Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

[sandiegoblkbr]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

Steve is there to hold down the fort, his whole family are lifelong UMaine fans, he isn't going to rock the boat. He's there to have a familar face as AD and to hopefully keep the donations coming. Tough spot of you ask me. I 'll guarantee he bleeds black bear blue, he been around Orono his whole life.

He better be more than a steward! While I realize that he can't/won't make any decisions to get rid of coaches.........he BETTER be upfront and honest about the ENTIRE situation of each program with the new AD!!! That would include a rundown of records of these coaches, the contract extensions and the dropping revenues due to athletic dept. mis-management.

 

[AMC]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

He better be more than a steward! While I realize that he can't/won't make any decisions to get rid of coaches.........he BETTER be upfront and honest about the ENTIRE situation of each program with the new AD!!! That would include a rundown of records of these coaches, the contract extensions and the dropping revenues due to athletic dept. mis-management.

Right, but there is absolutely no way that a new AD will be in before the next school year, is my point. Unless he resigns, Whitehead is here for at least one more year.

 

[Slapshot08]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

Right, but there is absolutely no way that a new AD will be in before the next school year, is my point. Unless he resigns, Whitehead is here for at least one more year.

I think everyone on this board needs a reality check. Timmay is here for at least 3 more years, no matter what.

1. He has a contract in place through the 2013-2014 season. http://new.bangordailynews.com/2010/06/02/sports/um-extends-hockey-coachamprsquos-contract/
2. UMO is in no position to buy out his contract with the current state of the economy. It would create a PR nightmare for the school...this isn't Maryland football. http://athleticbusiness.com/editors/blog/default.aspx?id=360
3. The interim AD will not even consider this...he is only a 1-year steward of the athletic program, as mentioned above
4. The new AD will [maybe] take over in September, take one year to assess the situation, 1 year to decide, then -- voila! - Timmay's in his last year.
5. Benefactors decided a long time ago that the smart money should stop donating rather than buy him out (Alfond, King, etc.)
6. Former players now in the NHL and with the collective money to buy him out don't think it is warranted (or don't care). Or they would have bought him out already.

It's time to hunker down for a long, painful, slow spiral downward....

Lake State, here we come!

 

[sandiegoblkbr]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

Right, but there is absolutely no way that a new AD will be in before the next school year, is my point. Unless he resigns, Whitehead is here for at least one more year.

Oh, I agree with you........but that doesn't excuse Abbott from his RESPONSIBILITY. Afterall, he is being paid $150K to "steward" this athletic dept. I think that entails more than shaking hands at football games and smiling for the cameras.

 

[sandiegoblkbr]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

I think everyone on this board needs a reality check. Timmay is here for at least 3 more years, no matter what.

Yeah.....right. OK, non-Maine fan........

 

[walrus]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

)
6. Former players now in the NHL and with the collective money to buy him out don't think it is warranted (or don't care). Or they would have bought him out already.

The president won't allow it, it was a done deal from what I heard

 

[Slapshot08]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

Yeah.....right. OK, non-Maine fan........

Actually, I'm a big Maine fan...have been for a long time. Had a nephew that played there back in the glory days, so hate seeing what's happening there as much as anyone here. But tell me why any of those things aren't true. I'd like to believe he's gone sooner, but I just don't see how that's possible given everything I mentioned.

And looking forward, I really don't think that guys from the Hill School and Boston Advantage are going to save this program. Dennehy's picked up where Shawn and Grant left off....travel to the outer reaches of Saskatchewan and Alberta (or France!) and find the hidden gems. A Nyquist every 6 years isn't going to save this program.

 

[Slapshot08]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

The president won't allow it, it was a done deal from what I heard

Doesn't surprise me one bit. Goes back to the PR nightmare it would create....Kennedy knows better...and so will the new President

 

[walrus]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

Doesn't surprise me one bit. Goes back to the PR nightmare it would create....Kennedy knows better...and so will the new President

I don't see the PR issue as long as its not Tax Payers money. But if it was going to get done it would have happened last year. It ain't happening now we all know it but hope springs eternal

I really don't see how the current staff can continue the way they are, someone has to go to save face and it won't be TImmay.

