UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

[wildcatdc]

Wildcatdc, those thingies called lights must be a recent invention that just hit the seacoast not to mention the lack of support from the state! The worst run athletic program in the country should be appalled! I tell you what, those kids on the field must not have gotten the memo, cuz they sure looked happy and proud to be wildcats!

That's so cool. I was unfortunately in Cercado, Mato Grosso, BR, in the middle of NOWHERE with internet speeds approaching CompuServe levels. I was barely able to post text.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

That was a loss to Illinois State in the semis which would have sent us to the finals vs. NDSU. IIRC, they scored on their final possession to beat us.

All games prior to the finals are played on campus sites, with the finals held at a neutral location - last year was Frisco ,Texas.

Ha! Hubby was wrong knew it. Anyway...when will we see your presence in the 'Whitt sir? Maine game? Lemme know.

 

[wildcatdc]

Ha! Hubby was wrong knew it. Anyway...when will we see your presence in the 'Whitt sir? Maine game? Lemme know.

Emily and I will be there 12/5, as I am back for a month during the holidays. Then at the Verizon for the late December Maine game. Then I'm back for the Notre Dame weekend.

After that, I'm probably done with seeing things live unless we make it to the Gaaahhhden!!

 

[e.cat]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

That's so cool. I was unfortunately in Cercado, Mato Grosso, BR, in the middle of NOWHERE with internet speeds approaching CompuServe levels. I was barely able to post text.

Okay, I must admit I had to google Mato Grosso, BR. You can't get there from where I'm at but I'm sure it's very nice

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Emily and I will be there 12/5, as I am back for a month during the holidays. Then at the Verizon for the late December Maine game. Then I'm back for the Notre Dame weekend.

After that, I'm probably done with seeing things live unless we make it to the Gaaahhhden!!

Awesome! See you guys then. Have to meet at the pic again. Speaking of the picture, this year, it's only jrs and srs. not the entire team. Guess all those sophs take up too much space! We'll be at all of that, no surprise there. Looking forward! Happy Thanksgiving to you and Em...

 

[scoreboard]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

I'm confused. Am I on Facebook???

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Coach Les Miles met with LSU officials last week to discuss his future, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports, and the discussion was centered on how and when the two parties would be parting ways. During the conversation, the realization that Miles's days are numbered set in with LSU's head football coach, who discussed a retirement from LSU following the 2016 season.

 

[wildcatdc]

Coach Les Miles met with LSU officials last week to discuss his future, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports, and the discussion was centered on how and when the two parties would be parting ways. During the conversation, the realization that Miles's days are numbered set in with LSU's head football coach, who discussed a retirement from LSU following the 2016 season.

I hope we go the Les Miles way, and not the Bobby Bowden way.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

I hope we go the Les Miles way, and not the Bobby Bowden way.

Based on Coach Umile's latest *contract*, he'll be halfway through his 3 year term when Miles would step down.

For those rising to the defense of UNH Athletics ... please understand there is a bright line of differentiation between what the Football program - players and coaches - have accomplished, which is laudable and exceptional, given the level of support/lack thereof they've received from the head of their department. And I don't want to hear about limited state funding, which has become a chronic but easy-made excuse for all that ails the University. There are these concepts known as "donors" and "resourcefulness". Makes you wonder if the stadium ever gets built if they dared missed the playoffs even once or twice over the last dozen years. JMHO.

 

[BCeagle]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Highly skilled teams like the Eagles have to be sharp each game to be sure coz everyone wants to beat them. And on any given night esp in hockey this is a very real possibility! Yes they are blessed with exceptional lines to roll out all night long and eventually this was the difference in the game.

I didn't expect them to look past UNH per se and to play at a top level game in and game out has to be tough thing to maintain. I took a look at their results just before this game and can see it hasn't exactly been a roll in the park. Q for you did you see this game and if so how do you think they played (BC) from your perspective?

I just got home from watching the basketball team at Conte but agree with fivehole12 pretty much. UNH played BC tough as expected.

BC's depth is the difference this year. None of the goals were the goalie's fault.

I felt the UNH defense let him down.

