The University of New Hampshire defeated DU 5-2 on Friday night in Manchester, N.H.
DU led twice in the first period, but was unable to keep out of the penalty box in the second half of the game and it cost them dearly. UNH scored two power play goals late in the second period.
111 comments:
Joke
Bad discipline and special teams killed DU, like it has all year. I thought UNH was the better team throughout the whole game but DU definitely lost their chance to take control of the game when they were leading. I seriously question Nick Shore's leadership role on the team next year after that stupid, selfish game misconduct penalty.
As a ref, it makes me sick to see they called the 5 min major on that hit. Even the open net goal he was off sides. The NCAA should do something.
If this isn't the classic glass half full/half empty season, I don't know what would qualify. 20 wins and a tournament bid on the plus side. First round ouster from the league playoffs and in the national tournament on the minus side. With all of our b*tching and moaning, maybe we forget to thank our young men for their season long effort, both on the ice and in the classroom. Thanks, guys. For the returning players, next year is our year. For the guys leaving, good luck. And thanks for all your hard work and for representing DU with class.
Nick Shore got his shoulder up in the UNH player's face, which warrants a contact to the head penalty. Shore should never have been anywhere near that player because he was nowhere near the puck. A BAD decision.
@ayoungerdu: You have no idea about hockey if you think that was a penalty. Stupid..selfish? lol
@ayoungerdu: watch the replay. The NH player actually had the puck in his hand when the hit took place.
Take a look at the play again and see that Shore got a shoulder up in the UNH player's face. Maybe it wasn't intentional but definitely warrants a contact to the head penalty.
DU gooning it up in the NCAA's..... Classy move!!
You won't see Nick next year, he'll be turning pro.
@ayoungerdu
Here is the rule.. Not an illegal body check
Rule 616 - Head Contact
(a) A minor penalty, major penalty or a major plus game misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be assessed to any player who intentionally or recklessly contacts a player in the head, including with the stick or by an illegal body check.
(b) A major plus game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player who injures an opponent by head contact (see glossary).
(Note) Head contact may also be treated as Attempt to Injure or Deliberate Injury of an Opponent under Rule 603.
UNH was the better team tonight. Thanks to all the boys this year. Ditto with what Old Pio stated. See everybody in October.
It was a bad call, most neutral and even UNH fans are saying so elsewhere on the internet. More a function of the size difference as two players came together. Nick didn't even step towards the Goumas. In any case, we didn't pay directly for the major, but losing Nick and losing the time certainly hurt. The bigger issue is that per the rules committe notes from last summer, as a clarification, penalties cannot be assessed by video review. A ref should know that. All that being said, I tend to give the refs leniency on player safety calls like boarding, CFB, and contact to the head, because those are the ones that anger the most when they're missed.
This game was representative of the whole season. Starting out 9-1 and collapsing over break. Bad habits, lots of penalties, and never being able to really put it together when it mattered.
One playoff win since 2005. Let's not kid ourselves and keep deflecting the blame from Gwozdecky. The buck stops there. Ok, yes, injuries and depth hurt this year. But bad penalties and stupid dish passes on the power play are a cultural problem. Many bad habits have been there for years. I'm not stupid enough to scream that we should fire him. So I don't really have an answer (good thing I'm on the internet). I'm tired of watching these talent laden teams (maybe less so this year) not produce. This must be what it's like to be a Gophers fan. Can't imagine being a CC fan.
Time for some deep breaths.
See you all next season.
The UNH player caught the puck in his hand, was watching the puck and didn't have a clue Shore was moving in.
He only released the puck after the hit.
Good no call by the ref initially, but when the player stays down on the ice AND the refs make a call via TV replay, not much you can do.
Can't fault Shore one bit for that hit.
A massive call on so many levels.
Disrupted DU's line combos, wore us out chasing UNH for five minutes, disqualified our best offensive player and faceoff man.
DU was already losing at that point so the point is probably mute. Huge call.
I suppose there's a chance they could have consulted with the linesman on the initial penalty, called it, THEN reviewed to check that it was Nick. Then I suppose it would have been kosher. Not particularly smooth, but it would fit the bill.
It was the wrong decision. And I'm always the last to criticize officials. Nick made no move with an arm or shoulder or elbow. 5 min and disqualification in a 3-2 game is brutal. Game changing call? Maybe not. Just a game ending call. DU is not a national championship team this year, but making the tournament was pretty good after the underclassmen that went pro.
Still we all knew the NCAA would be nit picky with the "contact to the head" penalty. Maybe I missed that the UNH player had the puck but Shore still got his shoulder up in his face. The NCAA is trying to crack down on contact to the head, of course they are going to call it.
Like I said, I'm usually one to give lots of breadth on player safety calls. But I'm still really not sure on this one.
From a UW fan on the USCHO boards:
Definitely not rooting for Denver, but that didn't even look like a penalty. Shore is like 5 inches taller than the guy he hit. Didn't make a move toward the guy's head, barely hit him, and because the guy's head is at Shore's shoulder, the guy's head hits Shore's shoulder. It appears now that any hit, whether or not intentional, to a guys head results in a penalty. If that continues, throwing a check makes no sense because of the threat of a penalty.
Hat's off to UNH. They were the better team for most of the night tonight.
Before this season, DU lost three underclassmen to the pros, more than any other team in the country.
To even make the NCAA tourney this year with the 18 skaters we had by the end was a real achievement.
