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Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Ship
- Thread starter WiscTJK
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Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
Agree...sliding his kid with virtually no resume in coaching into a 2nd assistant slot might work at a peak point in his tenure, after the valley of 2014-15 it might be met with more then mass indignation for the program and accelerated season ticketholder defections. Hell, Murray Eaves might be a better nepotism hire then Ben. He's at least established ties to Shattucks.
Eaves needs an absolute stud in his top slot....along the lines of Oz, Granato, maybe Steve Miller and then fill the other spot with a young/hungry/charismatic #2 that compliments the top guys recruiting geographic base of strength (if the one is well connected in Minnesota, the other needs to bring maybe Western Canada strength to the dance),
Agree...sliding his kid with virtually no resume in coaching into a 2nd assistant slot might work at a peak point in his tenure, after the valley of 2014-15 it might be met with more then mass indignation for the program and accelerated season ticketholder defections. Hell, Murray Eaves might be a better nepotism hire then Ben. He's at least established ties to Shattucks.
Eaves needs an absolute stud in his top slot....along the lines of Oz, Granato, maybe Steve Miller and then fill the other spot with a young/hungry/charismatic #2 that compliments the top guys recruiting geographic base of strength (if the one is well connected in Minnesota, the other needs to bring maybe Western Canada strength to the dance),
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
Thinking outside of the box a bit here, but is there any chance that there would be an associate head coach hired for one of the positions? If we're hearing that some people wouldn't apply for the job if they thought they could lose their job, would there be interest from coaches who could get a 3 year deal knowing that they could step up to the head position if the season goes badly?
If Barry is the one that is giving the go-ahead on any hires, this could be a possibility. Of course, Barry isn't a "hockey guy" so there is that too.
Thinking outside of the box a bit here, but is there any chance that there would be an associate head coach hired for one of the positions? If we're hearing that some people wouldn't apply for the job if they thought they could lose their job, would there be interest from coaches who could get a 3 year deal knowing that they could step up to the head position if the season goes badly?
If Barry is the one that is giving the go-ahead on any hires, this could be a possibility. Of course, Barry isn't a "hockey guy" so there is that too.
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
It isn't hard to ask a few hockey people if say Granato (or Oz or whoever you have in mind) would make a good head coach candidate as a replacement for Eaves. If Alvarez got the feedback that he is, giving him a 2-3 year deal and title of Associate head coach wouldn't be much of a stretch. In the end, if Eaves doesn't turn the ship around/climb the mountain/put enough hay in the barn/get the rocket ship to the moon....you'll have an associate head coach that makes less then most football assistant coaches. If you like that guy as a head coach....great. If not, you owe him another year or two if the new head coach don't want to retain him. I see ZERO harm in upping the pay scale a bit, giving multiple years, and hiring a quality guy to help fix the chitshow that Wisconsin hockey has become. If you don't fix it, it will cost you more money in lost revenue anyways.
It isn't hard to ask a few hockey people if say Granato (or Oz or whoever you have in mind) would make a good head coach candidate as a replacement for Eaves. If Alvarez got the feedback that he is, giving him a 2-3 year deal and title of Associate head coach wouldn't be much of a stretch. In the end, if Eaves doesn't turn the ship around/climb the mountain/put enough hay in the barn/get the rocket ship to the moon....you'll have an associate head coach that makes less then most football assistant coaches. If you like that guy as a head coach....great. If not, you owe him another year or two if the new head coach don't want to retain him. I see ZERO harm in upping the pay scale a bit, giving multiple years, and hiring a quality guy to help fix the chitshow that Wisconsin hockey has become. If you don't fix it, it will cost you more money in lost revenue anyways.
Gandalf the Red
Cardinal and White Wizard
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
I want that made into some kind of t-shirt, maybe one scene that incorporates all 4 sayings. The ship turns around to the farm, where the hay is put in the barn, giving time to climb the mountain where the rocket is launched to the moon. And somewhere there is a puppy crapping on a carpet....
I want that made into some kind of t-shirt, maybe one scene that incorporates all 4 sayings. The ship turns around to the farm, where the hay is put in the barn, giving time to climb the mountain where the rocket is launched to the moon. And somewhere there is a puppy crapping on a carpet....