On the SH goal by Fitz he was given too much time and space to pick the corner when he was allowed to skate in on the goalie by the D.

BC never allowed UNH to take the lead and just kept coming and coming at UNH after they made some surges in the BC end but never could find the net.

It was a hard fought win for BC and after last year, the upperclassmen have blended in well with the frosh who have added a lot of depth to this years team.

 

[wildcatdc]

Based on Coach Umile's latest *contract*, he'll be halfway through his 3 year term when Miles would step down.

For those rising to the defense of UNH Athletics ... please understand there is a bright line of differentiation between what the Football program - players and coaches - have accomplished, which is laudable and exceptional, given the level of support/lack thereof they've received from the head of their department. And I don't want to hear about limited state funding, which has become a chronic but easy-made excuse for all that ails the University. There are these concepts known as "donors" and "resourcefulness". Makes you wonder if the stadium ever gets built if they dared missed the playoffs even once or twice over the last dozen years. JMHO.

Agreed with your first point - 100%.

As to your second point, I have reached my breaking point here. Whatever your personal beef is with Scarano, (and you made it personal with your bringing his wife into it - classy move, kinda like your tacky comment about the UNH head of development), you should come clean about it, or stop with the disparaging and baseless attacks. To hear you tell it, all that is wrong in the world is Scarano's fault.

It's reached the point of absurdity, and your credibility is waning. Your obvious lack of insight into what is happening broadly in Durham, and more specifically in the athletic department, is glaring. Your re-entry to the boards here included a direct attack on Scarano, where, in the end, you came out on the wrong side of history.

In October, I was involved in a really interesting conversation with a UNH alum, huge donor, and a accomplished professional athlete. Unprovoked, he was lauding praise on how far UNH athletics has come since his days (which preceded mine) on campus. He was effusive in his praise of the department and how the senior administration supported the athletic department.

I couldn't have agreed with him more. As an actual alumni who suffered the ignominy of the late 80's/early 90's hoops and hockey mess, where there was MINIMAL student support (it was all about Greek Life those days), I can say that what I see on campus when I'm back for visits is truly remarkable - it feels like a complete university these days, with a real, functioning athletics department (not just Lively Snively). I feel more inclined to respect HIS perspective and my own comparative experiences than someone who is taking potshots at every chance he gets, displaying a real lack of understanding as to the accomplishments of the UNH athletic teams. And I'm done sitting on the sidelines while it happens.

Whether you consider it self-aggrandizing or not (really don't care if you do), his UNH biography is a good read for those who want to see a list of accomplishments over the past 16 years. A pretty impressive mix of scholarly achievement, capital improvements, athletic performance, fundraising, and brand awareness. I would say that an objective reader will see the bias towards facts and data - I wouldn't call this a spin piece.

http://unhwildcats.com/staff.aspx?staff=1

I have said many times on these boards that I don't have a dog in the Scarano race. Met him once or twice, brief conversations, as he worked the room at hockey games. Wasn't feeling the warm fuzzies, but I don't care - I just want performance. Hated the wording of the original McCloskey headline, but the decision was rock-solid. Have a hard time beating him up over Umile - I think that horse had left the barn, a la Bowden. And you can't bemoan the lack of broad public support for UNH hockey In one breath and then hammer him for his attempts to broaden the reach through corporate deals and Verizon games In the next.

But I'm not going to sit by any longer in these boards, Chuck, and have you pillory the athletics department and its head, when, as a 5-year student in the dark days and now someone who is proudly involved as an alum and donor, I can see the revolutionary shift that has happened. (By the way, this extends to UNH as a whole over the last 7-8 years, coinciding with Huddleston's arrival) The campus, and its athletics, are thriving. The donor base is growing, the infrastructure is exploding, etc. etc.

Sorry to make this an open, letter, Chuck, but it's been two long years of the same diatribe. I have HUGE respect for your history with regards to UNH hockey, and your hockey knowledge in general. It adds SO MUCH to the dialogue here, and I appreciate it. But please, bury the Scarano hatchet. For cripessake, the guy was National AD of the year not too long ago!!!

