Chairman of the Boards
New member
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
The HIERARCHY can not allow that to happen
USCHO Fan Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.
Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
- Thread starter UncleRay
- Start date
- Status
Chairman of the Boards
New member
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
I truly believe that the majority of these young men no longer want to play for TW.
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
I'm gonna guess that his role on this advisory board is to somehow be the glue between academics and athletics. How one defines that, I don't know. If it's any comfort, an "advisory board" in an institution, foundation or corporation doesn't (generally) set policy, certainly doesn't execute policy, has little to no influence and is not a decision maker financially or strategically. That being said, this board that Townsend chairs elates at the fact that the hockey team GPA has risen from 2.28 in 2001 to 3.37 now. Great! He can check that box and his little advisory board has done it's job. Of course he loves Whitehead! Can you imagine what a freakin' nightmare Walsh must have been for this outfit?
If the A.D. has any brains and stones, which he does, he listens to this advisory board, nods and agrees, and goes and runs the business of UMaine athletics as he has to; as a competitive athletic program and as a business. The business side has the University's biggest money maker, the Hockey Program, breaking even at best this year. Believe it. Without a change behind the bench, the business side gets worse, far worse, quickly. That is bad, very bad, for the President and the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine. The $190K it takes to buy out Whitehead's contract pales in comparison to the revenue downside of doing nothing. The mid to long term planning view of doing nothing behind the bench runs up disastrous unacceptable numbers within 1-3 years.
This guy David Townsend is a PhD and Professor of Oceanography. He's an academic. He has no clue about running a Div 1 hockey program any more than Walsh knew how to teach Oceanography. Duh.
I'm gonna guess that his role on this advisory board is to somehow be the glue between academics and athletics. How one defines that, I don't know. If it's any comfort, an "advisory board" in an institution, foundation or corporation doesn't (generally) set policy, certainly doesn't execute policy, has little to no influence and is not a decision maker financially or strategically. That being said, this board that Townsend chairs elates at the fact that the hockey team GPA has risen from 2.28 in 2001 to 3.37 now. Great! He can check that box and his little advisory board has done it's job. Of course he loves Whitehead! Can you imagine what a freakin' nightmare Walsh must have been for this outfit?
If the A.D. has any brains and stones, which he does, he listens to this advisory board, nods and agrees, and goes and runs the business of UMaine athletics as he has to; as a competitive athletic program and as a business. The business side has the University's biggest money maker, the Hockey Program, breaking even at best this year. Believe it. Without a change behind the bench, the business side gets worse, far worse, quickly. That is bad, very bad, for the President and the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine. The $190K it takes to buy out Whitehead's contract pales in comparison to the revenue downside of doing nothing. The mid to long term planning view of doing nothing behind the bench runs up disastrous unacceptable numbers within 1-3 years.
Last edited:
Chairman of the Boards
New member
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
C
C
Bottom Line, Coaching change only solution.
UncleRay
M-A-I-N-E, GooOOO, Blue!
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
He says, "Look at where the other 2012 NHL draft picks went: 47 of the 68 who went on to play college hockey chose academically-elite schools, not necessarily schools with the best win-loss records." I don't have the inclination to go look it up, but I'd like to see where those kids went - both the 47 and the 68. I think it is fair to say that college hockey covers a lot of the "academically-elite" schools. How many of those 68 went to "hockey-elite" schools? I bet that number is higher than 47.
He says, "Look at where the other 2012 NHL draft picks went: 47 of the 68 who went on to play college hockey chose academically-elite schools, not necessarily schools with the best win-loss records." I don't have the inclination to go look it up, but I'd like to see where those kids went - both the 47 and the 68. I think it is fair to say that college hockey covers a lot of the "academically-elite" schools. How many of those 68 went to "hockey-elite" schools? I bet that number is higher than 47.
P
Priceless
Guest
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
Yeah, but it's not a business. It's an academic institution. I know fans like to forget that but the school exists to educate the children of Maine, and some from "away" not just to play hockey. Ideally Maine can attract balanced, well-rounded kids who can play hockey AND get a solid GPA. However, there were comments made about academics when I was with the team that really didn't sit well - especially coming from North Yarmouth Academy. I don't expect anyone here to stand up and cheer because the team GPA has improved so dramatically, but don't be surprised that people are. At least we no longer have to take Ivy League rejects so their 4.0 GPA will bring up the average to an acceptable level.
