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UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction
- Thread starter Chuck Murray
- Start date
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction
UConn has played two (2) seasons in Hockey East to date:
* 2014/2015: 10W-19L-7T (9th in the conference)
* 2015/2016: 11W-21L-4T (8th in the conference)
Again ... am I missing something here?
I know some of you are just funnin' around, but some others seem to seriously think they're an emerging force. And all I can think of is:
(1) this is deja vu from what we used to hear 20 years ago when UMass joined HE; and
(2) UNH has fallen THIS far where the comparison of the two programs is actually a valid one
But for all the grief some of us (myself included) have given Coach Umile over his program's slide ... last year was his only season even close to comparably bad to the two (2) in two (2) seasons from Luce Canaan, a guy who's parlayed being in the right place at the right time for Coach York at BC to a dismal three year record at UConn, where he was barely able to eke out a winning record in Atlantic Hockey a year before moving up to HE (and not even making it to the AH postseason semis).
Perspective, folks.
We may be down, but it's not permanent. UConn (and UMass), though ...
UConn has played two (2) seasons in Hockey East to date:
* 2014/2015: 10W-19L-7T (9th in the conference)
* 2015/2016: 11W-21L-4T (8th in the conference)
Again ... am I missing something here?
I know some of you are just funnin' around, but some others seem to seriously think they're an emerging force. And all I can think of is:(1) this is deja vu from what we used to hear 20 years ago when UMass joined HE; and
(2) UNH has fallen THIS far where the comparison of the two programs is actually a valid one
But for all the grief some of us (myself included) have given Coach Umile over his program's slide ... last year was his only season even close to comparably bad to the two (2) in two (2) seasons from Luce Canaan, a guy who's parlayed being in the right place at the right time for Coach York at BC to a dismal three year record at UConn, where he was barely able to eke out a winning record in Atlantic Hockey a year before moving up to HE (and not even making it to the AH postseason semis).
Perspective, folks.
We may be down, but it's not permanent. UConn (and UMass), though ...UConn has played two (2) seasons in Hockey East to date:
* 2014/2015: 10W-19L-7T (9th in the conference)
* 2015/2016: 11W-21L-4T (8th in the conference)
Again ... am I missing something here?
(1) this is deja vu from what we used to hear 20 years ago when UMass joined HE; and
(2) UNH has fallen THIS far where the comparison of the two programs is actually a valid one
But for all the grief some of us (myself included) have given Coach Umile over his program's slide ... last year was his only season even close to comparably bad to the two (2) in two (2) seasons from Luce Canaan, a guy who's parlayed being in the right place at the right time for Coach York at BC to a dismal three year record at UConn, where he was barely able to eke out a winning record in Atlantic Hockey a year before moving up to HE (and not even making it to the AH postseason semis).
Perspective, folks.
All true, but now Luce and UConn have rising sophomore and NHL draft pick Tage Thompson.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
UConn has played two (2) seasons in Hockey East to date:
* 2014/2015: 10W-19L-7T (9th in the conference)
* 2015/2016: 11W-21L-4T (8th in the conference)
Again ... am I missing something here?
(1) this is deja vu from what we used to hear 20 years ago when UMass joined HE; and
(2) UNH has fallen THIS far where the comparison of the two programs is actually a valid one
But for all the grief some of us (myself included) have given Coach Umile over his program's slide ... last year was his only season even close to comparably bad to the two (2) in two (2) seasons from Luce Canaan, a guy who's parlayed being in the right place at the right time for Coach York at BC to a dismal three year record at UConn, where he was barely able to eke out a winning record in Atlantic Hockey a year before moving up to HE (and not even making it to the AH postseason semis).
Perspective, folks.
Absolutely agree Chuck and yes, I was funnin' around with my comment. I believe things go in cycles and not for a minute do I believe that the coaching staff is happy about last season. Down, but certainly not out. I mean this is UNH hockey!! (cheerleading...one of my favorite things)
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Tage is a great player...but we have TyK who I expect will have a MONSTER year. UNH has a score to settle after last year's disappointing finish with the Huskies.