Rant over.

 

[e.cat]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Not to pile on Chuck but I suspect you can handle it. Your attacks directed toward MacDonald are really over the top. Say what you will about the team as a whole (despite ever setting foot in the Whit this year!) lacks credibility. These kids are student athletes, not professional athletes. Yeah, they get scholarships and are put on pedestals but they are student athletes working their arses off. I saw MacDonald work his arse off both nights at the Whit this weekend setting an example for his teammates. He has come back from devastating injury and got elected captain by his teammates. I don't think what he says in the dressing room falls on deaf ears because he didn't dress for some games last year. Quite the contrary. I think his teammates see a guy who has come back from adversity and a guy with a strong work ethic deserving of a letter on his sweater!

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Not to pile on Chuck but I suspect you can handle it. Your attacks directed toward MacDonald are really over the top. Say what you will about the team as a whole (despite ever setting foot in the Whit this year!) lacks credibility. These kids are student athletes, not professional athletes. Yeah, they get scholarships and are put on pedestals but they are student athletes working their arses off. I saw MacDonald work his arse off both nights at the Whit this weekend setting an example for his teammates. He has come back from devastating injury and got elected captain by his teammates. I don't think what he says in the dressing room falls on deaf ears because he didn't dress for some games last year. Quite the contrary. I think his teammates see a guy who has come back from adversity and a guy with a strong work ethic deserving of a letter on his sweater!

Our captain, along with the other 2, are indeed hard working players who deserve respect. They care about the welfare of this team and I know the other players hold them in high esteem. How do I know that? It's obvious if you attend games and see the team interact. I remember when he broke his leg and how devastating that injury was, and how hard he worked to come back from it. In fact it was so bad that he had serious complications that were life threatening. Can only imagine. No I really can't imagine. While coming back from this injury isn't the main reason WHY he should be captain let's not forget the TEAM voted for him so it's a no brainer assumption that he has the leadership capabilities THEY wanted.

Last Spring when Brett Pesce left I thought to myself who would be a good captain and he came to mind. And yes, I won't lie that I thought TyK would be given an A FWIW dept. I've met Collin MacD on several occasions and believe he is a fine, upstanding young man. I realized his limited playing time, knew his numbers . Yes, I do know these things, strange as it may seem! Felt he was best suited for the job out of the rest of them. Not that it matters much but as a former coach you better believe I felt Seniors should be / could be captains regardless of their performance IF they had leadership skills AND if I knew the team would be the better for it.

It's not a popularity contest...it's 'who is right for the job'. I've had plenty of prima donna athletes chosen as captains who had only their best interests in mind so I know this to be true. So really wasn't that surprised he was selected, but at the same time, I also knew, it would raise an eyebrow or two given his limited role in the past.
When you think about these present 'Cats, who DOESNT have a past limited role, other than TyK, Cleland, Maller? Their turn is next year....

This team is already facing adversity and I think they are in for some more as there are injuries to be worked through. The least we can do on a 'fan forum' is to speak positively / objectively to them. I sure wouldn't want my kid talked about the way they are here and I know this is a public forum where 'anything' goes. They aren't perfect, they may not score 3 goals a game but they represent us when they skate onto the ice each night. And yes, they are scholarshipped athletes who aren't above fan commentary for their performance. That's the life of an athlete esp. at this high level. That's not the point here. You are so right e.cat...they are indeed still student athletes and I appreciate the reminder. Go 'Cats!!

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Emily and I will be there 12/5, as I am back for a month during the holidays. Then at the Verizon for the late December Maine game. Then I'm back for the Notre Dame weekend.

After that, I'm probably done with seeing things live unless we make it to the Gaaahhhden!!

until

 

[wildcatdc]

until

Your lips to the hockey gods' ears.

 

[bomberhockey]

Agreed with your first point - 100%.

As to your second point, I have reached my breaking point here. Whatever your personal beef is with Scarano, (and you made it personal with your bringing his wife into it - classy move, kinda like your tacky comment about the UNH head of development), you should come clean about it, or stop with the disparaging and baseless attacks. To hear you tell it, all that is wrong in the world is Scarano's fault.

