Disturbing letter to editor

Redwingtom · Post by **Redwingtom** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:16 am

With rumors of $hit-canning the program and the apparent lack of funds for the program, exactly what kind of coach do you think we could actually attract?

Yeah, that's what I thought too.

rood · Post by **rood** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:26 am

If there was any truth to these rumors why would the program be recruiting players for 2010 (Mike Montrose) and 2011 (Kyle Sucher)?

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:21 am

Read the letter the other day and thought I would visit the Hockey forum to see what this was all about.

Personally, I would be fine with eliminating the hockey program. I know that's not a real popular thought around here, but that's how I feel. Never been a hockey fan, never been to one BG hockey game.

A school our size and with our resources just cannot support Div I football, basketball, and hockey. So I know the feeling from some of you would be to cut football or basketball then. But I defy you to find one major college or university that has cut one of those programs in order to save a less popular sport.

And there appears to be donors willing to support the other sports. Mr Sebo made a commitment to the football program with his donation for the Sebo Center. The Stroh's made a commitment with their donation for the new basketball arena. And there were/are many others donating to help complete those facilities. Is anyone making those kind of donations like those for the hockey program?

bgpuckster · Post by **bgpuckster** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:49 am

So what sport do you love? If that were rumored to be dropped how would you feel? Name me the last major college sport that has won a national championship here at BG. What current sport brings Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame and Michigan State on campus to play? What other sport competes in a league with those teams? Football will never get any of those schools to come on campus and will never get a chance to compete for a national championship, ever! Basketball may have a slightly better shot at a national championship, but it still doesn't compete with the schools the hockey team does nor can bring them on campus. Further, the hockey team outdraws the basketball team pretty regularly still.

Bechstein has it right, the former players are waiting for the University to actually make an investment into the program before they will. How can Miami afford to field all three sports while having fewer students and BG can't? It's called priorities. It's time for this university to once again give the hockey program the priority it deserves!

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:07 am

puckster,
I'm a big football fan. And, yes, I would be very upset if there were discussions to drop the football, heck even if their were discussions to move down to I-AA. I am not questioning any of the hockey fans commitment to the program.

I know BG won a national champioship in Hockey. But that was 25 years ago. I don't see how that if relevant to the current financial situation of the program.

Yes, the hockey program plays against some biggies, but ask many students about Lake Superior St, Ferrris St, Nebraska-Omaha and they probably will say 'who the hell is that?' They play those schools, big and small, because there are so few teams that play Div I hockey, that they have play each other. You think OSU, UM, MSU, ND would be coming to BG to play if they had other options?

Can't argue with the fact hockey is outdrawing basketball either. But I can offer a few thoughts. First, all the hockey games are on weekends. Makes it a lot easier for fans to come to games as opposed to a Tues or Wed night. Also, I would be interested in seeing a comparison of cost for the program per attendee. That is, what are the costs of the two programs based on a per attendee basis. Isn't hockey a much more expensive program to run than basketball?

bgwheelhorse · Post by **bgwheelhorse** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:09 am

I think as a school, we are much bigger than Notre Dame.

If you get rid of hockey, I can't see any reason for the university to continue to operate the ice arena. Given that, you impact BG youth hockey and the BG skating club.

And now we can add a banner to the ice arena for Alisa winning the senior ladies figure skating.

The university needs to dispel these rumours and put some money into the ice arena and the program.

falcons86 · Post by **falcons86** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:31 am

I've got one thing to say...Hockey is the ONLY sport at BG where we have a legitimate chance of winning an NCAA National Championship. And that came from Mr. Christopher himself when I was talking with him last summer. Please....Please don't do away with Hockey!!!! I support all the Falcon sports programs and I support the University. But Hockey is and has been my passion for most of my life. Whatever needs to be done...

We're listening Mr. Christopher, please talk to us.....

ROLL ALONG!!!!

Jim

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:33 am

Wart, you are up there with the same people that said Akron should dump football to bolster soccer.

No BGSU fan, of any sport, should be fine with Hockey being cut. If only because of what such an act demonstrates to the community, many of whom would support a program not being run like crap.

sbkbghockey · Post by **sbkbghockey** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:46 am

Does anyone know if there's any press releases out there yet by the Unv. to kill these rumors! If they were 100% not true any organization would get a release out asap. it's already almost 11am and the atheltic department has been at work for a while now...

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:55 am

I wouldn't be so sure. Frankly when nasty rumors have come through in the past, they have not always been swift on putting word out to the contrary.

They may rate the rumor as being so silly as to not warrant quick or direct response. Plus they may be making simple calls to discuss the letter before going and saying something.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:59 am

NWLB wrote:Wart, you are up there with the same people that said Akron should dump football to bolster soccer.

Don't know what the hell you are talking about Nathan, and I would never support dumping anything in favor of soccer.

NWLB wrote:No BGSU fan, of any sport, should be fine with Hockey being cut. If only because of what such an act demonstrates to the community, many of whom would support a program not being run like crap.

Did you feel the same way when swimming and track were cut?

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:06 am

bgwheelhorse wrote:I think as a school, we are much bigger than Notre Dame.

If you are looking at enrollment, I guess we are. ND is about 11,000+ and BG is 18,000+. But considering national exposure, ND is HUGE and BG is a speck of dust.

bgwheelhorse wrote:If you get rid of hockey, I can't see any reason for the university to continue to operate the ice arena. Given that, you impact BG youth hockey and the BG skating club.

I think you are spot on with that comment. I have no idea regarding the financial arrangements between the city youth programs and the univeristy with the Ice Arena, but I would guess the city is getting a pretty decent deal to use the facility. Should the university need to consider this effect when evaluating the hockey program? I don't know.

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:12 am

Warthog wrote:
NWLB wrote:Wart, you are up there with the same people that said Akron should dump football to bolster soccer.
Don't know what the hell you are talking about Nathan, and I would never support dumping anything in favor of soccer.

Or hockey obviously.

NWLB wrote:No BGSU fan, of any sport, should be fine with Hockey being cut. If only because of what such an act demonstrates to the community, many of whom would support a program not being run like crap.

Did you feel the same way when swimming and track were cut?[/quote]

No, I wasn't as it happens.

Your not a hockey fan, not all people are, and you make that fact painfully obvious every time you open your text based mouth on the topic. I am well aware there are a fair number of BGSU fans who don't "get" hockey, and never will. They blissfully walk around as if that world doesn't exist, and seem half offended when people ask why they seem to indifferent to other folks liking the sport. It is not unlike the attitude I see from Ohio State fans in Columbus when I say I don't like their teams, and don't "get" the big deal. In that, I guess I can relate. But then I don't go around saying OSU should cut sports.

jgeyer · Post by **jgeyer** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:31 am

Well I hope everyone on here has or will call or email GC today with there concerns. I did in an email. Do it for the BGSU hockey family that we are. Tell everybody you know to take action also.

rood · Post by **rood** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 12:30 pm

I just sent my email to GC. I'll pass the message along to the wife over lunch.

Disturbing letter to editor

Warthog

Warthog II

Re: Warthog II