North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minnesota

[joecct]

The NCSS was cancelled due to money - not fan enthusiasm as claimed. You want to know what's bad for fan enthusiasm (both at MN and around the state)...replacing heated rivalries with UMD, MN State, SCSU, BSU, UND, Denver, etc. with milk toast Notre Dame. Now I sense that you're going to say that one has nothing to do with the other...and when you do, I won't reply.

The NCHC was a panic move by some schools because of a feared recruiting advantage of the B1G. The CCHA(+UAH) and the WCHA would have been fine and the buildings (and coffers) would be fuller.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Guys. It's milquetoast.

Glad I'm not the only one who was thinking that.


The problem with Notre Dame, like most of the B1G is geography. People grew accustomed to having most games against teams that were within an easy driving distance; many of these same teams had a large number of fans living in the area. It made for a fun atmosphere. After Wisconsin, the next closest team is in Michigan. It's just not the same, no matter how big of a name the school may have.

 

[purpleinnebraska]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

The problem with Notre Dame, like most of the B1G is geography. People grew accustomed to having most games against teams that were within an easy driving distance; many of these same teams had a large number of fans living in the area. It made for a fun atmosphere. After Wisconsin, the next closest team is in Michigan. It's just not the same, no matter how big of a name the school may have.

Agreed, and this is what's hurt the other conferences as well. Since the formation of the "new" WCHA, the only Kato road games I've been to were in Duluth, Omaha, and Mariucci, all nonconference games but all of which were conference games in the "old" WCHA. And I really don't plan on driving to Fairbanks or Big Rapids anytime soon. The current alignments just seem disappointing at best and unsustainable at worst.

All of which is, I guess, a long way from the thread topic of the NSCC, which I thought was kinda cool, and produced one the weirdest/wildest hockey moments of the last few years https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Q5p1XDAxs.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Agreed, and this is what's hurt the other conferences as well. Since the formation of the "new" WCHA, the only Kato road games I've been to were in Duluth, Omaha, and Mariucci, all nonconference games but all of which were conference games in the "old" WCHA. And I really don't plan on driving to Fairbanks or Big Rapids anytime soon. The current alignments just seem disappointing at best and unsustainable at worst.

All of which is, I guess, a long way from the thread topic of the NSCC, which I thought was kinda cool, and produced one the weirdest/wildest hockey moments of the last few years https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Q5p1XDAxs.

Yes and no, regarding going off topic. The whole idea behind the NSCC was to recapture, or maintain, such rivalries as they were. Clearly it failed, though.

 

[D2D]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

The problem with Notre Dame, like most of the B1G is geography. People grew accustomed to having most games against teams that were within an easy driving distance; many of these same teams had a large number of fans living in the area. It made for a fun atmosphere. After Wisconsin, the next closest team is in Michigan. It's just not the same, no matter how big of a name the school may have.

Is there something unique about hockey that makes geography the problem? Seems like Big Ten basketball and football do fine.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Is there something unique about hockey that makes geography the problem? Seems like Big Ten basketball and football do fine.

Yeah, unlike with those other sports, we've experienced rivalries with our neighbors in hockey, games that have been hotly contested between two highly ranked opponents. That's never been an option with those other sports.

 

[Pump It Up]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Is there something unique about hockey that makes geography the problem? Seems like Big Ten basketball and football do fine.

I don't feel like I need to explain this, but hockey is a regionally insular sport. Hence why only six of fourteen Big 10 schools field a varsity hockey team. It's also the only sport in Minnesota that has five DI teams, with the second closest being every other sport at one. So hockey to football and basketball is a real poor comparison.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Hockey is also monstrously expensive growing up. Football, soccer, basketball. You need a ball. Hockey? You need an asston of money.

 

[D2D]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Yeah, unlike with those other sports, we've experienced rivalries with our neighbors in hockey, games that have been hotly contested between two highly ranked opponents. That's never been an option with those other sports.

This suggests that B1G hockey will eventually thrive - similar to football and basketball - as the older, disgruntled fans pass on and are replaced by younger fans who've never experienced the disappointment. Even though I probably won't be around to see it, I sure hope someday that's the case. Right now I guess I'm part of a shrinking minority of fans who don't find it necessary to hate the other team in order to enjoy the game.

 

[First Time Long Time]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Husky beat writer says neither game not involving the gophers will be on...so this has become Mariucci Classic part 2 in terms of TV coverage.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

This suggests that B1G hockey will eventually thrive - similar to football and basketball - as the older, disgruntled fans pass on and are replaced by younger fans who've never experienced the disappointment. Even though I probably won't be around to see it, I sure hope someday that's the case. Right now I guess I'm part of a shrinking minority of fans who don't find it necessary to hate the other team in order to enjoy the game.