Will be interesting to see if any underclassmen leave this summer. The two biggest flight risks are Nick Shore and Scott Mayfield - both solid but not elite level college players, not at the level of a Zucker, Bennett or Drew SHore were in their final DU years.
At the end of the day, this team was inconsistent, with flashes of amazing brilliance coupled with lots of unfathomable stupidity and a league leader in PIM, something we've never seen a Gwozdecky team do.
Any time a DU team makes the NCAAs, it's a successful season.
It may be a somewhat successful season, but gwoz has clearly got some problems in the ncaas. 04 and 05 buy him a ton of credit, as do his string of 20 game season's. But you want to win 20 games to get to the ncaa tourney, and its too many times since the back to back titles to blame on injuries, defections, etc. He is a great guy, but something is a bit off there. Honestly, though, goaltending didn't help. Jussi made some difficult saves, but he didn't make the easy ones. It was an excellent goalie playing below average...not gonna cut it in the tourney. Call Nick shores act a penalty or not, but he at least had an obligation as our leading scorer to keep himself in the game, and be extra careful. It wasn't a mean or malicious play, but his lack of caution hurt the team. Ramble over...congrats to UNH, clearly the deserving winner tonight.
Brutal reffing on the Nick Shore play. First the replay shows no ref ever raised his arm to call a penalty. Refs only stopped the play when Goumas remained down on the ice. Ref then went to talk to the UNH coach and then went to review the video. At no time had the ref signaled a penalty before going to review the play. It was a non-call which can't be reviewed. Here is the link to the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xifj4xdwW3o#!
Du78 I'm guessing that contact with the head can be reviewed. In any case, we killed the penalty and there were 15 min left in the game. Our horrible power play is more to blame for the loss than having to kill off the major penalty. And the opposing team had a better game plan, which unfortunately has been the case the last few times we've gone to the ncaas.
Ugly way to end the season for DU. The Pios had a good 1st period, but after that UNH was clearly the better team and the deserving winner. As the game progressed UNH had better jump, a much better forecheck and transition game, and kept DU from mounting much offensive pressure. Disappointing result, but not all that shocking, considering how up and down and inconsistent this DU has been all year.
It's easy to harp on DU's lousy postseason showings at this point, but based on what I saw this year, DU should be happy to have made the tourney. This team just didn't have enough elite talent, in my opinion, and when you combine that with a lack of depth, some lazy and undisciplined penalties, and stiff competition, this team had a respectable year.
This is no different from when they reviewed the hit on Jesse Martin. The refs hadn't called a penalty on Malone initially but after seeing the extent of Jesse's injury they reviewed the play and called a charging major on Malone.
Way I look at it, even when DU was up 2-1, UNH easily had control of the entire game. The played the boards well, went to the net, speed, the natural zone in all areas of the game they beat DU. Unlike previous seasons where DU was stacked with talent and underachieved, I say tonight UNH was EASILY the better team. Not out of lack of effort, UNH is just a well oiled team.
Still what had killed DU all season popped its head. DU has had no discipline, terrible 2nd periods and the team cannot take care of their own zone. ESPN gave DU's Defense so much props tonight, but I think this season they have been so weak. If not for Ohki we wouldn't of been in the national tournament. Plane and simple.
As for the hit... Shore may not of met it but he still got head contact with the UNH player. Doesn't matter if it was a accident or not... it's a game ejection and I wouldn't argue that.
UNH was the better team tonight and were the higher seed, playing virtually at home.
That said, DU was not well prepared to play this game. The dumb penalties by Jacobson, Makowski and Shore killed any chance of DU victory, and while Gwoz talks about the great leadership of his team, this team was the least-disciplined team in the Gwozdecky era.
DU is 1-6 in NCAA play since 2005.
Huh? They didn't video replay the Malone hit on Jesse...the entire on-ice crew got together and made the decision how it is supposed to be made.
On one hand, I admire this team for playing above it's talent level and overcoming underclassmen signings, injuries and defections to snag an NCAA tourney berth despite a mid-pack WCHA finish. Gwoz and the coaches did a lot with a moderate level of talent, and that's what you want coaches to do. DU's offense is ranked #3 in the country and I never expected that.
On the other hand, seeing DU lead the WCHA in penalty minutes and finish #2 in PIM in the country this year was disturbing, and this lack of discipline was a critical factor in keeping the team from a greater finish. The captains and coaches need to look themselves in the mirror and ask hard questions about why this problem kept recurring.
Defense was supposed to be DU's strength this year, but the Pios rank #33 there. And the goaltending was substandard in the post-season, which alway spells doom in the one-and-done format.
Per Gwoz in the post-game. The refs made no call on the ice. At the stoppage in play they conferred with one of the linesmen who made the call. So Gwoz seems fine with the call now. I am not sure which linesman made the call because no officials in the replay had raised their arms. The UNH player had the puck so the refs should have seen the play and made the call. Poor reffing on their part. The play was definitely a penalty and any checks that hit an opponent's head are getting called with harsh penalties.
It was a tale of two seasons. The best of times and the worst of times.
The epic start, the offensive production, Jussi's emergence, The brief #1 ranking, Gold Pan, great wins over BU, Lowell, Minnesota, UND and flirting with the MacNaughton right to the end of the season.
And the unprecedented collapse over Winter Break, suspensions, defections, injuries, losses or blowing leads to Bimidji, Yale, UNH [twice] and Great Brittain's issues.
My takeaway was that this was a team of fighters who came ready to play from the season start and never quit all year long. You could never count them out.
This has the potential to be a turbulent offseason. DU's administration appears to be hellbent on shaking up the University. Not sure that the hockey program will avoid some of the fallout.
