New D1 Programs?

[Hux]

Re: New D1 Programs?

I'm not sure what culture and what occurrence you're referring to. If it's that the culture is too ingrained against allowing women's hockey, I think you are oversimplifying. Right now, I agree that it is the case. However, whenever Red Berenson retires, that position loses by far its most influential advocate. I don't think we know where things will fall after that. What we do know is that AD David Brandon wants to add more sports and that Michigan is one of the few athletic departments in the country that can afford to actually do so.

Is it a guarantee that they add women's hockey? No. Not even close. However, it's way too early to be convinced the other way, too.

Which is what I was referring to. I think that those currently acting as obstructions have created an atmosphere, or mindset, that is likely to carry over for some time after they are gone.

With the men's Big10 set to begin operations next year I suspect that business imperatives (aka the possibility of providing additional programming to the hugely financially successful Big 10 Network and thereby making large piles of money) will lead in a very short time to consideration of women's hockey by Michigan, Michigan State and Nebraska.

Agree. If there were currently a fourth Big 10 team, and there were a women's Big 10 Championship awarded, I think you would see the Michigan schools decide they didn't want to be left out given their hockey heritage.

 

[giwan]

Re: New D1 Programs?

It seems pretty clear from talking to sources both within women's hockey and at the University of Michigan that there is one major roadblock to starting a women's team there. When that roadblock finally retires, I would expect it to get a fresh look. I would also guess that if either Michigan or Michigan State add women's hockey, the other will as well.

This is true based on sources I know close to that roadblock. The MSU roadblock is not as clear but it was not last years coach.

 

[ARM]

Re: New D1 Programs?

The MSU roadblock is not as clear but it was not last years coach.

In the past, the finger has been pointed in the direction of Ron Mason by others.

 

[LtPowers]

Re: New D1 Programs?

What exactly do certain "roadblocks" have against women's hockey, anyway?


Powers &8^]

 

[EastFan1]

Re: New D1 Programs?

For all of those waiting, you can now forget about Middle Tennessee State and Austin Peay adding women's hockey:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/2...emain-cool-adding-hockey-sport?nclick_check=1

 

[sbkbghockey]

Re: New D1 Programs?

For all of those waiting, you can now forget about Middle Tennessee State and Austin Peay adding women's hockey:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/2...emain-cool-adding-hockey-sport?nclick_check=1

Seems like a really random article, must have been a slow sports news day in Tenn. I don't think Austin Peay, MTSU or most of the schools in Tenn. have much interest in hockey, and sadly, especially women's hockey! Both men's and women's hockey are very expensive and most schools that have women's hockey have men's hockey or interest in adding it soon (Lindenwood, Syracuse).

I suspect if a Tenn. school was interested, it would be a Nashville-based school. Vanderbilt is a high academic school that has always pushed to be a southern ivy and connect with Northeastern Ivy League schools, they could be a long shot in 20-50 yrs.

The Next expansion of women's hockey will likely happen in the Midwest/Great Lakes, There's three schools, Lindenwood to the west, Wisconsin to the north, and Ohio State to the east. I think we'll see more Midwest schools take interest in women's hockey, esp the Big Ten schools and Notre Dame. After the Big10 begin men's hockey conference play, I suspect there will be a push to add women's hockey 5-10 yrs after.

 

[OneTimer]

Re: New D1 Programs?

On paper at least, the area from Philadelphia (Penn, Villanova, West Chester, Drexel) to Baltimore (John's Hopkins, Stevenson, Towson, UMBC) to Washington DC (many here) has plenty to offer hockey on the men's and women's side. Appropriate rinks, funding and all the other usual obstacles are there but many of these schools already have some variety of hockey now. If some forward thinking, visionary VIPS of these schools could work together then they would all be in a great situation of great academic schools and very easy travel schedules. Hockey recruits and parents would not have any major problems with hockey in this area. Just thinking.

 

[HockeyEast33]

Re: New D1 Programs?

On paper at least, the area from Philadelphia (Penn, Villanova, West Chester, Drexel) to Baltimore (John's Hopkins, Stevenson, Towson, UMBC) to Washington DC (many here) has plenty to offer hockey on the men's and women's side. Appropriate rinks, funding and all the other usual obstacles are there but many of these schools already have some variety of hockey now. If some of these schools could work together then they would all be in a great situation of great academic schools and very easy travel schedules. Hockey recruits and parents would not have any major problems with hockey in this area. Just thinking.

Grew up near Philly and played a lot of hockey there for 20 years. There was and is a passion for the game in Philly, but it will be a tough sell to schools south of there. Princeton is the southern most Division 1 hockey school (ignore Huntsville because it only has men's hockey). Princeton doesn't draw very well even for the men's program and the few times I have been there for a women's game Baker is empty. There really still isn't enough critical mass to grab the attention of an AD here. Only a situation like Stevenson, where it appears that a little known school wanted to grab some headlines by adding women's hockey, might generate a try at a women's program. U Penn (and Columbia) has been asked numerous times by the other Ivy schools to start a men's and/or women's varsity program (last time was when the ECAC added Quinnipiac), but consistently declines citing lack of interest in the area and the high cost of hockey. I think, even with the increase in hockey fans in Jersey, that it will be a long time before there is any addition of women's hockey in this area of the country.

 

[Blackhawks Rule]

Re: New D1 Programs?

I do believe its time for Notre Dame ,Michigan, and Michigan State to make the jump to DI like Penn State, and Lindenwood have. I have heard of the "roadblocks" at Michigan (Red Berenson) and at Michigan State (Ron Mason). However I havent heard or read why Notre Dame Is still sitting on the sidelines. This seems totally out of character for that instituion. They have traditionally been leaders, not followers.

 

[giwan]

Re: New D1 Programs?

I do believe its time for Notre Dame ,Michigan, and Michigan State to make the jump to DI like Penn State, and Lindenwood have. I have heard of the "roadblocks" at Michigan (Red Berenson) and at Michigan State (Ron Mason). However I havent heard or read why Notre Dame Is still sitting on the sidelines. This seems totally out of character for that instituion. They have traditionally been leaders, not followers.

Well ND had crap for an arena till recently, I mean one wall was a curtain literally. Money had to be used to build the new place first. How do you know they do not have a butt head like Red or Mason there now blocking it?

Better would be what is stopping MSU now? The men's coach is pro women's hockey, Mason has been gone awhile, the football and basketball teams (mens) have been fairly successful recently, pulling in better money.

What's an honest round number to start up a women's team, not including a claimed need for another sheet of ice?

 

[OneTimer]

Re: New D1 Programs?

For Michigan State there are physical limitations at Munn Arena that do not allow them to add conveniently any other team. Sounds strange but true.

When Penn State was presenting at naples a few years ago they often said it is $1 million as a round number to start a team from scratch as an operational budget. I know this sounds incredibly high but when the details were explained it made sense. Ask Penn State, BU, Syracuse and RIT all spend as a realistic average.

I think if four schools all (colluded?) thought this out (ND, UM, Miami, MSU) and all agreed to start together then that would make more sense than just one team going out on their own.

 

[WIrinkrat]

Re: New D1 Programs?

I'd love to see the game continue to grow and expand but I wouldn't be surprised to see the NCAA lose more D1 programs before they add any.

In many ways the game is far more viable at the D3 level which is why I think you'll continue to see a few D3 programs added while schools like Niagara and Wayne State unfortunately fall off the board.