Offseason 2023

[vwfalcon]

You just elaborated on exactly what I was trying to say, but you said it in a much better form. Thank you pdt

[jpfalcon09]

Knowing what I do, from whom I know it from… I think it’s being blown out of proportion, but because of the Foltz tragedy, it’s completely understandable as to why it’s being handled and worded the way it is.

I won’t play dumb… I know alcohol was present, however, I also know that this situation is NOTHING like what happened in the fraternity hazing case.

I was able to verify that Swankler was the one to file the complaint with the university. No evidence yet to the rumors that this was essentially retaliatory because of some of things he was doing and was facing potential suspension.

[Flipper]

I will ask one question re the house party/chess club analogy. Is acceptance into the chess club contingent upon participating in that activity? The whole point of calling something "hazing" is the organized nature of the activity and the implied...if not outright stated...notion that to be considered "part of the group" you have to participate

[jpfalcon09]

I will ask one question re the house party/chess club analogy. Is acceptance into the chess club contingent upon participating in that activity? The whole point of calling something "hazing" is the organized nature of the activity and the implied...if not outright stated...notion that to be considered "part of the group" you have to participate

It could be implied that even though player is on scholarship and therefore "accepted" into the program, there could be hazing under the definition of pressure or coercion to do something that an individual doesn't want to do to in order to be accepted by their peers. VW's post would seem to indicate that underage drinking is a possible assumption.

[vwfalcon]

I will ask one question re the house party/chess club analogy. Is acceptance into the chess club contingent upon participating in that activity? The whole point of calling something "hazing" is the organized nature of the activity and the implied...if not outright stated...notion that to be considered "part of the group" you have to participate

It could be implied that even though player is on scholarship and therefore "accepted" into the program, there could be hazing under the definition of pressure or coercion to do something that an individual doesn't want to do to in order to be accepted by their peers. VW's post would seem to indicate that underage drinking is a possible assumption.

I’ll wait until the investigation completes before I elaborate more… however, if you’re coming to town for homecoming and see any games of beer pong, flip cup, beer dye, or boom… just know you might be a witness to hazing

[pdt1081]

I will ask one question re the house party/chess club analogy. Is acceptance into the chess club contingent upon participating in that activity? The whole point of calling something "hazing" is the organized nature of the activity and the implied...if not outright stated...notion that to be considered "part of the group" you have to participate

I'm not sure it really matters anymore. Basically, any form of encouragement (cheering somebody on to chug, take a shot, etc) implies it is being done for acceptance. Basically, it's on the club/organization to prove it wasn't for acceptance. No easy feat there.

[Flipper]

I'm somewhat surprised at the attempts to minimize the potential severity of the situation. These aren't regular students...they're representatives of the University, an institution beset by a lot of bad publicity and legal entanglements in the aftermath of a hazing incident that turned tragic. Engaging in behavior that could be construed as hazing in that environment is a bit like doing 50 in a school zone while the cops are sitting in plain view on the side of the road

[pdt1081]

I'm somewhat surprised at the attempts to minimize the potential severity of the situation. These aren't regular students...they're representatives of the University, an institution beset by a lot of bad publicity and legal entanglements in the aftermath of a hazing incident that turned tragic. Engaging in behavior that could be construed as hazing in that environment is a bit like doing 50 in a school zone while the cops are sitting in plain view on the side of the road

There's enough people with some behind the scenes knowledge to know the incident itself isn't that bad. The circumstances of it all are very complex and delicate, and nobody is jealous of the administrators who have to sort through it. VW has hinted at what sort of incident occurred. As a throw back to Bergeron, trust the process.

I will say I'm generally surprised by the lack of feces flinging from certain fan bases. I fully expected to see at least some on USCHO.

[vwfalcon]

You can view it like that, I view it like I interact with these guys almost on a weekly basis due to the nature of my job, and have heard murmurs of the nature of this alleged event and have more information to go off of than you. It is my opinion, based off of conversations that I’ve had with various team alumni, that this is being a bit over exaggerated due to the recent events in the tragedy a few years back. I’m not being dismissive, I’m being more grounded instead of doom and gloom based off of the information I have to form my opinion with as well as my life experiences.

All of those examples I previously listed that you scoffed at, fit the textbook definition of hazing. How do I know? I’ve been through a hazing investigation back when I was a student. All of those examples were presented to our organization’s leadership group as things that are considered hazing activities. Based on that, I believe they are going to be over punished more like getting a citation for doing 21 in a 20 when you thought that you were doing 19 than the example you provided where there was a total disregard of safety.

As far as the non-hazing related part of the situation, I will also circle back to say that the culture comment made by Swankler, has no basis. He wasn’t viewed by the rest of the players as a team guy, they didn’t mesh with him because of his attitude and how selfish he was. Is he a talented player, no doubt, but he was also viewed as a “me” not “we” player according to former teammates. Based on information shared with me, he wasn’t well received in the Erie locker room in the OHL either.

[BGPuckster2]

To back up VWFalcon's post, My son was out last year in BG and ran across two players from the team. They both said Swankler was not well liked by most of the team. I think the "culture" he didn't like was being an outcast due to the way he acted, which makes sense. He also had to know once he reported whatever it was he reported, he was done at BG as a player. Seems like a calculated move on his part.

[jpfalcon09]

To back up VWFalcon's post, My son was out last year in BG and ran across two players from the team. They both said Swankler was not well liked by most of the team. I think the "culture" he didn't like was being an outcast due to the way he acted, which makes sense. He also had to know once he reported whatever it was he reported, he was done at BG as a player. Seems like a calculated move on his part.

Reporting the complaint and then running to the media immediately is a helluva flex. All in the name of self-preservation it appears.

[guest44]

Eigner recruited Swankler. Eigner brought Swankler into the BGSU locker room.

[jpfalcon09]

Eigner recruited Swankler. Eigner brought Swankler into the BGSU locker room.

Doesn't excuse the staff. From all accounts they bent over backwards to accommodate the guy. Price you pay when you're desperate for talent.

[pdt1081]

Eigner recruited Swankler. Eigner brought Swankler into the BGSU locker room.

I'm not sure there was a lot of recruiting to do. Nobody else knew he had cleared with the NCAA. Some of these guys are recruited for a year or more before they commit. Not sure his was more than a week or two, during Covid.

[mbenecke]

I'm pretty sure Austen actually reached out to BG initially.