Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!
That loss really stings, and feels so wrong. I'm pretty shocked that men's basketball is still alive while hockey isn't. I'm a fan of the basketball team, of course, but a bitter part of me hates that hockey will be swept under the rug for the next nine months.
(WISCDC - this isn't direct solely or even mainly at you)
I never feel that way. They're completely separate and if hoops wins today they will have earned all of the attention that they receive. Bigger stage = lights shining brighter.
Hockey fans need to get past this inter-UW inferiority complex due to attention levels. Imagine being a UW Cross Country fan or Softball fan. To be honest, it's kinda Jan-like. Think about it.
If the hockey team wants more attention, they'll need to do something worthy of attention and do it consistently for several years at a time.
Either way though, the football first, basketball second and hockey after that ranking will never change. Not at UW and not nationwide.
I for one am very happy to follow a college that has multiple programs that are successful. Sure, I wish football and hoops could get over the hump and at least contend for a title, but even the status-quo is pretty good in comparison to other places.
And I wouldn't trade the multi-sport success to go back to the "Glory Years" where UW hockey was the only thing in town worth following. To be honest, those "Glory Years" are starting to be an awfully long time ago. 2 titles now in the last 30 years.
The eighties and nineties weren't as great as some seem to remember. Better than now? Sure. Still thought of as one of the premier hockey programs? Yep. But 4 of our titles were won by 1983.
Again, if hockey (fan) wants to be respected and get attention, then hockey team needs to (re) earn it -once again, the glory years are a LONG time ago - and stand alongside, never again in front of football and basketball.
Go Badger ballers!
I think we have a decent shot at Arizona. It's been 14 years now since the last FF. Sure would be fun to have that happen again and especially with this team as they are far better than the 2000 team.