Shore gooning it up in the big tourney......classy, very classy.
The Shore hit shore didn't change the game outcome one way or another; don't make that an excuse for the team not being prepared to play, being outskated taking and dumb penalties - but I always thought the video review was only for the goal mouth situations, or to see who was involved in a fight. Looking at video to assess a penalty is downright anti-american. It would be like.....the Denver PD rewinding traffic cams 2 days later and then giving tickets for speeding. I agree, this will be an interesting off season. I wonder if the Mermis family was watching that game........................ As for the flight home, does DU get to board before UW ?? Goodbye WCHA.
2014 We're going to Philly!!!!
On your plane ride back you should stop in Grand Rapids to see a real team play. Way to repreaent the wcha and lose to a sub par UNH squad. You certainly have the beat coach in the country. Please keep him I look forward to his book on how to lose the last 3 games of the season. To bad we wont see you tools in Pittsburgh. DU always gets a head start on the golf season.
My dissapointment is not about the loss. It is about how we played- last night and the entire year.
We did not play like a team. We have good individuals but it never felt like we played cohesively. Look at Ferris State, Yale, etc...The NCAA's rewards teams not individuals.
All year, stupid, selfish penalties. BTW, I do not think Shore's penalty fell into that category. However, fighting after the whistle and constantly getting penalized when provoked or unprovoked showed a very selfish team. This team was more interested in themselves than the group. Gwoz was pleading in the media and to his team to stop but they never did. That is not Pioneer hockey.
We had no depth. Too many goalies on scholarship, the Mermis fiasco, and not bringing some bodies in mid-season left us too thin to compete. Add penalties to this lack of depth and it was a disaster.
We need to change up our offense. Our dump and run offense stalls against teams with a solid back line. Our power play is not creative and we do not seem to have have any plan. Looking at UNH's PP vs. ours -eye opening.
I think Gwoz is a great coach and maybe we can chalk this up to a transition year. By all measures this team had good kids. If there is going to be a change in the coaching staff, I would expect something this next week. Coach has given DU everything while he has been here so I hope we keep him but this team did not give him what he deserves.
Finally, it looks like the best hockey is being played in the east. Traveling two time zones for us and one time zone for other teams puts us at a competitive disadvantage. The NCAA needs to start putting more regional games out west. Not to sound like sour grapes, but constantly playing tight playoff games on other teams' ice is not a formula for success. That being said, UNH was clearly better than DU.
Our "business" model has become out moded. it works for the dads of excellent 18 yr olds who only aspire to N.H.L. but to the detriment of a four year college team. These dads of outstanding players see D.U. as a development team for Their kids goingto the N.H.L. ASAP. The sooner the better. Zucker, Bennet, Shore --I was looking for them last night but could.t find them .i thought they were juniors. i didn't know they were seniors and graduated.
Better to have a Yale, Mass. Lowell etc. type teams wher you have good senior players with four years ex[erience. Remember our 04 team
To add to my above post I suggest that the new "model" would be for the dad to make a three year verbal comitment for his boy ,with his son sitting there and hearing it .If not then go to play for Minn. ,Wisc, or others that make the same mistake we do.
The entire team suffers when the rest of the team knows that their two year hires are already talking to their dads and agents after every game to see how their N.H.L. prospects are improving or not. hired guns fo
There's some validity to the comment directly above. I just haven't felt "it" with any of these DU teams in recent years. The fact that there was a controversy involving Quentin Shore (Quentin: a freshman who has not proved anything yet) about going major junior is indicative of the situation. The Mermis thing threw the team off track, as well, and I'm not sure they really recovered from it.
Gwoz is 1-6 since 2005. He needs to do something different. It has been patently obvious for at least 3 years now. We get the same flat first round performance every year. We should consider ourselves lucky if Gwoz signs a contract extension with DU. He is the man to lead our program. But he he needs to coach better in the NCAA's, to put it bluntly. Perhaps crafting a different kind of team is the answer. I don't know how you do that, but that's why he makes the big bucks, to figure this stuff out.
playing mostly 2 lines = tired legs,tired minds and mistakes.
Boone didn't make it to a single post season hockey game. I'm not sure dumping the kid that wears the big styrofoam head is enough. We may need to rethink the entire concept of our mascot.
Think what the papers are saying in Gopher Land
The Gophers play the same two years and see ya strategy as we do.
The WCHA model of a 'developmental minor hockey league' with college credits and an NHL contract at the end is not working out. That is why most of the WCHA teams are gone.
Look at the teams with lesser talent who have played together for four years...Many teams keep their top players for four years. North Dakota is led by Danny Kristo a senior who is likely too small for a pro career. Rylan Schwartz is a senior for CC. Where are our Seniors? The minor leagues or NHL.
insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Top pro talent will win 20+ games but not an NCAA championship.
The buck stops with the Coach. Bottom line, this team has talent, didn't play well. Should be better by the end of the year and they aren't. Doesnt matter how old they are. Somehow the players aren't getting better. Why is that? You can blame it on the Shore controversy, the "Mermis" thing, etc. and last year it was Olzewski's fault and the year before that it was Wrenn's fault......or the referees, yada yada yada. My opinion is that regardless of the excuses the buck stops with the coaches. Denver is no different than Miami of Ohio, Notre Dame, etc. - meaning - players stay and leave for many reasons all of which no one on this Board knows for sure the reason why. My opinion, if those players who move on thought they were getting developed at the program they were with, they would have stayed.
wrong anon 1:22
The Zuckers , Bennets, etc. came in with the CLEAR OBJECTIVES of leaving in two years. That hurts a team aven as talented as they were.
