Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

[CollegeHockeyRinkReport]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Maine recruit Pappalardo at #2

http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/col...cap-marshall-rifai-greg-printz-2016-nhl-draft

 

[AMC]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

I, again, understand why baseball won't ever be cut. But at some point people need to understand that running an athletic department in Orono, Maine can't look like running an athletic department in State College, Pennsylvania or Chapel Hill, North Carolina or Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Maine is a small state, population wise. Maine is an overwhelmingly white state. Maine is a cold state. Sponsoring baseball just because it had success in the 1980's and we've always done it and the donors who are the big money guys right now remember the glory days doesn't make much sense. Sponsoring football just because the Tangerine Bowl guys like to talk about the glory days doesn't make much sense.

There is a comprehensive athletics program that Maine could field that would take advantage of Maine's unique situation geographically and demographically, not struggle against it. Focus on cold weather sports where having a lot of snow on the ground is a benefit. Focus on smaller sports that don't need a roster of 63 mostly out of state players. Focus on sports that don't involve playing the first 25+ games of the season on the road and destroying your pitching staff by cramming those games into three weeks. Focus on sports that if you make an investment in them, any investment at all, you can have success.

Here's my University of Maine athletic department. 15 sports, as required to stay Division I (although I could be sold on going D-II, but that's an argument for another day).

Men (72.4):
Basketball (13)
Ice Hockey (18)
Skiing (6.3)
Cross Country/Track (12.6)
Soccer (9.9)
Lacrosse (12.6)
Swimming & Diving (*)

Women (96):
Basketball (15)
Ice Hockey (18)
Skiing (7)
Field Hockey (12)
Cross Country/Track (18)
Soccer (14)
Lacrosse (12)
Swimming & Diving (*)

*Do swimming and diving still self fund?

This lineup would do a few things:

1. Let Maine compete in sports that Maine can compete in. A fully funded and supported men's and women's hockey team can both compete at a national level. It would take updated facilities and increased recruiting budgets and a lot more, but both those teams, if treated right, could win Division I national titles. Women's hockey seems like a sport where you can just shrug and say "let's be good" and throw money at a good coach, good support, and be ahead of 90% of the other D-I teams out there just going through the motions like Maine is now.

It's bonkers to me that Maine doesn't have a ski team. It's Maine. It's cold and snowy. The school year runs through the winter. And we are playing baseball and not skiing? The state of Maine produces Olympic champion skiiers. Carabbasset Valley Academy has an incredibly impressive alumni list. Take advantage of it. Maine also has a surprising number of track and field athletes that scatter around the country to big programs and become borderline Olympic contenders. Let's try to keep some here by putting a lot of energy into the track program. Deciding to match the commitment bigger schools put into track and field is nothing compared to trying to match what they do in football.

2. Brings Maine's athletic program more in line with its conference peers. Maine is the only America East school without men's soccer. One of two without men's lacrosse. One of two without women's lacrosse. The northeast also supports field hockey much more strongly than any other area of the country, and Maine is a borderline NCAA team in that sport. Great, keep it up. For the record, UNH and UVM both sponsor skiing.

I 100% understand that this will never happen. But if you gave someone a white piece of paper and said, come up with a way to make Maine athletics more competitive and successful and a better fit for the state as a whole, it's tough to deny this wouldn't make more sense.

 

[ticapnews]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

*Do swimming and diving still self fund?

My understanding when the King's made the gift that saved the swim teams in 1992 it was large enough to fund the program in perpetuity. Unless expenses exploded or the money was somehow diverted, both programs should be self-funded.

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Well HOCKEY EAST Semi's are about to start: AND sadly NO Maine team around. STINK's.

 

[Drew S.]

Well HOCKEY EAST Semi's are about to start: AND sadly NO Maine team around. STINK's.

Hard to believe Maine has only made it twice in the last 10 years. Hopefully next year is when things start to turn around. I know I'm in the minority but am cautiously optimistic even though they probably won't move up more than a few spots in the standings.

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Hard to believe Maine has only made it twice in the last 10 years. Hopefully next year is when things start to turn around. I know I'm in the minority but am cautiously optimistic even though they probably won't move up more than a few spots in the standings.

Nothing wrong in being positive but I don't see much improvement next season, more or less the same recipe...10th or 11th place...10-12 wins...again lack of scoring, lack of steady goaltending, poor defense and a Coaching Staff that will feel the heat from the fan faithful if they win less then 10 games again...boy I really hope I'm dead wrong.

 

[walrus]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

i've forgotten what it was like to watch 2 good teams on the ice at the same time

 

[hobeyfaker]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

i've forgotten what it was like to watch 2 good teams on the ice at the same time

Had the exact same thought. So much more polished, fewer mistakes, sad to see the gap between Maine.

