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The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59
- Thread starter Fighting Sioux 23
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Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59
That is pretty meaningless really because it doesn't say how they performed when it matters. Until only a couple of years ago, Clarkson had the best lifetime record of any program (and they still are above Michigan and North Dakota). Would they have been #1 in your opinion?
That is pretty meaningless really because it doesn't say how they performed when it matters. Until only a couple of years ago, Clarkson had the best lifetime record of any program (and they still are above Michigan and North Dakota). Would they have been #1 in your opinion?
Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59
No because until a couple of years ago the ECAC wasn't all that competitive with the Western schools, as evidenced by the fact that not a single ECAC team will be ranked in the Top 10. On the other hand Minnesota, North Dakota, Denver and Wisconsin (all in the Top 10 and, until very recently, were members of the WCHA) were playing each other several times each year. They also had regular conference games against #10 Michigan Tech, #13 Colorado College and #16 Minnesota-Duluth, all of which says something about the records of all three of these teams.
I do realize that NCAA tournament records, Frozen Four appearances and number of NCAA championships all figure heavily in the overall rankings, as they should. But overall winning percentage during the season and in league playoffs, while taking the quality of their opponents into consideration, counts for something too.
No because until a couple of years ago the ECAC wasn't all that competitive with the Western schools, as evidenced by the fact that not a single ECAC team will be ranked in the Top 10. On the other hand Minnesota, North Dakota, Denver and Wisconsin (all in the Top 10 and, until very recently, were members of the WCHA) were playing each other several times each year. They also had regular conference games against #10 Michigan Tech, #13 Colorado College and #16 Minnesota-Duluth, all of which says something about the records of all three of these teams.
I do realize that NCAA tournament records, Frozen Four appearances and number of NCAA championships all figure heavily in the overall rankings, as they should. But overall winning percentage during the season and in league playoffs, while taking the quality of their opponents into consideration, counts for something too.
Go4PuckFan2.0
The Dude Abides
Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59
First of all, stick taps for the time and effort in creating this list. Well done.
My $.02:
Affixing the "greatest" label on a entity such as a college sports team needs to go beyond the cold calculus you've admirably applied here. Entities that carry the "greatest" label do so because they are measured beyond their competitive successes. They are often measured by how they elevate and contribute to their sport. They are measured, in part, by as much as how they lead. And when it comes to leadership within collegiate hockey, the Gopher program knows no peer.
Consider:
John Mariucci's reliance on Minnesota players helped grow the sport where today the state supplies the lions share of collegiate hockey talent across the nation.
The Gopher hockey program has groomed numerous hockey players who went on to create and lead hockey powerhouses as coaches. Dean Blais and "Badger" Bob Johnson are two of the most notable examples.
The greatest sports event of the 20th century, the Miracle on Ice was led by a Gopher-heavy team coached by then Gopher coaches Warren Strelow and Herb Brooks. (Warren Strelow was the Gopher goalie coach. He would later be the first on-staff NHL goalie coach)
The Gophers garnered TV revenues that paid the WCHA bills for decades.
These are but a few of the intangibles that I believe must be taken into consideration in any comprehensive evaluation of collegiate hockey greatness. I'll defer to my Gopher brethren to add to it and for the legion of Gopher haters to attempt to discount them. And regarding the haters, you can't be the greatest program until an equal number of people admire and despise you
Michigan?
Please.
Michigan has spent the past 20+ years padding it's resume by punching below it's weight in the CCHA.
UND?
Mostly great numbers (a losing record against the Gophers) but other than spineless capitulation to a Nazi lover and the politically correct, what have they contributed to the game?
Again, great job!
I plan on releasing #1-3 all at the same time, probably on Friday (although it may be Saturday).
Three programs left: (in alphabetical order)
Michigan
Minnesota
North Dakota
Who is going to be #1?
Discuss...make your case for why your school should be #1...rip on your fellow college hockey brethren who disagree with you...act like an idiot refusing to concede any point whatsoever...rant about concepts that have no bearing on what makes a great program...Enjoy!
First of all, stick taps for the time and effort in creating this list. Well done.
My $.02:
Affixing the "greatest" label on a entity such as a college sports team needs to go beyond the cold calculus you've admirably applied here. Entities that carry the "greatest" label do so because they are measured beyond their competitive successes. They are often measured by how they elevate and contribute to their sport. They are measured, in part, by as much as how they lead. And when it comes to leadership within collegiate hockey, the Gopher program knows no peer.
Consider:
John Mariucci's reliance on Minnesota players helped grow the sport where today the state supplies the lions share of collegiate hockey talent across the nation.
The Gopher hockey program has groomed numerous hockey players who went on to create and lead hockey powerhouses as coaches. Dean Blais and "Badger" Bob Johnson are two of the most notable examples.
The greatest sports event of the 20th century, the Miracle on Ice was led by a Gopher-heavy team coached by then Gopher coaches Warren Strelow and Herb Brooks. (Warren Strelow was the Gopher goalie coach. He would later be the first on-staff NHL goalie coach)
The Gophers garnered TV revenues that paid the WCHA bills for decades.
These are but a few of the intangibles that I believe must be taken into consideration in any comprehensive evaluation of collegiate hockey greatness. I'll defer to my Gopher brethren to add to it and for the legion of Gopher haters to attempt to discount them. And regarding the haters, you can't be the greatest program until an equal number of people admire and despise you
Michigan?