Yeah, the buck stops with the coach. After winning back to back national chamionships, how many times did his team make the playoffs?
Oh wait .... bad example.
Okay, so what?!! Not any different than any other team in the NCAA - example North Dakota. They seem to move on every year in the tourney. Even more reason to develop ALL of your players. Not all upperclassmen leaving - develop them. Some upperclassmen want to play but the coach won't let them. Coaches fault. Period.
The players who leave who think they "aren't getting developed" are not likely to develop farther anywhere else, either. Look at Seabrook, Wrenn, Fast, Mermis, etc. Those guys aren't in the NHL today after leaving DU.
The Zuckers, Bennets and Shores leave because they think they are developed enough for the next level, and they are.
Big difference.
Whatever, the point is Denver hasnt made it past the first round of the tourney and there is always an excuse.
@1:54
DU didn't not dress anyone this season. Everyone had a chance, there just wasn't enough players. Fault the coaches accordingly...they didn't field a complete roster and that was a poor decision
To me, the biggest element that has been missing from recent DU teams is grit and physical play. DU has been too much flash and finesse and not enough grit and "get your nose dirty." At the end of the day, hockey is still a tough physical game, and it's better to be the hitter than the hittee.
This lacking component is perfectly manifested on the power play. DU's model has been lots of play on the perimeter, fancy passing, and everyone hoping for the pretty backdoor play. That style only goes so far in today's game (featuring bigger and more athletic goalies). We need more guys willing to stand in front of the net, cause havoc, and bang in dirty goals.
This lacking component also manifests itself on the forecheck. DU seems to play more of a trap, lining guys up the redline, hoping to force turnovers. That doesn't work against teams who make short and accurate passes. Rather than forcing a turnover, it's dump and chase the other way and our d-men are getting forechecked. DU needs to pressure more on the forecheck. Make life tough for the other team. When I've seen DU commit to the forecheck, they create all sorts of pressure. But it's not consistent enough.
I like the direction DU is going with their players. We recruited far fewer nhl draft picks these past few years. Hopefully, more and more of our players will stay at DU through their senior years (partly because they don't have the option to go into the nhl early). Like people have mentioned before, many of these east coast teams win because their players have been playing with each other for 4 years. They aren't winning because they recruit top nhl draft picks.
Fun to think DU would have been national champions this year had they kept Donovan, Zucker, Shore, and Bennett.
Watching halftime right now between NorthDak and Yale; they "explained" the controversey surrounding the Shore hit..... now, they say the ref looked at the replay merely to see the jersey number of the Denver player - because the linesman wasn't sure who it was. This is an absolute cover up and a LIE... because the referee was looking right at the 2 players when they collided, and the arm never went up... PERIOD. There's proof = IT'S ON VIDEO YOU OFFICIATING ASSHOLES! God forbid the NCAA admit a ref made a mistake. That's unprofessional reffing and the ref should be reprimanded, period. Better yet - send him to the WCHA next year.
Why would any player want to stay more than a couple of years...... There's never anyone at Magness to watch. Get a decent fan base and your players might stick around.
This is simple stuff people.
You hold on to top end talent because they want to stay to be part of something special. Have a coaching staff that promotes being part of a tradition.
When you waste a first round player like Bennett, that doesn't do a program any favors on recruiting.
Hey moron, attendance at magness is just fine. Could be better but we are top ten nationally in both attendance and percentage of seats filled. Nice arena, beautiful campus, good attendance, problem is on the ice, not the stands.
That's complete horsehit that there is "no one" at Magness...
DU averages 5,300 fans per game, or about 87% of capacity, 12th in the country, on par with Michigan and BU -top quarter in the country.
No DU player has EVER mentioned lack of fan support as a reason for leaving early. Some players leave for major juniors because they don't get enough playing time at DU (Wren, Fast, Seabrook, D. Mermis) or because they believe they are ready for pro hockey (Weircioch, Donovan, Skinner, Butler, Bozak, Zucker, Shore, Colborne, Bennett, Paukovich, Stastny, Carle, Rycroft).
Almost every player who leaves for the pros early has a positive relationship with DU and returns to campus for DU's pro camp, etc. Only the kids who leave for major junior leave angry, and in almost all of those cases, the player was not good enough to make the NHL, anyway.
Oh ho ho ho, the fighting pioux getting absolutely smoked by Yale. City of Pittsburgh breathes a sigh of relief as hoardes of fat hicks will not be coming to town.
AHH! Some relief from my Pio loss pain. The N.Dakota goons lose.
Yeah, that anonymous poster talking about a "real" hockey team. Yep, North Dakota is clearly head and shoulders above everyone, and will probably never ever lose a game.
Nice 3rd period against a 15 seed. Love it.
Yeah, the coaching staff needs to pass over those NHL prospects for more mediocre players like CC does.
Oh wait ... bad example.
Let see how many smart mouth Sue fans get on this blog now.
Schadenfreude--It's what's for dinner.
I can't even get on SiouxSports.com - must be in full meltdown mode.
Poor Mullets would be jumping out of buildings, but the buildings in Grand Forks aren;t tall enough to cause damage....
