UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

[Patman]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

A new NBC Sports TV deal, another game added to Frozen Fenway and, per usual, Lowell isn't involved at all. As disgusted as I am, it's not a shock. Bertagna's contempt for Lowell is obvious and well known. I would like to hear Dana or Marty weigh in on the matter publicly. How they can sit back while Hockey East pretends Lowell doesn't exist makes zero sense to me.

I can makes sense of Lowell not being on tv this year, even though in a perfect world each team would get a game. But to add another game to the Fenway lineup and give teams a second go when MC, PC and Lowell haven't gotten one is unacceptable. The kicker of course being that UMass (1994) and Vermont (2005) get a game while Lowell, an original member, doesn't. Par for the course, Bertagna, you absolute idiot.

I can understand being angry for the point of trying to force the issue, but why is anybody surprised by any of this?

Do I even need to mention that our level of national brand recongition is nearly zero. If they have us play at all it'll have to involve 3 of the stronger players. If we even get a chance it'll be PC one year (and let's remember, PC is full D1), Merrimack another, and us. If we're lucky, given the current talent of the team, we'll go before Merrimack.

Want to change this? Start winning.

 

[irishfan85]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

Look. I love college hockey. I fondly remember the days of UML being great in D1 in the early to mid 90s. However, the casual sports can is going to laugh at UMass-Lowell and say "who?" then change the channel. That's the reason. I'm not really sure why we get upset about this as Merrimack and UML fans. We get the occasional TV game and the better you play, you might get more like MC did last year and this.

 

[UMLFan]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

I'm so in ...

 

[boblav1]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

Just heard about the other Fenway game as the power/cable have been out since Saturday.

Bob Ellis had an interview with Joe Bertagna that he played during the exhibition game. I'm not sure if it's available some where on the UML site. Bertagna talked about the Fenway games and the feed back he was receiving from Lowell fans. If I remember correctly, he said the Fenway folks were very involved in determining the matchups. There main concern was filling the place. He also mentioned that Lowell and Northeastern were left out of the preliminary discussions because of their proposed game in Ireland, which eventually fell through.

Hey I don't like Lowell being left out either, but as Patman said, start winning and then they can't ignore you.

 

[ScottK]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

I can makes sense of Lowell not being on tv this year, even though in a perfect world each team would get a game.

They haven't announced the local TV schedule yet. Since 2 home games in the 2nd half have been changed to 7:30 starts, it's a safe bet those will be on NESN (or Comcast NE if they get the contract).

 

[John_Fuller]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

I can understand being angry for the point of trying to force the issue, but why is anybody surprised by any of this?

Do I even need to mention that our level of national brand recognition is nearly zero. If they have us play at all it'll have to involve 3 of the stronger players. If we even get a chance it'll be PC one year (and let's remember, PC is full D1), Merrimack another, and us. If we're lucky, given the current talent of the team, we'll go before Merrimack.

Want to change this? Start winning.

I couldn't be in more agreement with Patman on this issue. Sure, Lowell is a charter member of the Hockey East association, but let's face reality. We are not a national power, fully aligned D-I, or flagship school. That strikes one, two, and three right there.

Like it or not, we are a D-II University with a D-I hockey team in a region of the country that let's us just say doesn't place much stock in collegiate sports as a whole. The teams whom were selected are national powers or flagship schools with a lot of pull (see UMass/UVM). Let's be honest, Lowell (as a University) hasn't really done much to promote itself on even a regional level let alone national level until Meehan arrived and still are years away from being there.

We had our chance to become players after the 2009 HE Championship. Sure enough, we got national attention, more TV games on NESN, and an invite to a major tournament the following year. When 2009-2010 blew up at the end, we saw what happened to that regional and national attention. Look at Northeastern, they haven't won a notable championship in almost 25 years and they are much more nationally known that UML. They didn't get a game.

TV = Sizzle and Politics. Personally, I'd love to see UML and Merrimack get it on at Fenway with my blinders on. However, if I'm a marketing manager for the Red Sox responsible for $$$, putting fannies in seats, and had my choice of UNH/Maine or Merrimack/UML whom would I go with. That's a no brainer. Get home ice every year, be political, win a HE Championship, get into the NCAA's consistently, that's how you get on National TV.

