UAA: Exciting Things Ahead!

[AKSWF]

That was embarrassing. This is the worst UAA team I've ever seen, and yes this includes the Talafous era and Hill's one win season. I don't care where Tech is ranked, you don't lose 10-0. Quitters and losers lose 10-0, and that's what this team is right now: a bunch of quitters and losers.

I wanted to do this at the end of the season but now seems like a good time. It's now time to have The Talk:

5 years ago Tech and UAA were about the same. The difference now? Tech put money into their program and UAA didn't. So what do we do?

1. We have to take a look at how UAA's program compares to everyone else in the WCHA. Everything, arena, locker rooms, practice facility, training facility, coaching staffs, equipment quality, budgets, administrative support, marketing etc. All of it.

2. After #1, we look at how much it will cost to put us in the top 4 of the league.

3. We figure out the cost for #2 and look to see if we can afford it. And this means everybody, athletic department, University Administration, boosters, sponsors, alumni, getting together and asking it: "can we, collectively, afford it?"

4. If the answer to #3 is "No." We shut the program down.

The time do to this is now. Drastic budget cuts are coming and either we do this now or people are gonna look at dwindling attendance, dwindling revenue, poor performance and go "why are we paying for this?" Either we bring the program up to a level where we can win or we don't have one at all. Because it isn't worth it to support a losing program, and that's what we have.

Well said indeed, seeing how there is no ice and no plans for ice in the $100 million Alaska Airlines Center, I fear we already know our answer.

 

[Suze]

Re: UAA: Exciting Things Ahead!

Perhaps more importantly ... what does that say TO your juniors and seniors?


I'm not seeing numbers from next year's recruits that would lead me to use the word talent. I can't imagine that next year would be worse than this year but there's no "blue chippahs" yet in the future from Thomas & staff.

I am excited to see what Jeremiah Luedtke will bring to the table next season. He is his teams point leader with 64 points in 53 games. Larson is his teams 4th leading goal scorer, and Mitchell is quoted as having "elite game intelligence". Let's face it, UAA never gets blue chippers! Doesn't mean they can't be successful.

I would love to see them turn the Farg into a place for UAA to play. They are doing a ton of remodeling there, it would be wonderful to see a 3000-4000 seat arena, or even one the size of Ferris State. It would be on campus and the atmosphere would be much better. I wonder if it's possible to expand it and add extra seating? I have heard several fans throw this scenario around.

Things could be worse, at least we aren't having as bad a season as the Badgers and Colorado College, who have both won only ONE league game this season.

 

[Jimjamesak]

I am excited to see what Jeremiah Luedtke will bring to the table next season. He is his teams point leader with 64 points in 53 games. Larson is his teams 4th leading goal scorer, and Mitchell is quoted as having "elite game intelligence". Let's face it, UAA never gets blue chippers! Doesn't mean they can't be successful.

I would love to see them turn the Farg into a place for UAA to play. They are doing a ton of remodeling there, it would be wonderful to see a 3000-4000 seat arena, or even one the size of Ferris State. It would be on campus and the atmosphere would be much better. I wonder if it's possible to expand it and add extra seating? I have heard several fans throw this scenario around.

Things could be worse, at least we aren't having as bad a season as the Badgers and Colorado College, who have both won only ONE league game this season.

Suze, the state is facing a severe budget crisis with cuts across the board. Severe enough to the point there is a legitimate worry for the future existence of the program Good luck trying to convince the state to fund that project. The only way that happens is through private, and UAA doesn't have that.

 

[mmf]

Re: UAA: Exciting Things Ahead!

The state’s financial environment is not short term. There almost has to be a total restructure of the UA system with most undergraduate programs, graduate programs, and all sports teams based in Anchorage, and with Fairbanks "almost" exclusively a research institution. I think UAF athletics days are numbered. I can’t imagine some of the complicated issues a restructure like this would create, and it would take years to fully implement. But I fear it is coming.

State government, K-12 Education, and local governments are in the same boat.

 

[Jimjamesak]

The state’s financial environment is not short term. There almost has to be a total restructure of the UA system with most undergraduate programs, graduate programs, and all sports teams based in Anchorage, and with Fairbanks "almost" exclusively a research institution. I think UAF athletics days are numbered. I can’t imagine some of the complicated issues a restructure like this would create, and it would take years to fully implement. But I fear it is coming.

State government, K-12 Education, and local governments are in the same boat.

No way the UA Board of Regents allow UAA to keep something over UAF.

 

[Alaska Hockey]

Re: UAA: Exciting Things Ahead!

No way the UA Board of Regents allow UAA to keep something over UAF.

I know of at least 109 million reasons it will happen............ It's a Great Day to be a Seawolf Thank You Dr. Steve Cobb

 

[mmf]

Re: UAA: Exciting Things Ahead!

