Since the NCAA has hammered the Penn State football program and athletic department with significant penalties — a $60 million fine, a four-year bowl ban and the loss of a significant amount of football scholarships — there has been much speculation on what it means for the startup hockey program.
My guess? Not a lot.
Penn State will still use 18 scholarships for hockey. It will still fund the program at a high level. Will they cut some corners like flying commercial instead of chartering and driving to a couple of more road games because of the $60 million fine? Maybe. But their players won’t be using wood sticks or anything.
In fact, there may be opportunity for the hockey team.
The sanctions will significantly hurt the football team for the next five to 10 years. During that time, Nittany Lion fans will be looking for something to grasp onto. Their favorite team won’t be relevant and the basketball program has struggled for years.
If the hockey program can get off the ground and have some success, it will be something the fans can rally around. And many of you know how easy it is to get hooked on college hockey if you attend a few games.
Penn State will have a brand new facility to show recruits, it will have a strong recruiting base in the state, a good coach and a recognizable name to sell recruits. So, despite the awful scandal going on, the hockey team will have more things working for it than against it come the 2013-14 season and the start of the Big Ten.
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After an offseason of coach shuffling in the WCHA, it appears that all the spots are filled for the upcoming season.
St. Cloud State hired former captain Garrett Raboin to replace Steve Johnson, who went to Omaha. Minnesota State announced that Mike Hastings will retain Darren Blue and Todd Knott on staff. The Mavs have an all-Section 8 coaching staff — Hastings (Crookston), Blue (EGF) and Knott (Red Lake Falls).
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Matt Greene appeared on L.A. Today this week. Watch the clip here.
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Former UND women’s player Sara Dagenais was drafted by Montreal in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League — the most common destination for Olympians and college standouts after their college careers end.
The CWHL has teams in Montreal, Toronto, Brampton, Ont., Boston and Alberta.
Does my computer have a bug or is the Matt Greene link broken?
Matt Greene body slammed the link into another arena, it appears.
I wonder what will hurt more: being the perennial bottom-feeder of Big 10 hockey or actually losing to the Gophers in football.
Guess I have to agree with your thoughts on the subject. I’ve read a couple other online items from their coach and they reflect a similar view. I think the only real setback they’ll encounter is maybe the loss of some corporate backing? I’ve seen some rumblings about that. What perplexes me though is how come not one school has decried against playing them? In our case schools were tripping over their own feet to take a stab at UND. Does that mean that pediphilia and the reportedly massive coverup are not as bad as our so called offensive logo and moniker?
Why are schools not tripping over themselves to slam Penn State? The answer is in the sanctions. $60 million represents ONE YEARS revenue from football.
ND is easy to pick on. We are a small fish in a very big pond.
In some ways SMU was the same.
Penn State and USC are different animals all together. USC is back. Likewise, Penn State will return.
Flyingnurse has most of the issue but the other half is PR.
There’s not much of a PR advantage other than “beating a dead horse” by saying that they do not wish to play Penn State. Also, it brings PR because like it or not, Penn State is going to be the talk of college football this season. Also, Penn State has become a doormat overnight…at leaast that’s what is projected. Hard to refuse playing a team your team could win against and should win against.
The difference not mentioned is that PR wise, it’s “in” to be part of a wave of change on institutional behavior. It’s not cool to defend what seemingly everyone (represented by the media and some well placed blowhard politicians) wants changed or gone. So, it’s in to cry foul on UND’s logo. And it is bad PR to back it.
“Will they cut some corners like flying commercial instead of chartering and driving to a couple of more road games because of the $60 million fine? Maybe. But their players won’t be using wood sticks or anything.”
Bravo. That is good writing. Well done.
Lighten up Francis, this is a blog! I love the informal writing style that Brad uses on here. Maybe you have to know hockey to “get” the wood stick joke.
You’ve spent to much time in the air, Broomhilda. Unbunch your panties and please cross your legs (we’re downwind)…..
The link ran into Matt Greene and totaled the link.