Future of UAH

[Chris '03]

Apparently, the team will be told whether the program will live on at the D-I level tomorrow morning.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/10/future_of_alabama-huntsville_h.html

[Trotsky]

Looks bad.

[Chris '03]

Is bad:

FROM: Malcolm Portera, President



RE: UAHuntsville Ice Hockey Program



DATE: October 24, 2011



I want to share with you a decision that has been made following months of careful study. As a result of a financial analysis of our athletic program, and numerous conversations I have had with athletic directors, university presidents and commissioners of Division I ice hockey programs, it has become obvious that, for the best interest of this university, our athletic department and the ice hockey program, we move the team from the Division I level back to its original classification as a club sport at the end of the 2011-2012 season.



In this economic environment universities must examine the value of every dollar we spend, and we must view every option to use those funds for the betterment of the entire campus. The cost savings from this move will allow the university to enhance the operating budgets of the other 15 sports on campus, provide more student aid to a greater number of student-athletes, and, at the same time, enable us to increase our investment in high-demand academic programs to better position UAHuntsville for future growth.



I met with the players and coaches this morning to pledge the university's full assistance to the student-athletes participating in our ice hockey program. We will continue to honor the scholarship commitment made to these students, and if a student-athlete chooses to transfer to another program, we will provide help in making that relocation as seamless as possible. Coaches will remain on our staff through May 31, 2012, and the university will assist them in their endeavors to seek future employment.



Charger ice hockey will very much remain a part of the culture of this university and the community. However, the opportunity to save the hockey program is much improved by reverting to a club team status. We appreciate the understanding of the campus, the university's athletic supporters and the community, and we look forward to a robust hockey presence in the years to come.

[billhoward]

If only they'd held on just one more year ... The incoming president, Robert Altenkirch ex-pres of NJIT (think of a budding MIT, only in Newark, but a nice campus-y part of Newark, no joke), is a big sports fan and pushed hard to make basketball a signature sport to rally the campus.

[Chris '03]

If only they'd held on just one more year ... The incoming president, Robert Altenkirch ex-pres of NJIT (think of a budding MIT, only in Newark, but a nice campus-y part of Newark, no joke), is a big sports fan and pushed hard to make basketball a signature sport to rally the campus.

The new president takes over next week...

[css228]

Sad day for College Hockey. It's a shame UAH couldn't find success at this level and no one looked out for them. Hopefully they'll find success at the club level.

[Josh '99]

If only they'd held on just one more year ... The incoming president, Robert Altenkirch ex-pres of NJIT (think of a budding MIT, only in Newark, but a nice campus-y part of Newark, no joke), is a big sports fan and pushed hard to make basketball a signature sport to rally the campus.

The new president takes over next week...

... and is just a new president, not a miracle worker with the power to create a conference for UAH to join out of thin air.

[billhoward]

Well, Robert Altenkirch (not Altenkirchen as on CHN) did make a college in downtown Newark semi-desirable. That's a minor miracle.

We're going to see odd-team-out a lot more in the reshuffling of college football conferences.

[Chris '03]

If only they'd held on just one more year ... The incoming president, Robert Altenkirch ex-pres of NJIT (think of a budding MIT, only in Newark, but a nice campus-y part of Newark, no joke), is a big sports fan and pushed hard to make basketball a signature sport to rally the campus.

The new president takes over next week...

... and is just a new president, not a miracle worker with the power to create a conference for UAH to join out of thin air.

Doesn't mean it shouldn't have been his choice to make.

[Trotsky]

If only they'd held on just one more year ... The incoming president, Robert Altenkirch ex-pres of NJIT (think of a budding MIT, only in Newark, but a nice campus-y part of Newark, no joke), is a big sports fan and pushed hard to make basketball a signature sport to rally the campus.

The new president takes over next week...

... and is just a new president, not a miracle worker with the power to create a conference for UAH to join out of thin air.

Doesn't mean it shouldn't have been his choice to make.

If the incoming administration was that opposed why couldn't they simply reverse the decision?

Sometimes the outgoing guy takes the hit on an emotionally unpopular yet financially sound decision, so the new guy doesn't have to deal with it.  (No idea whether that is what has happened here.)

[Josh '99]

If only they'd held on just one more year ... The incoming president, Robert Altenkirch ex-pres of NJIT (think of a budding MIT, only in Newark, but a nice campus-y part of Newark, no joke), is a big sports fan and pushed hard to make basketball a signature sport to rally the campus.

The new president takes over next week...

... and is just a new president, not a miracle worker with the power to create a conference for UAH to join out of thin air.

Doesn't mean it shouldn't have been his choice to make.

Sure, but the writing had been on the wall for a couple of years now.

[ugarte]

The UAH hockey team meant a few dozen more scholarships and a neat story but it was a failure in the grand scheme of things. A hockey program is expensive to run, especially as isolated as UAH was. Being an involuntary independent in the era of conference realignment made it even more impractical. The Atlanta Thrashers didn't work out either. It sucks but that's life.

[Jim Hyla]

CHN article about a possible solution. Somewhat less informative article on USCHO.

[CKinsland]

I went to the UNH-UAH game in Durham on Nov 26 and was both amused and gratified to see a variety of pro-UAH signs.  "Save UAH" and "We Still Love You" were among them.  

I realize the complications are considerable, but it would be nice if the program could be saved.  College hockey is a great sport, wherever it find a foothold.  

CK

[Jim Hyla]

More on helping UAH.