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Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2019-2020: Motzko 2.0

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2019-2020: Motzko 2.0

NCAA granting eligibility to student-athletes in spring sports sounds like a logistical nightmare.

The NCAA has decided to address rule changes that would provide avenues for Division I student-athletes in spring sports to regain lost eligibility and is considering the possibility of enacting similar waivers for athletes in winter sports whose seasons were recently cut short.

"Council leadership agreed that eligibility relief is appropriate for all Division I student-athletes who participated in spring sports," the Division I Council Coordination Committee said in a statement.

In a letter to member schools, the committee said "that it will be appropriate to grant relief for the use of a season of competition for student-athletes who have participated in spring sports. The committee recognizes that several issues need to be addressed related to providing an additional season of competition, including financial aid implications." - USA Today
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I think something like a "red-shirt year" is fair for seniors in spring sports (i.e. baseball, softball and men's and women's lacrosse), but can it happen for winter sports? I'd be surprised if the NCAA enacts a similar waiver for winter sports. It's a massive logistical undertaking with multiple factors that need to be addressed and resolved.

Arguably some seniors who have already finalized their post-graduation plans are moving on with their lives and would not be able to take advantage of the eligibility waiver. It also creates a potential "log jam" for the 2020-21 recruiting class which intends to replace a number of outgoing athletes. Will the NCAA loosen roster and scholarship limits? How does the school pay for the extra scholarships?
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2019-2020: Motzko 2.0

Gopher fans should be hoping they do not allow that... The Gophers had a weak senior class, and other schools would benefit more decreasing the likelihood of the Gophers contending next year.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2019-2020: Motzko 2.0

Bonin21 said:
Gopher fans should be hoping they do not allow that... The Gophers had a weak senior class, and other schools would benefit more decreasing the likelihood of the Gophers contending next year.
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Good point. I think it's dumb they're even thinking about it.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2019-2020: Motzko 2.0

Rumor has it Minnesota will shrink Mariucci Arena to 8,500ish.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2019-2020: Motzko 2.0

Bonin21 said:
Source? I don't think they need to drop 1,500 seats to take 7.5 feet off the width of the ice.
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What is the latest cost estimate to shrink the width to 92.5 feet? And is there any kind of a firm plan as to when this will be completed?
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2019-2020: Motzko 2.0

D2D said:
What is the latest cost estimate to shrink the width to 92.5 feet? And is there any kind of a firm plan as to when this will be completed?
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The only one of us that would be close to being in the know which is Vegoe said it could happen next summer I think since they are no longer waiting to start projects until all funds are secured.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2019-2020: Motzko 2.0

Bonin21 said:
The only one of us that would be close to being in the know which is Vegoe said it could happen next summer I think since they are no longer waiting to start projects until all funds are secured.
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Makes sense. From what I've heard the university is already carrying more debt than it should. Hopefully they'll sell out most of their football games which would help pay some of that debt down.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2019-2020: Motzko 2.0

D2D said:
What is the latest cost estimate to shrink the width to 92.5 feet? And is there any kind of a firm plan as to when this will be completed?
Click to expand...

Shrinking the ice seems like a fairly low cost endeavor (at least compared to expanding the sheet). I am not up-to-date on the issue, so forgive the newbie questions:

What are the construction needs for a shrinking project? new re-sized boards and floor coverings for now-exposed portions of the ice bearing surface? Or does the floor of the arena need to be replaced?

I assume that this would be done for competitive purposes, but would it make that much of a difference?
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2019-2020: Motzko 2.0

Bonin21 said:
Source? I don't think they need to drop 1,500 seats to take 7.5 feet off the width of the ice.
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They don't have to but attendance has been bad so they have decided to shrink the arena. Moreover, when the rink expanded to 10k the Wild were not in town yet.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2019-2020: Motzko 2.0

Bonin21 said:
Are you just making stuff up now? This project would make no sense in a nearly 30 year old building.
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This person works in the athletic department and I was stunned he made this statement.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2019-2020: Motzko 2.0

D2D said:
No need to apologize because what he made up is ridiculous. :rolleyes:
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I am a 50 year old man who doesn't make **** up who is well connected with various people. This was a statement made by a person who works in the athletic deparment. It's why I said rumor has it.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2019-2020: Motzko 2.0

4four4 said:
I am a 50 year old man who doesn't make **** up who is well connected with various people. This was a statement made by a person who works in the athletic deparment. It's why I said rumor has it.
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Can you be more specific as to what your friend(s) in the athletic department told you? You said "shrink the arena". Does that mean the entire building's footprint? Or leave the structure itself unchanged but reduce the number of seats?

And are you sure your friend(s) were not simply referring to shrinking the ice surface, which has been in the works for years but with no definite timetable?
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2019-2020: Motzko 2.0

DavidNardolillo said:
Shrinking the ice seems like a fairly low cost endeavor (at least compared to expanding the sheet). I am not up-to-date on the issue, so forgive the newbie questions:

What are the construction needs for a shrinking project? new re-sized boards and floor coverings for now-exposed portions of the ice bearing surface? Or does the floor of the arena need to be replaced?

I assume that this would be done for competitive purposes, but would it make that much of a difference?
Click to expand...

Shrinking the ice would not be a low-cost endeavor. Probably in the millions.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2019-2020: Motzko 2.0

All indications are they are going to shrink the ice in the next few years despite the cost.
 
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