Yeah, but it's not a business. It's an academic institution. I know fans like to forget that but the school exists to educate the children of Maine, and some from "away" not just to play hockey. Ideally Maine can attract balanced, well-rounded kids who can play hockey AND get a solid GPA. However, there were comments made about academics when I was with the team that really didn't sit well - especially coming from North Yarmouth Academy. I don't expect anyone here to stand up and cheer because the team GPA has improved so dramatically, but don't be surprised that people are. At least we no longer have to take Ivy League rejects so their 4.0 GPA will bring up the average to an acceptable level.
Then you don't follow this team that closely. There are a couple of players that are on the outs with TW (primarily #39) but the vast majority love playing for TW. A few years ago certain people on here said the team had packed it in hoping that TW would get fired...then the team went on a run and took BC to overtime in the Hockey East finals. Those people sure had the pulse of the players...
blackbearbandie
Registered User
It may take more patience to communicate with some academics, but it helps to phrase your argument in a way they can understand. For Dr. Townsend to get the picture, I'd tell him that Maine Hockey is stuck in the Horse Latitudes with Coach Whithead at the helm, the Doldrums, and we need a coach that can give the players that little extra bit of wind in their sails to motivate the players to go that extra mile necessary to win the close games.
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
We all know Priceless loves TW, and we know he disliked Walsh. He will throw a little TW criticism out there from time to time so people on this board won't question his hockey acumen. But, I think we all know where is is coming from. He's in the camp that thinks Maine should be run like the programs at Hamilton, Middlebury, Bowdoin, etc. Don't get me wrong, those schools are great, and so is DIII hockey. But, Maine should just admit that's what they want so the fans who drive 2+ hours to a game and back know full well they can't compete with BC and UNH, or Merrimack for that matter.
We all know Priceless loves TW, and we know he disliked Walsh. He will throw a little TW criticism out there from time to time so people on this board won't question his hockey acumen. But, I think we all know where is is coming from. He's in the camp that thinks Maine should be run like the programs at Hamilton, Middlebury, Bowdoin, etc. Don't get me wrong, those schools are great, and so is DIII hockey. But, Maine should just admit that's what they want so the fans who drive 2+ hours to a game and back know full well they can't compete with BC and UNH, or Merrimack for that matter.
P
Priceless
Guest
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
USCHO already did it:
Teams with 2 or more draft pick committals
BU: 8
Michigan: 4
Michigan State: 4
Ohio State: 4
BC: 3
Cornell: 3
Minnesota: 3
Omaha: 3
Notre Dame: 3
Wisconsin: 3
CC: 2
Harvard: 2
Mane: 2
Lowell: 2
Michigan Tech: 2
Providence: 2
North Dakota: 2
Union: 2
Western Michigan: 2
USCHO already did it:
Teams with 2 or more draft pick committals
BU: 8
Michigan: 4
Michigan State: 4
Ohio State: 4
BC: 3
Cornell: 3
Minnesota: 3
Omaha: 3
Notre Dame: 3
Wisconsin: 3
CC: 2
Harvard: 2
Mane: 2
Lowell: 2
Michigan Tech: 2
Providence: 2
North Dakota: 2
Union: 2
Western Michigan: 2
P
Priceless
Guest
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
But whatever you want to believe go ahead and believe.
I just love that I have a reputation for disliking Shawn. Some people really are clueless. I also have made no attempts to hide the fact that I've known Tim for 20 years and think he's a nice guy. It isn't like I've carefully hidden that fact from everyone. I also am not an egghead like my sister who thinks schools should only exist to educate and athletic departments should be separate, privately-run, institutions. I do think it's incredibly naive to think that a dramatic increase in GPA isn't going to turn some heads considering this is an academic institution.
But whatever you want to believe go ahead and believe.
UncleRay
M-A-I-N-E, GooOOO, Blue!
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
USCHO already did it:
Teams with 2 or more draft pick committals
BU: 8
Michigan: 4
Michigan State: 4
Ohio State: 4
BC: 3
Cornell: 3
Minnesota: 3
Omaha: 3
Notre Dame: 3
Wisconsin: 3
CC: 2
Harvard: 2
Maine: 2
Lowell: 2
Michigan Tech: 2
Providence: 2
North Dakota: 2
Union: 2
Western Michigan: 2
Undecided: 2
And the singles:
UVM
Minn. State
Alaska
Brown
DU
Minn-Duluth
Miami
Clarkson
St. Cloud
Yale
I bolded my quick guess for "hockey schools" and got 45 players. Statistically the same as his 47 going to "academically-elite schools." And I'm guessing on which schools those are, also, but I'm probably reasonably close on that. And what do you know, the two lists overlap!