NCAA watcher
Registered User
Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction
Speaking of jumbletrons.
So a librarian quietly squirrels away $4 million while studying classic books, gives UNH money in his will, and they give about $100,000 to the library, and waste a million of it on a football video board? That guy has got to be rolling in his grave, notwithstanding the attempts to make it seem like he would support this. Let's see, he just started watching football the last year of his life, so they get a million, and spent his life in the library, and they get $100k. I am ashamed of UNH's misuse of such a generous bequest.
Speaking of jumbletrons.
So a librarian quietly squirrels away $4 million while studying classic books, gives UNH money in his will, and they give about $100,000 to the library, and waste a million of it on a football video board? That guy has got to be rolling in his grave, notwithstanding the attempts to make it seem like he would support this. Let's see, he just started watching football the last year of his life, so they get a million, and spent his life in the library, and they get $100k. I am ashamed of UNH's misuse of such a generous bequest.
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This action is outrageous, egregious, preposterous.
Nick Papagiorgio
Holding court
Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction
That 1 even strength goal he scored last year really has the league quaking in their skates. -14 on the year.
That 1 even strength goal he scored last year really has the league quaking in their skates. -14 on the year.
Greg Ambrose
Registered User
Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction
Bravo comment Watcher. As much as I have supported UNH Hockey over the years, the first mission of the school is education, not athletics.
Btw, this old folk will comment on UNH Hockey once there is something to comment about. I've lurked all summer and, frankly, I am tired of the mind reading of Umile and the speculation on whether Souza has a pair. Wake me when the Atlantic Hockey season starts.
Bravo comment Watcher. As much as I have supported UNH Hockey over the years, the first mission of the school is education, not athletics.
Btw, this old folk will comment on UNH Hockey once there is something to comment about. I've lurked all summer and, frankly, I am tired of the mind reading of Umile and the speculation on whether Souza has a pair. Wake me when the Atlantic Hockey season starts.
Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction
Once each month I completely agree with you. I guess this takes care of September.
Once each month I completely agree with you. I guess this takes care of September.
Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction
37 days, 5 hours
37 days, 5 hours
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction
Let me drag this part of the quoted text from 'Watcher's post out separately ...
The only dedicated gift in Morin’s bequest was $100,000 for Dimond Library. That money is earmarked to create scholarships for work-study students, support staff members who continue their studies in library science, and renovate and upgrade one of the library’s multimedia rooms.
Unless the deceased donor stipulated what was to happen with his donation, I'm not sure there's anything awry here? From the looks of it, he only earmarked $100,000 of his gift to the library. Circumstantially, it looks like a lifelong librarian who only recently discovered the joys of UNH Football would be a dubious source of funding for a video board at the new stadium. But if the gift was made without any strings attached (beyond $100,000 to the Dimond Library), then it's up to the university to determine where the funds are most needed.
If the guy really wanted the rest of it spent on a library, they probably could/would have put his name on a brand new one somewhere on campus. Maybe the school doesn't need one right now? Wasn't there some discussion in the last year about providing a study center for the varsity athletes somewhere on the stadium side of Main St. - possibly in conjunction with the new stadium?
I'm hesitant to criticize the school on this one unless/until I see something about the specific desire(s) of the donor being ignored. That doesn't seem to be the case here, unless I'm missing something? If he just gave it to the university without any stipulations and trusted them to make the best use of the funds as the administration felt necessary at the time, then I'm sure he and his family are at peace with the decisions on the $1MM allocation - even if on the surface, it seems crude, crass and possibly at odds with the primary educational mission of UNH.
The only question it leaves me with is whether the money could have been better spent for the greater good of the UNH universe if they used it to buy out a contract of a certain someone who just doesn't seem to be able to take a hint ...
Let me drag this part of the quoted text from 'Watcher's post out separately ...
The only dedicated gift in Morin’s bequest was $100,000 for Dimond Library. That money is earmarked to create scholarships for work-study students, support staff members who continue their studies in library science, and renovate and upgrade one of the library’s multimedia rooms.