No way the UA Board of Regents allow UAA to keep something over UAF.

Like a $110m basketball arena or funding to finish UAAs new Engineering building (but not UAFs).
The Regents will get their marching orders from the legislature, which is highly southcentral-centric.

 

[Seawolf Fan]

Re: UAA: Exciting Things Ahead!

The state’s financial environment is not short term. There almost has to be a total restructure of the UA system with most undergraduate programs, graduate programs, and all sports teams based in Anchorage, and with Fairbanks "almost" exclusively a research institution. I think UAF athletics days are numbered. I can’t imagine some of the complicated issues a restructure like this would create, and it would take years to fully implement. But I fear it is coming.

State government, K-12 Education, and local governments are in the same boat.

Although some crazy things have come out of that circus they run down there in Juneau, with the community support your hockey team receives I don't foresee the clowns putting the kibosh on that program.
The all but inevitable reshuffling of the national hockey conferences is of more concern to me than the dollar shortage in the capitol.
The $109 that Dr. Steve Cobb got us here in Anchorage saves all but our 2 D1 programs. If they let the men's D1 program go what about the ladies?
And UAA hockey does not receive the community support that the dump bears do.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Like a $110m basketball arena or funding to finish UAAs new Engineering building (but not UAFs).
The Regents will get their marching orders from the legislature, which is highly southcentral-centric.

Like stated, the AAC will allow us to keep the D2 teams (and the budget crunch will the kibosh on any D1 thoughts) but it won't keep hockey around. I don't think either team will get cut realistically (the Governor is a hockey guy, I played with his kid) but the chances are higher at UAA.

 

[Suze]

Re: UAA: Exciting Things Ahead!

The $109 that Dr. Steve Cobb got us here in Anchorage saves all but our 2 D1 programs. If they let the men's D1 program go what about the ladies?

Thank you Dr. Cobb!

And UAA hockey does not receive the community support that the dump bears do.

The dump bears don't get nearly the support from the community they used to. I have watched many of their games on WCHA TV after watching a UAA road game, and their arena is FAR from full.

If they get rid of a men's sport, they also have to cut a women's sport. A little bird told me that some sports MAY be cut, but it won't be hockey.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Thank you Dr. Cobb!



The dump bears don't get nearly the support from the community they used to. I have watched many of their games on WCHA TV after watching a UAA road game, and their arena is FAR from full.

If they get rid of a men's sport, they also have to cut a women's sport. A little bird told me that some sports MAY be cut, but it won't be hockey.

So who gets cut? Can't cut basketball or volleyball because of the AAC, can't cut gymnastics because of Title IX, can't cut XC Running or Track because they actually win things. Pretty much leaves skiing and hockey.

 

[seawolfpunk]

So who gets cut? Can't cut basketball or volleyball because of the AAC, can't cut gymnastics because of Title IX, can't cut XC Running or Track because they actually win things. Pretty much leaves skiing and hockey.

Xc running and track could be first on the list, yes theyve won titles but that doesn't mean they are not on the chopping block.

Another thing that could and should happen is clean house with all these associate ADs who've been they're over 20 (or 30 in some cases) and let them take early retirement, and hire new Ads for a cheaper rate.

Just a thought

 

[mmf]

Re: UAA: Exciting Things Ahead!

...Another thing that could and should happen is clean house with all these associate ADs who've been they're over 20 (or 30 in some cases) and let them take early retirement, and hire new Ads for a cheaper rate...

You could consolidate your Associate ADs into one position, assign them compliance responsibilities, and maybe have them do a little light custodial work in the mornings. That’s worked well for us…

 

[Jimjamesak]

You could consolidate your Associate ADs into one position, assign them compliance responsibilities, and maybe have them do a little light custodial work in the mornings. That’s worked well for us…

Solid plan. I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

 

[Seawolf Fan]

Re: UAA: Exciting Things Ahead!

So who gets cut? Can't cut basketball or volleyball because of the AAC, can't cut gymnastics because of Title IX, can't cut XC Running or Track because they actually win things. Pretty much leaves skiing and hockey.

The only two D1 sports we have are men's hockey and ladies gymnastics
Title IX say mens and womens sports have to balance out so cant have one without the other
Not aware that skiing is D1??????

 

[Jimjamesak]

The only two D1 sports we have are men's hockey and ladies gymnastics
Title IX say mens and womens sports have to balance out so cant have one without the other
Not aware that skiing is D1??????

I'm not sure of how skiing works but I don't know if there are classifications or not.

Let's break it down by sport:

Basketball, Volleyball, and Gymnastics all fall under the $109 million exception. New arena means they aren't going anywhere.

XC Running and Track could be on the chopping block but that'd be a very controversial cut. It'd be very difficult to chop what has been the lone bright spot in the Athletic Department.

