LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

A view from the fringe...

Get rid of the AD and hope your new President can right the ship. If not, your days with a D1 hockey program are numbered.
On another note. Bill Crawford is mediocre at best as a play by play guy. He's also a negative old man that does not do your team or school any favors. His attitude and comments on the radio and in town breed and propel the negativity around lssu sports.
Good luck.

Bill Crawford is one hell of a hockey announcer . I have heard other announcers for other teams and you are sleeping before the game is over and you lose interest because the announcers are so dull .

 

[MeridianStreet]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

But the story was that Crawford was loath to fire Frank....he saw the progress that was being made and knew that Laker Hockey was on the cusp of returning back to a dangerous/competitive program. It was the administration that finally forced his hand. Crawford blew and he blew it big! He waited far to long to dismiss Frank and then was caught in a time crunch so he simply threw up his hands and gave the job to his buddy Roque. Afterwards, Crawford was removed from the A.D. position and "kicked upstairs". The administration also messed up in that they should have demanded a full search for a new coach and simply designated an interm in the meantime. If they moved quickly enough they could have had someone in place by the start of the new school year.

Anyway enough of this rehash, we ought to be focusing and speculating on potential new candidates.

You need to talk to someone closer to the situation. You have it wrong. Crawford's move to the ad bldg. had nothing to do with the Anzalone issue. A VP had left to another university and the university president wanted Crawford to take that spot. She felt Kris could move from women's BB coach to AD. Frank had to go. Jim Roque was a good candidate for coach and boom - university fills 3 positions without the cost and time involved in a "search" and at salaries that fit in the budget (there's that money issue again).

But you're right. No sense dwelling on the past. I'm sure there has been interest in the D-1 coaching spot. Can't wait to hear some names.

 

[jnacc]

Re: D1 vs. DIII

Re: D1 vs. DIII

Don't "poo-poo" DIII unless you have watched some games live. The top one-third to one half of DIII will give the bottom third of D1 (yes, including the Lakers) a run for thier money. I watched Colby
College play a one goal game against Princeton in Waterville, ME a couple of years ago and it was fast, high quality hockey. .

Fricker, DIII is simply not an option. Many of us have struggled with the Lakers being thrown out of the old CCHA and placed into the nWCHA and losing the ability to watch nationally renowned programs like N.D. and Michigan play at the Norris. Moving to a DIII situation and having to play teams like Finlandia would drive down attendance to around 400 per game. True, D-III does not provide athletic scholarships but many of them provide financial aid packages that rival athletic scholarships. Lake State would have far less revenue coming in and costs would only marginally decrease and that is why the program would simply cease operations before becoming a DIII outfit.
No Fricker, LSSU has to make this work because the only alternative would be club hockey.

 

[MeridianStreet]

Re: D1 vs. DIII

Re: D1 vs. DIII

Fricker, DIII is simply not an option. Many of us have struggled with the Lakers being thrown out of the old CCHA and placed into the nWCHA and losing the ability to watch nationally renowned programs like N.D. and Michigan play at the Norris. Moving to a DIII situation and having to play teams like Finlandia would drive down attendance to around 400 per game. True, D-III does not provide athletic scholarships but many of them provide financial aid packages that rival athletic scholarships. Lake State would have far less revenue coming in and costs would only marginally decrease and that is why the program would simply cease operations before becoming a DIII outfit.
No Fricker, LSSU has to make this work because the only alternative would be club hockey.

I agree. Also, whom would we play? Would anyone let a former D-1 program in their league?

 

[Pink Pony]

I agree. Also, whom would we play? Would anyone let a former D-1 program in their league?

NMU and MTU have club teams.

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

Maybe it is just me , but I see getting rid of Roque and going after a new coach to bring in a different coaching style to try and make the team a winning team again is the university trying to save the hockey program not jettison it.

 

[Hammer]

Re: D1 vs. DIII

Re: D1 vs. DIII

FRICKER, all the schools playing NCAA Div 3 sports in Michigan are private institutions. None of them are public institutions. LSSU is a public institution. If LSSU were to become a private institution and play Div 3 sports, where is the money going to come from to run it? For your examples of Eastern Div 3 schools playing Div 1 hockey, Clarkson, St Lawrence and RPI are all private institutions.

D-3 is a non-starter. There's one hockey league in the area, and they're going to 11 teams in two years. With a 25 game limit in D-3, a 12 team league isn't going to happen. And no, splitting that league into two 6-team leagues is a no-go as well, since you need 7 in Division 3 to pull an AQ. With an 11 team NCAA tournament, no one with a brain in their head is about to risk their AQ.