 

[walrus]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

HE must be scraping the bottom of the barrel when Voss and Shea are refs in the semis. Doing a good job so far tonight though

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

i've forgotten what it was like to watch 2 good teams on the ice at the same time

What hockey's all about and what is missing @ Maine...no if's/but's about it...a real difference 101.

 

[hobeyfaker]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

What hockey's all about and what is missing @ Maine...no if's/but's about it...a real difference 101.

It s all about building a solid base of a team. Providence losses the best goalie in the country, yet they reload w another, close to as good. It's all about team building. Maine had two all Americans but still couldn't win without goaltending, and the rest of what makes a winning team.

 

[walrus]

It s all about building a solid base of a team. Providence losses the best goalie in the country, yet they reload w another, close to as good. It's all about team building. Maine had two all Americans but still couldn't win without goaltending, and the rest of what makes a winning team.

Every player on both teams plays excellent defense. Maine is pathetic in comparison.

 

[hobeyfaker]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Every player on both teams plays excellent defense. Maine is pathetic in comparison.

Always the quicker, easier way to win is thru solid team defense and goaltending.

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

You can't win without goaltending for sure/plus overall team defense...but just watching both UML/PC your watching teams playing team hockey in all zones...goaltending and talent go hand in hand...plus SOLID Coaching.

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

One thing for sure you saw a top notch game by both teams...everything but the kitchen sink!!! THE CALL could have gone either way...this time around went in favor of UML...but both teams left everything on the ice and kudo's to both, as it was a fine game to watch. PLAYOFF Hockey...can't beat it at all..!

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Four years a go Maine was playing this game against BU. Really not that long a go. Maine won and advanced to play BC where they lost.

 

[BobF]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

One thing for sure you saw a top notch game by both teams...everything but the kitchen sink!!! THE CALL could have gone either way...this time around went in favor of UML...but both teams left everything on the ice and kudo's to both, as it was a fine game to watch. PLAYOFF Hockey...can't beat it at all..!

Nothing wrong in being positive but I don't see much improvement next season, more or less the same recipe...10th or 11th place...10-12 wins...again lack of scoring, lack of steady goaltending, poor defense and a Coaching Staff that will feel the heat from the fan faithful if they win less then 10 games again...boy I really hope I'm dead wrong.

We watched a great hockey game tonight and remember what it was like for so many years at Maine. However I am going to be optimistic as well. We have 3 NHL draft picks already in next years class and Pappalardo will likely be a 4th. It's been awhile since we had 4 NHL draft picks on our team let alone one class! Here's hoping next years freshman class lives up to the billing and is the jump start we need to making Maine Hockey we all want to see! We have coaches that are incredibly respected but they have not had the talent, next year they start to have some talent!

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

We watched a great hockey game tonight and remember what it was like for so many years at Maine. However I am going to be optimistic as well. We have 3 NHL draft picks already in next years class and Pappalardo will likely be a 4th. It's been awhile since we had 4 NHL draft picks on our team let alone one class! Here's hoping next years freshman class lives up to the billing and is the jump start we need to making Maine Hockey we all want to see! We have coaches that are incredibly respected but they have not had the talent, next year they start to have some talent!

I hope your RIGHT...in every aspect...I long for the days that Maine is feared and respected.

 

[NorthMike]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

It's been awhile since we had 4 NHL draft picks on our team let alone one class! Here's hoping next years freshman class lives up to the billing and is the jump start we need to making Maine Hockey we all want to see! We have coaches that are incredibly respected but they have not had the talent, next year they start to have some talent!

I hold a level of optimism, even for each game this past season and for next year.

Article on the UMASS coach hiring in CHN by McMahon http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2016/03/17_inside_the_umass_coaching.php

In it includes talk about Gendron could be in the mix, I doubt it but he makes this statement:

"But if Bamford is looking for someone with a wealth of experience, there might not be a better candidate than Gendron. The struggles at Maine are due to a variety of factors, the least of which have been Gendron’s coaching."

I found this interesting, one can only guess what the variety of factors could be.
Does make some sense though. Something is not quite right within the organization, very likely front office oriented.

 

[walrus]

I hold a level of optimism, even for each game this past season and for next year.

Article on the UMASS coach hiring in CHN by McMahon http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2016/03/17_inside_the_umass_coaching.php

In it includes talk about Gendron could be in the mix, I doubt it but he makes this statement:

"But if Bamford is looking for someone with a wealth of experience, there might not be a better candidate than Gendron. The struggles at Maine are due to a variety of factors, the least of which have been Gendron’s coaching."

I found this interesting, one can only guess what the variety of factors could be.
Does make some sense though. Something is not quite right within the organization, very likely front office oriented.

Money, support, umaine is dying just like the rest of maine north of brunswick