 

[BoSox3066]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

I think everyone on this board needs a reality check. Timmay is here for at least 3 more years, no matter what.

Only thing I would add to this is, if Mane gets Monty, Grant can't come with him. To my knowledge the NCAA had rules about assistant coaches, the number permitted and etc. Unless he takes the full time volunteer assistant job, which seems unlikely at his age and 3 years from now, I don't know how much contact he's permitted to have with the players anyhow.

 

[BoSox3066]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

I don't see the PR issue as long as its not Tax Payers money. But if it was going to get done it would have happened last year. It ain't happening now we all know it but hope springs eternal

I really don't see how the current staff can continue the way they are, someone has to go to save face and it won't be TImmay.

If I were a President, I'd think twice. Kind of makes it look like you're not running your own University. Like what if the rich NHL players don't like the new coach? Can they buy him out again? What if any of them feel like they didn't get their moneys worth, didn't have enough say in who was hired as the new coach? Colleges are all about soliticing big money but the situation in Maine...you can't use taxpayer money, so you'd have to explain that it's NHL money and that looks bad too. As you've said many times, they're phucked. We're stuck with him.

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

I think everyone on this board needs a reality check. Timmay is here for at least 3 more years, no matter what.

1. He has a contract in place through the 2013-2014 season. http://new.bangordailynews.com/2010/06/02/sports/um-extends-hockey-coachamprsquos-contract/
2. UMO is in no position to buy out his contract with the current state of the economy. It would create a PR nightmare for the school...this isn't Maryland football. http://athleticbusiness.com/editors/blog/default.aspx?id=360
3. The interim AD will not even consider this...he is only a 1-year steward of the athletic program, as mentioned above
4. The new AD will [maybe] take over in September, take one year to assess the situation, 1 year to decide, then -- voila! - Timmay's in his last year.
5. Benefactors decided a long time ago that the smart money should stop donating rather than buy him out (Alfond, King, etc.)
6. Former players now in the NHL and with the collective money to buy him out don't think it is warranted (or don't care). Or they would have bought him out already.

It's time to hunker down for a long, painful, slow spiral downward....

Lake State, here we come!

Everything you put down is hard to argue,NO you are pretty much RIGHT ON...and with the state of the Economy and with NO New President/AD in place until later this year,there is NO CHANCE of ridding TW from Maine Hockey going into the 2011-12 Season....but I wouldn't count that he's back after next season...you maybe surprised how the last 4 seasons and very much how this season has gone on that has opened alot of peoples eyes that NEVER ruffle anyones feathers....I still think there will be a change come 2012....

 

[amherstblackbear]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

The funny thing about all this talk? I really think that most people here are under no illusions about Maine's ability to hire a coach with a proven track record.

I think if there were a clear plan to get the program back on track, there would be less frustration -- even if it wasn't working. What I have the hardest time wrapping my head around isn't so much that that the program is struggling. It's that the current regime seems to accept it as something beyond their control. Like the hockey program is a ship in stormy seas, and Whitehead is saying, Hey, don't look at me, I'm holding onto the wheel for dear life.

Where's the direction? What's the plan? At least start by admitting you aren't satisfied with the status quo.

 

[sandiegoblkbr]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

....I still think there will be a change come 2012....

Me too.

When revenues shrink enough.......all of a suddent it becomes more financially "feasible" to get rid of the dead weight.

 

[sandiegoblkbr]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

Where's the direction? What's the plan? At least start by admitting you aren't satisfied with the status quo.

Why would "they" want to throw their friend and golf buddy under the bus??? The athletic dept. in Orono has gotten WAY too clanish/cliquish during the past decade!!!

 

[acs64]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

Everything you put down is hard to argue,NO you are pretty much RIGHT ON...and with the state of the Economy and with NO New President/AD in place until later this year,there is NO CHANCE of ridding TW from Maine Hockey going into the 2011-12 Season....but I wouldn't count that he's back after next season...you maybe surprised how the last 4 seasons and very much how this season has gone on that has opened alot of peoples eyes that NEVER ruffle anyones feathers....I still think there will be a change come 2012....

