more jumping ship

newsguy · Post by **newsguy** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:31 am

http://www.bgviews.com/our-views/sports ... -1.1648239

AZIce · Post by **AZIce** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:59 am

I don't think it has as much to do with the coach as it does the overall outlook of the program.

Trust me, without coming right out and naming names of people I have talked to, it has a whole lot to do with the coach.....almost everything to do with the coach. When you have to bring outside counseling in to just get through the season.....you got big problems.

The current state of the program is basically because of this coach. The arena issues aren't his fault, but a few more wins might have put a few more bottoms in the stands too.

Altoid_storm · Post by **Altoid_storm** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 1:20 pm

Good luck wherever you go, boys. I guess that's all I can manage to say.

dforde · Post by **dforde** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 2:24 pm

This completely sucks.

Freddie · Post by **Freddie** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 2:49 pm

AZIce wrote:
I don't think it has as much to do with the coach as it does the overall outlook of the program.
Trust me, without coming right out and naming names of people I have talked to, it has a whole lot to do with the coach.....almost everything to do with the coach. When you have to bring outside counseling in to just get through the season.....you got big problems.

The current state of the program is basically because of this coach. The arena issues aren't his fault, but a few more wins might have put a few more bottoms in the stands too.

I'm afraid it a horrible over-simplification to lay this all at the coach's feet. Pooch is NOT the disease, he's a symtom of the disease. Complacency (on the part of: the administration, the alumni, and the community) is the disease. Decreasing attendance, declining budgets, a decaying facility and a willingness to keep a coach who's 'high water mark' is a .500 season... there lie the real culprits.

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:07 pm

Carping about SP this year has no point. Frankly the actual games next year are even secondary to the focus we all should have, and that is securing the program. People can be forgiven for not wanting to see another lousy year like the previous 7. It is entirely logical to want a new coach.

However I don't see what putting ANY effort into canning SP does at this stage. Even if you could generate money to buy him out, why do that? You are fighting for the life of the program, and people want to blow money on buying a coach certain to be gone in a year anyway. Which puts at some risk the very program itself. And if you do buy him out, the coaching search will not likely produce many truly top candidates, and any hire likely is not going to be for "big bucks" until the future of the program is secure. Any coach you hire isn't going to save the program himself, nor likely get the team to rebound next year. Certainly not with the future of the program at stake, players leaving in droves, etc.

I know people feel passionately on both sides of SP. I've been basically indifferent most of his early years, marginally optimistic a few years in, and now am counting days until the end of next season. But no matter which side you are on, trying to get him fired this summer simply helps nothing right now.

MarkL · Post by **MarkL** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:29 pm

While the coach is possibly the culprit of just about all of the problems of the team, complaining is worthless. He is not going to be fired - its too expensive. One year left on his contract, people.

Now if he gets renewed, THEN we have something to complain about.

murphdogg · Post by **murphdogg** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:54 pm

Someone earlier referred to the program as "picking up steam". I wouldn't call a last place finish in the conference and loss of several key players to transfers, pros, etc... "picking up steam"

With regards to Pooch, we are going to have to live with him for now. People have to understand that, as bad as a coach can be, there is a special bond formed between coach and player. Canning him now will likely bring about more transfers and more turmoil to a program that has already had its fair share of both

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:35 pm

Indeed.

I'd add what others have said at various gatherings, and I believe it is true.

SP, regardless of your view of him as coach, is a BGSU product. He does love the program, and is, as far as he can, helping in efforts to secure the program. Success or failure, he remains one of "ours."

Going into the effort to secure the program, we need a coach that is part of the process, and every indication is that SP is doing his all. Given all that we know to be true, his record, contract ending, etc, I feel it is at least fair to not have him wondering if every person in BG thinks he is to blame for the crisis, or cares more about seeing him fired.

Next year at this time, we'll either have a new coach and amazing new improvements in the program to talk about, or we will not have a hockey program.

BGSU Hockey is our little child. And our child is deathly ill. What it does not need right now, is for Mom and Dad to yell at it.

sbkbghockey · Post by **sbkbghockey** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:45 pm

murphdogg wrote:Someone earlier referred to the program as "picking up steam". I wouldn't call a last place finish in the conference and loss of several key players to transfers, pros, etc... "picking up steam"...

