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UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

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Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Hey Chuck your beloved Red Wings are playing the 'Hawks at 8 Wed Night Rivary NBCSN... Go 'Hawks 😉 That rookie Larkins impressive...
 
I am also giving up my two season tickets .... have had them since 1969.
That is a travesty!
Richie do the right thing and step down now, do it for your legacy, do for your alma mater, do it for Sonar! It's extremely competitive recruiting when you are actually working at it. Yeah I heard you've been in the rinks again, but it too little too late. Oh and take your boss with you!
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

You want to dance? Let's dance. Those teams all paid less in 2015 than in 2014. The market tightened. Here are those four schools mentioned above:

Michigan State: no FCS game
Iowa: Illinois State $500,000 (http://www.thegazette.com/subject/s...uarantees-from-2014-2018-805-million-20140620)
Illinois: Western Illinois $375,000 (http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/...nois-football-paying-big-bucks-opponents.html)
Oregon: Eastern Washington $450,000 (http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/index.ssf/2015/09/georgia_state_gets_big_payout.html)

Others I found quickly:

Florida State: Chattanooga $500,000 (http://onlyagame.wbur.org/2015/09/19/guarantee-games-college-football-ncaa)
Texas Tech: Sam Houston $450,000 (http://www.testudotimes.com/2015/9/19/9340219/maryland-bowling-green-football-game-contract-2015)
Pittsburgh: Youngstown State $425,000 (http://www.testudotimes.com/2015/9/19/9340219/maryland-bowling-green-football-game-contract-2015)
Syracuse: Rhode Island $400,000 (http://ripr.org/post/after-disastrous-season-opener-should-uri-drop-football-maybe-not)
Missouri: Southeast Missouri $385,000 (http://www.testudotimes.com/2015/9/19/9340219/maryland-bowling-green-football-game-contract-2015)
Georgia Tech: Alcorn State $375,000 (http://www.testudotimes.com/2015/9/19/9340219/maryland-bowling-green-football-game-contract-2015)
Rutgers: Norfolk State $360,000 (http://pilotonline.com/sports/colle...cle_e8287e1b-39f0-5ab7-b466-829d4c1e7ec0.html)
Clemson: Wofford $275,000 (http://www.testudotimes.com/2015/9/19/9340219/maryland-bowling-green-football-game-contract-2015)

$400,000 is pretty standard unless you are playing one of the top, top teams. And every FCS school is clamoring to do that. Look at Youngstown, they got $560k in the article you found in 2014, last year it was down to $425k. Boston College as a football school is more in line with the Rutgers, Georgia Tech, Syracuse crowd than the Oregon, Iowa, Florida State crowd.

If you want to quibble about $25,000 or so, feel free, but that game is a bus ride, so no flights to book, Maine can have alumni events in Boston, etc. $400k considering the market, the location, the fact that the game won't be 55-0, not a bad deal.

I'm confused as to your point, mainly because I specifically said in my last post that the market was tightening and prices were dropping. I even told you why - the four team playoff. Top teams are much less willing to play FCS schools because they have a small margin for error to even compete for a national championship. But, if you need to feel like you trumped me here good for you. I also admitted that prices had dropped so much that my recollection of the payouts was incorrect. However, you were on the low end for major college payouts.

Of the schools you mentioned last season, three are major DI football programs. Florida State still paid half a million dollars, Missouri got a bargain (for the reasons you cite Maine playing at BC) and Clemson got a steal from a school less than an hour away.

Unforutnately, since the debate only began when I stated that the UNH basketball team (a perennial loser) would do better by the UNH athletic department by playing money games against the highest bidders instead of worrying about winning DII games at home, all that has mattered to my argument, despite the transition to football payouts IS the highest bidders. I don't care if Maine took a lower payout to host alumni. I don't care about UNH getting a lower payout at SJSU or Maine getting a smaller payout at Tulane. So if you want to discuss why teams are taking lower payouts, or dive into why FCS football payouts have dropped, find someone else. Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee all paid 500K+ to host FCS schools last year. So there is still money to be had - even if we both are clearly aware its getting smaller in FOOTBALL.

That doesn't change the fact that UNH could make 80-100K per non-conference BASKETBALL game if they wanted to. So unless you want to argue the pros/cons of them doing so, this argument is no longer of any interest to me...
 
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Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Wyse is the real deal and no matter what others say, he was in play with a lot of teams and he chose UNH. He was the third player picked overall in the entry draft for the USHL. That is not a player Watcher should call singles and doubles. The forwards coming in next year are of a higher caliber than those leaving and the freshmen and sophomore class this year are very good and will only get better. I am thinking the group here will be like the team post-graduation year of Nick Poole ( a top notch player but we were losing close games) and the next year started the 15+ year run that we all enjoyed so much. Keep the faith.

