DU Hoops vs. CSU

DU Men's Basketball

vs.

Colorado State

7 PM - Tonight - Magness Arena

TV: Root Sports - Rocky Mountain

Denver Post Game Preview

DU Hoops vs. Colorado State Tonight

DU @ CSU Basketball

Game Time/Date: 7:00 p.m. EST, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012

Location: Moby Arena, Fort Collins, CO

TV: The Mtn. - The MountainWest Sports Network

Comcast Digital Cable (411) & DirecTV (616) 

Not So Fast Metro - DU Owns "Denver"

Our friends Downtown with the massive inferiority complex and pockets full of taxpayer money want to change their name from "Metro State." What to do, what to do?

After they tried to poach DU's identity with the moniker "Denver State University," the Colorado Legislature firmly told them, "Not on our watch."

Unbelievably, Metro's brain trust went back to the drawing board & came back with three of the most stupid names in US higher education history; Denver Metropolitan State University, Denver State Metropolitan University or Metropolitan Denver State University.

Here's the dealio. Either stick with "Metro State" or come up with something original.  DU may be taking the lead on opposing the name change, but rumor has it that CU & CSU are quietly working behind the scenes to scuttle Metro's name change as well.

DU Trademarks Sassy Lacrosse Slogan

(above) No longer content with being the Capital of Colorado, PioNation stakes its claim to the entire western territory

If you were planning on whipping up a few hundred Boone T-shirts with the slogan "DU: Lacrosse Capital of the West" and selling them in the dorms, expect a Cease & Desist Letter from DU's attorneys.  The school actually went to the trouble of securing the intellectual property rights to the name "Lacrosse Capital of the West," formally depicting a trademarked logo, as a symbol of the institution's commitment to the game's development.

Needless to say this bold slogan didn't sit well with the scribes over at LaxPower, who immediately ripped DU's move  in an editorial that not only contained multiple factual errors, but tried to make a case for freaking Colorado State University or Colorado College (speaking of trademarking a slogan, "1957" is available) being the real birthplace of Colorado lacrosse.

Perhaps LaxPower is jealous that DU has signed on with arch-rival Inside Lacrosse Magazine to promote the Mile High Classic. DU will play Duke in a lacrosse double header while defending National Champions Virginia play Penn on Friday, April 27, 2012 in the House That Tebow Built.  Expect the lax extravaganza to be televised on ESPN-U.

CSU 77 - DU 66 Men's Basketball

Colorado State University men's basketball team rallied from an early nine-point deficit to defeat the University of Denver 77-66 at Magness Arena on Thursday night, snapping the Pioneers' 15-game homecourt winning streak.

The Rams (2-0), down 11-2 early, used a 14-4 run midway through the first half to take their first lead. They were up 38-34 at halftime and 55-41 with 11:20 remaining in the game.

Coloradian Game Recap

Club Hockey: CSU-CU In Pepsi Center Tonight

(left) CSU & CU will faceoff tonight in the 18,000 seat Pepsi Center in Denver

From: Denver Post
by Natalie Meisler

Max Myers went all the way to New York for collarbone surgery when three Denver-area doctors said it was too risky. Injuries, a huge financial commitment and scarce recognition never could keep him off the ice.

A.J. Hau was living the teenage hockey dream. He played junior league in Alaska, then at a small college school in Minnesota. When he learned his mother, Sandra, a pioneering youth hockey organizer, was battling terminal cancer, Hau rushed back home to Fort Collins.

Tonight, Myers and Hau collide at the Pepsi Center in downtown Denver at 7 p.m. for Colorado-Colorado State: The Club Hockey Rivalry.

"The CSU games are some of the funnest hockey games of my career," said Myers, a Buffs forward. "They are the most intense games of the year. Every time is hard, fast-paced hockey. There are usually more injuries, more penalties and more after-the-whistle shoving."

Hau, a CSU wing, said: "The hockey world (in Colorado) is a small world, so everyone grew up playing with and against everyone else. It's even bigger for us (to play at the Pepsi Center) than for football to play at Invesco. (The football teams) already have phenomenal facilities."

The game is the top fundraiser for the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II West rivals. CSU (8-3) is in third place. CU (6-2) is ninth in the 35-school division.

