more jumping ship

[pdt1081]

The thing that has bugged me the most about the whole situation is the lack of desire Scott Paluch has shown. And the people that have still been supporting him are really starting to piss me off! How come Paluch hasn't been part of any Save The Falcon groups, or how come he hasn't been pedaling the streets for more hockey supporters. People talk about him being "one of our own." Well Pooch played for the team in an era when a large amount of Falcons went on to play in the NHL. Why hasn't Pooch called those guys and got them to be a part if the action plan. I'll tell you why, because even when Pooch played here, his teammates didn't even like him. this is a guy who has had 7 years to change the program around, and the team is still continuously at the bottom of the CCHA. If he cared so much about the program, and bled orange, why is it that when the program is in jeopardy, he is nowhere to be found.

The guy is a bad coach, and a fake. Good luck getting supporters of the program until he is gone.

Paluch does not need to be the one out in the public. He needs to be the one behind the scenes. If he is the one out front trying to raise support for the program, it'll send the message that he's just trying to save his job. That's it. In this nature, it would hurt the cause of the people who are actually out front leading this. He is doing what he needs to. Preparing for next season. He needs to find 4 more guys now. That will not be easy. The guys he has to replace are very talented and smart.

His recruiting has been phenomenal while he's been here. This is the most talented last place team I've ever seen. Whoever said lack of talent is the problem is dead wrong. You don't shutout UM in Yost without talent. Scott Paluch is arguably one of the best assistant coaches in college hockey. The guy can recruit like no other. Head coach is not his forte. This program has been lacking consistency for many years. Longer than Paluch has been head coach.

[NWLB]

Because for all intensive purposes,

Dude, just one of my pet peeves, but the term is "intents and purposes"

So it has nothing to do with porpoises?

I always knew you were a bright one....

WAIT! If BGfan is actually posting as Falcon Fanatic because she is logged onto his computer, and BGfan just posted that, then who is posting as BGfan?

[BGFan]

Because for all intensive purposes,

Dude, just one of my pet peeves, but the term is "intents and purposes"

So it has nothing to do with porpoises?

I always knew you were a bright one....

WAIT! If BGfan is actually posting as Falcon Fanatic because she is logged onto his computer, and BGfan just posted that, then who is posting as BGfan?

There's this little Login/Logout link under the banner at the top....

See! I'm truly "bright"!

[Freddie]

I want to know what you've got against porpoises.

[NWLB]

I want to know what you've got against porpoises.

I think it is something he has against intensive porpoises.

[BGFan]

I want to know what you've got against porpoises.

I think it's the fact that they're just not satisfied with themselves due to their inferiority complex towards dolphins.

[rally]

Good comments in this thread. On the flight back from DC I sat next to a USCHO columnist who thought that Paluch was a good coach who had been blind-sided by the lack of administrative support, budget and resources ... interestingly, the writer noted the same post-1984 downward coaching/record spiral listed by Drago as proof that the program been systemically ignored for decades and that Paluch had been basically left to tread water (or walk on it).

Let's face it, the BG athletic program has always been reactive rather than proactive. Anderson Arena should have been replaced years ago, the only changes to the football stadium were when the NCAA boosted minimum attendance requirements for Div. 1, and when the Sebo's stepped up. The only improvements to the ice arena were increased seating (again, NCAA-induced at a time when first round tournament play was on campus) and the privately funded weight/training room. None of these improvements were internally generated but instead were products of external pressures/donors. Hopefully, this present situation is the pressure that puts the hockey program back on track and in focus.

I was impressed with Greg Christopher when he arrived at BG and have heard him make the statement that hockey was the only sport in which we can legitimately vie for a national championship. I've sure he still believes that, but he seems vague and much less direct now. I'm sure that the traditional constraints of the university, the temper of the current administration plus the budget situation has beaten down his optimism a bit.

Ohio high school products were quite prominent on the Miami roster, and disturbing to me were conversations at the Verizon Center with NW Ohio parents who had hoped their kids (or at least the stars on their HS teams) would play at BG but have now crossed the program off the consideration list. Let's face it, even if the program is salvaged, it may take years to undo the damage that has been done to the programs once stellar reputation.

[Puckhead]

Good comments in this thread. On the flight back from DC I sat next to a USCHO columnist who thought that Paluch was a good coach who had been blind-sided by the lack of administrative support, budget and resources ... interestingly, the writer noted the same post-1984 downward coaching/record spiral listed by Drago as proof that the program been systemically ignored for decades and that Paluch had been basically left to tread water (or walk on it).

Rally and the columnist from USCHO are part correct.

Paluch has been blind sided by lack of support, budget and resources
( Buddy had the same problems). Yes he has been left to tread water until the program would die of atrophy.
The comment about Paluch being a good coach has been questioned by players all the way back to Kevin Bieksa. He may be a good recuiter, he may be a good assistant coqch; he is not a good head coach.