Ahhh, my weekend is complete. CC never had a chance. DU blew their chance; then North Dakota blows it. All is right in the universe. Look at Miami though - currently up in their game. You go Rico! Why do I find such pure bliss in seeing North Dakota lose? Regardless if it's in a pre-season game against Regina, the Final Five, of the Frozen Four.... when NoDak loses - I smile. Have a nice summer Hackstol - wear your sunscreen
Ha, that's awesome. I guess real hockey teams choke against a 15 seed.
Yeah, we need to build a tradition of mediocrity.
Oh wait ... CC has a strangle hold on that tradition.
Can't read too much into the loss. DU lost, and has been losing in the NCAA's, but it's not because our players are "too good" (I.e. draft picks), or because there is something wrong with gwoz. I think we should stay the course. Don't forget where we came from before gwoz. We would have killed for just a birth in the NCAA's.
The NCAA is crazy now. Yale beats minn and und, and three #1 seeds are on verge of being knocked out in first game. there's only one team that has been consistently successful in tournament in recent memory and that's BC. UND is second closest, but they can't seem to get over the hump and have more than their fair share of stinkers like today against Yale. But, don't forget, those top two teams both recruit top blue chip NHL talent. It's not time to give up on zuckers and Bennetts in favor of Mays, helgassons and handzas. Don't get me wrong, I love our undrafted players that stay 4 years, but it's all about balance, you need both to succeed. Across all teams, national championship winners and losers, we've had top end talent. I'm a strong believer that the biggest difference is that we have not gotten the level of talent out of our undrafted players. Fulham, ulanski, Drummond, foster. That's where we've been missing in recent years. Although, Our undrafteds were great this year, knowlton, ostrow, etc, but we were lacking blue chippers. You need them both. Fulham, ulanski, etc don't win title without carle, skinner, stats, etc.
Hackstol played goon hockey and now coaches goon hockey.
We lost but we lost with genuine college students playing the game.
Downshifting here.....any (very) early thoughts on Captain next year? I don't like the co-captain setup. One Pioneer needs to wear the C. Lets have some accountability on that bench! Providing he stays, Shore is a shoe-in. My next vote goes to the mountain man..... Doremus. Thoughts?
Did Coach Hak get out of the building before giving anyone the one finger salute?
A tradition of mediocrity begins with the mascot failing to attend a single playoff game. I agree that something has to change. Let's start with the mascot.
Anytime you want to send the mascot somewhere, step and send Damien the money. Until then, you have no say. A round trip ticket to the east coast on five days notice (the amount of time DU has when it knew it would play UNH) is about $1,000. Feel free to send a check...And as for the WCHA playoffs, Boone was in Las Vegas on a pre-booked trip to cheer on the hoops team. There is no crime in that, as Boone is a mascot for all of DU's teams.
We will be hard pressed to pick a better Captain than DU had this year. Hardworking, always put team first and was well respected by his team, his coaches and the opponent.
No say unless you pay. You sound just like the Coombe administration.
DU fans better buckle up. I think we are heading for the biggest period of sports transition since DU went all D-I in the 1990s.
In the next 5 years, here are the likely prospects:
-DU is cutting funding to athletics this year. It's not a huge cut (less than 5%), but it will make us less competitive and sends a message that DU may be tiring of the arms race and is soon reaching the financial limits of what it is willing to spend on sports. The results of this are that everyone needs to make do with less. and there is no money for facility upgrades or coaching raises. This is the kind of thing that drives ADs and coaches crazy...
-George Gwozdecky will likely no longer be DU's hockey coach within 2-3 years. Expect financial disagreements about his value to expedite a new and different era in DU Hockey. This may have serious ramifications on season ticket sales and especially on recruiting. DU will likely pick a cheaper coach, and no one knows if that will be bad, good or the same.
-Basketball will probably break through to the NCAAs next year, but I doubt Joe Scott will stay long after that, as he will likely be snapped up by a school who can pay $1 million for a coach, as DU can't. It will be interesting to see if the hoops momentum can be sustained in town where few really care about DU hoops.
-DU will be stuck in the Summit League, just as they were in the SBC and the WAC with schools that have little profile. Without millions more money to move (money that DU does not have), we're stuck. Top recruits don't want to play in the Summit, either.
-Peg Bradley Doppes, one of the best ADs we've ever had, won't be here in 5 years. We don't know who the future AD will be, but I doubt she's sticking around for more budget cuts...
-Bill Tierney will not be here in 5 years, either. His replacement is likely to be Matt Brown, unless Brown gets hired somewhere else first. Brown is a good offensive mind, and a good recruiter, but he is not Bill Tierney. Never follow a legend.
-DU will produce a terrible mascot that will fail and cause serious embarrassment to the school, not so much for the bad mascot, but when the right wing press gets a load of DU pushing aside it's western heritage to make minorities feel better, it won't be pretty on campus. This wound is totally self-inflicted.
-Chancellor Coombe won't be Chancellor five years from now. The inside track for future Chancellor is Greg Kvistad, the current provost. He is no friend of sports or school spirt, either.
In other words, enjoy the current times, because change is coming, and those changes look like dark clouds.
I don't see enough evidence of dark clouds. Some of what you say seems very reasonable, but others seem like doomsday preppers talking. Sorry. Not building a bunker or canning beans yet. If DU doesn't resign Gwoz, I'm on board and ill start canning all kinds of stuff. Not signing gwoz would say a lot about du's commitment towards sports. I'm as pissed as anybody about the performance since the titles, but without gwoz du is battling Alaska and mich tech for 10th in WCHA (and obviously doesn't get invite to nchc).