I think you'd also have to move the entire athletic department down to D-III as well. Someone else can correct me on this if necessary.

 

[Lakers2Glory]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

The Lakers to D-III? Let us not forget that we have wins against ranked teams this year and 16 wins overall. This should not even be a topic of discussion. It's absolute ridiculousness.

 

[Lakers2Glory]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

Jim Roque will forever be known as the "Great Recruiter of LSSU". However, what happened after the players got here is best forgotten going forward.

Bill Crawford's play-by-play is recognized by many in the business as some of the best in the Nation. However, IMO, his color commentary is sometimes questionable, especially when he talks up the competition too much. Still, he can paint a picture in your head about the game like very few others can.

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

Another coach I would look at in Division 3 is Tom Coghlin of St. Norbert . The guy has a fantastic record of 21 years there .

 

[LakerBuff]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

Maybe it is just me , but I see getting rid of Roque and going after a new coach to bring in a different coaching style to try and make the team a winning team again is the university trying to save the hockey program not jettison it.

In order to save the program, they have to save the university first. LSSU's greatest problems are declining enrollment and inability to sustain financial stability. Over the course of the last 15 years, the university has not moved forward, in fact, they've actually moved backward. There have been 4 presidents in the last 15 years, with the 5th new president coming in this June. Consequently, there have been several changes of mission and vision for the university. In 2013, the university received only 5 year status of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, citing many areas within the university as performing inadequately. Typically, a university gets a 10 year status before being reviewed again. Enrollment has dipped to an all-time low of around 2,100 students and their Teacher Education program lost certification entirely, leaving many students high and dry - causing them to change majors or transfer elsewhere. This just scratches the surface of the problems at LSSU, and I ask you, where is the accountability for all the afore mentioned issues? How are they to 'fix' the hockey program, when they can't even successfully run a university?

 

[davyd83]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

Another coach I would look like in Division 3 is Tom Coghlin of St. Norbert . The guy has a fantastic record of 21 years there .

Give Tim an experienced D-I guy for an assistant to run the recruiting and I think he could have success.

 

[jnacc]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

In order to save the program, they have to save the university first. LSSU's greatest problems are declining enrollment and inability to sustain financial stability. Over the course of the last 15 years, the university has not moved forward, in fact, they've actually moved backward. There have been 4 presidents in the last 15 years, with the 5th new president coming in this June. Consequently, there have been several changes of mission and vision for the university. In 2013, the university received only 5 year status of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, citing many areas within the university as performing inadequately. Typically, a university gets a 10 year status before being reviewed again. Enrollment has dipped to an all-time low of around 2,100 students and their Teacher Education program lost certification entirely, leaving many students high and dry - causing them to change majors or transfer elsewhere. This just scratches the surface of the problems at LSSU, and I ask you, where is the accountability for all the afore mentioned issues? How are they to 'fix' the hockey program, when they can't even successfully run a university?

Umm correct me if I'm wrong but did their teacher education program not receive an initial 5 year accreditation last year from the TEAC?? Furthermore, LSSU is set to receive increased funding from the state and from what I hear enrollment has bottomed out and is actually looking to increase in the next couple of years. Look we know there are problems with finances and continuity but I feel that Lake State is about to turn the corner as an institution. It has weathered the storm and the school will be fine.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

In order to save the program, they have to save the university first. LSSU's greatest problems are declining enrollment and inability to sustain financial stability. Over the course of the last 15 years, the university has not moved forward, in fact, they've actually moved backward. There have been 4 presidents in the last 15 years, with the 5th new president coming in this June. Consequently, there have been several changes of mission and vision for the university. In 2013, the university received only 5 year status of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, citing many areas within the university as performing inadequately. Typically, a university gets a 10 year status before being reviewed again. Enrollment has dipped to an all-time low of around 2,100 students and their Teacher Education program lost certification entirely, leaving many students high and dry - causing them to change majors or transfer elsewhere. This just scratches the surface of the problems at LSSU, and I ask you, where is the accountability for all the afore mentioned issues? How are they to 'fix' the hockey program, when they can't even successfully run a university?

All time low enrollment is 2100? That's funny, when I graduated the enrollment was around 1400 or so. The reported enrollment this past Fall was somewhere around 2420 or 2430.

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

Give Tim an experienced D-I guy for an assistant to run the recruiting and I think he could have success.

