Good Editorial on Falcon Hockey

[Falcon Fanatic]

http://sent-trib.com/stnew/index.php?op ... Itemid=169" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cartwright did her part, now it's the hockey fans' turn
Written by David C. Miller, Editor
Wednesday, 07 October 2009 10:29

Carol Cartwright did her part, now it's time for Falcon hockey supporters to do their part.
Bowling Green State University's president made the tough call to guarantee the program a firm future only six months after it had been skating on the brink of extinction. In doing so, Cartwright preserved an important part of BGSU's heritage as the university is about to celebrate its centennial year. Part of the commitment is to renovate BGSU's ice arena - a key component in the town and gown relationship.
Now the responsibility to raise $5 million for the hockey program and ice arena rests on the shoulders of hockey fans and advocates of remodeling the ice arena.
For some, notably former Falcon hockey team members, this is a time to pay the university back for what it did for them. For others, including families of current and future youth skaters and hockey players, it's an opportunity to pay forward.
During the bleakest days when the program looked like it had no future beyond this season, Cartwright and the BGSU trustees were flooded by e-mail appeals from many people. More than 1,000 Falcon students attending the MAC basketball tournament in Cleveland last spring wore T-shirts urging the trustees at the games to save the hockey program.
Over the months Cartwright went out of her way to meet with hockey supporters - including a large group of hockey alumni.
She created two committees to advise her. One focused on the ice arena, while the other one explored the future of BGSU's intercollegiate athletics.
The enthusiasm for Falcon hockey had not been this high since the team won the NCAA championship in 1984.
Now the trick is to maintain that enthusiasm when it comes to raising funds.
If sales of season tickets are any indication of the enthusiasm level, some of those vocal advocates need to sound the alarm among their fellow fans. Season ticket sales are only slightly ahead of last year (324 to 303).
Fans who live too far away to attend games can still help fill the stands by participating in the Falcon Assist Donation Program for $120 - the same price as general admission season passes. The tickets purchased through this program are given to local youth organizations.
But fan support far beyond the $120-a-year level is needed to successfully raise $2 million in endowment funds for hockey scholarships and $3 million for the ice arena. The university has pledged $2.5 million from its capital fund to help restore the arena, and State Rep. Randy Gardner and State Sen. Mark Wagoner secured $1.5 million in state capital improvements money to be used toward the project.
Cartwright has quickly turned into the lead cheerleader for the fundraising effort. Over this past homecoming weekend she never missed an opportunity to let alumni know how committed the university is to helping Falcon hockey return to glory.
She is confident she has the right people in key positions to not only raise the money (Marcia Sloan Latta) but oversee the remodeling of the facility (Steve Krakoff, associate vice president for capital planning and design).
Latta, interim vice president for university advancement, is expected to announce this week the formation of a fundraising campaign committee.
Both Latta and Cartwright have emphasized that the key to a successful campaign is for it to be a group effort involving the local community as well as alumni and current Falcon supporters.
Now is the time for all of them to step forward and put their checkbooks where their advocacy has been for the past half year.
- David C. Miller, Editor

[Bleeding Orange]

What a fantastic editorial. I hope a lot of people in Bowling Green and elsewhere have taken the time to read it. I realize that the economy is very tough right now, but it is times like these in which we have to pick priorities. There were a lot of people who were up in arms not only about the questionable future of the hockey program a few months ago, but also about the future of the Ice Arena itself. It is well past time for those people to step up to the plate, or the blue line, as it were.

Even though it isn't really in my budget, I am going to be calling the AD in a week or two to buy into the Falcon Assist Donation Program. It isn't feasible for me to make it to too many games this year, but if I can help a kid be there to watch this program rise from the ashes, I'm excited to do it. I fell in love with this program while I was at BG, and I really hope that a lot more people have that same experience long down the road.

Roll along!

[VDub26Falcon]

+1,000!

I plan on making it to as many games this season as is humanly possible, including using some personal time here at work so I can attend both games of home-weekend series. What's also great is that the out of towners who do travel to the games usually have to spend a night or two in a hotel, meaning even more money into the Bowling Green community. I can't wait to see the Falcons on the ice for a few games this season!!!