I am not doom and gloom either. First, DU already has great facilities. Second, I may be bias but DU is the best University between Illinois and California so it is a big draw for coaches and recruits. Successful programs lose coaches when they are successful Third, I work for a company that cuts costs annully and we have been very successful- cost cutting does not mean a decline in performance. You can bet that every D-1 program is looking at cutting costs because D1 sports are expensive. Fourth, we have a very targeted menu of sports programs at DU that should allow us to compete because we are not spread too thin- that is why we had to go with the Summit and not the Missouri Valley. Let's enjoy Joe Scott while we have him - he is one of the best. But, remember, we took a chance on him when Princeton gave up on him and I think just abot any D1 program could have gotten him. Finally, we need to keep Gwoz. However, if he left there will be plenty of other coaches who would love to run our program. What lacrosse program is in better shape than DU with Matt Brown a head coach in waiting? Sports are an important part of College branding- I would not minimize that nor will the next chancellor. There is no doubt that DU is investing to be one of the winners in the contracting education business. Just look at the new academic commons. Name a university that is in better shape, at our size, than DU?
I think Gwoz will resign. For all of you that want to blame the coach just who would you rather have? Gwoz and Armstrong are the best we have ever had or want to have. DU making the NCAA was actually unexpected by most true fans. They had a very good year with all they lost over the summer. Look at ND they didnt lose nearly the firepower we did and they didnt do any better.
I read all the comments and no one said "fire Gwozdecky". I think people are asking the same questions the players and coaches are asking to see what needs to change for better results next year. No doubt Coach Gwozdecky will go down as one of the best coaches in DU history. Let's hope he finishes his career at DU...with another banner or two.
When Gwozdecky and Miller were building the national championship teams at the turn of the century they didn't have to worry about players leaving early. They could attract solid American players with partial schollies and sprinkle in a few elite Canadian players who were game changers.
Adam Berkhoel initially accepted a half schollie [by the time he arrived at DU he got a full ride]. Connor James got the full ride. Max Bull probably got a partial. Not sure what Ryan Caldwell, Greg Keith & Lucas Dora received. Matt Laatsch took out student loans.
If you recruited those exact players today, they would all expect full rides and Caldwell, Berkhoel & James would of been long gone before winning a national championship in their Senior season.
I am an alumnus. I'm also a fan. I am an alumnus and fan that actually goes to the games. I think I should have some say about Boone.
Boone should have gone to the hockey playoff games rather than basketball. Hockey is the premier sport at DU and has a much larger fan base than basketball. The basketball team is doing better but they only made it into the NIT not the NCAAs. Boone's roots are in hockey and he should have respected that tradition.
When did decisions about Boone become a dictatorship? We should all have a say in defining the pioneer spirit that Boone represents.
When DG was scrounging for contributions to pay for the Boone costume, I kicked in. I'm thinking that may have been a mistake. I'm thinking I should ask for my contribution back.
This might scare DU: Metro State
They're building a new athletic complex and have a great athletic program. How much money do you need to do well in the NCAA? Look at Wichita State and Florida Gulf Coast success stories.
I could see Metro and DU in the same conference in the distant future. Keep in mind, Metro was in NAIA in 1989 and D2 since 1996. Watch out.
7:57 might just be Puck "Black Cloud" Swami.
Also, for the sue fans....Didn't hakstool goon it up rather extensively as a player and bolt from 'grand' forks sorta unexpectedly early?
757 is not PS.
It's Pioneer Man. I just forgot to key in my name.
Boone's "roots" were in basketball.
In the late Sixties, DU Basketball coach Stan Albeck, was inspired by Walt Disney characters and got in touch with a Disney artist through a DU contact. Disney Studios drew up the Boone drawings for DU.
All the comments "Pioneer Man" made at 7:57, I've heard from sources as well but with much tighter timelines.
DU has had some incredible bad luck when its come to conference affiliation.
DU paid to joined the WAC just weeks/months before it imploded.
DU paid to join the Summit League right before the Pioneers became a hot commodity in hoops.
Creighton left the MVC, opening a potential slot for DU, but DU just paid big money to join the Summit League.
MVC member Wichita State goes on an epic run in the NCAAs that will pay untold millions to MVC members. And now you'd have to assume that another school that's higher up the pecking order, could jump at the MVC.
Well damn 7:57 - you mentioned just about everything except North Korea dropping long range nuclear warheads onto LA and Phoenix, and the fallout that will surely drift eastward and kill everyone this side of Wichita. So it may very well turn out that you are incredibly correct about the 5 year theory. Now's a damn good time to think about moving to Australia......
Since I am the "ONLY" non DU employee who made both the Vegas and Manchester trips, I'd like to offer some comments. I live in NJ. Not rich. Just a fan and and alum.
My only connection to DU now is through their sports teams. We are very good in a handfull plus of sports. If the DU administration lowers money to DU sports, we could become a less relevant University. Hockey, men's hoops, Lax, ladies golf, gymnastics; we are relevant on a national level. Ladies Lax, ladies hoops, and a few others might get there. DU is located in a tough area to support division 1 athletics. Find the money good Chancellor or there will be a major disconnect.
DU alums are all over the country. A few attend games. Many watch on Piovision. Others read the DU sports posts and yes, even follow our scores in the paper. Do not allow that to change.
Boone. He goes to the games he can attend. Nobody but DG is paying this freight. Vegas was a reward. Boone works his ass off with no University administration support. Boone was the only mascot people from any WAC school will even remember as being at the hoops tourney. People on "the Strip" from Pac 12 and Mountain West stopped Boone to say hello and have their picture taken with him. DG bashing is stupid. Without him, this site doesn't exist. You must like it, 90 of you made responses.