 

[Onion Man]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

A new NBC Sports TV deal, another game added to Frozen Fenway and, per usual, Lowell isn't involved at all. As disgusted as I am, it's not a shock. Bertagna's contempt for Lowell is obvious and well known. I would like to hear Dana or Marty weigh in on the matter publicly. How they can sit back while Hockey East pretends Lowell doesn't exist makes zero sense to me.

I can makes sense of Lowell not being on tv this year, even though in a perfect world each team would get a game. But to add another game to the Fenway lineup and give teams a second go when MC, PC and Lowell haven't gotten one is unacceptable. The kicker of course being that UMass (1994) and Vermont (2005) get a game while Lowell, an original member, doesn't. Par for the course, Bertagna, you absolute idiot.

Umm, Boston College is the masthead program in Hockey East aren't they? Considering the name recognition, their success and their local fanbase in Boston, Bertagna would be an idiot NOT to include them. It's about making money, not catering to the bottom feeding programs in the conference. I realize that Brown will never see a game at Fenway either, but don't make yourself sound foolish.

 

[Patronick]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

I can understand being angry for the point of trying to force the issue, but why is anybody surprised by any of this?

Do I even need to mention that our level of national brand recongition is nearly zero. If they have us play at all it'll have to involve 3 of the stronger players. If we even get a chance it'll be PC one year (and let's remember, PC is full D1), Merrimack another, and us. If we're lucky, given the current talent of the team, we'll go before Merrimack.

Want to change this? Start winning.

For a man with so many degrees, you don't comprehend very well. I stated it's not a shock that this happened. No, I'm not surprised. Being angry? Yup. Just because Bertagna ****s on Lowell on a regular basis doesn't mean we should sit there and smile while it happens. If that's the stance you want to take, by all means.

The winning argument, really? It didn't make much of a difference when we WERE winning, did it? Do you recall Hockey East showering Lowell with praise and such after the 2008 Championship game? I don't. I DO recall hearing from Bertagna, but only so that he could defend his putrid officials and their premature whistles.

Winning also didn't help Merrimack much. Made the tournament last season, undefeated this season and they were left out too. Let's not pretend this has anything to do with success.

 

[Patronick]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

Umm, Boston College is the masthead program in Hockey East aren't they? Considering the name recognition, their success and their local fanbase in Boston, Bertagna would be an idiot NOT to include them. It's about making money, not catering to the bottom feeding programs in the conference. I realize that Brown will never see a game at Fenway either, but don't make yourself sound foolish.

Yes, with Brown being firmly entrenched in Hockey East that makes a lot of sense. Solid argument.

 

[Patman]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

For a man with so many degrees, you don't comprehend very well. I stated it's not a shock that this happened. No, I'm not surprised. Being angry? Yup. Just because Bertagna ****s on Lowell on a regular basis doesn't mean we should sit there and smile while it happens. If that's the stance you want to take, by all means.

Get over it. Nobody said we had to like it, just don't act like we're owed something.

 

[Patronick]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

Just heard about the other Fenway game as the power/cable have been out since Saturday.

Bob Ellis had an interview with Joe Bertagna that he played during the exhibition game. I'm not sure if it's available some where on the UML site. Bertagna talked about the Fenway games and the feed back he was receiving from Lowell fans. If I remember correctly, he said the Fenway folks were very involved in determining the matchups. There main concern was filling the place. He also mentioned that Lowell and Northeastern were left out of the preliminary discussions because of their proposed game in Ireland, which eventually fell through.

Hey I don't like Lowell being left out either, but as Patman said, start winning and then they can't ignore you.

It's not a coincidence that Northeastern was brought back into the discussion with the announcement of the added game and Lowell was not.

And again, the winning argument. Ask Merrimack how that's working out for them.

As the Commish of the league, Bertagna should be concerned with promoting all the teams in Hockey East, and as far as Lowell goes, that has NEVER been the case.

 

[Patronick]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

Get over it. Nobody said we had to like it, just don't act like we're owed something.

By the commissioner of the league? I think by definition we're owed at least equal footing, and that is certainly not the case. If that's expecting too much than we might as well fold up the program because what's the point?

 

[Onion Man]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

Yes, with Brown being firmly entrenched in Hockey East that makes a lot of sense. Solid argument.

Im not sure how firmly entrenched Lowell is going to be in Hockey East in a few years. Is the Fenway thing a "Hockey East only" event? You dont think Harvard would participate someday in something like this? Lowell isn't going to put anyone in the seats and I have to imagine this game costs Hockey East a fortune. They need a marquee name and Lowell will never be a marquee name in hockey, sorry.