Hockey is the arguably marquee sport but is very costly right now and will only cost more. It does however having lasting place in the community, how many hockey coaches in town are UAA alums?

Skiing I'm sure has a pretty good chunk of budget, training time at Alyeska, equipment, travel etc. But the sport has very little impact.

If I guess anything to happen it'd be first retiring out some old Associate ADs, maybe some staff and budget cuts, and finally sport cuts starting with skiing...

 

[Squarebanks]

The state’s financial environment is not short term. There almost has to be a total restructure of the UA system with most undergraduate programs, graduate programs, and all sports teams based in Anchorage, and with Fairbanks "almost" exclusively a research institution. I think UAF athletics days are numbered. I can’t imagine some of the complicated issues a restructure like this would create, and it would take years to fully implement. But I fear it is coming.

State government, K-12 Education, and local governments are in the same boat.

Regarding Athletics, we are already at the bare minimum of teams (10) to even qualify as a NCAA program. Chancellor included the athletic program as an area under review for budget cuts, but then so was most of the university. Realistically there isn't much left from our athletic department to cut short of just shutting the entire thing down, and I don't foresee that happening. We already run our program on half the budget that UAA spends, and most of that goes to hockey. Someone I know who knows these things put it simply...UAA is a D2 program spending a D1 budget. If I were a UAA fan I would be concerned about that as these budget cuts start to get serious.

Any way you slice it, though, athletics has always been more of UAA's identity than it has been at UAF. It's one of the cultural differences between the two schools. Want an example? UAF wanted a new science building, UAA wanted a new sports arena.

 

[Squarebanks]

Thank you Dr. Cobb!



The dump bears don't get nearly the support from the community they used to. I have watched many of their games on WCHA TV after watching a UAA road game, and their arena is FAR from full.

If they get rid of a men's sport, they also have to cut a women's sport. A little bird told me that some sports MAY be cut, but it won't be hockey.

Our numbers are down this year, and it's been noticed at a pretty high level. Since Dallas has been in charge we've usually averaged right around 3,000 but this year I think it's closer to 2,300 or 2,400.

Personally, I think there were two factors at play here...

1. Some kind of paperwork issue with the NCAA that was in the local news.
2. Our home schedule this year was downright goofy. A lot of games over Thanksgiving and winter breaks, including the UAA series which historically is easily our biggest draw. Plus the home schedule ending in mid February? Sheesh. At least next year we will get the Gov Cup at home in March again.

Hopefully they do something about it, because as you can attest, once fans are gone they don't come back quickly.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Regarding Athletics, we are already at the bare minimum of teams (10) to even qualify as a NCAA program. Chancellor included the athletic program as an area under review for budget cuts, but then so was most of the university. Realistically there isn't much left from our athletic department to cut short of just shutting the entire thing down, and I don't foresee that happening. We already run our program on half the budget that UAA spends, and most of that goes to hockey. Someone I know who knows these things put it simply...UAA is a D2 program spending a D1 budget. If I were a UAA fan I would be concerned about that as these budget cuts start to get serious.

Any way you slice it, though, athletics has always been more of UAA's identity than it has been at UAF. It's one of the cultural differences between the two schools. Want an example? UAF wanted a new science building, UAA wanted a new sports arena.

Well athletics is really the way for UAA to get itself out there. Unless UAF is willing to give up some research programs to UAA, and I think we all know the answer to that. If there is any good to come out of this budget it will be the long needed reshuffling of the UA system. UAF becomes the research school, UAA the business and liberal arts school ("business" in the Alaska sense, meaning engineering and aviation as well). The problem with athletics is, at the D2 level, we need UAF. Teams wouldn't be very happy paying travel costs for one game (hockey actually doesn't have that problem, everybody would be happy to rid one Alaska school, although UAA probably isn't the one anybody would pick). Cutting UAF out of athletics just shifts costs instead of saving money.

The big thing that will decide? Political pull. Unfortunately Alaska doesn't have many politicians that went to any UA school but plenty of conservatives that hate state education in general.

 

[mmf]

Re: UAA: Exciting Things Ahead!

The concern is that we are not looking at reducing costs to get through the short term. Oil prices may recover somewhat but production probably won’t. We are looking at permanent restructuring in how the state does business, including and especially the University. Athletics will not go untouched while they start cutting degree programs (even those with marginal enrollment). All urban and rural campuses will be greatly impacted, not just squeezed a little. If you think the 2015-16 budget picture looks bleak, wait till 2016-17.

If Fairbank’s instructional programs can retain accreditation then I can see us maintaining athletic programs. But if we become some sort of satellite instructional/research arm of the University then I can see the UA system having only one NCAA team per sport. That does have all sorts of conference affiliation and cost implications. This is just draconian speculation on my part, and I hope it’s just the ramblings of a senile old fart. I’d be happy with that.