Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)
I can tell you that the majority of the issue is the travel costs. When you take into consideration all of the other D1 sport that we are involved in than you can understand the concern. It costs much more to maintain those programs at that level, particularly football.
For Miami and WMU this problem is 10 fold given the number of schools they have to fly too. The move to the NCHC, IMO, was a knee jerk reaction with little consideration for the extra costs involved taken into consideration. Couple that with the fact that Miami's football program is in a shambles and WMU's isn't far behind, then the problem worsens. Miami is in search for a new football coach right now which means ponying up some bucks to try to right the ship. At a D1 school, like it or not, football brings in the majority of the $$$ due to big payouts from the BCS schools when they play them, as well as post season bowl games. But when you're only drawing a couple of thousand to a home game (that number may be generous for Miami) then those large payouts get used up quickly since they are bleeding arterial money on those home games. My guess is that Miami and WMU are rethinking their decision to jump ship.
Another consideration is that Ohio and Kent have both had D1 programs in the past. If either or both were to decide to resurrect their programs, the reformation of the CCHA becomes more compelling monetarily. I can see this happening. Maybe not for a few years after Miami and WMU have a better idea of what their costs will be year in and year out, but I can see it happening.
I can tell you that the majority of the issue is the travel costs. When you take into consideration all of the other D1 sport that we are involved in than you can understand the concern. It costs much more to maintain those programs at that level, particularly football.
For Miami and WMU this problem is 10 fold given the number of schools they have to fly too. The move to the NCHC, IMO, was a knee jerk reaction with little consideration for the extra costs involved taken into consideration. Couple that with the fact that Miami's football program is in a shambles and WMU's isn't far behind, then the problem worsens. Miami is in search for a new football coach right now which means ponying up some bucks to try to right the ship. At a D1 school, like it or not, football brings in the majority of the $$$ due to big payouts from the BCS schools when they play them, as well as post season bowl games. But when you're only drawing a couple of thousand to a home game (that number may be generous for Miami) then those large payouts get used up quickly since they are bleeding arterial money on those home games. My guess is that Miami and WMU are rethinking their decision to jump ship.
Another consideration is that Ohio and Kent have both had D1 programs in the past. If either or both were to decide to resurrect their programs, the reformation of the CCHA becomes more compelling monetarily. I can see this happening. Maybe not for a few years after Miami and WMU have a better idea of what their costs will be year in and year out, but I can see it happening.
