The search ends......

[toddpav]

Everybody, lets remember not to take our "love" for GC out on the new guy to the party. It's tough not to, but we really shouldn't. Chris will be a good fit here.

[It's the Journey...]

It's really funny that barely a day went by over the past THREE WEEKS when someone wasn't in here asking if there were any updates on the coach search. And now, after it is over and announced, people are unhappy that announcement was made now!!!! WTF!!!!! Either you want to know a coach has been named or you don't want to. An overwhelming majority of those on this board wanted to know A.S.A.P. and that is what happened. I had hoped once this was over many would take the "anti Greg Christopher since we can't go after Dr. Cartwright anymore" glasses off. I guess I was wrong. What a shame.

[rally]

Sorry this had to happen to DW and staff. They basically got a one year episode on Dirty Jobs, but then I guess that's the business. We'll never know what the future might have held. The Christopher-Bergeron-Miami connection struck me immediately, and think that's a plus. It will be hard for GC to say "No." As far as being the chief recruiter at Miami ... being the recruiter doesn't always translate into being a successful head coach. Wasn't Powers the recruiter for York, and Paluch as well?

[toddpav]

It's really funny that barely a day went by over the past THREE WEEKS when someone wasn't in here asking if there were any updates on the coach search. And now, after it is over and announced, people are unhappy that announcement was made now!!!! WTF!!!!! Either you want to know a coach has been named or you don't want to. An overwhelming majority of those on this board wanted to know A.S.A.P. and that is what happened. I had hoped once this was over many would take the "anti Greg Christopher since we can't go after Dr. Cartwright anymore" glasses off. I guess I was wrong. What a shame.

There's a legitimate gripe here with the Athletic Dept and the AD and how this whole situation was handled. On one hand, we wanted the news as quick as possible. On the other, we didn't want to ruin DWs send off if he wasn't going to be the coach. It could have been handled much better.

[NWLB]

DW took a bold risk in taking the job he did at the stage of his career. He was a bit young and not yet seasoned enough to land most D1 jobs. He should surely be saluted for staying, keeping the wheels from totally coming off. He will almost certainly land a head coaching job, if at a lower division, and do just fine. And nobody will be shocked if he finds himself coaching D1 again.

I think the major donors said to simply hire the guy to get the job done, period. I think they looked at DW, and even if he'll become a fine coach, they didn't want to try to revive a program with a coach that has a five year learning curve.

Keeping the PC to the press likely is exactly because they knew there were a lot of locals that were really close to DW. I also won't be totally shocked if there is a new "tone" and formality to the program and staff moving forward. Money equals access. It is still hockey, it is still BGSU hockey.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

From someone with ties to the Miami program who posts on a Cincy sports board I follow

"He has a reputation for being an excellent recruiter and teacher of the game and is one competitive SOB. He's been a part of building a program from the bottom at Miami under Rico so he also has much needed experience in that area."

Welcome to BG Coach Bergeron

[MACMAN]

Not being the fairy of PC, which I deplore by the way. There is no good way to handle it, there are arguments as to how to do it and they are about as varied as the people who make them.
ITs done.
there is no changing the timing, now, that train cant go back to the station, just as those who would have argued to announce the new coach before the banquet to celebrate a new chapter.
While Im sure many are disappointed we must morn and move on.

[FalconTurf]

For those who think they should have made the announcement after the banquet I'm sure the next day when the announcement was made you would have accussed the Univ. and Ath. Dept. of stringing the Coach Williams along. Now Coach Williams, the team and the whole Falcon community will know that the banquet is the send off and now we can give our best wishes to all who are moving on for their dedication to the program.

The glass is half empty around here far too often. It's time to step up and be Champions in the arena seats, Champions on the message boards and Champions in the community. Lets be the fans that our Falcons deserve.

[Falcon Fanatic]

For those who think they should have made the announcement after the banquet I'm sure the next day when the announcement was made you would have accussed the Univ. and Ath. Dept. of stringing the Coach Williams along. Now Coach Williams, the team and the whole Falcon community will know that the banquet is the send off and now we can give our best wishes to all who are moving on for their dedication to the program.