[MACMAN]

RAlly great post, and I have to agree with alot of what you have written.
I to believe that both Powers and Paulch were left to hang in the wind. Since 84 its clear the program has seen no effort from the university all funds have been chanelled at football, and not to stir that pot real hard, I will say that I dont believe it has been worth while to put so much into football, this is my belief and that of some former old time players who feel the program would be better suited playing down a division where titles could truly be won and the playing for competition much more level vs where the program is now...that said I also believe the NCAA will make some changes or Modification to D1 football...it will never be as it should or even fair and we will never compete for a title outside of MACC. anyway back on point I have not seen any kids come out of NW ohio hs hockey in three years of watching closely who have been ready to make the jump to d1 college...the HS game just is not fast enough, there are many I have seen who I feel if they had played AAA would have been good prospects, but playing hs the fastest best players just are not challenged enough and pushed to reach that level where as in AAA they are and still many are not ready and need some JR seasonings. Paulch has done great job of finding some of those who have been overlooked and getting some of the heavily looked at to come. I do feel the program needs to take some time in finding and identifying some of these HS players who do show promise, talking with the parents and getting them aligned with some Jr programs and bringing them back on to the team. BG used to be better at getting the local talent, just look at the roosters of the past and you can see them, look at NW ohio HS hockey and there are many who show promise that deserve some " developmental advice"on a path as to how to make our team.
anyway thats how I see it.

[FalconTurf]

Since 84 its clear the program has seen no effort from the university all funds have been chanelled at football, and not to stir that pot real hard, I will say that I dont believe it has been worth while to put so much into football, this is my belief and that of some former old time players who feel the program would be better suited playing down a division where titles could truly be won and the playing for competition much more level vs where the program is now...that said I also believe the NCAA will make some changes or Modification to D1 football...it will never be as it should or even fair and we will never compete for a title outside of MACC.

Interesting. Difficult to argue. And this is the wrong thread but,......
My observation would be that we could not compete for a MACC title without the upgrades nor could we remain in the MAC without DI-A football. We would need membership in the Horizon League or Atlantic 10 Conference (most logical geographically with Ohio members already) which neither compete in football at any level. Geographically we are in the center of a rather compact MAC which is perfect for the nonrevenue (which appears to be all of our) sports. The Horizon geographically is very similar and could be a nice fit without football (although I would prefer to keep some level of football myself).

I do believe you would, at times, have various supporters at many MAC institutions agree with you on football. Ohio U. in the early 90's had a vocal group calling for change to a lower division.

It seems to me there are no easy fixes except for hockey to sustain itself and eventually the other sports may find themselves going through the same difficulty. It seems to me change is coming one way or another and it may not be pretty. I really believe hockey will survive and it will be with minimal administrative financial support.

[MACMAN]

agreed, and if football were to change, it is my beliefe that for lack of a better plan the whole face of the MAC would make the change, not just BG but some grouping.

[McConvey]

Ohio high school products were quite prominent on the Miami roster, and disturbing to me were conversations at the Verizon Center with NW Ohio parents who had hoped their kids (or at least the stars on their HS teams) would play at BG but have now crossed the program off the consideration list. Let's face it, even if the program is salvaged, it may take years to undo the damage that has been done to the programs once stellar reputation.

I didn't see any kids that jumped from Ohio high schools to the NCAA. Every one of the Ohio kids on Miami's roster played some form of juniors prior to attending Miami.

Generally speaking, kids don't come straight out of high school and into the NCAA. The only exceptions to this are Minnesota kids and kids from the East Coast that go to prep schools. It certainly doesn't happen in Ohio, or really even in Michigan for that matter.

The last Ohio kid I can think of that went straight from an Ohio high school to the NCAA was Brian Holzinger (although I admittedly don't follow Ohio State or Miami so closely). There may be a small handful of others, but certainly not of Holzinger's calibre.

[sbkbghockey]

Ohio high school products were quite prominent on the Miami roster, and disturbing to me were conversations at the Verizon Center with NW Ohio parents who had hoped their kids (or at least the stars on their HS teams) would play at BG but have now crossed the program off the consideration list. Let's face it, even if the program is salvaged, it may take years to undo the damage that has been done to the programs once stellar reputation.

I didn't see any kids that jumped from Ohio high schools to the NCAA. Every one of the Ohio kids on Miami's roster played some form of juniors prior to attending Miami.

Generally speaking, kids don't come straight out of high school and into the NCAA. The only exceptions to this are Minnesota kids and kids from the East Coast that go to prep schools. It certainly doesn't happen in Ohio, or really even in Michigan for that matter.

The last Ohio kid I can think of that went straight from an Ohio high school to the NCAA was Brian Holzinger (although I admittedly don't follow Ohio State or Miami so closely). There may be a small handful of others, but certainly not of Holzinger's calibre.

I was going to say the same thing. A lot of Ohio high school kids think they can go from high school hockey to the NCAA can. Miami, and Ohio State have some of the few that are good enough, and they all left ohio high school hockey early to play jr's. Ohio high school hockey is well below the level played in other states such as MN, WI, and the Northeast.

[bgbill]

Brian didn't go from his Ohio high school directly to BG. He went to Michigan and played a couple of years on the Compuware team.

[MACMAN]

Hirschfeld played HS through his SR year at Sylvania Northview then went to Jr's.
As far kids who made the jump right to college from Ohio HS, aside from service academies, I dont think there have been any since the early half of the 80's.
What I as saying was that it would be a good measure for the program to identify those kids that exhibit talent in hs, encourage them to go to a Jr program and then if they develop you bring them back to play, it was alway cool to see former BGHS players on the Falcons rooster and playing in the orange and brown, no reason there could not be some adaptive version of that now.