USCHO already did it:
Teams with 2 or more draft pick committals
BU: 8
Michigan: 4
Michigan State: 4
Ohio State: 4
BC: 3
Cornell: 3
Minnesota: 3
Omaha: 3
Notre Dame: 3
Wisconsin: 3
CC: 2
Harvard: 2
Maine: 2
Lowell: 2
Michigan Tech: 2
Providence: 2
North Dakota: 2
Union: 2
Western Michigan: 2
Undecided: 2
And the singles:
UVM
Minn. State
Alaska
Brown
DU
Minn-Duluth
Miami
Clarkson
St. Cloud
Yale
I bolded my quick guess for "hockey schools" and got 45 players. Statistically the same as his 47 going to "academically-elite schools." And I'm guessing on which schools those are, also, but I'm probably reasonably close on that. And what do you know, the two lists overlap!
irishfan85
New member
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
Real pathetic argument when people start talking about how Timmy has done such a good job with the academics. I got a newsflash for you. Stanford has made back to back BCS Bowl games, winning a Rose Bowl. Notre Dame just got to a BCS Championship game. Cornell has made a few Frozen Fours. As much as I hate BC, York has recruited good young men who do good in school at a better school than Maine and have won tons. Merrimack has had tons of guys on All-Academic team the last few years while finishing 4th, 5th and 6th, which is unprecedented for that school.
Real pathetic argument when people start talking about how Timmy has done such a good job with the academics. I got a newsflash for you. Stanford has made back to back BCS Bowl games, winning a Rose Bowl. Notre Dame just got to a BCS Championship game. Cornell has made a few Frozen Fours. As much as I hate BC, York has recruited good young men who do good in school at a better school than Maine and have won tons. Merrimack has had tons of guys on All-Academic team the last few years while finishing 4th, 5th and 6th, which is unprecedented for that school.
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
Townsend is the chair of an advisory committee that hopefully has no say about anything. He wrote a guest column in the Kennebec Journal with the preposterous position that "Whitehead and his staff are exactly the coaches we want at Maine:...." I'm not sure how Corkum and the staff feel about the notion of being lumped in with Whitehead. If "we" is the Athletic Advisory Board, he's probably right. If "we" is the fanbase, the UMaine alumni, or the general population of the State of Maine, he's absolutely wrong.
Do you think for a minute that the magnet of an elite power house Div 1 hockey team only drew top quality hockey players to Orono and no one else? Think again.
The Maine Hockey Program is an asset to the University and to the State. It is a point of pride. You don't sell, compromise, destroy or ruin assets at any cost ever, unless absolutely unavoidable. And this, friends, is avoidable.
That's all fine. Even commendable. I agree that's probably the best way to communicate to this advisory board.
Townsend is the chair of an advisory committee that hopefully has no say about anything. He wrote a guest column in the Kennebec Journal with the preposterous position that "Whitehead and his staff are exactly the coaches we want at Maine:...." I'm not sure how Corkum and the staff feel about the notion of being lumped in with Whitehead. If "we" is the Athletic Advisory Board, he's probably right. If "we" is the fanbase, the UMaine alumni, or the general population of the State of Maine, he's absolutely wrong.
Do you think for a minute that the magnet of an elite power house Div 1 hockey team only drew top quality hockey players to Orono and no one else? Think again.
The Maine Hockey Program is an asset to the University and to the State. It is a point of pride. You don't sell, compromise, destroy or ruin assets at any cost ever, unless absolutely unavoidable. And this, friends, is avoidable.
Last edited:
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
Don't forget to tuck a double sawbuck into your wallet if you want to go into the A.F.L.
Don't forget to tuck a double sawbuck into your wallet if you want to go into the A.F.L.
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
I ASKED WHETHER it were possible that the team had packed it in, in hopes of getting Timmy fired.. I never said that they DID pack it in... it is pointless telling you to get your facts straight... you make things up as you go along
I ASKED WHETHER it were possible that the team had packed it in, in hopes of getting Timmy fired.. I never said that they DID pack it in... it is pointless telling you to get your facts straight... you make things up as you go along
Last edited:
GoBlackBears
Registered User
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
How many people will bother to show up on Friday? I'm thinking 3000 at the most.
How many people will bother to show up on Friday? I'm thinking 3000 at the most.
P
Priceless
Guest
Re: Maine 2012 - Take 2. If This Ain't the Bottom...
That's a pretty good list. I would add Michigan State and Tech to the academic schools and if you're going to say Omaha is a hockey school, you should probably do the same for Duluth.
I don't plan to join the American Federation of Labor, but I appreciate the tip.
That's a pretty good list. I would add Michigan State and Tech to the academic schools and if you're going to say Omaha is a hockey school, you should probably do the same for Duluth.
- Status