Please.
Michigan has spent the past 20+ years padding it's resume by punching below it's weight in the CCHA.
UND?
Mostly great numbers (a losing record against the Gophers) but other than spineless capitulation to a Nazi lover and the politically correct, what have they contributed to the game?
Again, great job!
Go4PuckFan2.0
The Dude Abides
Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59
The Badgers lost, at home, to a Penn State club team with D1 aspirations.
They currently rank 59th in RPI
Dead. Last.
As bad as the Holy Cross debacle was, there's always the BADgers to remind us that the Gopher program never fell so far, so fast.
The Badgers lost, at home, to a Penn State club team with D1 aspirations.
They currently rank 59th in RPI
Dead. Last.
As bad as the Holy Cross debacle was, there's always the BADgers to remind us that the Gopher program never fell so far, so fast.
Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59
Don't make me laugh! If you want to give credit to the school that caused national realignment at least get it right. Penn State developing a D-1 program DIRECTLY led to National realignment. How you ask? The development of Penn State caused the creation of the B1G TEN HOCKEY CONFERENCE. That in turn led to the demise of the CCHA, the creation of the NCHC, a total restructure of the WCHA, Notre Dame going east, etc.
Take off your Goofer-colored glasses.
Don't make me laugh! If you want to give credit to the school that caused national realignment at least get it right. Penn State developing a D-1 program DIRECTLY led to National realignment. How you ask? The development of Penn State caused the creation of the B1G TEN HOCKEY CONFERENCE. That in turn led to the demise of the CCHA, the creation of the NCHC, a total restructure of the WCHA, Notre Dame going east, etc.
Take off your Goofer-colored glasses.
Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59
Are you to turn the lights off when you leave?
If PSU was so critical to the start of the NCHC and realignment...how come those conferences didn't start the year PSU became a D1 independent? UND, DU and company could hardly care if PSU starts a D1 team. MN leaving the old WCHA is what caused teams to leave and drove realignment.
Are you to turn the lights off when you leave?
If PSU was so critical to the start of the NCHC and realignment...how come those conferences didn't start the year PSU became a D1 independent? UND, DU and company could hardly care if PSU starts a D1 team. MN leaving the old WCHA is what caused teams to leave and drove realignment.
willythekid
New member
Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59
Does it really matter who started realignment? I think the real question here is how did we all live before the dominate NCHC super conference was formed...
Does it really matter who started realignment? I think the real question here is how did we all live before the dominate NCHC super conference was formed...
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Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59
Second (some of) what Go4 said. Stick tap to you, FS23, for the work you did on this. In fact, I propose that we all forget our differences for a moment and give him a good ol' North Dakota TCOS--Traditional Circle of Sticks.
Among other things, the conclusion of this thread has given me a chance to cuddle up with my gopher hate once again, a feeling that was beginning to atrophy.
Life is good.
Second (some of) what Go4 said. Stick tap to you, FS23, for the work you did on this. In fact, I propose that we all forget our differences for a moment and give him a good ol' North Dakota TCOS--Traditional Circle of Sticks.
Among other things, the conclusion of this thread has given me a chance to cuddle up with my gopher hate once again, a feeling that was beginning to atrophy.
Life is good.
Wisko McBadgerton
Teaching you how to Bucky.
Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59
Right. Then followed by the good ol' North Dakota TSNP--Traditional Sue Neck-Punch??
Thanks, but no.
Right. Then followed by the good ol' North Dakota TSNP--Traditional Sue Neck-Punch??
Thanks, but no.
willythekid
New member
The ol' TSPGOOTHLTF wouldn't have been needed without the ol' TGPOAHBTR*.
*traditional goofer player once again hiding behind the ref...
Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59
I think you got the discount about right.
Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59
It's good that Michigan is part of this final discussion. I remember my grandfather talking about them and how players back in the day would strap magazines to their legs for shin pads. It's kind of like learning who people like Hammurabi and Archimedes were. It makes us less ignorant, I guess is what I'm saying.
It's good that Michigan is part of this final discussion. I remember my grandfather talking about them and how players back in the day would strap magazines to their legs for shin pads. It's kind of like learning who people like Hammurabi and Archimedes were. It makes us less ignorant, I guess is what I'm saying.
Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59
It's true what they say, Minnesota education SUCKS! Your argument proves my point more. Penn State needed or wanted (not sure which) to play one year independent and then they could join/make the B1G TEN HOCKEY CONFERENCE. Face it, when Penn State decided to join/create the B1G that is what shook up everything. Without Penn State there would be no B1G TEN HOCKEY CONFERENCE. The CCHA would still exist, the NCHC wouldn't exist, the WCHA would not have changed, Notre Dame wouldn't be in the Big East, etc.
Wow you're slow...
Go back to dancing....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krVXRCcr2M4
It's true what they say, Minnesota education SUCKS! Your argument proves my point more. Penn State needed or wanted (not sure which) to play one year independent and then they could join/make the B1G TEN HOCKEY CONFERENCE. Face it, when Penn State decided to join/create the B1G that is what shook up everything. Without Penn State there would be no B1G TEN HOCKEY CONFERENCE. The CCHA would still exist, the NCHC wouldn't exist, the WCHA would not have changed, Notre Dame wouldn't be in the Big East, etc.
Wow you're slow...
Go back to dancing....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krVXRCcr2M4
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