Each team gets a cut of every $20 ticket, which includes a choice of Nov. 11 or March 6 upper-level seats to an Avalanche game.The rivals play four times a season, with one neutral-site fundraiser. Last year's benefit at the Budweiser Center in Loveland drew 4,200.

CU players pay about $1,800 a season in dues. CSU skaters contribute $2,500 each because the team rents off-campus ice time. Additionally, players spend hundreds on sticks, skates and pads.

"We had 80 guys try out and could only keep 26," said CSU coach Kelly Newton, who commutes four times a week between Fort Collins and his home in Monument. He said the dedication is in his Canadian blood.

All parties involved place the rivalry as the club version of the Avs and Red Wings, or the University of Denver and Colorado College. Fundraisers and sponsorships help defray the cost of the games.

"It's a love, at this point," Hau said. "It's coming out of our pockets because we love the sport."

Myers broke the part of his collarbone closest to his throat in a game before his junior year at Niwot High School.

"It ended the dream of making the NHL that most hockey players have. I'm still having fun," Myers said. "It's the passion for the sport. The thought of leaving hockey is a sad thing, and I'm not looking forward to hanging up the skates."

He hopes to parlay his selection to an ACHA all-star touring team into a European pro contract.

Hau is almost ready to move on, having had the 2 4/7 thrill of playing junior league hockey. Then before his third year in Alaska, he had an epiphany. Never a serious student at Fort Collins High School, he decided it was time to go to college. He didn't hesitate to come home from Minneapolis a year ago. Sandy Hau passed away July 4, and the Rams dedicated their season to her.

Her spirit will be at the Pepsi Center tonight.

"Every night, I begged my parents to let me stay up and finish listening to the Avs game," Hau said.

Colorado State Hockey Event Draws 4,105 Fans

Tim Stiller scored one goal and assisted on another to lead the Colorado State University club hockey team to a 6-3 win over the University of Colorado before 4,105 rowdy fans at the Budweiser Events Center. The fans were treated to a great game and the atmosphere was electric.

Twenty-one of CSU's 28 players are from Colorado, including 10 from Fort Collins. Proceeds from the game, presented by the Colorado Eagles minor-league hockey team, were shared by three Northern Colorado youth hockey programs and the CSU club team.

The win was CSU's third over CU in as many games this season.

The game at the 5,289-seat Budweiser Events Center is the latest attempt by a cadre of local hockey fans and CSU hockey alumni to push a Division I agenda, despite a tremendous number of obstacles in their way.

The group, which calls itself the Ram Hockey Group, ultimately hopes to convince CSU administrators to add men's hockey to its roster of 16 varsity sports, elevating the already successful club (non-scholarship) program to NCAA Division I status.

Former Ram hockey player Brett Tatman is at the forefront of the movement.

"If we can get the financing there and the money lined up it's highly likely that it will happen," he said last fall. "It really depends on our movement."

Eventually, Ram Hockey Group hopes it can raise enough money (at least $1 million just for start-up costs) to fund the conversion from club to D-1, and to help CSU also fund whatever women's sport might need to be added in order to satisfy Title IX requirements.

Funding aside, it's already clear that CSU students will attend hockey games, even those not against heated rivals like the University of Colorado.

Will Ram Hockey Group be successful? It will take a long time and a lot of money, neither of which seem to be on the University's agenda at this time. But if the students and alumni have a say in it, it could happen eventually.

CSU Hockey Game On Thursday Nearing Sellout

(above) Thursday night's CSU club hockey game against the University of Colorado is nearing a sellout

From: Colorado State Examiner
by Jeff Brown

Saturday's announced Colorado State basketball crowd of 4,009 included only about 1,500 students, who attend games with "free" tickets they pick up at the Lory Student Center. ("Free" is in quotes because the students contribute $88.85 each to the athletic department in student fees.)

Sales (yes, sales) of tickets for Thursday night's club hockey game against the University of Colorado have already passed that mark, and organizers hope to sell out the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland. That arena has about the same capacity as Moby.

Organizers of the event are trying to bring Division I hockey to Colorado State University by gauging interest in the community. Proceeds raised from the event will be held in escrow to help establish a D-I hockey program should the athletic department ever give a green light.