First of all, I have a lot of optimism for next year - I think the team gains a lot just through graduation and agree that next year's freshman class is the deepest they've had in a while. After next season, there are a lot of questions and its hard to have a lot of faith. I wish I shared your expectations, but there are a lot of things that will need to happen for me to get on the bandwagon that the success of the late '90s and '00s is just around the corner. Lets take a look at the future recruiting classes and the impact they need to have to just keep UNH afloat...

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Class of 2016
Blackburn & Fregona - very good players, who I think should be 100+ point scorers at UNH. They're part of the reason I think next year can be a very good year for UNH, but it will only be a good year if they're ready to contribute RIGHT AWAY. If not, they develop as freshman and arent ready to play an important role until after Poturalski and Kelleher are gone...

Wyse - Clearly a good player, but he's not going to be the savior of the defense. As it turns out, the 'other HE schools' he truly considered were UVM and Maine. BU is at risk to lose multiple guys, but even if they lost two defensemen early he's likely going there on little to no money for a chance to compete to be the sixth defenseman. Last season they had a 2nd round pick sitting (plus two others) in the stands and they're bringing in two of the best D recruits in the country, period. I still believe that if UNH's scoring defense is going to get better next year it falls entirely on the guys who are already here, getting better. That said, I don't want to give the impression I'm not happy he's here. He has all the potential to be UNHs #2 defenseman next season and is the most exciting recruit they've had in a while.

Kelleher - There is reason to be optimistic, but there are also lots of questions. He's still awfully slight and his junior profile matches that of Kyle Smith.

BVR - Again, reason for optimism but lost of questions. He's getting higher expectations due, not only to his last name, but because Trevor's exceeded even the wildest of expectations. He has a lot of development still in front of him.

Grasso - Just like Kelleher & BVR, there is a lot of uncertainty here. I loved the commit and heard lots of Micflikier comparisons when he verballed, but he is now in his third USHL season, and he hasn't grown a bit (5-7, 150), is still just over a half a point per game scorer and is a -73 in his USHL career.

Robinson - He is talented and big, but hasn't played much over the last couple of seasons. Additionally, much of they hype around Robinson comes from his size and potential. He is just as likely to seize the job from day one as he is to sit and develop for at least two seasons. Big goalies can take a long time.

Nonis - I think he's the kind of guy who rounds out a defensive corp.

Sacco - whenever he comes he'll be an upgrade over the player he's replacing, but he likely had a role player ceiling as a DI forward. FYI, a couple of days after his commitment Lowell picked up Grasso's teammate and the 10th highest scorer in the USHL (a player all their posters think is also walking on).

Class of 2017 - by the time this class arrives, Poturalski and Kelleher are gone. With this class unlikely to make an immediate impact, SERIOUS development from current players is needed for UNH to have any success this season. Additionally, this class still needs to add pieces - what will they look like?

Cippolone - Seems to have offensive upside, but is struggling in his adjustment to the USHL. I was once told the USHL was an 18-year olds' league - its clearly gotten older. Hopefully, he will realize his offensive potential in his second year with Tri-City. But that is still a legitimate questions.

Darcy - One of the more concerning recruits for me - he was a nice get when he committed and is still getting NHL attention to some degree. Unfortunately, he has since played an extra year at BA and is now only competing in Eastern juniors. I thought he'd be generating more attention and excitement by this point...

MacAdams - He seems like a solid two-way forward and more of a third-line player on a successful UNH team. I would love to seem him develop his offensive game in his second USHL season (along with Cippolone).

A. O'Neill - He still seems unable to contribute offensively at the junior level.


Class of 2018 - at this point you hope the 2016 & 2017 classes are meeting expectations, but Eiserman, McNicholas, 4 defenseman, 1 or 2 goalies, a couple others and potentially Vela will join Poturalski and Kelleher as alumni. So unless the 2016 & 2017 classes are beyond expectation and additional high-end recruits are added what can we expect from this year's team?

Esposito & J. O'Neill - Two of the more exciting recruits in the system, as younger players already playing consistently in high-level junior leagues but a long way from Durham. A lot of time to develop into the offensive players they're thought to be by many and a lot of time to see their development and offensive ability max out. O'Neill has better numbers in a more offensive league, while Esposito is already getting a regular shift in the USHL despite being young. Exciting, but this is like having two top prospects in single-A...

Green - Still playing in a WEAK junior league and needs a lot to happen developmentally to surpass a lot of the D we currently have.

