(Left) Scott Owens at the press conference announcing the decision to drop ice hockeyFrom: Denver Post
by Mick Chambers
Colorado College will disband its 71-year-old hockey program after next season and three other sports after budget problems forced the athletic department to make cuts.
In a previously announced move the school will also drop football, softball and water polo effective at the end of this spring season, athletic director Ken Ralph said.
The CC board of trustees forced the athletic department to cut spending by $8 million to $12 million. "We went through dozens of budget scenarios before coming to the realization that we could no longer support 20 varsity sports," Ralph said.
The school estimated it will save more than $1,000,000 per year dropping hockey, $450,000 by dropping football. Softball was adopted as a varsity sport in 1996; water polo began in 2004.
"I am deeply troubled that these moves became necessary," Ralph said. "The elimination of programs is always an item of last resort and, unfortunately, due to the high cost of competing in the WCHA, we reached that point."
The move by Colorado College paves the way for Bemidji State to replace the Tigers in the WCHA in 2010-11. WCHA Commissioner Bruce MacLeod said, "Bemidji State made the Frozen Four this season and will certainly more than make up for CC's departure from the conference."
After reaching college hockey's promised land in the 1950's, Colorado College was never able field a championship team after 1957.
Colorado College hockey players will be free to join other programs without sitting the extra year after disbanding the program per NCAA rules. It is not expected that any CC players will join DU. DU Recruiting Coordinator & Assistant Head Coach Steve Miller noted, "We didn't want them coming out of juniors, why would we want them now?"
by Mick Chambers
Colorado College will disband its 71-year-old hockey program after next season and three other sports after budget problems forced the athletic department to make cuts.
In a previously announced move the school will also drop football, softball and water polo effective at the end of this spring season, athletic director Ken Ralph said.
The CC board of trustees forced the athletic department to cut spending by $8 million to $12 million. "We went through dozens of budget scenarios before coming to the realization that we could no longer support 20 varsity sports," Ralph said.
The school estimated it will save more than $1,000,000 per year dropping hockey, $450,000 by dropping football. Softball was adopted as a varsity sport in 1996; water polo began in 2004.
"I am deeply troubled that these moves became necessary," Ralph said. "The elimination of programs is always an item of last resort and, unfortunately, due to the high cost of competing in the WCHA, we reached that point."
The move by Colorado College paves the way for Bemidji State to replace the Tigers in the WCHA in 2010-11. WCHA Commissioner Bruce MacLeod said, "Bemidji State made the Frozen Four this season and will certainly more than make up for CC's departure from the conference."
After reaching college hockey's promised land in the 1950's, Colorado College was never able field a championship team after 1957.
Colorado College hockey players will be free to join other programs without sitting the extra year after disbanding the program per NCAA rules. It is not expected that any CC players will join DU. DU Recruiting Coordinator & Assistant Head Coach Steve Miller noted, "We didn't want them coming out of juniors, why would we want them now?"
13 comments:
April fool!!! The question is, does CC really have a COMPETITIVE hockey program. Remember, 52 years and counting
Luckily Scott Owens will be able to go to work at the coffee shop.
hahaha good one. you had me goin for a second.
Didn't believe it for a second.
Besides... CC does serve a purpose. They are our jester.
I'm obviously losing my touch or the readers are getting smarter.
This is a troubling development either way. :-)
Good shot DG. You had me going along with it until I remembered the date.
Na I know its April Fools day... I won't believe squat to day.
When I read the headline, I was like "HOLY SHIT!"
Then I considered the source, the date and the fact that it was written by "Mick" Chambers.
On a related note, I hear Joey Brehm is close to signing a deal with the Detroit Red Wings...
Anon, no it's not Brehm it's Cunningham signing a multi year deal
Man no more "57" or CC sucks!
funny stuff. love your blog page, but not a fan of DU or CC. does woody paige cover DU hockey, that would be funnier.
Woody Paige isn't smart enough to cover DU hockey. For that matter, not many of the sports writers in Denver are, given that they provide all this coverage to the last place Avs, but column shorts to our Pioneers!
The only thing the Denver sports writers know is BRONCOOOS!!!. The simple reason is that's all the Denver sports fans know.
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