In the end, it's possible that three times as many students will pay between $7 and $14 each to buy tickets to watch non-scholarship athletes play in a venue 14 miles from campus on a Thursday night rather than pick up "free" tickets to watch scholarship athletes (with a couple of exceptions) play a game on campus on a Saturday night.

CSU vs. CU in Ft. Collins Fundraiser in Feb.

The Ram Hockey Group, along with the Colorado Eagles and Budweiser Events Center are hosting the Rocky Mountain Face-Off. The Face-Off pits CSU and CU's club teams to be held at the Budweiser Events Center on February 5th, 2009. Proceeds will benefit youth hockey in Northern Colorado, the Drive to D1 campaign, and the current CSU hockey team.

General admission tickets go on sale Nov. 22nd through Comcast Tickets or BECLive.com. Ticket pricing ranges from $10 to $20 per seat, with students and children receiving a $3.00 discount per seat.

EVENT INFO:
Event: Rocky Mountain Face-Off
Date: February 5, 2009
Time: 7:05 PM
Venue: Budweiser Events Center
Tickets: GA on sale Nov. 22nd, Eagles season ticket holders get a pre-sale from Nov. 14th-Nov. 20th
Prices: $20.00 Row 1 (No discounts), $15.00 Center Ice Seating ($12.00 for child / students), $10.00 End Zone Seating ($7.00 for child / students)
ONLINE: Comcast Tix, Budweiser Events Center
PHONE: 877-544-8499
IN PERSON: BEC Box Office, Lory Student Center Box Office, Fort Fun in Fort Collins, Woody’s Newstand
Facebook Event Page

CSU Hockey Starts LLC & Website

(above) The Ram Hockey Group's Website

The folks who want to bring Division 1 hockey to Colorado State University have started the Ram Hockey Group and have a pretty cool new website. Check it out.

CSU D-1 Hockey Movement Hits Roadblock

The CSU Hockey Petition Movement hit a stumbling block yesterday when the organizer, Brett Tatman, met with Colorado State Athletic Department officials. Although the meeting netted an expected result, the excuse proffered by the CSU brass rings hollow with college athletics observers.

There are plenty of schools such as the University of Texas and other college sports super-powers, who have unbelievable support and yet they aren't adding new sports, much less hockey. There is something rotten in Denmark and we are heading towards a day when college athletics is nothing more than "club sports" and a very few "professional sports."

D-1 athletic departments are averaging a $3.3 million deficit and until and unless skyrocketing football expenditures, Title IX compliance and "facility arms race" issues are rectified, many sports are going to be relegated to club status.

The release from the CSU Hockey Petition Website:

UPDATE 08/19/08:
As many of you already know, I spoke with the Athletic Director and Associate Athletic Director today. First and foremost, I want to say that both Paul and Mike are great guys and straight shooters and I appreciate that. Second, it is a very difficult time to be adding a sport (any sport) to the current line-up of programs at CSU.

That said, I am not very easily dissuaded from the task at hand and I will be working on a strategy moving forward. One of the best things we can do is to help the athletic department bring their existing programs up to a world-class level. When their existing sports are performing, they are more receptive to adding other sports. We also will be determined to keep our momentum and our cause in front of the Athletic Department, so that when the time is right for adding a sport, ice hockey will be at the forefront.

In order to accomplish that goal, I will need to formalize our efforts into some sort of organization. If you are interested in contributing to this as yet unamed organization please visit here.

CSU D-1 Hockey Movement Making Progress

Sign The Petition

Colorado State University alum Brett Tatman has made progress in his quest to bring NCAA Division I hockey to his alma mater. Over 850 people have signed the Petition that will be presented to the powers that be at CSU.

Today Tatman will meet with CSU's AD Paul Kowalczyk and Associate AD Mike LaPlante. Let's hope CSU doesn't put the kibosh on "The Movement."

Tateman's Website includes several interesting features including a timeline of his progress, a section to sign the Petition, links to pertinent websites and a message board. Check out the site.

Included below is the Timeline. We've highlighted several points of interest.