----------

So, I'm with you - optimistic for next season (though next season depends on a lot of things happening, too), but skeptical about the future as it currently stands. A lot has to go right with the recruits currently in the pipeline and even then there are a lot of pieces that need to be added. A lot of the spots Souza and Stewart need to fill MUST be high-end recruits. This staff has been in place nearly a year and the pace of recruiting, as well as the solid but not spectacular pieces leave a lot more questions than reasons for faith. I hope we'll get a lot more answers ASAP and have legitimate reasons to finally get excited about the future...
 
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Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

I'm confused as to your point, mainly because I specifically said in my last post that the market was tightening and prices were dropping. I even told you why - the four team playoff. Top teams are much less willing to play FCS schools because they have a small margin for error to even compete for a national championship. But, if you need to feel like you trumped me here good for you. I also admitted that prices had dropped so much that my recollection of the payouts was incorrect. However, you were on the low end for major college payouts.

You said UNH should get $750k/football game. I said Maine played two games and didn't get that. You conceded prices were dropping, but (and this is what I am arguing) then said Maine got ripped off and posted an article with 2014 prices. I listed a bunch of 2015 prices showing P5 games, and Maine's $400k was competitive. And I said that Maine maybe could have gotten $25k more to play a team of BC's caliber but would have had to spend more on travel and had some other benefits that mitigated that $25k.

I wasn't debating anything other than that you were vastly inflating the price of FCS vs. FBS games. There are maybe 15 teams nationally paying the rate that you want UNH to be getting for a football game. Good luck competing with the other 124 or so FCS teams for one of those 15 games, especially because UNH is a good team that offers a chance for the FBS team to lose while, say, Savannah State will roll over and lose 55-0. I'm happy Maine got a fair deal getting $400k from BC and $325k from Tulane based on what similar schools pay.
 
You said UNH should get $750k/football game. I said Maine played two games and didn't get that. You conceded prices were dropping, but (and this is what I am arguing) then said Maine got ripped off and posted an article with 2014 prices. I listed a bunch of 2015 prices showing P5 games, and Maine's $400k was competitive. And I said that Maine maybe could have gotten $25k more to play a team of BC's caliber but would have had to spend more on travel and had some other benefits that mitigated that $25k.

I wasn't debating anything other than that you were vastly inflating the price of FCS vs. FBS games. There are maybe 15 teams nationally paying the rate that you want UNH to be getting for a football game. Good luck competing with the other 124 or so FCS teams for one of those 15 games, especially because UNH is a good team that offers a chance for the FBS team to lose while, say, Savannah State will roll over and lose 55-0. I'm happy Maine got a fair deal getting $400k from BC and $325k from Tulane based on what similar schools pay.

Well, I was only meaning to refer to those select schools, but I apologize for taking a cheap shot at Maine. With your hockey program being so bad, I hardly get the chance anymore.** If that was the right deal for them that's great, but that doesn't mean there aren't opportunities for more money. FCS prices will go up again when the playoff field expands. But the football team at UNH, as I said before has earned the right to make whatever decisions they want. Max payouts, good payouts, all home games...

** yeah, yeah mines awful too
 
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Well, I was only meaning to refer to those select schools, but I apologize for taking a cheap shot at Maine. With your hockey program being so bad, I hardly get the chance anymore.** If that was the right deal for them that's great, but that doesn't mean there aren't opportunities for more money. FCS prices will go up again when the playoff field expands. But the football team at UNH, as I said before has earned the right to make whatever decisions they want. Max payouts, good payouts, all home games...

** yeah, yeah mines awful too

Yeah that's fine. Maine has played those games in the past (Nebraska, Mississippi State, scheduled Florida State but cancelled). They're great and you take them if you can get them but so many schools want them you can't count on it.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Richie do the right thing and step down now, do it for your legacy, do for your alma mater, do it for Sonar! It's extremely competitive recruiting when you are actually working at it. Yeah I heard you've been in the rinks again, but it too little too late. Oh and take your boss with you!

That's an interesting tidbit, hidden in all of the football "will lose for money" discussion. Details? :confused:

HR - watching DRW getting it handed to them by the 'Hawks tonight. Not happy :(
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

UNH @ Merrimack MBPBEGAM round preview from Fosters' Al Pike:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20160302/SPORTS/160309705/-1/NEWSLETTER100

The good news is UNH went 1-0-1 against Merrimack this season, although the teams haven't crossed paths since the middle of November. The Wildcats won the first meeting 4-2 on Oct. 31, and the second one ended in a 3-3 tie on Nov. 14.

Both games were on the road.

"There's not a whole lot of room," said coach Dick Umile. "They can bottle you up there, it's so small, and they do it pretty well."