I would say that players like Sexton leaving early to sign contracts with NHL/AHL teams is a sign of the program picking up steam. Players staying 2-3 years and then going to the NHL/AHL is common at many of the hockey powerhouses. The difference is those team have so many other good players and star recruits that it's not as big of a deal!

It's the transfers that are a sign of the problems!

bgbill · Post by **bgbill** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:48 pm

newsguy wrote:http://www.bgviews.com/our-views/sports ... -1.1648239

"If they do decide to transfer, they will not be aloud to transfer to another school within the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)."

How about BG keeps hockey and does away with the English and Journalism departments?

Freddie · Post by **Freddie** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:52 pm

bgbill wrote:
newsguy wrote:http://www.bgviews.com/our-views/sports ... -1.1648239
"If they do decide to transfer, they will not be aloud to transfer to another school within the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)."

How about BG keeps hockey and does away with the English and Journalism departments?

From the looks of this quote, it seems they have already eliminated English.

pdt1081 · Post by **pdt1081** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:43 pm

NWLB wrote:Carping about SP this year has no point. Frankly the actual games next year are even secondary to the focus we all should have, and that is securing the program. People can be forgiven for not wanting to see another lousy year like the previous 7. It is entirely logical to want a new coach.

However I don't see what putting ANY effort into canning SP does at this stage. Even if you could generate money to buy him out, why do that? You are fighting for the life of the program, and people want to blow money on buying a coach certain to be gone in a year anyway. Which puts at some risk the very program itself. And if you do buy him out, the coaching search will not likely produce many truly top candidates, and any hire likely is not going to be for "big bucks" until the future of the program is secure. Any coach you hire isn't going to save the program himself, nor likely get the team to rebound next year. Certainly not with the future of the program at stake, players leaving in droves, etc.

I know people feel passionately on both sides of SP. I've been basically indifferent most of his early years, marginally optimistic a few years in, and now am counting days until the end of next season. But no matter which side you are on, trying to get him fired this summer simply helps nothing right now.

With that said, how much to buy out Christopher's? Personally, I don't like the guy. When it comes to hockey, I think he's blowing a lot of smoke in people's faces. His decision is already made on the program. He's just waiting to get the rest of his money for the Stroh, then it's gone. Again, my opinion.

ziggy z · Post by **ziggy z** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:51 pm

He has never really inspired any pride or commitment among his players to be a Falcon. Most of these guys have just considered themselves hockey players and could care less where they are playing. That is why none of them have any desire to help save the program they signed on to play for.

murphdogg · Post by **murphdogg** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:21 pm

pdt1081 wrote:
NWLB wrote:Carping about SP this year has no point. Frankly the actual games next year are even secondary to the focus we all should have, and that is securing the program. People can be forgiven for not wanting to see another lousy year like the previous 7. It is entirely logical to want a new coach.

However I don't see what putting ANY effort into canning SP does at this stage. Even if you could generate money to buy him out, why do that? You are fighting for the life of the program, and people want to blow money on buying a coach certain to be gone in a year anyway. Which puts at some risk the very program itself. And if you do buy him out, the coaching search will not likely produce many truly top candidates, and any hire likely is not going to be for "big bucks" until the future of the program is secure. Any coach you hire isn't going to save the program himself, nor likely get the team to rebound next year. Certainly not with the future of the program at stake, players leaving in droves, etc.

I know people feel passionately on both sides of SP. I've been basically indifferent most of his early years, marginally optimistic a few years in, and now am counting days until the end of next season. But no matter which side you are on, trying to get him fired this summer simply helps nothing right now.
With that said, how much to buy out Christopher's? Personally, I don't like the guy. When it comes to hockey, I think he's blowing a lot of smoke in people's faces. His decision is already made on the program. He's just waiting to get the rest of his money for the Stroh, then it's gone. Again, my opinion.

I couldn't disagree more. In talking with GC, he seems very sincere about trying to keep Falcon hockey intact. During tough financial times, administrators have to consider everything, and frankly, I feel as though Christopher was one of the people who saved the hockey program from the chopping block