07/29/08 - Petition created.
07/31/08 - First Day of Petition - 200 signatures and counting. Keep it going.
07/31/08 - I will be meeting with the Athletic Director at CSU in the next 2 weeks.
08/01/08 - 380 signatures and counting. Keep forwarding this web address to everyone.
08/03/08 - Had a complaint about throwing Nebraska under the bus, so changed homepage.
08/03/08 - A big thanks to NCYH and Mountain States Youth Hockey for their help.
08/04/08 - 527 signatures and counting. Talked with CSU's Associate AD. Open to the idea.
08/05/08 - A thanks to Jamie O'Leary for getting the petition to Highland Hills, Boulder, YMCA
08/06/08 - 621 signatures so far. Thanks to Joel Cantalamessa at RamNation for the help.
08/07/08 - Meeting with Paul Kowalczyk (AD) and Mike LaPlante (Assoc. AD) on Tues. the 19th.
08/12/08 - 700 signatures and counting.
08/13/08 - Coloradoan will be doing an article on the petition. Either tomorrow or Friday.
08/13/08 - Thanks to Denise and Tara at Citizen Print for the logo design.
08/15/08 - Read the article in the Coloradoan here.
08/15/08 - 789 signatures. Big props to Sean Duff at the Coloradoan for the article.
08/15/08 - Set up meeting with David Tenzer (Director of Hockey Operations at Denver Univ.)
08/15/08 - Contacted by Frank Anzalone (ex D1 and pro coach). Interested in helping.
08/17/08 - 847 signatures.
08/18/08 - A big thanks to Damien Goddard at LetsGoDU Blog. Thanks for the leads.
08/18/08 - DU Head Coach George Gwozdecky signs the petition.
08/18/08 - Colorado Hockey Insider will be running a piece in their Sept. Issue.

CSU Petition Drive To Add D-1 Hockey

From: The Coloradian
by Sean Duff

As posted in LetsGoDU two weeks ago, Colorado State University graduate Brett Tatman wants his alma mater to add an NCAA Division I hockey team. But resistance from the CSU Athletic Department makes the dream a longshot at best.

A local online petition to gather support for his proposal has gathered decent support in the past two weeks.

Tatman, president of Snaptron, Inc., in Windsor, has received more than 700 signatures on his petition and hopes to have a few thousand by the time he meets next week with Colorado State University athletic director Paul Kowalczyk and director of development Mike LaPlante.

“I played hockey growing up, and I played (club) hockey at CSU,” Tatman said. “I have two sons that play youth hockey. Seeing the (Colorado) Eagles and their success really prompted me to push to see if we couldn’t get a higher level of hockey here.”

CSU has had a club team for years that has been successful on the ice and off. The Rams have won national club titles and routinely play to big crowds at EPIC.

"It pains me to see Division I hockey at schools such as Nebraska-Omaha and not at CSU,” Tatman said. “Colorado is a hockey state. Nebraska is a state with half the population of the Denver metro area, and they support NCAA hockey. Surely Northern Colorado can do the same.

“It is my belief that not only would Division I NCAA ice hockey survive in Northern Colorado, but it would flourish.”

CSU AD Kowalczyk doesn’t think now is the time for CSU to add hockey or any other sport.

“We don’t support our current sports programs well enough to even consider adding sports at this point,” he said. “Our current sports have been underfunded for years, and until we get them to a position of solid funding and excellence, there won’t be any other considerations.”

Three Colorado schools play Division I hockey: Air Force, Colorado College and the University of Denver. Others, like CSU and the University of Colorado, have club teams.

Tatman, a 1997 CSU graduate, envisions the team playing the Budweiser Events Center, home of the Eagles. The Central Hockey League team has sold out every game at the 5,380-seat Bud Center since its inception five seasons ago.

Tatman acknowledges that it will take more than signatures to field a team. For example, Title IX regulations likely would force CSU to add a women's team in any sport if it added men's hockey or another men's sport.

"At this point I'm just trying to get signatures," Tatman said. "I'm meeting with Paul and Mike on Tuesday, and after our meeting we'll decided what hoops we need to jump through."

To sign the online petition that supports CSU adding an NCAA Division I men’s hockey team, go online to ramhockeypetition.weebly.com

CSU Alum Wants D-1 Hockey In Ft Collins

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!