Note to Coach: it's not like you've cornered the market on slick, lightning quick wingers up front anytime recently. With your current squad, perhaps you guys might want to be the "bottlers" instead of the "bottle-ees"?

:confused:

Extra special note of irony, of course ... attaching the term "bottler" (see English football meaning of the term) to the UNH/Umile scenario. :eek: ;) :eek:

I think the good news for Coach is he gets to 571 on the Slog to 600, but that means a 2-1 series loss too. :(
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

I am also giving up my two season tickets .... have had them since 1969.

Sorry to hear that Sonar. Your post of last month - describing your thoughts while sitting in the back row of the student section at the end of a loss was the best I've ever read on this board. The writing - perceptive, depressing, yet humorous - was brilliant.
Sometime before the season ends I might share my thoughts on the Jumbotron - how it's used and what it's done to the atmosphere at the Whitt, none of it good.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Sorry to hear that Sonar. Your post of last month - describing your thoughts while sitting in the back row of the student section at the end of a loss was the best I've ever read on this board. The writing - perceptive, depressing, yet humorous - was brilliant.
Sometime before the season ends I might share my thoughts on the Jumbotron - how it's used and what it's done to the atmosphere at the Whitt, none of it good.

I apologize for harping about this, but to this fan, and as you know I've only been at it for a couple of seasons, the BIGGEST, single most disappointing thing I've noticed this season (atmosphere wise of course) is the intro being lost to that movie of past UNH teams, which, don't even include skaters from the last 3 seasons. It's so anti climatic when they do skate out with the UNH flag...hardly gets you psyched for the upcoming games. NO WONDER they won what, 5, 6 games at the 'Whitt this season? :eek: Not to demean the m ovie; UNH tradition is awesome and should be a part of the fan experience, but it's just not the same. And of course that's NOT the reason we did so poorly at home this eason, but it's all a part of it.

As per the 'tron, the games etc have done nothing for us in our section; I only use it for the player intros and replays of goals/other plays of importance. The rest of it? Pffftttt...That all being said? I'm glad we have it, but for the reasons mentioned. Looking forward to hearing your take on it.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

I apologize for harping about this, but to this fan, and as you know I've only been at it for a couple of seasons, the BIGGEST, single most disappointing thing I've noticed this season (atmosphere wise of course) is the intro being lost to that movie of past UNH teams, which, don't even include skaters from the last 3 seasons. It's so anti climatic when they do skate out with the UNH flag...hardly gets you psyched for the upcoming games. NO WONDER they won what, 5, 6 games at the 'Whitt this season? :eek: Not to demean the m ovie; UNH tradition is awesome and should be a part of the fan experience, but it's just not the same. And of course that's NOT the reason we did so poorly at home this eason, but it's all a part of it.

As per the 'tron, the games etc have done nothing for us in our section; I only use it for the player intros and replays of goals/other plays of importance. The rest of it? Pffftttt...That all being said? I'm glad we have it, but for the reasons mentioned. Looking forward to hearing your take on it.

My wife who has been a UNH hockey fan as long as I have .... although she stopped going to games a couple of months ago .... told me that the Jumbotron was " toxic."
Why? She said at Snively, and the early years of the Whitt, "the fans got a chance to cheer in a spontaneous way." I found that interesting. John Conroy and his organ was in addition to the fan noise. It seems that now the fan noise only can occur when directed by the jumbotron .... and only if there is a break from the continues advertisements, what food is being eaten, see my picture up on the Tron opportunities, and .... well if you been to games you know what it is like. Of course it is the same in most pro arenas .... that does not make it positive. At the last game I actually timed the spaces that were available between the announcers (too loud) pronouncements .... it was 8 seconds.

Yeah, I know .... "and get off my lawn."

However, artificial anything cannot usually replace the real thing .... and the potential for "toxicity" is enhanced. Try to visualize your experience during the .... Cox-Hislop-Clark goals .... in the current atmosphere of the Jumbotron .... they might have been awarding the "fan of the game" award between the 2nd & 3rd goal.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Remember who was the lone voice in the wilderness back when y'all were getting goosepimples over the 'tron.

You were warned. No spontaneity allowed. Just sit there and watch yer Tron, and be nice, obedient fans.

Will the last long-time season ticket holder turn out the lights on the way out of The Whitt (RIP)?
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

The video quality, replays, enhanced statistics (face offs won!!!) offset the price of living in modern times. Look around at the kids during smile cam, food cam, Kelsey cam and the incessant noise. They love it. I like stick figure cam.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

But this was the missing piece for all of the recruiting failures. Well, that and French.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Meanwhile, 30 - 40 miles south, there's an actual hockey game tonight.
 
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