Yep, this thing will snowball real fast if theres no results on the ice imo. This year really has been an eye opener for a lot of people. Prior years you could justify lack of success on some factors maybe. I hear more and more people of the same opinion ---Timmays time is getting short. You cant effectively coach a team when you have zero support, especially from the fans, and the backlash from the fans will be much more intense than Timmay has ever experienced....if it continues going to chit, my guess is he wont like the negativity as lots of people close to the program will quickly tune him out. At his salary level in this state, he's got to produce on a consistent basis. Period.

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

The funny thing about all this talk? I really think that most people here are under no illusions about Maine's ability to hire a coach with a proven track record.

I think if there were a clear plan to get the program back on track, there would be less frustration -- even if it wasn't working. What I have the hardest time wrapping my head around isn't so much that that the program is struggling. It's that the current regime seems to accept it as something beyond their control. Like the hockey program is a ship in stormy seas, and Whitehead is saying, Hey, don't look at me, I'm holding onto the wheel for dear life.

Where's the direction? What's the plan? At least start by admitting you aren't satisfied with the status quo.

Thats the SCARY part...what are they seeing that you and I and anyone else that has been around this program for many years...I don't know about the rest of you...this is beyond Frustrating...

 

[sandiegoblkbr]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

Yep, this thing will snowball real fast if theres no results on the ice imo. I hear more and more people of the same opinion ---Timmays time is getting short. You cant effectively coach a team when you have zero support, especially from the fans, and the backlash from the fans will be much more intense than Timmay has ever experienced....if it continues going to chit, my guess is he wont like the negativity as lots of people close to the program will quickly tune him out. At his salary level in this state, he's got to produce on a consistent basis. Period.

GREAT point.......if Mainers understand nothing else, they SURE know the value of a $dollar!

Join Please Fire Tim Whitehead on Facebook here........http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=186978081078

135 supporters and counting!

 

[sandiegoblkbr]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

These should sell like hot cakes!........

 

[Slapshot08]

Re: Maine Black Bears, 2010-2011, Redemption or FORE, I say......

Yep, this thing will snowball real fast if theres no results on the ice imo.

WILL snowball? IF there's no results?? There are already no results. And -- in the fans eyes anyway -- it already has snowballed. And there hasn't been even ONE word from the administration that they even acknowledge that there's a problem, let alone that they even want or plan to address it.

This year really has been an eye opener for a lot of people. Prior years you could justify lack of success on some factors maybe. I hear more and more people of the same opinion ---Timmays time is getting short.

Who with any clout is saying his time is getting short? I haven't heard that yet outside of this board. I'm afraid this is just wishful thinking on the part of us internet nutcases

You cant effectively coach a team when you have zero support, especially from the fans, and the backlash from the fans will be much more intense than Timmay has ever experienced....

I'm really not trying to be negative here, just realistic. Each of the teams below has average attendance at less than 50% capacity this year (2 are in Hockey East). Hardly any coaching changes among them, so lots of programs with no fan support where the coaches just linger. Cahoon and Cronin aren't going anywhere....medicority and decliining revenues are more acceptable than you think, even at Maine [now].

Team Dates Avg. Attendance Capacity % Cap.

American Int'l 11 169 1,200 14
Alabama-Huntsville 10 1158 6,800 17
Ohio State 13 4074 17,500 23.3
Bentley 10 321 1,200 26.8
Sacred Heart 14 357 1,000 35.7
Canisius 13 685 1,800 38
Colgate 10 1070 2,600 41.2
Mercyhurst 15 638 1,500 42.5
Massachusetts 12 3613 8,373 43.2
Bowling Green 14 2165 5,000 43.3
Northeastern 15 2126 4,666 45.6
Nebraska-Omaha 16 7777 16,680 46.6

if it continues going to chit, my guess is he wont like the negativity as lots of people close to the program will quickly tune him out.

If he cared what people thought of him, he would have left years ago. He's as blind to fans' perceptions as he is to the way to win games

At his salary level in this state, he's got to produce on a consistent basis. Period.

No argument here. Just not sure our views are shared with the dopes that make that decision