It's reached the point of absurdity, and your credibility is waning. Your obvious lack of insight into what is happening broadly in Durham, and more specifically in the athletic department, is glaring. Your re-entry to the boards here included a direct attack on Scarano, where, in the end, you came out on the wrong side of history.

In October, I was involved in a really interesting conversation with a UNH alum, huge donor, and a accomplished professional athlete. Unprovoked, he was lauding praise on how far UNH athletics has come since his days (which preceded mine) on campus. He was effusive in his praise of the department and how the senior administration supported the athletic department.

I couldn't have agreed with him more. As an actual alumni who suffered the ignominy of the late 80's/early 90's hoops and hockey mess, where there was MINIMAL student support (it was all about Greek Life those days), I can say that what I see on campus when I'm back for visits is truly remarkable - it feels like a complete university these days, with a real, functioning athletics department (not just Lively Snively). I feel more inclined to respect HIS perspective and my own comparative experiences than someone who is taking potshots at every chance he gets, displaying a real lack of understanding as to the accomplishments of the UNH athletic teams. And I'm done sitting on the sidelines while it happens.

Whether you consider it self-aggrandizing or not (really don't care if you do), his UNH biography is a good read for those who want to see a list of accomplishments over the past 16 years. A pretty impressive mix of scholarly achievement, capital improvements, athletic performance, fundraising, and brand awareness. I would say that an objective reader will see the bias towards facts and data - I wouldn't call this a spin piece.

http://unhwildcats.com/staff.aspx?staff=1

I have said many times on these boards that I don't have a dog in the Scarano race. Met him once or twice, brief conversations, as he worked the room at hockey games. Wasn't feeling the warm fuzzies, but I don't care - I just want performance. Hated the wording of the original McCloskey headline, but the decision was rock-solid. Have a hard time beating him up over Umile - I think that horse had left the barn, a la Bowden. And you can't bemoan the lack of broad public support for UNH hockey In one breath and then hammer him for his attempts to broaden the reach through corporate deals and Verizon games In the next.

But I'm not going to sit by any longer in these boards, Chuck, and have you pillory the athletics department and its head, when, as a 5-year student in the dark days and now someone who is proudly involved as an alum and donor, I can see the revolutionary shift that has happened. (By the way, this extends to UNH as a whole over the last 7-8 years, coinciding with Huddleston's arrival) The campus, and its athletics, are thriving. The donor base is growing, the infrastructure is exploding, etc. etc.

Sorry to make this an open, letter, Chuck, but it's been two long years of the same diatribe. I have HUGE respect for your history with regards to UNH hockey, and your hockey knowledge in general. It adds SO MUCH to the dialogue here, and I appreciate it. But please, bury the Scarano hatchet. For cripessake, the guy was National AD of the year not too long ago!!!

Rant over.

Chuck's not wrong, the AD has known for years about the deteriation of the flagship program, but sat on his hands. This should be a priority right up to the president to try to restore the flagship here at the U now!

 

[wildcatdc]

Chuck's not wrong, the AD has known for years about the deteriation of the flagship program, but sat on his hands. This should be a priority right up to the president to try to restore the flagship here at the U now!

You're talking about one situation, Umile.

Has ZIPPO to do with anything else the department has achieved over the last 16 years.

And with regards to Umile, I'd really like to have seen a change a couple years back, but NONE of us know what exactly had been decided or discussed, so to assume that he "sat on his hands" is laughable. Especially given that the deterioration included a trip to the NCAA QF's in 2013 and the HEA Championship game in 2014. How quickly we forget.

I can just see the conversation in May of 2013 - "Coach, taking your team to the brink of the FF this year is a clear indication that you've overstayed your welcome. Please have your resignation in my hands at the end of the day". Sheesh,

 

[bomberhockey]

You're talking about one situation, Umile.

Has ZIPPO to do with anything else the department has achieved over the last 16 years.

And with regards to Umile, I'd really like to have seen a change a couple years back, but NONE of us know what exactly had been decided or discussed, so to assume that he "sat on his hands" is laughable. Especially given that the deterioration included a trip to the NCAA QF's in 2013 and the HEA Championship game in 2014. How quickly we forget.