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
http://i.imgur.com/MsxtWBq.jpg
I make this picture free of use to the internet and world. All possible uses forthwith are allowed under Common Commons or something.
http://i.imgur.com/MsxtWBq.jpg
I make this picture free of use to the internet and world. All possible uses forthwith are allowed under Common Commons or something.
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Gandalf the Red
Cardinal and White Wizard
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
If I ever meet you, I will buy you many beers!
Printed and hanging on my cubicle wall!
If I ever meet you, I will buy you many beers!
Printed and hanging on my cubicle wall!
WiscTJK
Well-known member
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
Awesome, just awesome.....
Awesome, just awesome.....
solovsfett
Registered User
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
That's the thing though isn't it? What would Eaves be thinking if he's suddenly got an associate coach situation forced on him? I'd fear there would be fur flying by the end of the first month between the coaches.
All of this leads back to what a STUPID decision Alvarez made by NOT cleaning house. There's just no winning in this situation, Alvarez would be given an F if he were being graded on how he handled this.
Eaves gets less than 20 wins and I'd can him. Hell, let's be generous, less than 14 wins and you can him. So what's the point of retaining this guy if you know **** well there's nowhere near the talent (not on paper nor in reality) to get to .500 even? The Athletic department just insured another 2-4 years of ****ty hockey because on top of coaches balking at coming to Madison there will now be kids all over the place who are going to be asking themselves (if approached by Eaves) "will this guy be here in 2 years?", and they're right and smart to ask themselves that.
What's more embarrassing at this point? The U canning Eaves now (so it would appear Alvarez went back on his word)? Or canning him after next season and in essence owning up to the fact they ****ed up by not firing him in the first place?
I love UW Hockey as much as anyone but I just do not see any bright spots here. Someone help me out.
That's the thing though isn't it? What would Eaves be thinking if he's suddenly got an associate coach situation forced on him? I'd fear there would be fur flying by the end of the first month between the coaches.
All of this leads back to what a STUPID decision Alvarez made by NOT cleaning house. There's just no winning in this situation, Alvarez would be given an F if he were being graded on how he handled this.
Eaves gets less than 20 wins and I'd can him. Hell, let's be generous, less than 14 wins and you can him. So what's the point of retaining this guy if you know **** well there's nowhere near the talent (not on paper nor in reality) to get to .500 even? The Athletic department just insured another 2-4 years of ****ty hockey because on top of coaches balking at coming to Madison there will now be kids all over the place who are going to be asking themselves (if approached by Eaves) "will this guy be here in 2 years?", and they're right and smart to ask themselves that.
What's more embarrassing at this point? The U canning Eaves now (so it would appear Alvarez went back on his word)? Or canning him after next season and in essence owning up to the fact they ****ed up by not firing him in the first place?
I love UW Hockey as much as anyone but I just do not see any bright spots here. Someone help me out.
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
My vote was definitely to clean house and I agree completely that the current environment is a stacked deck against Eaves (majority of which is self inflicted). That said, Eaves has worked quite successfully with Oz for a considerable length of time (he very well could prove to be what Guentzel was to Lucia for Eaves).
There is little doubt barring some massive miracle of Mathews, Tchucak, & Jones deciding to first off play college hockey and secondly in Madison, that .500 would be otherworldly coaching given the talent level on the roster currently. I'm not as concerned with wins and losses as I am the actual play on the ice and the trend line of the program. Win 14/15ish games the right way, and I could live with another season of Eaves (I won't be in a rush to get my season tickets back....nor would that be my preference). Stop getting out shot 50 to 20, actually but 3 pucks in the other teams net per game, have an Oz/Grantatoesque lead assistant, start winning some recruiting battles (Fabbro and Jost at a minimum) and another season may be merited. I suspect we'll see more puppies crapping the carpet and few of the above come to fruition.
My vote was definitely to clean house and I agree completely that the current environment is a stacked deck against Eaves (majority of which is self inflicted). That said, Eaves has worked quite successfully with Oz for a considerable length of time (he very well could prove to be what Guentzel was to Lucia for Eaves).
