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Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2016-17 Season Thread: Gotta Get Up And Try
- Thread starter MissThundercat
- Start date
Re: Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2016-17 Season Thread: Gotta Get Up And Try
Let's not lose sight of the big picture here, aparch. However you want to slice it, NMU has qualified for the tournament ONCE in this century, and as of late done absolutely nothing in conference tournaments.
When I was at NMU, Ken Godfrey (RIP) was the AD. Good guy, but living 40 years in the past, and the Athletic Dept suffered as a result (he barely knew what the internet was in 2009). Forrest Karr was hired to bring changes in the culture and success. Let's be totally honest: in 5 years he has failed utterly in that and needs to be canned.
As for the "TMZ" comparison, I think that's off-base. This wasn't a hit-job on Forrest from what I can tell as he had ample time to respond to these allegations. Again let's be honest here: this piece highlighted something all of us interested in NMU sports know already, it isn't stirring controversy for its own sake. We need journalism like this to get people involved because we can only count on more of the same from this administration. If that's acceptable to you, fine. Just plan on looking at black and white photos of NMU hockey if you want to see a competitive team in Marquette again.
Let's not lose sight of the big picture here, aparch. However you want to slice it, NMU has qualified for the tournament ONCE in this century, and as of late done absolutely nothing in conference tournaments.
When I was at NMU, Ken Godfrey (RIP) was the AD. Good guy, but living 40 years in the past, and the Athletic Dept suffered as a result (he barely knew what the internet was in 2009). Forrest Karr was hired to bring changes in the culture and success. Let's be totally honest: in 5 years he has failed utterly in that and needs to be canned.
As for the "TMZ" comparison, I think that's off-base. This wasn't a hit-job on Forrest from what I can tell as he had ample time to respond to these allegations. Again let's be honest here: this piece highlighted something all of us interested in NMU sports know already, it isn't stirring controversy for its own sake. We need journalism like this to get people involved because we can only count on more of the same from this administration. If that's acceptable to you, fine. Just plan on looking at black and white photos of NMU hockey if you want to see a competitive team in Marquette again.
RapidsCity
New member
You could dress Alabama-Huntsville up in Michigan sweaters and the only difference most of the fans would notice is that Red's not behind the bench. You would have a huge crowd, many wearing the colors of the visiting team.
boot_walt_kyle
Registered User
Re: Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2016-17 Season Thread: Gotta Get Up And Try
I've been beating the Fire Walt Kyle drum for over a decade now. He should've been replaced years ago. Instead we have waited around, twiddled our thumbs, and look like total boobs. It's well past time for Walt to hit the road. The AD needs to be fired as well. NMU ATHLETICS IS A TRAVESTY!
EDIT: NMU has some respectable varsity teams: women's basketball, mens and womens swimming, mens and women's skiiing, cross country. The rest of the sports have been trash so far. We used to have a good women's soccer team - NOPE! We used to be national contenders for volleyball - MIDDLE OF THE PACK! Football and men's bb-ball have been travesties each and every year for over a decade. IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE AT NMU
I've been beating the Fire Walt Kyle drum for over a decade now. He should've been replaced years ago. Instead we have waited around, twiddled our thumbs, and look like total boobs. It's well past time for Walt to hit the road. The AD needs to be fired as well. NMU ATHLETICS IS A TRAVESTY!
EDIT: NMU has some respectable varsity teams: women's basketball, mens and womens swimming, mens and women's skiiing, cross country. The rest of the sports have been trash so far. We used to have a good women's soccer team - NOPE! We used to be national contenders for volleyball - MIDDLE OF THE PACK! Football and men's bb-ball have been travesties each and every year for over a decade. IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE AT NMU
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eye4talent
Blistering Drive
Re: Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2016-17 Season Thread: Gotta Get Up And Try
Collin Peters is back in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars
https://twitter.com/LincolnStars/status/821751631121444864
Collin Peters is back in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars
https://twitter.com/LincolnStars/status/821751631121444864
They're baaaaaack
boot_walt_kyle
Registered User
Re: Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2016-17 Season Thread: Gotta Get Up And Try
Of Course I am back! This is my time to shine! The rest of the NMU fans are finally understanding that Walt Kyle is a Joe Schmoe coach who can't take NMU to the glory land! People are fed up with NMU's apathetic attitude and are rising up and demanding changes. I am here to once again take up the reigns and lead the movement that was started so many years ago!!! NMU - Where the M stands for Mediocrity
Of Course I am back! This is my time to shine! The rest of the NMU fans are finally understanding that Walt Kyle is a Joe Schmoe coach who can't take NMU to the glory land! People are fed up with NMU's apathetic attitude and are rising up and demanding changes. I am here to once again take up the reigns and lead the movement that was started so many years ago!!! NMU - Where the M stands for Mediocrity
noremorse1
New member
I thought it is where N stands for kNOWLEDGE?
aparch
Well-known member
Re: Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2016-17 Season Thread: Gotta Get Up And Try
As if right on cue, BWK is here to tilt windmills thinking that changing the coach will suddenly make this team as awesome and amazing as the University of North Dakota or Boston College.
