NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

[state of hockey]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

I'm not ignoring anything. It is a trend that annoys and worries me, no doubt.

But, I don't think a program finally doing something once that Minnesota has done five times, and two times in the previous ten seasons, means they are a better program.

Have they had a better team on the ice recently? Sure.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

Which teams might that be? The Gophers have a winning head to head record against every team in the WCHA with the exception of UNO (only played 3 games).

against the Sue - Gophs are 141–128–14
against Becky - 152–85–20
against DU - 93–70–12

and against Shirtless Guy's Techies - 172–77–15....ouch!

But you've also lost 2 national championship games to EZAC teams.

 

[SCSU Euro]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

If UMD gets some consistency, they most certainly will be the best program in Minnesota.

tUMD could win the next two NCs as well, and kids from MN will still rather play at the U than 3-time defending NC tUMD.

Look at the trend, you want to ignore the fact that from 2000 to 2007 the gophers won no less than 27 games under Lucia. In the last 4 years they haven't cracked 20 wins yet. Woog was fired after 2 seasons like that.

I'd say winning back-to-back NCs gets your more slack than Woog ever had.

 

[RinkPig]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

I'm not talking about History, since every keeps telling me I can't talk about history...I'm talking about how there are plenty of programs that are surpassing Minnesota NOW, in the present. Minnesota is no longer the "Pride on Ice" They have been falling off significantly for 4 seasons now. They are getting surpassed by a school like Minnesota-Duluth. They are definitely currently behind North Dakota, Wisconsin and Denver. Colorado College certainly seems to be doing better of late and is expected to be top 3 this year. Minnesota is producing the championship caliber teams it was in the early part of the last decade. This isn't about a Michigan Tech fan saying Minnesota sucks, this is about pointing out the reality that Minnesota is slipping while other programs jump ahead of them in caliber on the ice. If UMD gets some consistency, they most certainly will be the best program in Minnesota. Its pretty obvious to this outside observer.

4 bad years doesn't mean jack. If you really think this is a trend and the Gophers won't dominate college hockey again, you are insane and know nothing about sports! Every program has down years...I suppose you think Michigan will never be good at football again too??

UMD will never surpass the Gophs as the best MN team...ever, ever, ever, ever!! Once ever few years maybe they will have a better team than us...but the Gophers do not lose recruiting battles with UMD for the best MN kids, and that will never change...recruiting is guess work which allows teams like UMD and SCSU to be better from time to time. But, over time the Gophs will always come out on top.

 

[Bronzebacks]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

4 bad years doesn't mean jack. If you really think this is a trend and the Gophers won't dominate college hockey again, you are insane and know nothing about sports! Every program has down years...I suppose you think Michigan will never be good at football again too??

UMD will never surpass the Gophs as the best MN team...ever, ever, ever, ever!! Once ever few years maybe they will have a better team than us...but the Gophers do not lose recruiting battles with UMD for the best MN kids, and that will never change...recruiting is guess work which allows teams like UMD and SCSU to be better from time to time. But, over time the Gophs will always come out on top.

Now that Hill is gone and Mike G. is back, you are more right than wrong. The Gophs can now see some light and will be on the upswing.

 

[dggoddard]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

UMD will never surpass the Gophs as the best MN team...ever, ever, ever, ever!! .

There are plenty of examples of schools like Louisville, Gonzaga, Miami [Florida], Memphis, Duke, Boise State and others rising up over a 10 or 15 year period and punching the big state school in the nose. Over the long haul you are correct, the Gophers are in good shape.

As long as UMD pulls in Canadians and the Gophers don't, there is always a chance the tide can turn. Especially in a sport like college hockey where one or two good players can have a huge impact.

And don't underestimate the bump UMD will get from the new arena, the NC banner and new league.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

There are plenty of examples of schools like Louisville, Gonzaga, Miami [Florida], Memphis, Duke, Boise State and others rising up over a 10 or 15 year period and punching the big state school in the nose. Over the long haul, the Gophers are in good shape.

Im sure at some point they will reemerge as the premiere program they were but right now they are headed in the wrong direction and it doesn't appear to be getting better yet. Lucia has not been able to adapt to all the turnover like some of the other coaches have.

 

[SCSU Euro]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

And don't underestimate the bump UMD will get from the new arena, the NC banner and new league.

Uhhhh....

