Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

[WiscTJK]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

The news on Kunin, the Dvorak decommit, the Boeser decommit, the need to bring players in early on a more frequent basis, this is all terrible news.

Not only does it show just how ****ing myopic Mike Eaves is, it shows he cannot adjust and it also ruins the development of the players. I mean let's get serious, more often than not bringing a kid in early does in fact arrest their development a bit (yeah, sorry for the pun).

What this is telling me (yeah, mr. pessimist) is Mike Eaves is grounding this program while Barry Alvarez sits there stroking Bo Ryan and Paul Chryst completely oblivious to the destruction of the once proud Wisconsin Men's hockey team.

I can't even express how ****ing ****ed off I am at this situation. I want Eaves and Alvarez sent packing immediately. Ship them to the moon, whatever, I don't care where they end up as long as the result is a new Men's Hockey coach that will begin the rebuilding process.

And let's not kid ourselves about that (i'm looking at you mr. eaves apologist mcbadgerton), it IS a rebuilding process that needs to take place and IF Eaves stays that's inexcusable. There should never be a rebuilding process 13 years into your stint as coach. If there is, it means you've ****ed up royally.

()!@*%*!@$~)%*!@$)^*!@)$^*)@!$*%)!*#)$*!)*T)!@$*)%^*@$)%*)!*!*)$*!)*%)!#*)%*!#)%*#%

You just wonder what a guy like Grant Standbrook or Bill Howard think about the state of the program now. What about Brian Rafalski? Tony Granato? Scott Mellanby? Heater? Reinprecht? Burish? They'd probably never state their opinions publicly but **** it would be great if they could put pressure on the AD to get things righted.

wow what a post. Shouldn't get so angry before bed. I agree with you. Every time I think of UW hockey right now I get angry. I hate that I am going to have to get rid of tickets that I love, just to make a point to the Athletic Dept. It shouldn't come to long time season ticket holders jumping ship to get action, but here we are.....

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

Let's pump the brakes just a bit. Nothing is official on Kunin one way or another. If it were dire straights he'd be decommitted by now. If he doesn't end up getting in, then that's not really on the coaching staff.

good point, obviously I can't blame act scores on the coaches but this could exacerbate a problem Eaves brought on himself. Lose one of Boeser or Kunin for whatever reason and that's not good. Lose both of them on top of losing Dvorak and on top of recruiting generally going South and winning just 4 games this past season and it has the appearance of an 18-wheeler sans brakes.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

obviously I can't blame act scores on the coaches

I don't know... I have quite a bit of confidence in you solo, and I feel like perhaps you are selling yourself a little short here.

 

[UWisco]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

Kunin has a few months and practically an unlimiited amount of times he can take the ACT. He will be FINE.

 

[bothman]

Kunin has a few months and practically an unlimiited amount of times he can take the ACT. He will be FINE.

Harvard lost 2 guys in May of last year (Adam plant to Denver and Brandon fortunato to BU). There is time, but you still have to deliver.

You have to wonder if less academically inclined schools are circling the wagons.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

Completely circumstantial of course, but if you take a look at the Hockey East All Academic Team*, BC and BU (private schools with much lower acceptance rates than UW) each place 1 player who actually played this season** and 5 and 6 team members respectively on it. Providence had 2, one of whom played (in 14 games).

By contrast some of the HE public universities had the following numbers of players appear:

U Mass - 13
Mass Lowell - 16
Maine - 17
UNH - 14
Vermont - 13


*3.0 GPA required over the two academic periods

** Technically 2 played for BU as senior G Anthony Moccia recorded 1 save in 4 minutes played on the season.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

wow what a post. Shouldn't get so angry before bed. I agree with you. Every time I think of UW hockey right now I get angry. I hate that I am going to have to get rid of tickets that I love, just to make a point to the Athletic Dept. It shouldn't come to long time season ticket holders jumping ship to get action, but here we are.....

yeah, I know

I just cannot believe what it's come to. I would never have guessed in 1996 or 2002 or 2007-2013 that the program would suffer a 4-win season and not be considered a top 10 school for Hockey recruits...but it's come to pass and getting back into the Top 10 recruiting annually (and I'd argue UW should be top 5-7 annually) is going to prove difficult for Eaves...VERY difficult. Considering his reputation...this could end up being extremely painful (moreso than the past few years) for what's left of the fanbase.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

wow what a post. Shouldn't get so angry before bed. I agree with you. Every time I think of UW hockey right now I get angry. I hate that I am going to have to get rid of tickets that I love, just to make a point to the Athletic Dept. It shouldn't come to long time season ticket holders jumping ship to get action, but here we are.....