There is little doubt barring some massive miracle of Mathews, Tchucak, & Jones deciding to first off play college hockey and secondly in Madison, that .500 would be otherworldly coaching given the talent level on the roster currently. I'm not as concerned with wins and losses as I am the actual play on the ice and the trend line of the program. Win 14/15ish games the right way, and I could live with another season of Eaves (I won't be in a rush to get my season tickets back....nor would that be my preference). Stop getting out shot 50 to 20, actually but 3 pucks in the other teams net per game, have an Oz/Grantatoesque lead assistant, start winning some recruiting battles (Fabbro and Jost at a minimum) and another season may be merited. I suspect we'll see more puppies crapping the carpet and few of the above come to fruition.
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ExileOnDaytonStreet
Drunkard
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
It's almost unfair to Eaves to have not fired him. It's not that this situation isn't of his own making, but this really is just a no-win situation .
It's almost unfair to Eaves to have not fired him. It's not that this situation isn't of his own making, but this really is just a no-win situation .
Gandalf the Red
Cardinal and White Wizard
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
This is what I don't understand, does BA really think that next year will be this big turn around where UW is back to competing for the Big 10 and a playoff spot?
I don't see that happening no matter what occurs unless Eaves magically pulls in ALL the top uncommitted recruits, and even then I'm not sure that would happen, but the odds increase.
If you hire a new coach, and the team struggles for a few years, but begins to show improvement on the ice (like markwojo said) then you can feel good about the direction of the program. At this point, I'm not sure what will make me feel good about an Eaves run program no matter what result occurs. Even if they somehow won the NC next season (everyone laugh w/ me!), I would still have so much doubt in the back of my mind moving forward.
This is what I don't understand, does BA really think that next year will be this big turn around where UW is back to competing for the Big 10 and a playoff spot?
I don't see that happening no matter what occurs unless Eaves magically pulls in ALL the top uncommitted recruits, and even then I'm not sure that would happen, but the odds increase.
If you hire a new coach, and the team struggles for a few years, but begins to show improvement on the ice (like markwojo said) then you can feel good about the direction of the program. At this point, I'm not sure what will make me feel good about an Eaves run program no matter what result occurs. Even if they somehow won the NC next season (everyone laugh w/ me!), I would still have so much doubt in the back of my mind moving forward.
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
It seems like Alvarez is treating this like it's a professional sport in that he thinks that replacing the assistant coaches could make a large difference with a team that can't make much in the way of large scale roster changes.
What this seems to indicate is that Eaves isn't just going to be the coach for this year but also for at least one more year. There just isn't a way to make any big changes on a college roster in a single season and Barry seems to be giving him a lot of leeway to "put hay in the barn."
It seems like Alvarez is treating this like it's a professional sport in that he thinks that replacing the assistant coaches could make a large difference with a team that can't make much in the way of large scale roster changes.
What this seems to indicate is that Eaves isn't just going to be the coach for this year but also for at least one more year. There just isn't a way to make any big changes on a college roster in a single season and Barry seems to be giving him a lot of leeway to "put hay in the barn."
G
Gurtholfin
Guest
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
As I said earlier, it was a half-measure.
From a fan's perspective (this fan anyway), it does nothing to get me re-excited about the program. In fact, it makes me less excited to the point where I don't care who the new assistants are and am basically apathetic at this point and doubt I'll really get back into it until the inevitable Eaves firing happens at some later date.
Had they brought in a new regime, I'd be all over it as like most, I love the building towards something.
Watching a sinking ship is only enjoyable when it's someone else's ship (and even then, it gets old after a bit), not your own.
As I said earlier, it was a half-measure.
From a fan's perspective (this fan anyway), it does nothing to get me re-excited about the program. In fact, it makes me less excited to the point where I don't care who the new assistants are and am basically apathetic at this point and doubt I'll really get back into it until the inevitable Eaves firing happens at some later date.
Had they brought in a new regime, I'd be all over it as like most, I love the building towards something.
Watching a sinking ship is only enjoyable when it's someone else's ship (and even then, it gets old after a bit), not your own.
Gandalf the Red
Cardinal and White Wizard
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
This is largely how I feel. I feel bad for the players, because they are pawns in a sad game being played by both BA and Eaves. I really think if BA had canned Eaves and brought in someone new, that in 3 years this program could be back on the right track. Now, we wait a year or two and then finally get a new direction and fresh attitude for the team. This freshman class may very well never see the NCAA tourney with Eaves at the helm, maybe as seniors just due to experience.