 

[Onion Man]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

Do you recall Hockey East showering Lowell with praise and such after the 2008 Championship game? I don't.

Germans? Forget it, he's rolling...

 

[Patman]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

By the commissioner of the league? I think by definition we're owed at least equal footing, and that is certainly not the case. If that's expecting too much than we might as well fold up the program because what's the point?

Really?

 

[UMLFan]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

By the commissioner of the league? I think by definition we're owed at least equal footing, and that is certainly not the case. If that's expecting too much than we might as well fold up the program because what's the point?

The Commish of the league should want all his teams to succeed because it does make the top teams stand out more. Not giving every team a chance to have a shot, while giving others shows favoritism, like it or not.

I'm not happy about this, but then again, I didn't expect Lowell to get a shot, so ...

In regards to people being upset and others complaining ... this is the Lowell thread where he's complaining, so why does that bother you (especially the Brown fan).

 

[Onion Man]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

The Commish of the league should want all his teams to succeed because it does make the top teams stand out more. Not giving every team a chance to have a shot, while giving others shows favoritism, like it or not.

I'm not happy about this, but then again, I didn't expect Lowell to get a shot, so ...

In regards to people being upset and others complaining ... this is the Lowell thread where he's complaining, so why does that bother you (especially the Brown fan).

It doesn't bother me, I thought his rant was funny yet ignorant on many levels. It sounds like 'someone' needs to learn what makes the world go around.

 

[UMLFan]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

Im not sure how firmly entrenched Lowell is going to be in Hockey East in a few years.

You know something we don't?

Is the Fenway thing a "Hockey East only" event?

At this point, yes. Or do you see a schedule currently with non-Hockey East teams playing there?

You dont think Harvard would participate someday in something like this?

There you go ... just hold the Beanpot at Fenway! Win win!

Lowell isn't going to put anyone in the seats

I have to laugh at someone from Brown saying this.

They need a marquee name and Lowell will never be a marquee name in hockey, sorry.

They don't need to be a marquee name, and no one is saying they are. Patronick (right IMHO) is saying every HE team should get a shot. That's all. On top of that, Lowell has a very large number of alumni in the Boston area. They would sell well, for examples ... see the Lowell crowds at the Fleet/Garden/TD whatever it's called stadium when Lowell has made it to the HE semis/finals.

 

[Patronick]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

The Commish of the league should want all his teams to succeed because it does make the top teams stand out more. Not giving every team a chance to have a shot, while giving others shows favoritism, like it or not.

I'm not happy about this, but then again, I didn't expect Lowell to get a shot, so ...

In regards to people being upset and others complaining ... this is the Lowell thread where he's complaining, so why does that bother you (especially the Brown fan).

I know that no one is happy about it, and perhaps people are tired of voicing an argument that we all know is falling on deaf ears. I would just like someone at ULowell to say something publicly. Show that the school has a spine and that they're not going to grin and bear it while being treating as a second class organization. Coach, AD, Chancellor...just somebody say something that isn't behind closed doors so we know they even give a ****.

 

[Onion Man]

Re: UML 2011/2012 Season Thread

You know something we don't?

At this point, yes. Or do you see a schedule currently with non-Hockey East teams playing there?

There you go ... just hold the Beanpot at Fenway! Win win!
I have to laugh at someone from Brown saying this.
They don't need to be a marquee name, and no one is saying they are. Patronick (right IMHO) is saying every HE team should get a shot. That's all. On top of that, Lowell has a very large number of alumni in the Boston area. They would sell well, for examples ... see the Lowell crowds at the Fleet/Garden/TD whatever it's called stadium when Lowell has made it to the HE semis/finals.

No, not every team deserves a shot to try and sell out a 40k seat building. You think Brown vs. UML would sell out? The only time either Brown or Lowell's arenas are sold out is when a big time opponent comes in with their fans. Dont be foolish. This event will grow to other non-Hockey East programs if it is successful. A Bu vs. Michigan and BC vs. Notre Dame doubleheader would be fantastic. Personally, I think Lowell will eventually either fold its program due to budget cuts (does Massachusetts really need two D1 teams?) or go to the ECAC (a conference they'd probably do well in).

I dont know what you mean by the Lowell crowds at the Fleet. I was at the 09 final and 11 final and the Merrimack fans totally outnumbered what Lowell brought.