I don't get angry, I get sad.....

I'm not sure you giving up tickets you love will have any effect on the outcome of the Eaves situation. Undoubtedly Eaves will have some plan that BA and JK (Jason King) will rubber stamp "approved". Then they'll have some clever, catchy marketing plan fire up and it will be ineffectual because BA and JK won't get o the root cause of the problem (the coaches). UW will win 12 games and the PR people (including BA and JK) will say, "hey they increased their win total 300%!". Meanwhile dead bodies are still being recovered from the Madison chain of lakes as a result of the ASU sweep months before.

What I'm saying is you love those tickets, keep those tickets, have fun with it. There will be flashes of lightening inside the dark storm. Enjoy the lightening. Why take something away that you love, it will just make you all the more p/o'ed. At least you are retaining the awesome seats you love.

Once this BB run is over and everyone gets over whatever hangover from it there will be, maybe some legit newsfolks can get some answers out of BA like a timetable, details from the meeting, all that stuff we want to hear about.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

Meanwhile dead bodies are still being recovered from the Madison chain of lakes as a result of the ASU sweep months before.

Heh.

 

[WiscTJK]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

I don't get angry, I get sad.....

I'm not sure you giving up tickets you love will have any effect on the outcome of the Eaves situation. Undoubtedly Eaves will have some plan that BA and JK (Jason King) will rubber stamp "approved". Then they'll have some clever, catchy marketing plan fire up and it will be ineffectual because BA and JK won't get o the root cause of the problem (the coaches). UW will win 12 games and the PR people (including BA and JK) will say, "hey they increased their win total 300%!". Meanwhile dead bodies are still being recovered from the Madison chain of lakes as a result of the ASU sweep months before.

What I'm saying is you love those tickets, keep those tickets, have fun with it. There will be flashes of lightening inside the dark storm. Enjoy the lightening. Why take something away that you love, it will just make you all the more p/o'ed. At least you are retaining the awesome seats you love.

Once this BB run is over and everyone gets over whatever hangover from it there will be, maybe some legit newsfolks can get some answers out of BA like a timetable, details from the meeting, all that stuff we want to hear about.

I have to do it and many others if something like this is to work. We have to show them that the time has come for a change. Honestly, if I have the ticket costs for two nights of hockey and spending money for games in my pocket, I will use that for some other entertainment and probably won't come back even with a new coach.

 

[drop_the_puck]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

Meanwhile dead bodies are still being recovered from the Madison chain of lakes as a result of the ASU sweep months before.

Just made me sad as well. I can see this happening.

Reminds me of the Penn State loss in their first year as a program. ugh

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

I would guess we'll hear some news in the next week or so on the kid Eaves went to see last week in Minnesota when I saw him. Just a hunch. And before you ask, not a blue chipper.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

And before you ask, not a blue chipper.

That's okay. We need more grinders who can perform the "chase" in dump and chase anyway. Right? That's what we need?

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

That's okay. We need more grinders who can perform the "chase" in dump and chase anyway. Right? That's what we need?

I know you're being sarcastic, but that was a huge issue this season. Hard to be a successful dump and chase team if you don't chase.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

I know you're being sarcastic, but that was a huge issue this season. Hard to be a successful dump and chase team if you don't chase.

I was being sarcastic, but you are quite right. Hard to generate offense when you can't maintain possession.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

I know you're being sarcastic, but that was a huge issue this season. Hard to be a successful dump and chase team if you don't chase.

Yeah, but you gotta admit they were getting the "dump" part down cold. Small steps!

I have to do it and many others if something like this is to work.

Honestly I don't see how this theory really works the way you want it to.

Jason King probably knows 98% of the inner workings and what's going on with the program behind the public eye. Especially on personnel decisions, it's his job to recommend and do what he personally thinks is best for the program, which is very likely centered around winning going forward. Now maybe he and fans are in agreement, but if he thinks "A" is the best decision, but the fans think "B" is the best decision... Well, I kind of assume any manager worth their salt is still going to do "A" because they have the whole picture and think it's the best way forward. It's presumably why they have a job, otherwise sports team's personnel decisions could just be made by a fan poll every year. (and probably at least 50% of all sports coaches would be fired every year.)