Unless the deceased donor stipulated what was to happen with his donation, I'm not sure there's anything awry here? From the looks of it, he only earmarked $100,000 of his gift to the library. Circumstantially, it looks like a lifelong librarian who only recently discovered the joys of UNH Football would be a dubious source of funding for a video board at the new stadium. But if the gift was made without any strings attached (beyond $100,000 to the Dimond Library), then it's up to the university to determine where the funds are most needed.
If the guy really wanted the rest of it spent on a library, they probably could/would have put his name on a brand new one somewhere on campus. Maybe the school doesn't need one right now? Wasn't there some discussion in the last year about providing a study center for the varsity athletes somewhere on the stadium side of Main St. - possibly in conjunction with the new stadium?
I'm hesitant to criticize the school on this one unless/until I see something about the specific desire(s) of the donor being ignored. That doesn't seem to be the case here, unless I'm missing something? If he just gave it to the university without any stipulations and trusted them to make the best use of the funds as the administration felt necessary at the time, then I'm sure he and his family are at peace with the decisions on the $1MM allocation - even if on the surface, it seems crude, crass and possibly at odds with the primary educational mission of UNH.
The only question it leaves me with is whether the money could have been better spent for the greater good of the UNH universe if they used it to buy out a contract of a certain someone who just doesn't seem to be able to take a hint ...
Holy SHIP! Either you or I must have smoked something today, because I find us 100% aligned on this one. Unless it's a designated gift (like the $100k), the University has the latitude. Not to mention that another $2.5M was allocated to career development or some such function.
Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction
A lesson here, as fund raisers prefer that gifts not be dedicated, so that monetary gifts can be distributed as the institution likes. So, if someone here wants to make a gift that supports hockey at UNH, in any way (see Chuck's last line), make sure that you specify that. I am wondering if the donor or his family will get his or their name in large letters on the video scoreboard? Probably not. BTW, I was just joking about the "outrageous, egregious, preposterous," which I borrowed from a popular TV show in the 1990s.
A lesson here, as fund raisers prefer that gifts not be dedicated, so that monetary gifts can be distributed as the institution likes. So, if someone here wants to make a gift that supports hockey at UNH, in any way (see Chuck's last line), make sure that you specify that. I am wondering if the donor or his family will get his or their name in large letters on the video scoreboard? Probably not. BTW, I was just joking about the "outrageous, egregious, preposterous," which I borrowed from a popular TV show in the 1990s.
I'm with Watcher. For me the unsavory part is to try to portray him as a football fan when he obviously didn't care at all about the team. I can't imagine the library is in such pristine condition they couldn't have used more than $100k to spruce parts of it up. If they used the million dollars to put in a field or some other athletic facility that students use all the time that is one thing, but the video board will rarely even be used. The fact that they couldn't raise the money for it through other avenues speaks volumes on what donors thought about how necessary it was. UNH is certainly in the majority as far as having underhanded administration, at least from what I have seen.
Record-setting fundraising for UNH every year since 2012. Record-setting fundraising for the Wildcat Athletics fund last year. An athletic endowment of $18M, pretty large sum for a university of our size. Dimond library went through an extensive expansion and renovation a few years back. Multimedia room renovation just last year. A football facility built specifically BECAUSE they reached their donation goals.
But let's not let facts get in the way - gotta be an underhanded administration.
Bingo. Be careful to designate. IIRC, for a while there a few years back, designation wasn't allowed. But that was not well received and they reversed course.
Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction
If they're raising money for a new football stadium wouldn't one expect there to be more fundraising than the years when they're not building a new stadium? And the amount of money have raised has nothing to do with their integrity. Does the $4MM count as part of this year's 'fundraising' effort? Maybe they will set another record this year if it does.
Hopefully the new scoreboard works out great but it seems there would have been other projects that benefited students much more.
If they're raising money for a new football stadium wouldn't one expect there to be more fundraising than the years when they're not building a new stadium? And the amount of money have raised has nothing to do with their integrity. Does the $4MM count as part of this year's 'fundraising' effort? Maybe they will set another record this year if it does.
