Deleted member 3875
D
That's an amazing answer from Sergio.
That's an amazing answer from Sergio.
Ummm, when you say great response are you joking?You are not kidding, great response.
Ummm, when you say great response are you joking?
Ummm, when you say great response are you joking?
Never going to happen. First, hockey is way too expensive. The insurance for players is on par with football, and the equipment is on the high side for sports too.
Second, hockey requires a lot of scholarships, which means an equal number of new scholarships for a women's sport. Penn State needed a $102 million gift to start men's and women's hockey.
Third, despite the success of the Blackhawks, hardly anyone plays hockey in downstate Illinois. A little bit in the Chicago area, but nowhere near enough to compete against the Minnesotas, Wisconsins and Michigans. You'd be fighting the established programs for the few good players in Chicago and then picking up the crumbs in the northern states, hardly a way to build a winner.
Fourth and finally, there simply isn't enough of a fan base. Believe me, I'm a huge hockey fan (NHL Center Ice subscriber), but Champaign has a lousy hockey fandom. Even in Chicago, where the Hawks have won three of the last 5 Cups, their TV ratings are about the same as a Bulls team that hasn't sniffed the finals in 20 years.
I agree it's unlikely given the current state of the AD, but it would be great so I wish they'd do it. If any B1G school is going to add hockey, we probably make the most sense. Your #4 is dead wrong--you'd need to do something to goose attendance (I'd allow beer sales)--but if we're talking a small arena, there is a dedicated core of hockey fans that would come out on a regular basis.
If you were really going to do it, the obvious thing would be to have a women's hockey team matching scholarship for scholarship a la PSU and utilizing the facilities. Also, I'd imagine you'd use the facility for other events, shows, etc.
Anyone know if B1G schools w/hockey teams get a larger B1G Network payout?
The search for the next University of Illinois athletics director trudges on and the finish line could be in sight.
Indications are that a conclusion late in January or early February is possible and some of the media has been told an announcement could come “any day but on a Sunday,” so be prepared.
AD search has strong Illini flavor
I just wish there was an actual time table for this announced. Bailed on the 1/21 original expectation. Now we've been hearing that an AD "may" be hired by "late January or early February".
So we could still be 3 weeks away at this point. And that "early February" is just a general idea... it could be after that!
This was a stronger point back in December. It this stage, they have done all the things that were given as justifications for their methodical pace. The search committee is formed. The search firm has been retained. I have to assume they have their short list. Presumably people have been contacted ... Right? What's left to do but do it. If a decision doesn't drop soon, they can't fall back on the excuses about respecting the process. It will be a sign something is seriously wrong and we're not close on the "right guy."What's the difference? They blew the deadline to enable the new AD to hire a football coach. So, I don't see any worth in an arbitrary timetable, even if it's one the put out. Far more important is getting the "right" guy.
This was a stronger point back in December. It this stage, they have done all the things that were given as justifications for their methodical pace. The search committee is formed. The search firm has been retained. I have to assume they have their short list. Presumably people have been contacted ... Right? What's left to do but do it. If a decision doesn't drop soon, they can't fall back on the excuses about respecting the process. It will be a sign something is seriously wrong and we're not close on the "right guy."
(Unless there is a very specific reason they can't go forward, for example, because their top choice is tied up right now with a high profile international professional sports tournament. But I have yet to see any confirmation of that.)
I know that Rick George is a big favorite here. But I haven't seen any discussions about the Colorado football program under his watch. In conference 2 wins and 25 loses. Worse than the Illini.
If I'm not mistaken the current football coach was not hired by RG. He was hired the off season before George took over and this was after the previous guy was only given two years at an already struggling program.
I disagree with this sentiment. Look at Arizona St, if they can recruit a D1 Roster, Illinois could. Actually, a lot of their talent is from Illinois. Regarding downstate talent, there's a decent amount in Spfld, BloNo and the UC. The St Louis area has a huge boom of hockey talent. It's already producing NHL players.