Disturbing letter to editor

TheKa · Post by **TheKa** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:49 pm

wheelhorse-last weekend I was told it was the AD and staff that were refusing to talk. I think various VPs were also contacted.

I am so angry that I am having issues forming coherent sentences right now, but if Dr. Cartwright is actually using 1 million dollars as a number, she's a liar. I looked at the link that BGBill has provided and the team is using approx. 211,000...that's about 750,000 less than she is claiming. Simple math will also tell you that if the program averages 2000 in paid attendance for 18 home games a year at $10 a ticket, that's $360,000 in revenue. We are all aware that number could be higher if we could put more butts in the seats.

Letters need to be written, vocal protests if necessary at the meeting. Tell EVERYONE you know. Flood e-mail boxes and voicemail...

Together, we can make our voices heard! One well respected member of the community wrote a letter on behalf of the program and he closed it by saying something along the lines of "If you don't get involved, you get what you deserve!"

GO FALCONS!
Erika

Puckhead · Post by **Puckhead** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:20 am

Buddy did not know anything - no seriously Buddy did not have this info.
Pooch is a GBJ game; not sure if he knew anything.
There was a source from the Univ ( sorry I do not remember the name )
that denied the rumor. There is probably nothing to be done at this hour.

I would recommend that every restaurant and hotel be contacted.
Also the Mayor, the coaches for BG Bobcats, AW, P-burg et al. Talk about
a financial disaster to this city. If the falcons go away, the other local teams can not support the arena.

As a comparison imagine what could happen if the Univ invested
$ 5 million and "We" invested $ 10 million. 2 sheets of ice.
Oldtimers tournaments, Women tournaments, int'l junior tournaments - 250 players in town for the weekend, fans and parents of the players, 150 hotel rooms, food, drink. Ice rentals, BG sporting goods.
With the addition of a winning hockey coach, alumni donations would come into BG just like when Doug Flute threw that pass.

So Dr. Cartwight and Board of Trustees you have a choice, go cheap and destroy part of the BG economy; and drive a wedge between the University and the Bowling Green Community. ( how many former Anthony Wayne or P-Burg or Lake hockey players/students will enroll at BGSU?).
You could however, go for it and Stimulate the BG economy.

sbkbghockey · Post by **sbkbghockey** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:26 am

Puckhead wrote:Buddy did not know anything - no seriously Buddy did not have this info.
Pooch is a GBJ game; not sure if he knew anything.
There was a source from the Univ ( sorry I do not remember the name )
that denied the rumor. There is probably nothing to be done at this hour.

I would recommend that every restaurant and hotel be contacted.
Also the Mayor, the coaches for BG Bobcats, AW, P-burg et al. Talk about
a financial disaster to this city. If the falcons go away, the other local teams can not support the arena.

As a comparison imagine what could happen if the Univ invested
$ 5 million and "We" invested $ 10 million. 2 sheets of ice.
Oldtimers tournaments, Women tournaments, int'l junior tournaments - 250 players in town for the weekend, fans and parents of the players, 150 hotel rooms, food, drink. Ice rentals, BG sporting goods.
With the addition of a winning hockey coach, alumni donations would come into BG just like when Doug Flute threw that pass.

So Dr. Cartwight and Board of Trustees you have a choice, go cheap and destroy part of the BG economy; and drive a wedge between the University and the Bowling Green Community. ( how many former Anthony Wayne or P-Burg or Lake hockey players/students will enroll at BGSU?).
You could however, go for it and Stimulate the BG economy.

Great point but the Unv. Pres and board of trustees are not Sport Management professionals and probably not thinking like us sport-minded folks!!

BGDrew · Post by **BGDrew** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:08 am

As someone who has passionately cared about this program for as long as I've been associated with this University, I can't help but be pretty f'n pissed off at my beloved University. Go ahead and kill the one thing I love here.

I am sending an e-mail to every semi-BG connected person I know to alert them about this vote, and if the program is dropped I will NEVER give another penny to this athletic department. No t-shirts, no parking, no tickets, nothing. I may not even call this my school anymore. Take away our one bit of pride in the athletic department and you will start a s**t storm that this community has never seen before, and something that may destroy the athletic department as we know it.

Peregrinner · Post by **Peregrinner** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:18 am

If it weren't for the sources of the information, I would still be considering this a ridiculous rumor.

I cannot believe that anyone involved in the University would even consider cutting so many loyal donors so deeply. They have to know that people will be this angry and will stop donating. They have to be aware of the outrage they'd inspire from long time program supporters.

I just don't know what to think at this point.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:22 am

Peregrinner wrote:If it weren't for the sources of the information, I would still be considering this a ridiculous rumor.

Same here. When bgbill posted it, my heart sank. That FF heard it exactly the same made it sink further.

Especially to know that at least one (I assume) respectable source has looked GC in the eye and asked about this rumor and was laughed at how silly it was makes me really wonder what's going on behind the scenes.

BGDrew · Post by **BGDrew** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:24 am

I guess some former team members got wind of this sooner and have been contacting the University on a daily basis. I got it confirmed a little bit before FF text me today.

Altoid_storm · Post by **Altoid_storm** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:05 am

Okay, I have been away too long and I'm just reading this and trying to take deep breaths.

