University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

[davyd83]

No. UAA got Ege when nobody else bothered looking at him (leastwise ... anywhere he wanted to go). Most of us knew at the beginning of this season that he'd be gone after one year.

Nolan Walker leaving is simply a factor of getting the kid early. Him committing to UAA is what got him looked at by other schools. And since Bob effing Motzko has zero integrity as a human being and as a hockey coach you end up with crappola like talking to a kid who already made a verbal commitment to another school. It's sleazy crappola that we've seen from Mini-Soda schools before.

So eff Nolan Walker. Hopefully, UAA has SCSU on the schedule when he plays for them and someone reminds this low character punk what giving your word means.

So can you guarantee that all players currently recruited will get four years in Alaska? It's sad to see, but if players sense problems, some look for a bit more certainty. I saw it working in the front office at the minor pro level. Team's financial difficulties became known. Players wanted out and it was tough to recruit as well. I know the feeling far too well. I hope all works out for both Alaskas and look forward to visiting Anchorage this season. And best of luck on the surgery! Hope all goes well.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

Been thinking about you DD. Keep us up to date on your progress.

Same here.

GFM

 

[RapidsCity]

So can you guarantee that all players currently recruited will get four years in Alaska? It's sad to see, but if players sense problems, some look for a bit more certainty. I saw it working in the front office at the minor pro level. Team's financial difficulties became known. Players wanted out and it was tough to recruit as well. I know the feeling far too well. I hope all works out for both Alaskas and look forward to visiting Anchorage this season. And best of luck on the surgery! Hope all goes well.

I think there are coaches that will play upon this. I can't believe there were no discussions between Ege and OSU prior to him announcing his departure from Alaska. It wouldn't be shocking to think his advisor did a little shopping prior to the end of the semester and examined some hypothetical scenarios.

 

[Wolfman]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

Please post a link to any article stating that it is a certainty that there will be a merger of the UA schools. Because all I have read says the President is "pushing" for it. Regents will be involved. It's not a done deal by any means, and like I said, IF it happens it will take two years to implement it.

I want to be optimistic just like you Suze. We are both passionate (and others on here too) about UAA Athletics. I asked a close friend who works at the Athletics department about how likely will the BoR adopt this "one university" initiative in June. They said "very likely." Even if it takes two years to implement, what will be done is what will be done.

As an Alum, I am very opposed to losing our autonomous accreditation at UAA. But, apparently "lots" of people are for this in Alaska. If sports get cut at UAF so that UAA gets all the sports, it is still a lost cause. If it is a "split" sports situation where Fairbanks gets hockey and Anchorage gets Basketball to represent one "Alaska" then it will be hard to support a hockey team not in Anchorage. These are tough time For Alaska.

Interestingly, the University of Maine is doing something similar and Maine is Division I. So, who knows how this will turn out.

 

[Suze]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

You have told me numerous things that you heard from someone in Athletics, and they turned out to not be true.

BTW, aren't the Gophers, Duluth and Mankato all part of the University of Minnesota system?

 

[tape]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

BTW, aren't the Gophers, Duluth and Mankato all part of the University of Minnesota system?

Mankato is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, which is separate from the U of M system. St. Cloud and Bemidji are also members of the Minnesota State system.

 

[Suze]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

Mankato is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, which is separate from the U of M system. St. Cloud and Bemidji are also members of the Minnesota State system.

Thanks. What about Duluth?

 

[The Sicatoka]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

You have told me numerous things that you heard from someone in Athletics, and they turned out to not be true.

BTW, aren't the Gophers, Duluth and Mankato all part of the University of Minnesota system?

The U of M system is Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris, and Crookston.

The MnSCU system includes Mankato, Bemidji, St. Cloud, Moorhead, Winona.

Know thy enemy.

 

[The Sicatoka]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

The Minnesota systems (Uof or MnSCU) run as independent, autonomous campuses each with a president.
North Dakota runs the same way under the State Board of Higher Ed.


What Alaska is proposing is consolidation under a single president.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

The Minnesota systems (Uof or MnSCU) run as independent, autonomous campuses each with a president.
North Dakota runs the same way under the State Board of Higher Ed.


What Alaska is proposing is consolidation under a single president.