The SENIOR Hockey recognition banquet is not supposed to be a send off of the coaches. It's supposed to be a chance for the fans to come and honor THE TEAM and THE SENIORS, in particular, for the four years they have given us. THIS senior class, especially deserve that. THEY stuck by us when others left the team. They led this team and made Falcon Hockey fun to watch again. They deserve to be the center of attention tomorrow night. Timing really could have been just a little better.

[Rightupinthere]

It's really funny that barely a day went by over the past THREE WEEKS when someone wasn't in here asking if there were any updates on the coach search.

Not even close to being accurate. Would you like to back up your accusation with facts? The "Let the Search Begin" thread had ONE QUESTION to this effect on March 25th. The other chatter was procedural.

I had hoped once this was over many would take the "anti Greg Christopher since we can't go after Dr. Cartwright anymore" glasses off. I guess I was wrong. What a shame.

You should post this to passiveaggressive.com. You would be hailed as their king - hyperbole and all.

[It's the Journey...]

It's really funny that barely a day went by over the past THREE WEEKS when someone wasn't in here asking if there were any updates on the coach search.

Not even close to being accurate. Would you like to back up your accusation with facts? The "Let the Search Begin" thread had ONE QUESTION to this effect on March 25th. The other chatter was procedural.

I guess we differ on what is considered "procedural" and what is not. While is wasn't daily, it was on a regular basis. The intent is still accurate and I stand by that.

I had hoped once this was over many would take the "anti Greg Christopher since we can't go after Dr. Cartwright anymore" glasses off. I guess I was wrong. What a shame.

You should post this to passiveaggressive.com. You would be hailed as their king - hyperbole and all.

That's really funny, but that is exactly what happened. This "committee" decided from the beginning to try and fry the administration. All the heat was on Cartwright until some finally got it through their heads she was not the enemy to hockey she was portrayed as. So, the heat moved to Christopher. I've asked this before and I will ask it again, what proof do you have that he is such an evil force at BGSU?? No one has answered that question.

At this point, I don't give a damn. When I was living in BG I was a regular at hockey games. It didn't mater if the team was winning or losing, I was there. Now, thanks in part to the unfounded BS and negativity of this forum I could care less. So I think I'll just be done with this forum for a bit. Hopefully some maturing will happen and all the unfounded accusation will either have some proof come out publicly or they will just die out.

Have a good day everyone and GO BG!!!!!

[Rightupinthere]

Couple of things:

From May 11th to May 24th there was nary a peep about the hiring process. Nearly two weeks is not "regular" but the accusation sexes up your position.

I have a question for you: where did the talk of scrapping the hockey program come from? That's right, the administration and AD actually discussed it as a contingency and Kent DID have a hockey program which was scrapped for hazing and financial issues. I think having a cautious stance of both entities was well founded. That feeling may have subsided quite a bit with the recent actions, but memories are very long with BG fans especially when considering hockey where there is so much emotional attachement - easily more than any other school in the league.

I personally don't have an issue with Christopher. I question his actions at times but overall, he's been a good AD in my view. There are others who are closer with the hockey program who do not share this view. I trust their knowledge but it's not enough to sway my opinion. You want to know what it is, but placing such information on the intertubes would damage the relationship these people current have with the program. It's politics and ugly, but that is the way it is. You find fault in that, but I do not. There isn't a whole lot of security hiding behind an avatar.

Have a lovely day even though you won't be reading this.

[BGWriter]

As someone totally removed from BG and the program for a long time, this hire has me excited for the future of the hockey program.

The administration went out and found, arguably, the hottest name among top assistants at successful D-1 programs and gave him a six year deal to get this job done the right way.

Yes, it's sad when a BG guy has to lose his job over this, especially when he took the spot at a time when few were willing to do so.

That said, you have to try and remove the emotion from this decision as much as possible, so you do what's best for the long term health of the program.

Any hire is a calculated risk, but I'd say the folks who made this hire at least did their homework and have come up with as good a prospect as we could have hoped for, all things considered.

Now let's get behind him and help get this program back to the level of excellence most of us remember it for.