Since when did hate ever come into it? I always looked forward to rivalry games because I have friends who are fans of most of those other teams - nobody knows anyone who's a fan of Mankato State. The back and forth we'd all have was all in good fun.

 

[D2D]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Since when did hate ever come into it? I always looked forward to rivalry games because I have friends who are fans of most of those other teams - nobody knows anyone who's a fan of Mankato State. The back and forth we'd all have was all in good fun.

As it should be, and I can't argue that the "back and forth" doesn't make it more fun...which makes it a little surprising that this tournament hasn't drawn better.

 

[oldchfan]

OK...so imagine you have a finite set of games per year. Now you commit a not insignificant number of them to one opponent with no history, no affiliation, etc. What happens to the rest of your schedule? Its smaller...fewer games to play other teams. If you want to add North Dakota...you need to drop some games against SCSU. If you want games against BSU every once in a while...you can't play UMD. What about Denver? Forget it. You may be adding Notre Dame or Western MI or Bowling Green...there's really not much difference...for 10% of our schedule. I'm losing games with our ex WCHA rivals. Goodbye NSCC.

A very good point that there are a finite number of games and credit to the UofM for hosting the NSCC and trying to kerp the in-state rivalries "alive".
With a finite number of games available, what would you Gopher fans think of dropping the Mariucci Classic in favor of keeping the NSCC or using the Minnesota teams in the Mariucci Classic? How well attended is the Mariucci Classic now?

 

[First Time Long Time]

A very good point that there are a finite number of games and credit to the UofM for hosting the NSCC and trying to kerp the in-state rivalries "alive".
With a finite number of games available, what would you Gopher fans think of dropping the Mariucci Classic in favor of keeping the NSCC or using the Minnesota teams in the Mariucci Classic? How well attended is the Mariucci Classic now?

Doubt the other MN schools would go for the Classic...not unless arrangements were made to guarantee the Gophers came to their building.
It's the main reason the other schools agreed to a rotation for the NSCC that didn't just automatically rotate out the 4th place team.
Yes MN schools want to play the Gophers...But they also want to play them at home.

 

[JoeGopher]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

A very good point that there are a finite number of games and credit to the UofM for hosting the NSCC and trying to kerp the in-state rivalries "alive".
With a finite number of games available, what would you Gopher fans think of dropping the Mariucci Classic in favor of keeping the NSCC or using the Minnesota teams in the Mariucci Classic? How well attended is the Mariucci Classic now?

The Classic has been pretty empty the last couple of years. There are many reasons for this, but primarily it's timing; competition and apathy. In the early stages of the classic, there were 3 really good teams and a cupcake. The last few years it's been 3 or 4 really mediocre (that's being generous) teams. Timing has been tough especially when scheduling the games on NYE. Also, they no longer make the Classic part of the student ticket packs. Fundamentally I understand since most students are not on campus, but it takes a bunch of people out of the crowd.

Not sure what the fix is, and as others have said, not really sure the Minnesota teams would be all that willing to go to the Mooch every year for a game. However, I would love to see tDon bring in Denver, UND, BC, BU, SCSU, etc. on a rotation for the Classic. It would really make it a premier event that would eliminate the timing factor and potentially the apathy as well.

 

[UMD21]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

I really think the B1G was bankrolled by backers in Mass to take down Minnesota and Michigan hockey. So much money going into sports out there in general, and didn't some BC alum donate 5 million earmarked for when York retires ensuring they hire the best coach money can buy?

I'm loving the NCHC, I get to see the 'dogs come to Colorado 2-7 times per year :-D

 

[D2D]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

I really think the B1G was bankrolled by backers in Mass to take down Minnesota and Michigan hockey.

That's crazy, you can't be serious!

 

[Tipsy McStagger]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

The NCHC was a panic move by some schools because of a feared recruiting advantage of the B1G. The CCHA(+UAH) and the WCHA would have been fine and the buildings (and coffers) would be fuller.

It's funny that you are acting like the NCHC should really have regrets about how things are going for them.

 

[joecct]

It's funny that you are acting like the NCHC should really have regrets about how things are going for them.

Going well for them, but schools like BSU are missing the big draw teams that filled the Sanford Center and pumped $$ into the athletic program and community.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Re: North Star College Cup - 1/27 & 1/28 - Bemijid St vs St Cloud St & UMD vs Minneso

Going well for them, but schools like BSU are missing the big draw teams that filled the Sanford Center and pumped $$ into the athletic program and community.

Do you think SCSU and UMD fans would attended games at BSU in large numbers prior to the split? Honestly, Bemidji just wasn't much of a draw for the average fan - both in quality of the team and the city itself only offers so much. UND fans will travel anywhere, so there's that. The Gophers are irrelevant on this point, for obvious reasons.