I think I recall Tim Christian saying one time you can't teach a guy to become a scorer if he is not. I also think I remember Mark Vermette saying he was not a goal scorer when he came to Lake State until Anzalone taught him how to become a scorer. I am not sure which is correct but I like to think everyone can be made better and Tims answer if I remember is what he said ,would not be the answer from a coach I am looking for.

 

[LakerBuff]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

All time low enrollment is 2100? That's funny, when I graduated the enrollment was around 1400 or so. The reported enrollment this past Fall was somewhere around 2420 or 2430.

You must have been at Lake State when it was LSSC, essentially a community college. My comments were directed at the past 15 years, which includes 4 different administrations. There has been a steady decline in the enrollment, and the financial picture on the hill has never looked as bleak.

These are the actual comments from the administration made in June 2013 to the campus community:
"I believe the most important issue facing LSSU at this time is financial. For the past ten to fifteen years, LSSU has failed to successfully stabilize institutional finances and that failing continues to stifle us today. Repeated cuts in state funding and declining student enrollments have caused us to be reactive rather than proactive. Although our cash flow from year to year has been sufficient to cover basic costs, we have not had the resources that are necessary in order to pursue major projects, fund new strategic initiatives, and appropriately reward our employees.

The most significant source of revenue for LSSU is tuition, and our number one strategic initiative is to increase enrollment in order to increase tuition revenue. Even though several actions have been taken to address enrollment, none of them have addressed the issue from the perspective of clarifying our institutional identity and character. That is, none of the initiatives have required the participation of the entire campus and none of them have the potential to truly transform LSSU; resulting in a unique campus environment, making maximum use of our local resources, and thereby positioning LSSU for future growth and long-term stability."

 

[Hammer]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

Another coach I would look at in Division 3 is Tom Coghlin of St. Norbert . The guy has a fantastic record of 21 years there .

If you're looking at D-3 coaches, that's the first call you make. He's built an absolute machine over there in DePere.

 

[LakerBuff]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

Umm correct me if I'm wrong but did their teacher education program not receive an initial 5 year accreditation last year from the TEAC?? Furthermore, LSSU is set to receive increased funding from the state and from what I hear enrollment has bottomed out and is actually looking to increase in the next couple of years. Look we know there are problems with finances and continuity but I feel that Lake State is about to turn the corner as an institution. It has weathered the storm and the school will be fine.

Clarification regarding the teacher education program - History lost certification; and they have eliminated several majors and minors. Sorry if you didn't understand my meaning that the program is tanking.

 

[Bill]

You must have been at Lake State when it was LSSC, essentially a community college. My comments were directed at the past 15 years, which includes 4 different administrations. There has been a steady decline in the enrollment, and the financial picture on the hill has never looked as bleak.

These are the actual comments from the administration made in June 2013 to the campus community:
"I believe the most important issue facing LSSU at this time is financial. For the past ten to fifteen years, LSSU has failed to successfully stabilize institutional finances and that failing continues to stifle us today. Repeated cuts in state funding and declining student enrollments have caused us to be reactive rather than proactive. Although our cash flow from year to year has been sufficient to cover basic costs, we have not had the resources that are necessary in order to pursue major projects, fund new strategic initiatives, and appropriately reward our employees.

The most significant source of revenue for LSSU is tuition, and our number one strategic initiative is to increase enrollment in order to increase tuition revenue. Even though several actions have been taken to address enrollment, none of them have addressed the issue from the perspective of clarifying our institutional identity and character. That is, none of the initiatives have required the participation of the entire campus and none of them have the potential to truly transform LSSU; resulting in a unique campus environment, making maximum use of our local resources, and thereby positioning LSSU for future growth and long-term stability."

Ah, so now you're cherry picking your stats to try and cover up the fact that what you said about enrollment being at an all time low was false. LSSC/LSSU was a 4 year school before I ever attended. I'm well aware it started off as a 2 year school and remained that way for almost a third of it's existence.

 

[jnacc]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off season thread

Clarification regarding the teacher education program - History lost certification; and they have eliminated several majors and minors. Sorry if you didn't understand my meaning that the program is tanking.

Look not to get completely off track, but the teacher program not offering History, Sociology, Gov't ect ect is a plus in my books as the teacher market is entirely saturated with candidates holding those endorsements and a recent grad would find it extremely difficult in finding a teaching position. It is far better to grant endorsements in the hard sciences and math as those students will quickly gain employment. So in effect Lake State is doing it right, even though they may have "lost" those liberal arts endorsements.
Difficult to understand your meaning when you clearly stated that the teacher program lost its endorsement entirely...when it clearly did not.