UT pondering Div 1 Hockey

[gmartin]

While I was back in NW Ohio the other day I caught a show called Face-Off Hockey Show on the radio, the first part of the show they interviewed Coach Williams and I was impressed with his comments. Then after a break they were talking with the Club Coach at UT. They then asked if UT ever thought about starting a Div 1 program with a new arena (Lucas County Arena) nearby. I was surprised to hear that the coach said there are talks about UT starting a Div 1 program and would like to join the CCHA.

Any thoughts?????

[BGDrew]

The only thing that would hold them back would be Title IX. With Toeldo no longer having an indoor football team I'm sure they wouldn't mind having another tenant in the arena and I know the CCHA would take them on.

[gmartin]

My only thoughts is that it is hard enough to get talent at BG, with another school only 20 miles away in a nice facility I think that would make our resurgence to respectability that much harder. I know UT would not join for a few years but I think this would set BG back even more.

[MACMAN]

first off the UT club is known to be rather full of s**t, he can not even get the best players at U to play for him, also in part because he is a jerk and some other reason.
As far as D1 goes, that is a stretch, I do know that they are and have been actively exploring taking that club team to DIII in the MCHA to compete with and against Adrian.

[gmartin]

Well I know I heard C C H A and DIV 1 in the same sentence earlier in the week. That is why it shocked me. I didn't even think Toledo had that strong of a club team. But I guess 'If you Build It, They Will Come' And I thought I heard rumors of someone leaving the CCHA so I was just wondering what everyone else thought.

[FalconTurf]

2 thoughts:

1. BG could have a nice college facility on campus if the donations roll in. An on-campus rocking college facility will trump a downtown off-campus professional facility that will never reflect the college tenant that much (center ice logo, seating color, banners, students section, etc.). Recruiting video of BG atmosphere, alumni and community support should close the deal.

2. Didn't they already attempt this when BG got into college hockey and declined to join BG in the CCHA venture?

[sbkbghockey]

My thoughts:

1st UT's club team completely sucks, BG Club hockey and most other teams blow them out year after year. Also having an off campus professional ice arena may seem nice, but its hard having two teams competing for essentially the same fans and also ice time. If UT build their own on-campus arena, that could hurt BG. Our Ice arena maybe old and in need of upgrades but it is a nice cozy place to play and being on-campus it's always rockin' with a sizeable student crowd.

I totally agree with FalconTurf:

2 thoughts:

1. BG could have a nice college facility on campus if the donations roll in. An on-campus rocking college facility will trump a downtown off-campus professional facility that will never reflect the college tenant that much (center ice logo, seating color, banners, students section, etc.). Recruiting video of BG atmosphere, alumni and community support should close the deal.

2
2. Didn't they already attempt this when BG got into college hockey and declined to join BG in the CCHA venture?

And, that sounds familiar

[Falcon Fanatic]

As far as D1 goes, that is a stretch, I do know that they are and have been actively exploring taking that club team to DIII in the MCHA to compete with and against Adrian.

Seriously?

Ron Fogarty's Adrian team would TOTALLY kick their butts!!!

[MACMAN]

Yes Adrian would kick thier butts, but that is what they are moving toward. As far as fans go, and fighting for fans, never happens, BG never draws toledo people unless they are BG alums, and even then there few even back in the 70's and 80's when BG was on top, a toledo team would actually be competing for Walleye fans, as the Walleye fans only have so much money to throw at hockey and my guess is they would have reasonable numbers, but not stellar and it would be doubtfull they could come out with what they have not be an embarasment to start, they would surely not be any threat to Adrian in MCHA.

I do see Alabama joining the CCHA next year.

[sbkbghockey]

Yes Adrian would kick thier butts, but that is what they are moving toward. As far as fans go, and fighting for fans, never happens, BG never draws toledo people unless they are BG alums, and even then there few even back in the 70's and 80's when BG was on top, a toledo team would actually be competing for Walleye fans, as the Walleye fans only have so much money to throw at hockey and my guess is they would have reasonable numbers, but not stellar and it would be doubtfull they could come out with what they have not be an embarasment to start, they would surely not be any threat to Adrian in MCHA.

I do see Alabama joining the CCHA next year.

There are a small fan base of BG Fans who are not alums in Toledo but I'm not sure it's a big enough number to have an impact. MAC is correct the big competition is the Walleye and that would be an ugly battle for fans (and ice time if they use the downtown arena). I dont believe there is a way for Toledo to join the MCHA, schools can't play DIII in one sport while the rest of their Athletics are DI, I dont see Toledo leaving the MAC and dropping all sports to DIII so I doubt UT is seriously considering hockey. Most likely just a wet dream rumor by the club coach, team, and/or fans.

[MACMAN]

you know what...UT could be moving to ACHA D1...that makes sense, even though they will still get pounded, and not really thinking to hard, that is more likely. Im going to ask a few folks who will know whats up ...Ill bet that is it and all the D__ stuff from ACHA is throwing people off thinking they are going to NCAA d___ hockey....

[NWLB]

I think there is talk about it because the Walleye are drawing well, in a new facility, while UT's male basketball team and football team are in the toilet. They have to have something to talk about.

I don't see a direct correlation between club hockey and UT ever thinking about D1 NCAA hockey. UT has the all-time record advantage from the early years of BGSU's club team playing them. But by the time BGSU went to varsity, it was thumping UT very hard. For UT, the idea of playing a Notre Dame, Michigan, and Ohio State, all would appeal to them. But playing at the "We Couldn't Find a Sponsor" Arena in DT Toledo, that would be expensive. And they would be out drawn by OSU, UM, and BGSU fans when it came down to it.

Honestly I don't think it is a bad idea for them. I just don't believe they could avoid screwing it up if they did. The First Rule of Toledo being key here.

[Freddie]

For whatever it's worth, schools don't take existing club programs and "go varsity" or "move up" to NCAA D1 or D3.

If/when UT (or anybody else) were to decide to sponsor a varsity program, it would start from scratch...and would, most likely, continue to maintain a 'club' team as well...just as we do. That's not to say that there might not be two or three players from the club team that make the transition, but they'd be the exception rather than the rule.

Any talk comparing UT's club team to any existing D1 or D3 varsity program is nothing but nonsense. Of course they'd get smoked...but that's not the point. UT's varsity program (if it ever exists) would have the opportunity to recruit D1 calibre talent from the same talent pool all the other D1 teams do.

That said, I don't think they'll do it. $1-1.5M annual budget, and all the Title IX stuff.

[NWLB]

For whatever it's worth, schools don't take existing club programs and "go varsity" or "move up" to NCAA D1 or D3.

If/when UT (or anybody else) were to decide to sponsor a varsity program, it would start from scratch...and would, most likely, continue to maintain a 'club' team as well...just as we do. That's not to say that there might not be two or three players from the club team that make the transition, but they'd be the exception rather than the rule.

Any talk comparing UT's club team to any existing D1 or D3 varsity program is nothing but nonsense. Of course they'd get smoked...but that's not the point. UT's varsity program (if it ever exists) would have the opportunity to recruit D1 calibre talent from the same talent pool all the other D1 teams do.

That said, I don't think they'll do it. $1-1.5M annual budget, and all the Title IX stuff.

Testify!
UT has a dinky budget as it is. And I don't think their president is much of a sports fan, beyond what he has to be. Unless maybe they dropped football!

[MACMAN]

LOL lets not get started on mac football.