endowment that Lake State doesn't have because Lake State lives off of tuition and has a non-existent endowment.
5 presidents in 12 years and who hires a superintendent to lead a university. 5 years ago Lake State hired a retired Superintendent from the local school district(with no college administration experience) as an interim president. For some reason, the board decided to keep him for 5 years despite the fact that they gave him year to year contracts. He made several controversial moves at the Sault Schools and many locals turned on him when he was superintendent. The Sault school's enrollment went down under his direction b/c many kids transferred out to private and charter schools. First president at Lake State to never give the employees a raise during his presidency. Losing state accredidation in some teaching certifications. Enrollment going down.....and last year the Higher Learning Commission only giving the school a 5 year reaccrediation instead of a 10 year. HLC accrediation is not difficult, that is need for concern. What a legacy to leave.....
The town's population is aging. Many residents are over 60. Many living on fixed incomes. The City of Sault Sainte Marie needs a reawakening. I heard the city was going belly up on the parking structure they built that they can't afford the payments for. Sounds like the Fine Arts Center(no fine arts degrees at Lake State) that Lake State built that they coudn't afford. And now the School of Business Building that they have not been able to raise $3 million for. Maybe Rick Sndyer can send in some emergency managers.....