Hopefully the new scoreboard works out great but it seems there would have been other projects that benefited students much more.
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction
I'm having a hard time raining on UNH Football's parade. IIRC there was a lot of pushback when UNH built the Whittemore Center just over 20 years ago, but when it went forward, there was a huge rush of support for what was then an energized and advancing program that was growing in national prominence. For over a decade, UNH had the most modern and arguably best on-campus hockey arena in the league (until BU upgraded to Agganis), and that formula worked very well for the advancement of the program AND the school's national profile.
UNH Football has been on the rise for over a decade now, and has had to suffer with playing in a veritable dump of a facility that (my apologies for the sheer repetitiveness of this comment) compared poorly to several HS facilities within a 20 mile radius of Durham. No longer. Coach MacDonnell has really done almost miraculous work to get the football program to its current level despite the very obvious recruiting disadvantages of having to play in that ... pile. Now the school has done for Football what they did for Hockey a generation ago. Good for them. They deserve it.
As for the football video board ... whatever. UNH Hockey and The Whitt had to deal with budgetary limitations that delayed the arrivals of modern amenities like the center ice board, and then the Jumbotron just recently. I'm pretty sure Football could have likewise survived without the $1MM video board right away, but if the money was available, it probably made sense for them to spend it now and probably save a little on doing it later.
The success of Hockey and Football (and even hoops) doesn't have to be a zero sum game - although in some ways that's been the way it's worked out over the last generation or so. It's not Football's fault that Hockey has been nose-diving in recent years. And now with the Football project finally where it's probably deserved to be for some time now ... BS35+4 can maybe turn his attention back to things across the street, spruce the place up a bit in advance of the next two seasons, and get that situation reversed back to where it should be.
We needn't be jealous ... but fans of UNH Hockey have been increasingly patient (and frustrated) with the downturn of our favored program, and it's time the AD turned his attention back to Hockey. There's no longer really any excuse for him not to. JMHO.
I'm having a hard time raining on UNH Football's parade. IIRC there was a lot of pushback when UNH built the Whittemore Center just over 20 years ago, but when it went forward, there was a huge rush of support for what was then an energized and advancing program that was growing in national prominence. For over a decade, UNH had the most modern and arguably best on-campus hockey arena in the league (until BU upgraded to Agganis), and that formula worked very well for the advancement of the program AND the school's national profile.
UNH Football has been on the rise for over a decade now, and has had to suffer with playing in a veritable dump of a facility that (my apologies for the sheer repetitiveness of this comment) compared poorly to several HS facilities within a 20 mile radius of Durham. No longer. Coach MacDonnell has really done almost miraculous work to get the football program to its current level despite the very obvious recruiting disadvantages of having to play in that ... pile. Now the school has done for Football what they did for Hockey a generation ago. Good for them. They deserve it.
As for the football video board ... whatever. UNH Hockey and The Whitt had to deal with budgetary limitations that delayed the arrivals of modern amenities like the center ice board, and then the Jumbotron just recently. I'm pretty sure Football could have likewise survived without the $1MM video board right away, but if the money was available, it probably made sense for them to spend it now and probably save a little on doing it later.
The success of Hockey and Football (and even hoops) doesn't have to be a zero sum game - although in some ways that's been the way it's worked out over the last generation or so. It's not Football's fault that Hockey has been nose-diving in recent years. And now with the Football project finally where it's probably deserved to be for some time now ... BS35+4 can maybe turn his attention back to things across the street, spruce the place up a bit in advance of the next two seasons, and get that situation reversed back to where it should be.
We needn't be jealous ... but fans of UNH Hockey have been increasingly patient (and frustrated) with the downturn of our favored program, and it's time the AD turned his attention back to Hockey. There's no longer really any excuse for him not to. JMHO.
Drew - I have no problem with your questioning the priority. That's fair. But the endowment of the University has grown to $345M from about $215M in two years. That has little to do with football fundraising.
Calling into question the integrity of the administration over the choice to use non-designated funds for a football scoreboard for a (now)-perennially-ranked program seems a little bit of a stretch.