We have the classiest coaches any school could only dream about represting DU. Bright, articulate, successfull. This cannot change. If athletic budgets are cut, this will change. Chancellor, I know you don't like sports, but you surely must admire our coaches as being great reps of DU.
So our post season hockey has been disappointing. At least we make the post season almost every year. We will make some runs before George retires.
Summiit League for hoops- total downer. Live with it. Heck, we have a good club returning; maybe the NCAA's next year. We got caught in unprecedented league changes. Thank god Peg found some League to take us. The Summit is not a long term solution, just a place to stay until things work themselves out. Then again if we cut athletic budgets, it could be a place for a long time. I did not like the Scott hiring, but I now understand it better. He is a terrific coach.
Men'sLax- Let's get National Championship banner #29 This Year.
I do appreciate all the feedback that came before my entry. We care. We need to spend what it takes to stay relevant. National name recognition is vital. it's like sports talk radio. Millions of listeners but very few callers. I hope the esteemed Chancellor is listening and has his eyes wide open.
I think Gwoz did a good job with the boys. The one problem with the UNH game when he ordered the "code red on the UNH player" he should not have sent Shore. You dont send your top scorere to do the dirty work.
Anon at 5:41 yesterday:
You're absolutely looking at it wrong. Correct, the attendance isn't really the issue. We get good numbers, and anyone debating that is wrong. The issue is the embarrassingly bad game day experience at Magness as far as interactive fan support.
I'm originally from the Boston area and lived in Minnesota for a number of years, so I've been to a number of other college hockey arenas over the years. DU's Magness Arena, has by FAR the worst gameday atmosphere of the numerous places I've been. Don't get me wrong, I've grown to love DU hockey and am a season ticket holder… but does Magness double as a library? Because it's like everyone is afraid to speak too loudly for fear of getting kicked out. It's the strangest thing.
Fortunately the students are great when they show up, despite the lack of creativity and organization. I know at BU and other places, there's a student group that leads cheers and creates new cheers, etc. for the student section and in return they get free season tickets and maybe a jersey or some other perks. Why can't we do that here? Also, why does the pep band (whom I love, btw) play at all the inconsequential basketball games, but they're only allowed to play at 11 hockey games per year? WTF is that? Whoever decided that was a good idea should be fired. Immediately. Plus no mascot on the ice before games, no skating cheerleaders (no cheerleaders at all?) all makes the atmosphere suffer overall. At least the students make noise though despite the lack of creativity. By and large the non-students in the stands are church mice who might as well all be in comas except for when DU scores. It's not against the rules to cheer for your team throughout the game, and it's unacceptable the number of times visiting fans this year overtook Magness in terms of vocal support.
In any other WCHA arena that I've been to, even if you take away the student section and pep band, there is still a good atmosphere. For example, if CC students don't show up for a game in World Arena, it doesn't matter because the 7,000 townies will be plenty loud to support their team. Magness doesn't have that.
DU is one of the most successful programs in the history of college hockey, and yet all of the following teams this year had more vocal fans and turned Magness into their second home: Wisconsin, UND, Yale, UNH, Cornell, BU, and finally, in the "home" playoff series a couple weekends ago against CC, the inbreds from the Springs absolutely took over. That's not even debatable and it's frankly inexcusable.
Unfortunately Coombe worries about cartoons while the lack of atmosphere and gameday experience in Magness is what's truly offensive. There's no home ice advantage apart from the altitude. The fact that DU didn't sell out every game during the NHL Lockout is unforgivable. I don't know who does the marketing for DU hockey, but if that position even exists, the person working it should be fired immediately. If there's no such position, then it needs to be formed IMMEDIATELY. I think someone in a position like that who even half-way cared about their job could do wonders for DU. 95% of the city of Denver is entirely unaware that DU hockey exists. That needs to change.
Stepping off the soapbox now...
Amen 11:49. The only thing I'll add: all of those suggestions are great steps in the right direction. However, the engagement/loudness of the fans won't truly improve until it becomes less awkward to cheer/you are the oddball annoying person if you cheer. It's a funny thing to say, but it's true. Even when I'm piss drunk I feel awkward to be the only guy cheering within a stones throw in any direction.
Contrast that with even our neighbors to the south who aren't known as being great fans either, when they get the "Go....Tigers" cheer going, you are the oddball if you are not cheering. Same with their sieve cheer. You are the oddball if you are not standing up giving the goalie hell. In Magness, people stare at you like you are some sort guy with tourettes that can't control your elbow. They probably don't even know what the hell you are doing in the first place.
I've thought about how we make this "switch" and it seems damn near impossible. Two ideas (1) we need to get the fraternities involved. give them free stuff for beating rival fraternities in attendance, noise, etc. Everybody loves competition and free stuff (2) prostitution. Much like the poor guy who can't get laid. He's just needs to get over that hump and then he'll be able to get "real" girls. Get him a prostitute and then he'll be well on his way. How is this tied to DU? Pay "fans" to sit in each section and make noise and be "those guys". It will catch on eventually, and then we won't need those prostitutes anymore.
Folks - college D1 hockey is a white male environment - - bad, bad bad in the eyes of the progressives (e.g., 'retards') and not to be promoted - - It is BAD, BAD, BAD to promote white, male things..... BA!