If the struggles of the football program, basketball programs (plural), volleyball program, and other middling sports at NMU for the better part of twenty years hasn't made the point obvious, nothing will. Changing the coach of the hockey program won't change the attitude of the University towards athletics as a whole.
I understand money is tight for the University and wildly throwing additional money at these programs isn't the best course of action. But there needs to be firm direction given by the University regarding the athletics as a whole. Either keep the status quo, don't ask why when long time donors stop giving, and continue to operate sports as just something we offer just like the other schools in our "like minded" GLIAC conference, or show some balls and commit to running a Division 1 hockey program and figure out how to best run the athletic department.
As if right on cue, BWK is here to tilt windmills thinking that changing the coach will suddenly make this team as awesome and amazing as the University of North Dakota or Boston College.
If the struggles of the football program, basketball programs (plural), volleyball program, and other middling sports at NMU for the better part of twenty years hasn't made the point obvious, nothing will. Changing the coach of the hockey program won't change the attitude of the University towards athletics as a whole.
I understand money is tight for the University and wildly throwing additional money at these programs isn't the best course of action. But there needs to be firm direction given by the University regarding the athletics as a whole. Either keep the status quo, don't ask why when long time donors stop giving, and continue to operate sports as just something we offer just like the other schools in our "like minded" GLIAC conference, or show some balls and commit to running a Division 1 hockey program and figure out how to best run the athletic department.
aparch
Well-known member
Re: Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2016-17 Season Thread: Gotta Get Up And Try
<b>N</b>ot <b>M</b>uch <b>U</b>pstairs.
aparch
Well-known member
Re: Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2016-17 Season Thread: Gotta Get Up And Try
Seems this "journalistic" piece has brought a bunch of the older posters back to USCHO. All we're missing is MOJO with some smarmy rah-rah-pro-MTU-things-sure-are-different-from-20-years-ago post.
Seems this "journalistic" piece has brought a bunch of the older posters back to USCHO. All we're missing is MOJO with some smarmy rah-rah-pro-MTU-things-sure-are-different-from-20-years-ago post.
PerkyforPrez
Registered User
Re: Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2016-17 Season Thread: Gotta Get Up And Try
I miss nmu pic diva myself.
I miss nmu pic diva myself.
RapidsCity
New member
Re: Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2016-17 Season Thread: Gotta Get Up And Try
I can all but guarantee that, if NMU makes a change, what you get will be closer to Damon Whitten or Jamie Russell or Matt Thomas than it is to Mel Pearson, Mike Hastings or Chris Bergeron. Then again, those 3 would not likely have taken the jobs at NMU, LSSU or UAA under the same conditions that Kyle, Whitten or Thomas is stuck with.
I can all but guarantee that, if NMU makes a change, what you get will be closer to Damon Whitten or Jamie Russell or Matt Thomas than it is to Mel Pearson, Mike Hastings or Chris Bergeron. Then again, those 3 would not likely have taken the jobs at NMU, LSSU or UAA under the same conditions that Kyle, Whitten or Thomas is stuck with.
Exactly. Oh, maybe a Newell Brown or Bob Mancini might come along but as soon as they have things looking good they will move on to greener pastures. Look at MTU post John MacInnis and you will see the cycle NMU will go through.
If you think letting Walt go is the answer, then so be it. But the state of the athletic department as a whole since the days of Judy Bailey has to be reworked to promote success.
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Re: Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2016-17 Season Thread: Gotta Get Up And Try
Touche Aparch! That was pretty good. True, very sarcastic, but good
Maybe NMU should pursue Tech's athletic director and see if she can turn things around at NMU...
As for changing coaches at NMU. One thing is clear, this community wants change and they aren't coming back until it happens. Don't shoot the messenger...
Seems this "journalistic" piece has brought a bunch of the older posters back to USCHO. All we're missing is MOJO with some smarmy rah-rah-pro-MTU-things-sure-are-different-from-20-years-ago post.
Touche Aparch! That was pretty good. True, very sarcastic, but good
Maybe NMU should pursue Tech's athletic director and see if she can turn things around at NMU...
As for changing coaches at NMU. One thing is clear, this community wants change and they aren't coming back until it happens. Don't shoot the messenger...
eye4talent
Blistering Drive
Re: Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2016-17 Season Thread: Gotta Get Up And Try
If that's the case, you have some clueless hockey fans in Marquette. Apathy has set in. Time for a change.
