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Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

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Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Somewhat relevant, from a Q&A with Barry by Baggot:

Q: You run an operation that’s had no NCAA compliance issues, has an operating budget in the black, have nationally competitive teams across the board and reasonable ticket prices compared to your peer institutions. But fans still seem to grumble a lot. Is it getting harder to please them?

BA: I don’t hear much noise.

Link
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

icebadger said:
Somewhat relevant, from a Q&A with Barry by Baggot:

Q: You run an operation that’s had no NCAA compliance issues, has an operating budget in the black, have nationally competitive teams across the board and reasonable ticket prices compared to your peer institutions. But fans still seem to grumble a lot. Is it getting harder to please them?

BA: I don’t hear much noise.

Link
Click to expand...

What an arrogant SOB. Does he not have eyes that see empty seats, or do his YES people tell him the place is sold out every game and there's no grumbling in the fanbase while he's sipping martinis at the country club. Overall Baggot should have pushed the hockey attendance angle more.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

more of andy's response to his answer:

Q: You run an operation that’s had no NCAA compliance issues, has an operating budget in the black, have nationally competitive teams across the board and reasonable ticket prices compared to your peer institutions. But fans still seem to grumble a lot. Is it getting harder to please them?
BA: “I don’t hear much noise.”
Q: Really? Even in this time of social media and email?
BA: “I don’t know. I don’t get many emails. I don’t follow Twitter. I don’t do any of that stuff. I don’t care about that.”
Q: Your staff does, though, correct?
BA: “That’s what they do. That’s what they have to do. But you know what? It makes it easier to complain when you’re faceless or you have an agenda or you have a dislike for someone or somebody irritates you. It’s easy to take shots. You have a venue to do that where years ago you didn’t have a venue and you could spout off at the coffee shop or with your buddies at the bar. Now you can get it out there in front of everybody. I take a look at what we do. … Have we had any compliance issues? Financially, fiscally, are we sound? Do we operate in the black and (give back) to campus? Are we competitive? Do we graduate students? The answer to all those is we’re doing our job and we’re doing it well. … I think we’re one of the most consistent programs in the country.”

Read more: http://host.madison.com/sports/colu...996-5f78-a5b7-d378ecf5b799.html#ixzz35ZlsNmXE

Agree with TimothyA, yes that is a pretty arrogant thing to say.
 
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Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

I love his initial reaction... "Really?"

As much as I can't stand Barry The AD, Baggott did kind of feed him the answer: an athletic department of our scale and magnitude would theoretically be rife with the kinds of controversies that plague other schools. Either we're just really good at hiding our malfeasance, or our Athl. Dept. is doing a pretty good job. It sucks how much they've sucked the life out of the hockey program (and some other areas... our marching/pep band feels like an afterthought sometimes, and it hurts the collegiate atmosphere at ALL games), but overall we've got it pretty good.

God, that felt awful typing that.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Innova said:
Off-topic post:

We are heading to the DePere area for a get together today. While in the area I would like to check out a good store with hockey equipment (youth stuff, main thing needed is a good selection of practice jerseys, but am also looking for sticks, elbow pads, etc).

Where is a good play to go?
Click to expand...

Sorry not to catch this until now. There was a place I was going to recommend on Packerland. Did you end up finding a place to go?
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

I really thought the BA interview would stir up a little more of a reaction than it did, though those of us on the board are not shocked by what he said.

Looks like they are close to selling out the Geoffrion Classic. I won't be there as I had hoped, my boat engine needs a tuning.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Barry Alvarez is in the house.

It should be a good crowd tonight.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

The Blake Geoffrion Hockey Classic was one of the most entertaining sporting events I've ever seen. I was expecting to enjoy it, but it was simply amazing. There were a ton of laughs, and we got to see some world-class hockey players.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Put the letters: p h o t o b u c k e t in the place of the asterisks in the link below (after you click on it and it takes you to an error page) and you can see some of the photos that I took tonight at the Classic.

http://s1112.***********.com/user/Gurth17/media/Geoffrion Classic/_MG_1786.jpg.html?sort=9&o=0

A few of the photos are a bit soft, but I included them anyway.

I didn't shoot the whole game but these will give you a flavor of the mood in the building. First thing I notice and remember are all of the smiles.

It was like a Badger Hockey family reunion.

My favorite moment of many great ones was when Burish scored and then removed his jersey and pads to reveal the words "Blake Geoffrion Sucks" written with Sharpie on his shirt.

Burish had a few other memorable funnies. He's got the gift.


Not the best hockey - made an NHL all star game look like guys are killing themselves to compete - but it wasn't really about the hockey. Like I said, it was a family reunion and was great to see all of those guys on the ice again.