Alumni need to stress the similarities between DU and two other private schools that do well in sports. Here are the schools and their undergrad enrollment numbers. (Let's not get into a discussion about conference. this is about size)
Duke - undergrads - 6,484
Stanford - undergrads - 7,000
DU - undergrads - 5,400
Time to make more noise and let management know how their fundraising base feels.
Timothy Wurtz
DU '73
Los Angeles, CA
One more thing...
I did not receive any e mail, not a peep, from either the Alumni office or the athletic department that the women's lacrosse team was in town playing USC today. And they won. Don't know if I would have attended, but I would have liked to know.
Timothy Wurtz
Los Angeles, CA
We have one rep. left in the final 4. it would be great to see St. Cloud take it all .they have always played solid ,non goon, hockey with us.
Quinnipiac had it's band, cheerleaders and MASCOT at the NCAA Regionals. Great to see this small school show up in force. They seem to be having so much fun. I'm jumping on their band wagon. I'll be cheering for the kid in the giant styrofoam Bobcat head.
Of course Quinnipiac had it's band, cheerleaders and Mascot at the regional -they were playing in Provuidence -- less than a 2 hour drive from the Bobcat's campus.
DU had to fly 4 hours and drive another hour to get to it's regional.
Not even Wisconsin or Minnesota sent Spirit squads to regionals this year.
Telling the locals that they can't choose the name of their university and expect them to follow the ivory tower was an epic failure.
DU had power in the legislature, but they lost community support.
Would someone please translate what Mortimer Snerd was referring to? Damn if I know. "Locals" not being allowed to "chose the name of their university?" What in Christ's name is he referring to? "Expect them to follow the ivory tower?" "Epic failure." Who is this guy, Hunter Thompson? DU's "power in the legislature" may or may not have declined, but since DU is a private school, I'm not clear what the relevance would be. I understand this guy is probably one of those gutless trolls who came out of hibernation when DG allowed them back in. But really, shouldn't these ejaculations make some sense, on some level, to some people? Do us a favor, little man, and please explain what you're talking about. Assuming you know, of course.
He's talking about Metro State trying to change it's name to Denver State.
DU was 1000% right in trying to protect it's good name from further dilution.
Do you know the difference between San Diego State, University of San Diego and University of California--Sand Diego? Thought not. Three different schools - often confused.
There is already a University of Denver and a University of Colorado-Denver which are confusing enough for out of state and foreign students. There didn't need to be a Denver State in there too.
That's why DU was trying to protect itself from Denver State.
Seriously Old pio, 224am??...... You and DG apparently suffer from the same problem.........NO LIFE!!!!
I will be pulling for St Cloud State.
Actually, 1:12 makes a valid point even if it is being construed as trollish.
I am a Denver native and a lifelong DU supporter.
You have to be completely naive to not realize how much more important Metro has been to the average Denver area resident over the past 40 years than DU has been. DU may have protected their name but did so at the expense of alienating a pretty big chunk of their potential fan base. Lets be honest here, DU easily had the worst attendance I have seen during the Magness era. People tend to speak with their check books and DU has probably screwed themselves for years over a naming issue.
DU could not let Metro call itself "Denver State University" and quite frankly they should of opposed "Metro State University of Denver" as well, but what's done is done.
Let me begin by saying that Metro is a great thing for Denver. Metro provides a critical service to the metropolitan area and has many distinguished graduates. However, I get sick of the rich DU vs. poor Metro comparisons. Each has a niche to fill and there is room for both of us. I am glad to see the Roadrunners doing well and I hope they win a championship. That is good for all of us. But, as DG states, DU has an 'obligation' to protect its brand. I am sure that if DU wanted to change its name to Denver University at Metropolitan Denver, Metro would have complained, too. This 'class warfare' mantra seems to bleed into everything these days and it is not productive. DU does have a higher socio-economic student base than Metro - so what? We are privately funded and recognized as being a top 100 university with a national and international student base. Nothing I can see to appologize about and nothing for the general public to be alarmed about. Can you say that most Metro students wouldn't go to DU if they had a chance? However, I can without a doubt tell you that DU did not lose one paying customer to athletic events because of the naming issue with Metro. You are giving your point of view way too much credit.
Go Roadrunners. I hope you win it all.
Metro State students are not a primary market for DU sports.
Protecting its brand was the right decision for DU, and they probably should have gone even further to protect itself from Metropolitan State University of Denver, which still uses the whole name of DU was the final 2/3s of its name.
I also dispute that DU doesn't do as much for Denver as Metro State. While Metro provides a very good open door to college for first generation students, DU has a different and serious impact on the city.
DU provides high level graduates to the local job market, is a large local employer of high impact white collar jobs in teaching and research, feeds local businesses with customers, provides half the state's lawyers, a good chuck of the area's social workers and school principals, and provides important community outreach through educational programs, day camps, graduations, arts and sports events, conferences, weddings, etc.
DU is huge civic asset. The prestige of a top 100 University is hugely important in economic development.
5508 henga
DU (NIT) and Metro State (D2 tournament) had similar attendance on the same night a few weeks ago.
Anon 6:48: Congratulations to both schools. But, let's not forget, Easter at Red Rocks drew 13,000.
7:57 from march 30 & DG:
FYI, there are across the board budget cuts hitting ALL units (not just athletics) and there were no raises, not for faculty staff or administrators
so the budget tightening is NOT an anti-athletics endeavor, its just fiscal responsibility at a tuition driven university (don't forget, athletics is a unit the hemorrhages money)
You present the case like you have inside info, which you may, just make sure your info is complete
You all really do live in your own little bubble of a universe. Try stepping out of that for once.
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