Actually what it really is UAF forcing UAA (and UAS) into their control and taking their budget in an effort to save themselves. Watch as most things will end up in Fairbanks: the marquee programs like engineering, education, and business, the research money, the marquee athletic team etc. Like I said, this is people in Fairbanks saving their skin and forcing it down other people's throats. If the UA system really wanted to consolidate they do it properly: UAF keeps the research and science related programs while everything else, business, education, engineering, aviation, and yes athletics, goes to UAA along with massive cuts at the administration level (as in the system doesn't need four billion Vice Chancellors and Regents). But since the majority of the mucky mucks in the UA system are in Fairbanks that's where they want things.

tl;dr It's basically "UAA gets the students, UAF gets the funding" just being codified.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

The Minnesota systems (Uof or MnSCU) run as independent, autonomous campuses each with a president.
North Dakota runs the same way under the State Board of Higher Ed.


What Alaska is proposing is consolidation under a single president.

Right, they are still separate colleges. Just like the different UMass schools and the various SUNY schools, etc.

 

[tape]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

Thanks. What about Duluth?

Hopefully the full name of University of Minnesota Duluth would answer the question for you.

 

[LordofBrewtown]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

along with massive cuts at the administration level (as in the system doesn't need four billion Vice Chancellors and Regents).

I suspect that this is really the problem, and that *IF* they had the fortitude/sense to cut back on administration, they wouldn't even need to combine the universities into one entity in the first place. Furthermore, the fact that they don't have the stomach or financial wherewithal to do this without combining the universities indicates to me that while this might solve their budget problems (very) short term, they'll end up right back in the same situation in the future - with bloated/excess administration in the new "one university" setup.

I seriously doubt that long term this fixes their problems if implemented. This reeks of someone acting like they are making "tough" decisions, when in reality they are making easy/expedient short term decisions and kicking the can down the road instead of addressing the true underlying issues.

 

[Wolfman]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

I suspect that this is really the problem, and that *IF* they had the fortitude/sense to cut back on administration, they wouldn't even need to combine the universities into one entity in the first place. Furthermore, the fact that they don't have the stomach or financial wherewithal to do this without combining the universities indicates to me that while this might solve their budget problems (very) short term, they'll end up right back in the same situation in the future - with bloated/excess administration in the new "one university" setup.

I seriously doubt that long term this fixes their problems if implemented. This reeks of someone acting like they are making "tough" decisions, when in reality they are making easy/expedient short term decisions and kicking the can down the road instead of addressing the true underlying issues.

Yeah, it is a really sad situation. Basically, it would be ONE University of Alaska with an extension in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. A friend that works at the University indicated that the combined university would be a Single university in Alaska with your transcripts that would say "University of Alaska" regardless of where you went...(whether in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau). Duplicate academic programs would be eliminated. Because of Title 9, sports would have to be limited to one location. There is NO WAY athletics could be split under NCAA allowances, unless we get some kind of a waiver. The Board of Regents likes the idea and is likely to pass the initiative in June. I really feel bad for the individual campuses. I don't know what can be done to stop this unless the legislature intervenes with more money. However, now that President Johnsen has a plan, this will move forward. Absolutely 100 percent sad. I would like to be optimistic about his too, but it is real hard.

 

[Wolfman]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

Yeah, it is a really sad situation. Basically, it would be ONE University of Alaska with an extension in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. A friend that works at the University indicated that the combined university would be a Single university in Alaska with your transcripts that would say "University of Alaska" regardless of where you went...(whether in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau). Duplicate academic programs would be eliminated. Because of Title 9, sports would have to be limited to one location. There is NO WAY athletics could be split under NCAA allowances, unless we get some kind of a waiver. The Board of Regents likes the idea and is likely to pass the initiative in June. I really feel bad for the individual campuses. I don't know what can be done to stop this unless the legislature intervenes with more money. However, now that President Johnsen has a plan, this will move forward. Absolutely 100 percent sad. I would like to be optimistic about his too, but it is real hard.

The University of Texas Rio Grand Valley tried to split up there sports between the Brownville location and the Edinburg location and NCAA said NO! so UTRGV has all their sports at the Edinburg location. (this is a result of the UT-Brownville and UT-Pan American combining to become UTRGV. Also, University of Maine is trying to do same thing but all their sports are going to be in Orono. This is just an example.)