If that's the case, you have some clueless hockey fans in Marquette. Apathy has set in. Time for a change.
I can tell you for a fact that when Michigan or Michigan St came to town, they drew a much larger crowd than Western or Ferris, regardless of the skill level of those opponents. People get excited to see that block 'M' in the blue & yellow of Ann Arbor or that Sparty logo from East Lansing.
John J. MacInnes
Coach Emeritus
Re: Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2016-17 Season Thread: Gotta Get Up And Try
Some interesting stats for you regarding the success of the NMU program in comparison with Tech, since MOJO brought up the idea with the AD suggestion.
Since the NMU program began play in the 1976-77 season, the Wildcats have finished with more overall wins (i.e. not head-to-head) than the Huskies in 28 of the 40 seasons played. The high water mark was unsurprisingly 1990-91 when NMU finished with 38 wins...25 more than MTU's 13 that season. From 1996-97 to 2013-14, Northern finished with more wins in all but one season (that one was in 2006-7). The two teams had an equal 19 wins in the first season of 1976-77, and only once have they both achieved 20 wins in the same season (1980-81).
In the previous two seasons to the current one, Tech has posted 23 more wins than NMU (15 more in 2014-15, 8 more in 2015-16) in the most successful 2 years ever for the Huskies in that regard. Tech had more wins in each season from 1980-81 to 1983-84, but that combined total was only 16 wins. The only other time the Huskies posted more wins than the Wildcats in back to back seasons was 1994-95 and 1995-96.
So in a nutshell - if the success of NMU hockey is measured by how well they stack up against their biggest rival, this is fast approaching the low water mark...if it isn't already there. But if that's the only criteria, I think your priorities may need some adjustment.
Maybe the better question would be WHY is this happening.
Some interesting stats for you regarding the success of the NMU program in comparison with Tech, since MOJO brought up the idea with the AD suggestion.
Since the NMU program began play in the 1976-77 season, the Wildcats have finished with more overall wins (i.e. not head-to-head) than the Huskies in 28 of the 40 seasons played. The high water mark was unsurprisingly 1990-91 when NMU finished with 38 wins...25 more than MTU's 13 that season. From 1996-97 to 2013-14, Northern finished with more wins in all but one season (that one was in 2006-7). The two teams had an equal 19 wins in the first season of 1976-77, and only once have they both achieved 20 wins in the same season (1980-81).
In the previous two seasons to the current one, Tech has posted 23 more wins than NMU (15 more in 2014-15, 8 more in 2015-16) in the most successful 2 years ever for the Huskies in that regard. Tech had more wins in each season from 1980-81 to 1983-84, but that combined total was only 16 wins. The only other time the Huskies posted more wins than the Wildcats in back to back seasons was 1994-95 and 1995-96.
So in a nutshell - if the success of NMU hockey is measured by how well they stack up against their biggest rival, this is fast approaching the low water mark...if it isn't already there. But if that's the only criteria, I think your priorities may need some adjustment.
Maybe the better question would be WHY is this happening.
Re: Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2016-17 Season Thread: Gotta Get Up And Try
It's troubling when you look across all three major sports at both NMU and MTU. It started with basketball, moved over to football a decade ago and now hockey...not sure how much more us Wildcat fans can take! Having grown up in Lake Linden I can appreciate where Tech was and where they are now...
It's troubling when you look across all three major sports at both NMU and MTU. It started with basketball, moved over to football a decade ago and now hockey...not sure how much more us Wildcat fans can take! Having grown up in Lake Linden I can appreciate where Tech was and where they are now...
boot_walt_kyle
Registered User
Re: Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2016-17 Season Thread: Gotta Get Up And Try
I would be thrilled to see Jamie Russell as head coach with Oystrick as first assistant. Seeing as Russell sought out Oystrick and brought him in as a player-assistant for the Jackals last season it doesn't seem too far fetched. To be honest, I would even be ok with giving Oystrick a shot at head coach despite his limited coaching experience. NCAA football has provided a model for how mid major programs have to handle coaching, and what has worked is hiring young hungry coaching candidates with university connections and hoping they catch fire and you have the next great coach. Average salary for an ECHL head coach is $40,000 per season. I would hope that NMU could pony up that money to get Oystrick as an assistant
I would be thrilled to see Jamie Russell as head coach with Oystrick as first assistant. Seeing as Russell sought out Oystrick and brought him in as a player-assistant for the Jackals last season it doesn't seem too far fetched. To be honest, I would even be ok with giving Oystrick a shot at head coach despite his limited coaching experience. NCAA football has provided a model for how mid major programs have to handle coaching, and what has worked is hiring young hungry coaching candidates with university connections and hoping they catch fire and you have the next great coach. Average salary for an ECHL head coach is $40,000 per season. I would hope that NMU could pony up that money to get Oystrick as an assistant