Re: Ohio State U. ( 2009-2010 )
Arpod, my sentiments exactly, thank you. If Gene Smith brings in a legitimate coach who can take our talent and mold them into a championship-caliber program, the fans will come back. I've said that for years. Ohio State Hockey fans are knowledgable for the most part and they are not going to spend the money to watch a mediocre, underachieving program. That's why we're seeing crowds of 3,000 or less this year. Fans are fed up with it. Bring in a decent coach and that changes. I have to admit, of all the home games we've had this season, I've only been to one home game. As I alluded to in an earlier post on this thread, it's just brutal to go and see the product on the ice, not to mention with only a few thousand fans in attendance, the atmosphere is almost non-existent. It will be an interesting second half of the season and offseason, that's for sure.
I beleive the athletic departments of the U of MI, U of WI-Madison, and tOSU are self-sufficient. I also beleive if tOSU had competent coaching (which IMHO they currently do not), coupled with the talent they bring in (despite the lack of competent coaching), they would consistently compete at the highest level in the CCHA and make regular appearances in the NCAA tourny. They would also put butts in the seats, which could be the tipping point for a hockey-only facility.
Arpod, my sentiments exactly, thank you. If Gene Smith brings in a legitimate coach who can take our talent and mold them into a championship-caliber program, the fans will come back. I've said that for years. Ohio State Hockey fans are knowledgable for the most part and they are not going to spend the money to watch a mediocre, underachieving program. That's why we're seeing crowds of 3,000 or less this year. Fans are fed up with it. Bring in a decent coach and that changes. I have to admit, of all the home games we've had this season, I've only been to one home game. As I alluded to in an earlier post on this thread, it's just brutal to go and see the product on the ice, not to mention with only a few thousand fans in attendance, the atmosphere is almost non-existent. It will be an interesting second half of the season and offseason, that's for sure.