 

[AMC]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

Also, University of Maine is trying to do same thing but all their sports are going to be in Orono. This is just an example.)

What? This is not factual.

The University of Maine is the state flagship university. It has Division I sports, it is located in Orono and its teams are the Black Bears.

The other University of Maine System schools all have sports too:

-University of Southern Maine Huskies (D-III Little East Conference)
-University of Maine at Farmington Beavers (D-III North Atlantic Conference)
-University of Maine at Machias Clippers (USCAA Yankee Small College Conference)
-University of Maine at Presque Isle Owls (D-III Independent)
-University of Maine at Fort Kent Bengals (USCAA Yankee Small College Conference)
-University of Maine at Augusta Moose (USCAA Yankee Small College Conference)

There is no movement to drop sports at any of these campuses.

There are also three junior colleges with sports that are Maine public universities:

-Central Maine Community College Mustangs (USCAA/Yankee)
-Eastern Maine Community College Golden Eagles (USCAA/Yankee)
-Southern Maine Community College Seawolves (USCAA/Yankee)

There is no movement to cut athletics at any of these schools.

There is also a public maritime college:

-Maine Maritime Academy Mariners (D-III North Atlantic Conference)

There is no move to drop sports at MMA.

Could you be referring to the fact that the University of Southern Maine has three campuses (Portland, Gorham and Lewiston), but one athletic program?

 

[LordofBrewtown]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

I don't know what can be done to stop this unless the legislature intervenes with more money. However, now that President Johnsen has a plan, this will move forward. Absolutely 100 percent sad. I would like to be optimistic about his too, but it is real hard.

Can't the governor and/or legistlature step in and fire the entire Board of Regents and/or President Johnsen? I would suggest that if people put pressure on those who can in turn put pressure on the Board and President (make them fear for their jobs), this could change in a hurry.

 

[Wolfman]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

On the UMaine situation, I read in the Bangor times that the system would be combined with USM and the other "branch campuses." But, the Orono campus would maintain the sports programs. Maybe I didn't understand the article. I know UTRGV though has merged as one campus.

 

[Wolfman]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

What? This is not factual.

The University of Maine is the state flagship university. It has Division I sports, it is located in Orono and its teams are the Black Bears.

The other University of Maine System schools all have sports too:

-University of Southern Maine Huskies (D-III Little East Conference)
-University of Maine at Farmington Beavers (D-III North Atlantic Conference)
-University of Maine at Machias Clippers (USCAA Yankee Small College Conference)
-University of Maine at Presque Isle Owls (D-III Independent)
-University of Maine at Fort Kent Bengals (USCAA Yankee Small College Conference)
-University of Maine at Augusta Moose (USCAA Yankee Small College Conference)

There is no movement to drop sports at any of these campuses.

There are also three junior colleges with sports that are Maine public universities:

-Central Maine Community College Mustangs (USCAA/Yankee)
-Eastern Maine Community College Golden Eagles (USCAA/Yankee)
-Southern Maine Community College Seawolves (USCAA/Yankee)

There is no movement to cut athletics at any of these schools.

There is also a public maritime college:

-Maine Maritime Academy Mariners (D-III North Atlantic Conference)

There is no move to drop sports at MMA.

Could you be referring to the fact that the University of Southern Maine has three campuses (Portland, Gorham and Lewiston), but one athletic program?

BTW, wow, Maine has a lot of universities!!!! Way more than Alaska.

 

[mmf]

Re: University of Alaska Sports in danger of elimination

Can't the governor and/or legistlature step in and fire the entire Board of Regents and/or President Johnsen? I would suggest that if people put pressure on those who can in turn put pressure on the Board and President (make them fear for their jobs), this could change in a hurry.

With all due respect, you may want to just sit back and watch this train wreck happen and not try to guess how we might prevent it. If you asked the “people” of Alaska (and a third of our legislators), they would recommend you cut all funding for sports, all Liberal Arts programs (well, they’re liberal after all), and probably the whole University system. If the good Lord had wanted uppity educated folk he would not have let Trump University go defunct.