Did anyone see the news regarding Bowling Green? :-/
Bowling Green considering dropping hockey (http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2009/03/11_bowling.php)
I think that this would be a tragedy, akin to the ECAC losing a program like RPI. BGSU hasn't been that competitive recently but they're a storied program. George Roll played there. Ron Mason and Jerry York coached there there. They've made the NCAA's 9 times and won the tournament in '83-'84 (under York). Their NHL alumni (JTW?) list includes Rob Blake, Ken Morrow, Brian Holzinger, Mike Emrick, Nelson Emerson, Kevin Bieksa, Mike Liut, Dave Ellett, Paul Ysebaert, Ken Klee, Dan Blysma, Mike Johnson, etc.
I don't know how many college hockey programs make money versus require funding, but this may not be the first university to consider dropping their program. I find this incredibly sad even if it's a sign of the times. I would write a decent sized check of my own if it would help them keep the program but I don't know enough of the specifics to know if this would just be a temporary band-aid. Anyone with me if they organize a fundraiser? I witnessed the loss of UI @ Chicago when I was attending grad school at Michigan but to me that was nowhere near as sad - their program had no history and seemingly no hope. BGSU can be proud of their hockey tradition. This year alone, in a down year for the program, they beat Michigan, Michigan State, played Miami and Notre Dame tough at times, beat Clarkson convincingly twice, etc.
This potential loss would be a very said day for the college hockey community.
[quote RatushnyFan]beat Clarkson convincingly twice, etc.
[/quote]
So did Union...
But I agree it would be a tragedy if BGSU were to drop d-1 hockey.
How do you think Union would fare versus Michigan?;-)
I hadn't seen this news, but I guessed the story as soon as I saw the title of the thread. This would be bad news. I don't get terribly upset when schools like Iona or Fairfeild stop playing - I'm not the type who wants DI hockey to expand and expand and expand. But a team with some actual history is a different story.
I'd be hesitant to write a check though because there's no guarantee it's not throwing money away. Maybe if there was a specific fundraising goal (say to refurbish the rink) that came with a commitment from the administration to support and maintain the program. Even then I'd be mroe likely to spend my cash on our program.
Do they have a Tymchyshyn or a Punches we can vulture?
Keith, that's what I'm looking for as well. I'm checking around to see if there's a targeted fundraiser.
Don't go there yet ugarte!
QuoteAdding to the ominous issue for college hockey, is that Dr. Cartwright was the president at Kent State when that school dropped its program in 1994.
Not good at all.
Yes, there's some discussion on that on the USCHO board. LynahFan noted that her salary is $375k.........maybe that needs to be cut concurrently.
[quote ugarte]Do they have a Tymchyshyn or a Punches we can vulture?[/quote]Those are fairly uncommon names, so probably not.
You know if they dropped football, eliminated hockey scholarships, and could move to a hockey league where non-scholarship teams are competitive, this alone would probably take care of the $750K Athletic Department deficit. These mid-major, poor, public universities, which occupy second and third tiers in their state systems, get in over their heads when they try to win consistently against public flagships (outside the northeast) and major-athletic privates. How is BGSU supposed to compete perennially against Notre Dame, Michigan, or even Ohio State?
Good news, BGSU hockey will be fielding (icing?) a hockey team next year. I hope they are able to work towards a long-term solution as well.
BGSU hockey update (http://bgviewsnetwork.com/sports/2009/03/open-letter-from-greg-christopher/index.php)
[quote RatushnyFan]fielding (icing?)[/quote]
Skating.
[quote RatushnyFan]Good news, BGSU hockey will be fielding (icing?) a hockey team next year. I hope they are able to work towards a long-term solution as well.
BGSU hockey update (http://bgviewsnetwork.com/sports/2009/03/open-letter-from-greg-christopher/index.php)[/quote]
But I expect it will only get worse for the program. Whatever attractiveness it had to potential recruits is hurt if there's doubt whether the program will survive the entire four years one would expect to be there. Even if BG was the only DivI program interested in a player, I think that player would now be more inclined to consider a quality DivIII program or other options.
I don't doubt that. They need to keep working and announce a long-term solution publicly or their recruiting effort will be marginalized.
But you know what? I'll take a 4 year scholarship to play hockey at BGSU. ;-)