If you want to bring a new sport to your
alma-mater these days, its best to have a
multi-million dollar donation ready. Unfortunately, this
CSU alum may only be armed with a
petition and
enthusiasm. Nonetheless, we support his message, so
fill in the online petition to show support for this noble idea.
If you enjoy ice hockey like I do, then you also understand that the Northern Colorado area is greatly under-served with the current status of college hockey.
The Colorado State University Club Hockey program, of which I was a member in 1994 & 1995, has seen better-than-expected attendance for years. It pains me to see Division 1 hockey at schools such as Nebraska-Omaha and not at CSU. Colorado is a hockey state. Nebraska is not.
It is my belief that not only would Division 1 NCAA ice hockey survive in Northern Colorado, but it would flourish. The success of the Colorado Eagles franchise has exceeded everybody's expectations in terms of attendance, and so would a D-1 Ram team. Inter-state rivalries with Denver University, Colorado College and Air Force Academy would virtually guarantee sell-out crowds, bringing first rate entertainment to fans while generating much needed revenue for the university.
By signing this petition you will be sending a very clear message to the university president and the athletic director that the Northern Colorado community will support Division I ice hockey at Colorado State University. The goal is to have at minimum several thousand signatures before submitting this petition. This is a great way for our hockey community to be heard.
Please forward this web address along to other hockey lovers in our area. I will be posting updates, so check back often to see our progress.
Go Rammies!
If you want to bring a new sport to your alma-mater these days, its best to have a multi-million dollar donation ready. Unfortunately, this CSU alum may only be armed with a petition and enthusiasm. Nonetheless, we support his message, so fill in the online petition to show support for this noble idea.
7 comments:
I don't believe CSU would secure a D1 program unless/until the WCHA opens up the league to teams from Cali, Wash, Oregon or another league is formed (Pacific Coast + Sun Belt). What about the U of Colorado? I would think that they would merit more serious consideration than CSU for a D1 team but perhaps not.
Not familiar with the Eagles program but understand that Ralph Backstrom is involved and that it is doing well. I am a hockey scout for a Midwestern prep school and I don't recall scouting any local players out of Ft. Collins. Is there really that much of a grass roots interest in hockey in Ft. Collins? Denver, Colo Springs, are where the premier prep/junior/collegiate players are coming from out of Colo.
Re: U of Neb. not being hockey worthy - Nebraska is home to the Lincoln Stars, & Omaha Lancers, arguably 2 of the better teams in the USHL, so there is/was a hockey foundation in Neb. prior to U Neb. Omaha going D1. I would agree that there are a number of other schools that I would have thought would have gone D1 by now because of the abundance of talent in the area (U of Illinois comes to mind) this has not been the case. Perhaps you could argue that Alabama-Huntsville doesn't deserve a D1 program...
If CSU had a team, no doubt kids would start playing hockey in northern colorado.
But at the end of the day, collegiate athletic programs are deleting programs not adding them, so I feel confident in the milion to one chance of CSU or CU adding a team.
Now if anyone knows anything about an alum with $5 million burning a hole in their pocket, that's different matter.
Ralph Backstrom was involved with the Eagles but he retired from hockey last year after a long and lustrious career in the game. He pretty much did every job possible involved with the sport.
I'd say give them one. It will give more exposure to college hockey and what more... you could then do a gold pan tournament between DU, AF, CSU, and CC... I left them last because they don't matter. lol
The more the merrier, I am all for it. I think it could happen if the CSU school administration gets behind it and supports it.
I agree with Goon. The more the better. I could see hockey dominating over football and hoops at CSU with time. The dynamics are good at CSU for hockey to rule. Football team is OK. Basketball not so OK. Ft Collins is small so they don't have sports over load like a big city would. I say build it and they will come. Sioux in Colorado.
CSU is not a hockey school or in a hockey town. I've been here and watching about thirty years and the sports with balls are pretty well entrenched. Local media barely notices anything else. The EGulls have had a good run, but have been well managed and marketed, but haven't had an off season yet.
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