As DC said and I agree... one of the more entertaining sporting events that I've been to in a long time.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

A few other tidbits...

• The player intros of the white team by Andringa were pretty funny. A couple that I recall are "The second best goalie on the 2006 National Championship team... Brian Elliott" and "The 4th best Suter to wear the Badger sweater... Ryan Suter."

I don't remember the exact wording, but you get the idea. The first several photos where the guys are laughing are from the intros.


• Blake was handcuffed early on as it was clear everyone was trying to get him a goal, but he kept hitting the goalie. Rumps actually rolled in slow-mo in a dramatic save attempt and Geoffrion hit his pad.

It became a running joke the rest of the night with Blake playing it up although he did pot a few.


• I won't say that Burish stole the show, but he pretty much did. The announcers ripped him several times and he ripped his fellow alums.

He was interviewed on the bench and quipped that McDonagh, Suter and Stepan were probably exhausted from taking 4th at the Olympics.

He took a mic out to interview Rumps on the ice and asked him when the last time he gave up 13 goals (at the time) and then they posed for a selfie.

He also had some great cellies. Used his helmet as a bowling ball to knock down his line mates...

One of my all time favorite Badgers and loved him on the Hawks too.


• While the goalies were hung out to dry all night, both flashed their gloves a couple of times in impressive fashion.


• Zengerle showed Kane-like hands on several occasions while moving through traffic. Will be interesting to see how he does moving forward. Should have developed that shot more though as he was shut down all night.


• Robbie Earl got OLD and Posick said during the introduction that he (Earl) promises not to dive tonight.


• People I thought would/might be there but weren't: Heatley, Skille, Reinprecht.



What a fun night that was. Entirely exceeded any expectations that I had.
 
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Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Oh yeah, and got fish fry and went to a Badger Hockey game... in late June.

:)
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Oh yeah and one final curiousity/quibble...

Bucky wasn't there and I thought an alumni band might be.

I read that Rumpel couldn't have his name on his jersey or be announced (per NCAA rules - **** you NCAA :mad:), so I wonder if that had something to do with Bucky not being there?


If not, have Bucky and a band there next year!

Phil was there...

1... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6... 7... 8... 9... 10... 11... 12... 13... 14... WE WANT MORE! :D
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Gurtholfin said:
First thing I notice and remember are all of the smiles.
Click to expand...

I noticed this too. During play, even when it appeared they were skating/trying hard, there were visible smiles on the players' faces. Heck, even when I got within 70 or so yards of the LaBahn Arena entrance, I couldn't resist smiling.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

They might be able to put together some kind of band performance next year if they do it at the Kohl Center, which is apparently where they want to hold it next year.

The people in my section first noticed Phil was there when Geoffrion just stopped during play to talk to him.

Also, I don't understand why Rumpel couldn't have his name on his jersey or be announced, even if I decide to agree with absolutely everything the NCAA says about amateurism. If they don't pay him to play or give him other benefits, what's the problem? Players don't have to remain anonymous when they go visit schools and hospitals.
 
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Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

I had a ****ing blast. It was fun to be at a game, or watch a game on TV, where I could just sit back & relax. Geoffrion was the star, but the co-stars were Burish & Elliott; they were hilarious.

Pregame, Mrs. MCR & I got some smiles and/or winks from the players we know and got them to flip some pucks over the glass for some rink rats around us. That's a cool feeling!

Next year: Kohl Center with 10,000.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Glad to hear everyone had a great time last night. Work obligations kept me away but I wish I could have been there.

On an unrelated note, three Badgers picked in the NHL Draft today. Jack Dougherty to Nashville in the second round, Matt Berkovitz to Anaheim in the 5th and Matt Ustaski to Winnipeg in the 7th.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

WiscDC said:
If they don't pay him to play or give him other benefits, what's the problem? Players don't have to remain anonymous when they go visit schools and hospitals.
Click to expand...

He'd be using his name to raise money, or more specifically, using his name to raise money that doesn't go to the NCAA.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

I was also at the charity game! As others have said, it really was a blast! I think that's the most fun I've had in years at a hockey game to be honest! As a season ticket holder, I also got to do the meet and greet. It really felt like old times again! Really nice to catch up with some of the guys that have been gone for quite a few years such as Tom Gilbert, Robbie Earl and Brad Winchester. I have a bunch of pictures, but haven't had time to play around with them yet. The silent auction was interesting as well. I bid on Andrew Joudrey's BGHC game worn jersey and managed to win it. I was very happy to donate that $250 for the jersey. Really hoping they do it again next year and in the Kohl Center!
 
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