I can just see the conversation in May of 2013 - "Coach, taking your team to the brink of the FF this year is a clear indication that you've overstayed your welcome. Please have your resignation in my hands at the end of the day". Sheesh,

I'm making no assumptions.

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

You're talking about one situation, Umile.

Has ZIPPO to do with anything else the department has achieved over the last 16 years

Perhaps you are right about the other accomplishments. I have no knowledge one way or the other. But since this is a hockey board, I/we focus on that. You ask what he could have done, and I grant you that a lot depends on things the public doesn't know. For example, was this a three year "extension" or a buy out of his lifetime contract. (I could see a situation where his contract extended to age 70 and this moved that up by two years.)

Do you push him out in 2011 when he hires an older friend rather than the needed younger guy? Probably not.

Another unknown is what precipitated the Borek move. Was it a matter of Umile now having a closer end so telling Borek it would be wise to start transitioning? Or was it the "need" to bring Umiles chosen successor in to get some credibility? And most importantly from Scarano's evaluation, who suggested that Umile could hand pick his successor rather than doing what every school has ever done and that is form a committee in 2018 perhaps including coach, and letting them decide the best candidate in 2018. Allowing Umile to hand pick seemed like ceding too much control to him.

So, even if focusing solely on hockey and June 2015, I can't say scarano covered himself in glory. We can go back and debate whether this is a pattern of deferring too much (or not pushing back) on his decisions since 2011. That would have taken more courage than one perhaps can expect, but would have been welcome.

 

[wildcatdc]

Perhaps you are right about the other accomplishments. I have no knowledge one way or the other. But since this is a hockey board, I/we focus on that. You ask what he could have done, and I grant you that a lot depends on things the public doesn't know. For example, was this a three year "extension" or a buy out of his lifetime contract. (I could see a situation where his contract extended to age 70 and this moved that up by two years.)

Do you push him out in 2011 when he hires an older friend rather than the needed younger guy? Probably not.

Another unknown is what precipitated the Borek move. Was it a matter of Umile now having a closer end so telling Borek it would be wise to start transitioning? Or was it the "need" to bring Umiles chosen successor in to get some credibility? And most importantly from Scarano's evaluation, who suggested that Umile could hand pick his successor rather than doing what every school has ever done and that is form a committee in 2018 perhaps including coach, and letting them decide the best candidate in 2018. Allowing Umile to hand pick seemed like ceding too much control to him.

So, even if focusing solely on hockey and June 2015, I can't say scarano covered himself in glory. We can go back and debate whether this is a pattern of deferring too much (or not pushing back) on his decisions since 2011. That would have taken more courage than one perhaps can expect, but would have been welcome.

This is an incredibly rational response, and I really appreciate it.

1. Completely agree that this is a hockey board, and my OP was is response to the consistent stream of negativity showered on the AD and administration, that had flown far afield of hockey. Note the post that I reacted to, which referenced the football program getting no support from the department and a lack of donor recruitment. That set me off.

2. The rest of your post is PRECISELY the type of rational hockey discussion that this board merits, not the childish character assassination that has been going on.

3. I'm in your court with regards to the 3-year agreement potentially being a compromise to allow a semi-graceful exit. Could have been the best present that the AD was handed, or it could have been the AD applying pressure on a UNH near-deity and coming up with the best possible outcome. Or something in-between.

4. There are several ways in which I think the AD has not acquitted himself well over the past few years, and I have been clear in my criticism. What gets me going is when people jump to assumptions about just how much control the AD had over this situation, and/or whether he actually made the best of a really delicate situation.

In summary, I think with the potential exception of a poster or two here, we all think the time has come for DU to move on, and we all wish that the AD had more control and foresight over the situation. Other rapid decision-making evidence we've seen leads me to believe the AD isn't a shrinking violet.

What we should avoid is the BS non-sequiturs and assignment of blame for all that ails us to the AD. It's petty and ridiculous, given the overall body of work.

What we should have more of is the quality of your above post.