Disturbing letter to editor

[Redwingtom]

Are sending e-mails to Christopher really going to accomplish anything directly? It seems to me that this decision would be more of a financial matter for the University as a whole. Why would an A.D. ever want a program to go away?

[rood]

Are sending e-mails to Christopher really going to accomplish anything directly? It seems to me that this decision would be more of a financial matter for the University as a whole. Why would an A.D. ever want a program to go away?

I think emails to GC are more likely to get read than emails to Cartwright. If he sees an outpouring of support for the hockey team then he can carry that message into budget meetings.

[jpfalcon09]

It's sad to see this letter get run, and obviously the reaction it's received both on here and in the community. Regardless of how unproductive the hockey program has been since the 90s, it is one of the few ways that BGSU has become recognized in the professional sports world. As an avid hockey fan, it has been a joy to watch BGSU grads compete in the NHL and the AHL, and be recognized for their talents.

Hockey and Bowling Green go together like PB&J (until the recent salmonella outbreak). The student support has always been strong, the season ticket base has endured through some tough times, and with the youth programs, the high school program, club team and the skating club, it has helped to breed a culture here in this area.

I've always liked the fact that BGSU has a hockey program, and competes against the top teams in the nation every year. Regardless of how good the talent is, it is a privilege to have Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan State and the rare Boston College visit to occur. It's the sport that sets us apart from many other MAC schools, outside of Miami and Western.

I hope the powers that be recognize how important hockey is to the school and the community. The sport brings with it a lot of good, and I'm a firm believer that the youth programs in town have been instrumental in developing a strong interest in BGSU hockey. I've made my voice known many times over the 4 years I've been here about the hockey program, and I would be beyond devastated if the program, and the ice arena were tossed into the dumpster. The school, the community and the recruited players and alumni deserve better.

[murphdogg]

If this is true, it is a sad day for BGSU. Historically, hockey is probably BG's best sport. Killing the program would be a tragedy.

However, if it is false, the administration needs to come outNOW and kill the rumors. If they don't, it will cripple recruiting, players will transfer and they might have to end the program anyway just to stop the bleeding. Who would want to go to a program that might be dead in a few years anyway? If the administration is not serious about this, then they are badly mismanaging this issue.

Look at the teams from the soon-to-be-defunct CHA. Niagara and Robert Morris are set, but Alabama-Huntsville and Bemidji State are scrambling to find a conference so their programs don't go under. Not exactly encouraging for any potential recruits

Hopefully the rumors will die tomorrow. If the admin lets rumors like this go that adds another clue to the puzzle: 1) keeping Paluch, 2) no upgrades to ice arena in a long time 3) these rumors being allowed to continue.

on a side note: Niagara and RMU are set in Atlantic Hockey when the CHA dies, Bemidji is most likely going to join the WCHA- they've increased WCHA play over the past few seasons and are building a new arena, AH is stuck- if they dont end their DI program I suspect they'd go with Atlantic Hockey too.

The problems for both AH and Bemidji are that they might not get in. Most WCHA coaches want Bemidji in because they don't want to see the number of hockey teams continue to dwindle, but they are also concerned with having a doormat in the league drawing only 2000 a game. This takes away games that could be at Mariucci or the Kohl Center, both of which always draw over 10,000 per game.

As for AH, they have applied to the CCHA and the WCHA so far. The CCHA is unlikely to pick them up so as to avoid having 13 teams in the conference and the WCHA is even less likely, because if they pick up a CHA team, its going to be Bemidji. I think AH has to pray that the rumors are true about Northern Michigan leaving for the WCHA to open a spot in the CCHA. That would put 12 teams in both conferences

[Rod Fausnaugh]

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.

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.

Actually my son is part of the Bowling Green Youth hockey program and the Ice Arena give us NOTHING. The Ice costs right on par or more than every other facility in the area. BGYHA is the biggest paying customer that the Ice arena has.

[bigdog]

More importantly than everything regarding Coach P is that he is an absolutely phenomenal person. I know it is a bit of a cliche, and kind of an "out" to say this about someone upon whom you are wishing termination, but I had the opportunity to get to know Coach during my time at BG. He was always one of the kindest, hardest working people that I ever met there, and it was crystal clear just how much he cared for BGSU and Falcon hockey. I have never doubted his passion, no matter how bad the results have been on the ice.

