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Wisconsin Hockey XXXVI: Stop looking for the silver lining and ignoring the problem!!

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Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXVI: Stop looking for the silver lining and ignoring the probl

Gurtholfin said:
The ovation at the KC tonight when the hoops victory was announced would like a word...


I know far more people that follow all 3 major teams than just follow any one.
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Exactly. No reason you can't be a fan of the entire program!

We actually watched the end of the basketball game at a bar (HopCat - check it out, 130 different beers and decent burgers), and hit the Kohl as the second period started.

EDIT: I think reasonable people can make the argument BA is a good AD. With the obvious exception of men's hockey, you can make a pretty good argument that the athletic department overall has been very successful over the last 10 years - look at volleyball, soccer, track, etc. I'm hoping he makes the right decision after this season to make a change (which I agree he should have done last year).
 
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Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXVI: Stop looking for the silver lining and ignoring the probl

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
More important and relevant is how many badger fans share Barry's antipathy toward hockey.

It's certainly more than any of us dare to admit.
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Point being?

How many hockey fans give a rat's arse about cross country or track?

I know I'm pleased when I hear they're doing well and I applaud when their results are announced, but I'm not going to march on Barry's office for any perceived or actual slights leveled in their direction.


Most of us agree that Barry is a prime reason that the hockey program is where it is.

It's ridiculous to think that football fan is gonna come to it's rescue though or even that they should.


My guess is that the regents are quite pleased with his results. They probably have pools of money in the basement at the KC that they swim in and the Wisconsin brand has never been more prominent on the national sports scene.


Fwiw, I've disliked Barry from about 97 or 98 on. What an arrogant pos.


I wish he'd fall down in a hog pen...
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXVI: Stop looking for the silver lining and ignoring the probl

Gurtholfin said:
Point being?

How many hockey fans give a rat's arse about cross country or track?

I know I'm pleased when I hear they're doing well and I applaud when their results are announced, but I'm not going to march on Barry's office for any perceived or actual slights leveled in their direction.


Most of us agree that Barry is a prime reason that the hockey program is where it is.

It's ridiculous to think that football fan is gonna come to it's rescue though or even that they should.


My guess is that the regents are quite pleased with his results. They probably have pools of money in the basement at the KC that they swim in and the Wisconsin brand has never been more prominent on the national sports scene.


Fwiw, I've disliked Barry from about 97 or 98 on. What an arrogant pos.


I wish he'd fall down in a hog pen...
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I think this ties in to something I observed a long time ago and have been pondering. I used to attend the Badger Hockey Showdown every year at the Bradley Center. In its day, that was an amazing event with a great atmosphere. Then the football program rose to prominence and started locking in Late December/New Years Bowls. A lot of the boosters and alumni stopped coming and jetted off to watch football (even taking the band with them), eventually killing the tournament. I think this is a microcosm of the change at UW. Back then, lots of general UW fans would show up for hockey because everyone likes to be associated with winning. Now that the sports they are more familiar with are good, they are more likely to stay in their comfort zone. I don't know if it's really possible to get those types of fans back or not. But I do not it's not going to happen with a mediocre team.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXVI: Stop looking for the silver lining and ignoring the probl

So........bandwagon fans.

Just sayin'.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXVI: Stop looking for the silver lining and ignoring the probl

RedStripes said:
Most programs have a core following and another group that gravitates towards the winningest program in town.
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This is true. But in these numbers? That's sad.

Don't get me wrong, as much as I hate WI, seeing this happen to a program is horrible. Just horrible.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXVI: Stop looking for the silver lining and ignoring the probl

Brenthoven said:
So........bandwagon fans.

Just sayin'.
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Says the guy who went to Duluth but hopped on the Gopher wagon just as they were winning two titles?

Just sayin'.

;) :D
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXVI: Stop looking for the silver lining and ignoring the probl

Gurtholfin said:
Says the guy who went to Duluth but hopped on the Gopher wagon just as they were winning two titles?

Just sayin'.

;) :D
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I wasn't into college hockey until about 2002 or so. Had no clue how good/bad teams were. Yeah, I know. However, no matter how bad MN gets, something about my cold dead hands? :)
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXVI: Stop looking for the silver lining and ignoring the probl

It's the curse of the parrot.
 
Gurtholfin said:
Point being?

How many hockey fans give a rat's arse about cross country or track?
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Question 2 is a roundabout answer to question 1.

My point is that to many, Barry included, hockey might as well be cross country or track. Not a revenue sport, not on the radar, if it does well people will be pleased, then shrug and move on.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXVI: Stop looking for the silver lining and ignoring the probl

BA's attitude towards hockey in his revenue analysis certainly means MM is safe. BA is a fool for not trying to make hockey profitable again, but that would take effort on his part. He's too busy counting the Adidas money.

Nice effort by the lads Saturday. They do have a knack coming back in games.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXVI: Stop looking for the silver lining and ignoring the probl

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
Question 2 is a roundabout answer to question 1.

My point is that to many, Barry included, hockey might as well be cross country or track. Not a revenue sport, not on the radar, if it does well people will be pleased, then shrug and move on.
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So who knows what Badger team has won 5 national championships and been runner up 8 times in the past 34 years, and had its record of 43 years of NCAA tournament appearances end this season?
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXVI: Stop looking for the silver lining and ignoring the probl

UCBadger said:
So who knows what Badger team has won 5 national championships and been runner up 8 times in the past 34 years, and had its record of 43 years of NCAA tournament appearances end this season?
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I'd jokingly say Ultimate Frisbee, but I'm pretty sure it's Men's Cross Country.
 
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Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXVI: Stop looking for the silver lining and ignoring the probl

OK, time for a contrarian apologist point of view.

What would any of you expect Barry to say right now? What would have been acceptable to you?

He's not going to come out and say "Yeah, we've had people staying away from hockey games by the thousands" or "Yup, we need to put in a new coach at the end of the season" or "You know, I am completely out of my depth right now...I took the tidal wave of support from turning the football program around and rode that into this sweet position that I am entirely unqualified for".

It is his job to represent the entirety of the Athletic Department (but he's said that "he's not a hockey guy", he doesn't care about anything outside of his 2 favorites, he only cares about making money). He isn't going to do anyone any favors by showing his hand now in regards to any upcoming changes or admitting fault in any approach that the administration has taken.

I'm sure that there are things that are said in private and there are complete different things that are said in public. Personally, I would tend to give him the benefit of the doubt (but he has done nothing to deserve it! He's let Eaves kill the proud hockey program!) and reserve my judgement until after the season has ended and the proper time to address any changes arrives.

Alright, you can all tell me how wrong I am now.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXVI: Stop looking for the silver lining and ignoring the probl

Actions prove who somebody is; words prove who they wanna be. We'll see what action is taken in about 5 weeks.
 
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Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXVI: Stop looking for the silver lining and ignoring the probl

Timothy A said:
BA's attitude towards hockey in his revenue analysis certainly means MM is safe. BA is a fool for not trying to make hockey profitable again, but that would take effort on his part. He's too busy counting the Adidas money.

Nice effort by the lads Saturday. They do have a knack coming back in games.
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I think BA is busy counting the new Under Armour money as well. BA is good with the big donors and other things of that nature. There are people with a lot of money that think he is a larger then live figure and donate a lot of their money to the department. He needs a person who takes care of the tasks for the other programs that he doesn't feel deserve his attention(which is his job). He has been pretty lucky with the events that have taken place since he arrived as AD. I don't think he has played as big of a role in them that he leads people to believe, it has been more of good timing. Bo Ryan has saved him in the public image department.
 
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