Will they get a bump for the new arena? Hell yeah. Of course its not like the Mooch is a dump; its good from every aspect except fan atmosphere (though I'm sure you'd call it rowdy ). The NC Banner, yes, but I still think a 17 year old right now thinks he has a better chance of winning one joining the Gophs than the Bulldogs. But the new conference is not going to be something tUMD can hold over the Gophers head, 'cause the Gophers will just mention that shiny new toy they get to play with...

 

[4four4]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

There are plenty of examples of schools like Louisville, Gonzaga, Miami [Florida], Memphis, Duke, Boise State and others rising up over a 10 or 15 year period and punching the big state school in the nose. Over the long haul you are correct, the Gophers are in good shape.

As long as UMD pulls in Canadians and the Gophers don't, there is always a chance the tide can turn. Especially in a sport like college hockey where one or two good players can have a huge impact.

And don't underestimate the bump UMD will get from the new arena, the NC banner and new league.

The Big Ten has something every other school wishes they had in college hockey and that is the Big Ten brand probably the best conference in the country. Oh almost forgot, they will have a North American BTN cable contract that every school not playing in the Big Ten dreams about.

 

[uaafanblog]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

The Big Ten has something every other school wishes they had in college hockey

And now six of them are trying to tell everyone else that they do ... LOL

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

Friday nights during college football season would be open as well, but I agree with you that they would be focusing primarily after Jan. 1st.

CFB isn't that heavy in December.

 

[fangers]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

CFB isn't that heavy in December.

You have several dozen bowl games in Dec/Jan, with them being played/televised most nights of the week.

 

[hockeyplayer1015]

You have several dozen bowl games in Dec/Jan, with them being played/televised most nights of the week.

ESPN/ABC covers a large number of them though. And there aren't many games from the 1st weekend to the 3rd weekend of the month other than a handful of conference championships and Army/Navy usually.

 

[TheEagle]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

WCHA Champs = 12
WCHA Tourney champs = 14
NCAA Appearances = 32
Frozen Fours = 19
5 NCAA Championships

WCHA Championships = 15
NCAA Tournament Appearances = 26
Frozen Fours = 19
NCAA Championships = 7
Record vs. Minnesota = 128-133-14 (according to us -- could be ahead in the series shortly)

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

You have several dozen bowl games in Dec/Jan, with them being played/televised most nights of the week.

I didn't say January, "several" does not a month make, and "most nights of the week" doesn't necessarily include Fri and Sat throughout the month.

 

[bronconick]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

I didn't say January, "several" does not a month make, and "most nights of the week" doesn't necessarily include Fri and Sat throughout the month.

Wrong

Friday, December 2nd
MACCG
PAC XII CG
Saturday December 3rd
SECCG
ACCCG
BIGCG
CUSA CG
About 20 other televised games
December 10th is Army/Navy and the Heisman presentation
Saturday December 17th kicks off bowl season.

So, you get December 9th, 10th, and 16th where it's just DII and FCS.

 

[davyd83]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

Let's face it, given their relationship with NBC and their national profile, Notre Dame is driving this bus, and whichever conference they choose will get plenty of air time.

 

[SCSU Euro]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

CFB isn't that heavy in December.

I was going to disagree but then I checked and you're right, the CFB on Genoway was in November.

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

WCHA Championships = 15
NCAA Tournament Appearances = 26
Frozen Fours = 19
NCAA Championships = 7
Record vs. Minnesota = 128-133-14 (according to us -- could be ahead in the series shortly)

As for the discrepancy in the records that each school claims in the series, the difference is that Minnesota counts games against our coach-less club team that occurred prior to North Dakota having an actual hockey team (pre-'46). I don't understand why Minnesota counts those games, but perhaps it makes them feel better about themselves. North Dakota does not count anything prior to its actual team being formed (and that includes victories by their club team) in 1946.

 

[4four4]

Re: NBC/Versus deal with College Hockey

As for the discrepancy in the records that each school claims in the series, the difference is that Minnesota counts games against our coach-less club team that occurred prior to North Dakota having an actual hockey team (pre-'46). I don't understand why Minnesota counts those games, but perhaps it makes them feel better about themselves. North Dakota does not count anything prior to its actual team being formed (and that includes victories by their club team) in 1946.

Who cares in three years the rivalry will be a distant memory. We all move on.