I really, really wish that things had worked out for Paluch here, because he is the type of person that I am proud to have associated with the University.
_________________

You say you got to know coach Paluch over the years at BG and he is a great person. That statement has so much wrong with it, I don't know where to start. At first I thought the exact same thing but as time goes on and you spend more time with the "man," it is clear to see he is the most 2 faced person I have ever met. When I would watch him talk to boosters, family and friends I would throw up in my mouth as it is a completely different person then the team deals with the rest of the day.
I am not going to go through all the examples because they have all been stated before.
But please don't come on here and praise this man for being so great and saying how you wished things had worked out because how good of a person he is. There is a reason things didn't work out.

[MACMAN]

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?

Actually Id rather see football and basketball go and bring in a womens hockey team, bring back mens gymnastics and add womens LAX

why? BGSU will never compete for any title in football, as much as I love football that is the truth, scalling football back a level or dropping would be fine by me, 6 home games, thats it, no National titles, no chance. Same for mens Basket ball it will never happen.
We can easily turn BG hockey around, and you all know I have been an outspoken strong support of S.P and Im saying respectfully now that he has been given ample time to get BG back in the top 4 consistently. The top 4 in the CCHA is where BG hockey lives, admittedly it has not for some time, but that is where BG hockey lives.
To get back to that level, it is clear what needs to happen. Some atheistic massage of the current facility. Serious attention paid to the infrastructure and its high time we offer the next coach a starting salary of at least a 180k his assistant 120k, a 509 bonus for wining the ccha in his first 3 years, 100k for winning the ncaa in the first 5 years. Its a great house we can make do if we fix it up, paint it up, add some new sounds...revive the organist and just start by not losing ever at home!
I think we would be able to get Brian Hills back in on those terms, he has been doing some good things and I think as far as alumni go who could coach here that, he could be a good fit.

[rood]

Some atheistic massage of the current facility.

I pray to god THAT doesn't happen!

(I know you meant aesthetic, but I couldn't pass up the joke.)

[murphdogg]

I have sent GC an email regarding the rumors, and I have also posted his email on Facebook groups dedicated to Falcon hockey. I really hope this works

[Warthog]

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.

Actually my son is part of the Bowling Green Youth hockey program and the Ice Arena give us NOTHING. The Ice costs right on par or more than every other facility in the area. BGYHA is the biggest paying customer that the Ice arena has.

Interesting. So what do you think the impact would be on BGYHA? Would they have to take over the facility? Would that free up better practice/game times? Would it cost more to play? Less? I know the City has had forums about adding a pool to the Community Center. Has the topic of adding an ice arena ever been discussed?

[NWLB]

There has been talk of an ice facility in BG for years. Now and then, people have come forward to explore the project. And it isn't far from the interest of people who use the CC.

If they shut down varsity hockey, they should close the build, be done with it.

[BillyLP]

fact of the matter is that hockey is the second most supported sport at this school, next to football. It's the only sport, other than the possible freak basketball team that happens to other schools, where we can legitimately claim that to have a shot at being highly rated nationally. we bring in schools of the highest caliber and the student support is outstanding for it. to eliminate hockey would not only take down our university's athletic program a step, but the university as a whole would suffer greatly, and i truly believe that.

[Warthog]

I know several folks have mentioned that hockey has a better chance of winning a national title than football or basketball, and I am not trying to argue against that. But a few thoughts arise out of that.

First, is that the most important thing about a program? Yes, winning a national championship would be great, but is that how you judge the success of the program? What about academic standing? Graduation rates?

Second, if winning a national championship is what it is all about, why not invest all of our athletic budget lacrosse or something, steal the coach from Johns-Hopkins or Duke and win it all?

Third, winning a national title is also a function of the number of teams competing. How many Div 1 hockey programs are there? How many basketball programs? Simply looking at the numbers, then yes, it is easier to be the best of 50 or 60 teams than it is out of 350.

[Warthog]

to eliminate hockey would not only take down our university's athletic program a step,

But eliminating hockey allows the funds formerly used there to be re-directed to other programs making those programs better. Thereby raising our athletic program.

Again, just trying to provide a constructive counter-argument to some of this. Don't hate me for it.

[NWLB]

Again, just trying to provide a constructive counter-argument to some of this. Don't hate me for it.

I don't know, if they cut hockey, some people will hate you for it.

People would like to hear less about "oh it won't be so bad" and more about "do something to make things right."

Frankly I'd rather see football downgraded than to lose hockey entirely. And no, a club team in an elevated status doesn't cut it either.