Can someone please give me as many emails of as many people that I can contact as possible? I need to email and I need to have everyone I know email.

Trying to breathe.

bgbill · Post by **bgbill** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:32 am

TheKa wrote:wheelhorse- The BGYHA is organizing...they have been for a few weeks. In fact, it seems like the only people writing letters to the editor are connected to the BGYHA. Steve Green (who's daughter plays in the IP league) just wrote an amazing letter to the editor. The BGYHA has been trying to get answers for a while now...and they are getting doors shut in their faces. It's disgusting.

here is Steve Green's letter, credit Sentinel-Tribune, March 3 2009:

Sports Mailbag: To the Editor: Reader wants support for hockey, Ice Arena

Written by Steven A. Green - Bowling Green
Tuesday, 03 March 2009

No hockey at Bowling Green State University (BGSU)? The rumor mill is working overtime regarding this subject. I have witnessed a deteriorating facility, interior and exterior, and a perceived lack of support and dedication for the Falcon hockey program. Therefore, I can understand why the community is talking.
I don't understand why it appears BGSU has turned a cold shoulder to what was once one of the premier programs and facilities in the country. During the "glory days" of the 1970s and 1980s the Falcon hockey program put BGSU on the map nationally. The program's achievements have been many, including a national championship in 1984. This success led to strong local youth programs and a high school team which has won many state championships. Bowling Green is, and should be, a hockey town.
Where is the support?
The hockey program at BGSU differentiates our university from many other MAC schools, including but not limited to Ball State, Toledo, and Kent. The hockey program gives us an edge, an identity, and an ability to compete with the best schools in the nation. Why would anyone throw that away? We are in competitive times. Every institution of higher learning is trying to separate itself from the others and vying for enrollment numbers. Therefore, BGSU should be committing resources to separate itself from the rest by improving the ice arena facilities and to claim the top spot in the CCHA.

The idea of hockey was first introduced at BGSU in the 1960s. At that time, BGSU did not have an ice arena. However, the university leaders saw the benefit and made a choice to build one of the best facilities and to create a championship hockey program. They did this starting with nothing!
It is my understanding that the BGSU Building Dreams Campaign overshot their goal of raising $120 million by almost 20 percent. Why then can't $5 million, $10 million or even $15 million be raised to improve the BGSU ice area facilities? People in this community, and alumni and friends of BGSU nationally, are willing to back BGSU financially. Why can't we commit to having one of the best facilities and championship records once again?
I have the privilege of being a father to a 5-year-old involved in the youth hockey program. The youth program uses the BGSU facilities and we are lucky to have that availability. I attend practices with her twice a week. I am filled with pride as a result of her enthusiasm for the sport. I am also filled with sadness as I see the facility deteriorate and the program numbers dwindle.
BGSU, and the Bowling Green community as a whole, has a solid hockey foundation. However, the foundation is in need of attention. For the sake of BGSU, the Bowling Green community, my daughter, and the many youth like her, please do not let the hockey program and the facilities continue to deteriorate.
Let's work together to build one of the best hockey facilities and to create a championship hockey program.

Steven A. Green - Bowling Green

rood · Post by **rood** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:37 am

BGDrew wrote:I guess some former team members got wind of this sooner and have been contacting the University on a daily basis. I got it confirmed a little bit before Marta text me today.

So maybe this latest rumor was started for just this reason? To get the millionaire former players off the fence and donating to the program that made their careers possible?

bgwheelhorse · Post by **bgwheelhorse** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:05 am

I heard last night that Buddy confirmed that the arena will be closed during the months of May, June, and July. Normally they shut down in May for maintenance. I really wonder if they plan on opening up ever again?

I remember when Notre Dame shut down their program and the Domers were playing their last game at the Ice Arena and the fans got to say good bye. If "our" university does this to us, I lke others here will never ever give a penny.

pdt1081 · Post by **pdt1081** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:06 am

rood wrote: So maybe this latest rumor was started for just this reason? To get the millionaire former players off the fence and donating to the program that made their careers possible?

If this is the case the Athletic Department could have a whole new challenge facing them. IF private money is funding the program, the private donors will want control of all aspects of that money...i.e, they control the program, not the University. At least, if I was donating a large sum of money to the cause that would be stipulated.

Lord_Byron · Post by **Lord_Byron** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:44 am

bgbill wrote:it may be time to reflect on BG hockey

Nine words from bgbill equal the single most disturbing post I've ever seen on this site.

I don't know how to react.

BGFan · Post by **BGFan** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:49 am

Lord_Byron wrote:
bgbill wrote:it may be time to reflect on BG hockey
Nine words from bgbill equal the single most disturbing post I've ever seen on this site.

I don't know how to react.

Break out your email program and starting writing....

dforde · Post by **dforde** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:22 am

I was in Columbus on Friday and Saturday night. On Friday night our AD was there and he HAD to notice the big BG contingent. It was great. There was an equally great BG contingent there on Saturday night and all this FOR A 12TH PLACE TEAM. Imagine what it would be like if we were 1st or even 4th or 5th. Reading these posts is making me sick.

Disturbing letter to editor

Arena Closure for the Summer

Re: bump

Re: bump