In other words, I don't see that an even an exodus of ticket holders plays into what the AD thinks is best in regards to personnel decisions and the way forward. I'm not suggesting anybody that has tix needs to retain them if they don't want to, that's A-OK by me, but I question whether it will impact decisions in the way it's been regularly suggested.

 

[Almington]

Honestly I don't see how this theory really works the way you want it to.

Jason King probably knows 98% of the inner workings and what's going on with the program behind the public eye. Especially on personnel decisions, it's his job to recommend and do what he personally thinks is best for the program, which is very likely centered around winning going forward. Now maybe he and fans are in agreement, but if he thinks "A" is the best decision, but the fans think "B" is the best decision... Well, I kind of assume any manager worth their salt is still going to do "A" because they have the whole picture and think it's the best way forward. It's presumably why they have a job, otherwise sports team's personnel decisions could just be made by a fan poll every year. (and probably at least 50% of all sports coaches would be fired every year.)

In other words, I don't see that an even an exodus of ticket holders plays into what the AD thinks is best in regards to personnel decisions and the way forward. I'm not suggesting anybody that has tix needs to retain them if they don't want to, that's A-OK by me, but I question whether it will impact decisions in the way it's been regularly suggested.

Depends on if the AD considered the fans to be the primary customer or not. The issue is that if the fans are leaving the product on the ice isn't compelling enough and that should be a sign that something needs to change. Now, if Eaves can convince the AD that he has the answers that's fine, but the dramatic level of turnaround required to just stop the fan defections, let alone regrow the fanbase is huge. Given Eaves' track record, I'm not convinced that he has the ability to turn things around.

I fail to see how 4 win seasons, declining attendance, and recruiting fiascos are good for the university, the players, the AD, or the fans.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

Depends on if the AD considered the fans to be the primary customer or not. The issue is that if the fans are leaving the product on the ice isn't compelling enough and that should be a sign that something needs to change. Now, if Eaves can convince the AD that he has the answers that's fine, but the dramatic level of turnaround required to just stop the fan defections, let alone regrow the fanbase is huge. Given Eaves' track record, I'm not convinced that he has the ability to turn things around.

I fail to see how 4 win seasons, declining attendance, and recruiting fiascos are good for the university, the players, the AD, or the fans.

I think this highlighted part is basically my point. From the AD's perspective some theoretical combination of winning and marketing (barring outside economic factors) is what will sell tickets over the long run. They will soon have a year end sit down (which they do every year) with evaluations and measures and forward looking thinking, and so on. If after that is all hashed out, the AD is convinced retaining Eaves is in the best interests of the program then I don't think a percentage of fans alter that decision regardless of what they do. Nor are they really the catalyst for Eaves getting let go if the AD isn't satisfied after that final evaluation. It's going to be on his own merits, or lack thereof, in the view of the AD.

I don't think anyone anywhere has argued those last things are good for anyone.

 

[Almington]

I think this highlighted part is basically my point. From the AD's perspective some theoretical combination of winning and marketing (barring outside economic factors) is what will sell tickets over the long run. They will soon have a year end sit down (which they do every year) with evaluations and measures and forward looking thinking, and so on. If after that is all hashed out, the AD is convinced retaining Eaves is in the best interests of the program then I don't think a percentage of fans alter that decision regardless of what they do. Nor are they really the catalyst for Eaves getting let go if the AD isn't satisfied after that final evaluation. It's going to be on his own merits, or lack thereof, in the view of the AD.

I don't think anyone anywhere has argued those last things are good for anyone.

Except significant loss of season ticket holders is NOT in the best long term interest of the program. Replacing season ticket holders is a slow process and a harder when you dont have the advantage of increased chatter that comes with a new coach.

 

[Go4PuckFan2.0]

Except significant loss of season ticket holders is NOT in the best long term interest of the program. Replacing season ticket holders is a slow process and a harder when you dont have the advantage of incareased chatter that comes with a new coach.

Sadly, the Average Fan was dealt out of this equation long ago.

Perhaps the better question is 'what do the corporate sponsors of Badger Hockey feel about the fall of the hockey program and how are they going to respond to it'.

The genuine dedication to your program demonstrated by the posters on this site is admirable. It's also irrelevant and doesn't mean squat to the bottom line in Madison.

As long as the corporate sponsors continue to cut checks to Barry on behalf of Badger hockey he's not going to give a shat about the vocal minority.

Wanna see change?

Get to the corporations that pay the bills.