WMU hires Andy Murray.....

[Flipper]

Blashill's assistants are staying and they're paying him the same 275k Blasill was set to get. Looks like WMU is taking the steps needed to stay relevant nationally...

[joehockey]

Let's not get carried away here about Andy Murray Flip. Yeah, he is a pro coach with a name....for those old enough to remember! No offence, but kids being recruited today probably don't even remember he coached in the NHL 3 years ago. Andy is a proven pro coach who has never won or coached at a high level NCAA D 1 school. This isn't like hiring Dean Blais or Jerry York. This might "buy" them some street cred, but that's about it. Maybe that's enough? We'll see how it translates soon enough.

[Flipper]

He coached in the NHL for 10 years!! ANd he got dumped by the Blues in 2010...so you might want to check your math. I tend ot think having a guy with 10 years in the league as a HC is going to make recruiting a bit easier...

[Drago]

Yeah......brutal hire by WMU. Andy Murray? Isn't he a tennis player?


WMU is showing that they are committed to getting into an elite league.

[joehockey]

WMU is trying to "buy" their way in to an "elite" conference with a pro coach? So what are you saying, BG should can their staff and go hire a "name" coach so we can do the same? I don't think hiring Andy Murray guarantees them anything. I'm not going to pretend the guy can't coach because you don't coach in the pro's for 10 years without knowing your stuff, but that was the pros! Not college! Why is he taking a college job anyways? Besides, who knows how he will relate to 15-18 year olds. I just don't think it's that big a deal or guarantees them anything. Potentially a good hire, but I think we should wait and see before making any claims that they're program is "making things happen".

[orangeandbrown]

Well, I don't think anyone is saying that hiring Murray guarantees anything, but if you want to get into the NCHC, it does move their cause forward.

[Flipper]

Exactly...WMU seems to be willing to take the steps needed to avoid being part of some leftover league. I've argued with Subzero on the football forum about the sanity of trying this in football because the $$$$ are waaay too high. In hockey there aren't that many teams nationally and you're talking about a much smaller number of players...I would MUCH rather roll the dice, spend the $$$ and try to go big than sit back and try to reconfigure a CCHA that we can "dominate"....

[joehockey]

Okay, then who do you suggest hiring? or what do you think the program should be doing? It's easy to sit back and say "do something!" so let's hear it? There is NO way the current staff is or would be let go to make some desperate attempt to garner national attention with a "big" hire but just hypothetically speaking then, who should they get? An alumnus? Gary Galley? Why not see if Rob Blake wants to take a shot? Doubt it! You know Jerry York isn't available. Everyone needs to stop being an arm chair quaterback if they don't have real ideas or valid suggestions for what should be done next. The Big 10 and NCHC are going to need programs to "beat up" on and BGSU location still makes them an ideal scheduling partner for alot of schools. Ask RIT if they care about playing in Atlantic Hockey when they're still competing for NCAA tournament bids and making frozen four runs. A new CCHA that BG could dominate while still playing top level schools from the "power" conferences could be exactly what the program needs to make it back to relevance! I'm so tired of guys like Drago bashing on the program and never suggesting alternative ideas or thoughts.....so let's hear it!

[Flipper]

When did I say anything about changing coaches?...ever? I think we need to be very public and very proactive about finding a better conference. I keep hearing about the travel costs WMU and Miami are going to incur...is it appreciably cheaper to travel to Canisus...Huntsville, Alabama or whatever other ATlantic school makes the jump to the new and improved CCHA? Attendance at home suffered palying MSU, UM, OSU and Notre Dame. Do you think it will improve to see games with Canisus or UAH? Who the hell wants to see that?

People are making light of what WMU is trying to accomplish...I wish we had the cajones to try that...

[joehockey]

To try what then Flip? You keep saying you wish we'd try to do what WMU is doing ....so what do you want to do then? We both know we can't hire a new coach so you want the athletic department to make a video begging someone to take our program? How do you know that that isn't already happening behind the scenes? Because no public plea is being made means everyone is sitting on their hands? The longer I sit back and think this through, the more I want BGSU to remain in the CCHA and do whatever it takes to make that league viable. Why would anyone want to get into a league that will only look down on the program and hope that they continue to get steam rolled so the "top" programs can win and advance to the FF? Anyone who thinks people are pulling for BGSU or WMU to join a "super" conference and actually compete is right out of their minds. As was said in the other posts, if ND or Miami were smart, they'd stay in the CCHA and use it as their tool to the FF every year. WINNING SOLVES EVERYTHING! It wouldn't matter if it was Michigan or Mercyhurst if the program was WINNING, people would be in the stands!

[Flipper]

The bottom line is your OK with the leftover league because it wil be easier to win and I want to try and compete at a higher level even though it may be more difficult to succeed. Fine....I think you're approach is the one we'll take because it's the cheap one and if history tells us anything, BGSU athletics is typically done on the cheap.

[joehockey]

Maybe so, but that same approach is the one that gave BGSU their "national prominance" back in the day anyways is it not? Sometimes you just have to realize what's best for your school and program. Being the doormat to any super conference isn't the answer, if anything, it's probably the easiest way to get the program gassed. With the way the state of Ohio education and the funding for State Universities is going, we'll look like geniuses in 3-5 years when all the other programs and schools realize they've made a huge error!

[joehockey]

last thing I'd like to add....how long before the BTHC makes a special by-law allowing non Big 10 schools to apply for conference membership? I say after 3-5 years of losing, finishing last in the conference and no longer being able to attract at-large bids will produce enough complaints from member programs and cause a reform to the league. Same could be said for the NCHC. Be careful what you wish for.

[Flipper]

Your hopes are based on ancient history in a sport where the landscape has changed dramatically and the belief that everyone else will fail and that will create opportunities for you. Good luck with that...

[Sub-Zero]

To try what then Flip? You keep saying you wish we'd try to do what WMU is doing ....so what do you want to do then? We both know we can't hire a new coach so you want the athletic department to make a video begging someone to take our program? How do you know that that isn't already happening behind the scenes? Because no public plea is being made means everyone is sitting on their hands? The longer I sit back and think this through, the more I want BGSU to remain in the CCHA and do whatever it takes to make that league viable. Why would anyone want to get into a league that will only look down on the program and hope that they continue to get steam rolled so the "top" programs can win and advance to the FF? Anyone who thinks people are pulling for BGSU or WMU to join a "super" conference and actually compete is right out of their minds. As was said in the other posts, if ND or Miami were smart, they'd stay in the CCHA and use it as their tool to the FF every year. WINNING SOLVES EVERYTHING! It wouldn't matter if it was Michigan or Mercyhurst if the program was WINNING, people would be in the stands!

The point others are trying to make relates to doing something positive and proactive to help move the needle for your respective program. Hiring a 'name' coach falls into that category. WMU is making an effort which is more than GC has shown. You will get your wish, we will be a top team in a club level group of leftover programs.