This is largely how I feel. I feel bad for the players, because they are pawns in a sad game being played by both BA and Eaves. I really think if BA had canned Eaves and brought in someone new, that in 3 years this program could be back on the right track. Now, we wait a year or two and then finally get a new direction and fresh attitude for the team. This freshman class may very well never see the NCAA tourney with Eaves at the helm, maybe as seniors just due to experience.
Almington
Blood Boiling with Rage and Hate
That's what I don't think the athletic department recognizes that's Eaves has lost the fan base: the lack of consistancy has really hurt hurt and a single winning season isn't going to change how many of the fans feel. The result is that the number of season tickets are going to continue to erode.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
It's likely we're stuck with Eaves until he retires. They'll hit double digit wins next year, and that will be seen as a sign of progress . The next year they will inch above .500, another sign of progress. The next year they are in the 22ish win area, possibly making the ncaas, more progress. Then the bottom falls out again with 12 freshmen, but hey, they're just young.
.
JK and BA MUST understand that you can win with young rosters. They truly do not understand this nor the fact that the fans are tired of MM and his systems.
It's likely we're stuck with Eaves until he retires. They'll hit double digit wins next year, and that will be seen as a sign of progress . The next year they will inch above .500, another sign of progress. The next year they are in the 22ish win area, possibly making the ncaas, more progress. Then the bottom falls out again with 12 freshmen, but hey, they're just young.
.JK and BA MUST understand that you can win with young rosters. They truly do not understand this nor the fact that the fans are tired of MM and his systems.
solovsfett
Registered User
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
I honestly feel double-digit wins is going to be tough for UW. On paper their offense is no better than last year. While Freytag and Malone may be better than anyone in the now departed Senior class the 3rd and 4th lines are pretty abysmal so there will be even less depth. It seems like a wash.
Like EODS pointed out, this really is a no-win situation which makes the decision to retain Eaves all the more baffling IMO.
In other news, Chuck/Andy left Bucky's 5th Q...We didn't always agree but I really enjoyed his insight and the recruiting updates. Now what? Hybert comes back?
Wisconsin Hockey: everyone is leaving or depressed and thinking of leaving or eff it. We have the Blackhawks so forget the rest
I honestly feel double-digit wins is going to be tough for UW. On paper their offense is no better than last year. While Freytag and Malone may be better than anyone in the now departed Senior class the 3rd and 4th lines are pretty abysmal so there will be even less depth. It seems like a wash.
Like EODS pointed out, this really is a no-win situation which makes the decision to retain Eaves all the more baffling IMO.
In other news, Chuck/Andy left Bucky's 5th Q...We didn't always agree but I really enjoyed his insight and the recruiting updates. Now what? Hybert comes back?
Wisconsin Hockey: everyone is leaving or depressed and thinking of leaving or eff it. We have the Blackhawks so forget the rest
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi
I think an improved defense and special teams will get UW to double digit wins.
Andy leaving....we go from having the best recruiting news guy on the plant to having the worst. That is what sucks most of all. Too bad he just could have pared down to recruiting only....Thanks again Andy. May the Schwartz be with you.
I honestly feel double-digit wins is going to be tough for UW. On paper their offense is no better than last year. While Freytag and Malone may be better than anyone in the now departed Senior class the 3rd and 4th lines are pretty abysmal so there will be even less depth. It seems like a wash.
Like EODS pointed out, this really is a no-win situation which makes the decision to retain Eaves all the more baffling IMO.
In other news, Chuck/Andy left Bucky's 5th Q...We didn't always agree but I really enjoyed his insight and the recruiting updates. Now what? Hybert comes back?
Wisconsin Hockey: everyone is leaving or depressed and thinking of leaving or eff it. We have the Blackhawks so forget the rest
I think an improved defense and special teams will get UW to double digit wins.
Andy leaving....we go from having the best recruiting news guy on the plant to having the worst. That is what sucks most of all. Too bad he just could have pared down to recruiting only....Thanks again Andy. May the Schwartz be with you.
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