I don't know this guy personally,but he doesn't sound like a quitter. I know this isn't happening tomorrow,but I hope it happens within the next 6 or 7 years---http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/i..._ice_hockey_at_rutgers_alumni_are_on_a_m.html
NEW Article--Rutgers Hockey
- Thread starter HeavenUniv.
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I still wonder if once RU begins getting the full Big Ten share -- if RU is competitive in a few sports (or gets there) if the Big Ten might get involved with helping to bring RU hockey into the fold.
We are in an Original Six market. Getting the NY media to cover Big Ten hockey would be HUGE for them...
We are in an Original Six market. Getting the NY media to cover Big Ten hockey would be HUGE for them...
The story has gotten to The Hockey News
http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/rutgers-would-be-a-great-fit-for-big-ten-college-hockey/
http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/rutgers-would-be-a-great-fit-for-big-ten-college-hockey/
We have the location, the fan base, and the local talent. If Yale can win a National Championship then so can we.
What we don't have is the funds.
Our current sports, besides football are funded at FCS levels. Some of them have facilities than are worst than Division 3!
Our current sports must come 1st, then we can think seriously about Men's and Women's D1 Ice Hockey.
What we don't have is the funds.
Our current sports, besides football are funded at FCS levels. Some of them have facilities than are worst than Division 3!
Our current sports must come 1st, then we can think seriously about Men's and Women's D1 Ice Hockey.
No. The only way this happens in 10 years, after Rutgers is receiving a full share of B10 distributions, and after Rutgers Athletics has reached financial self-sufficiency, is if someone donates $100 million.
So start playing the PowerBall lottery now, so you can win $100 million to give to Rutgers to fund a hockey program.
To Mr. Klaassen,
For the good of RU Athletics please stand down for a few years.
As you know, RU has a deep athletic deficit and fielding a Hockey team would only add to it, so there is no responsible way RU could field a Hockey team. Your pressure and pursuit of this dream will only invite bad press and alienation of those in your camp.
For the good of all of RU Athletics I implore you to wait until RU's Athletics sees the full benefit from the B1G conference. When the deficit is under control and the Football and Basketball teams are both playing at B1G levels then I think it would be time for you to take up the quest.
Sincerely,
Every Rational RU Sports Fan.
For the good of RU Athletics please stand down for a few years.
As you know, RU has a deep athletic deficit and fielding a Hockey team would only add to it, so there is no responsible way RU could field a Hockey team. Your pressure and pursuit of this dream will only invite bad press and alienation of those in your camp.
For the good of all of RU Athletics I implore you to wait until RU's Athletics sees the full benefit from the B1G conference. When the deficit is under control and the Football and Basketball teams are both playing at B1G levels then I think it would be time for you to take up the quest.
Sincerely,
Every Rational RU Sports Fan.
I hope you realize that if we ever have a hockey team at D1 level then it has to start out now. Not sure how anyone could see this as a negative, he's not saying put a hockey team in the 2016 budget, which is clearly not going to happen. It takes years to build up the support of Alumni and donors before the actualization can occur. Waiting 5 years to draw support is stupid, how is this anything but good press?
anything in NJ that pits one group of "underdogs" against administration will be grasped upon by the NJ Media to show the administration in a poor light. And the administration is in a no win situation, if they acknowledge that hockey should be a sport then they will be accused of fiscal irresponsibility, if they say no then they will be accused of ignoring the underdogs. If they say yes to men's hockey then they have to say yes to women's hockey. It's all ammunition for the press.
Just don't play this out in the press, fine to work behind the scenes, start talking about it with the right people but acknowledge that it may not happen and could only happen when the fiscal house is in order.
Just don't play this out in the press, fine to work behind the scenes, start talking about it with the right people but acknowledge that it may not happen and could only happen when the fiscal house is in order.
Because there is almost zero chance of it happening. And it is a waste of time and energy for Rutgers to even consider the possibility at this time. So this "good press" is really negative press because it creates the illusion that there is real support for a hockey program at Rutgers, when the reality is there are only pipe dream wishes unless supporters are willing to step up and show their support to the tune of $100 million. And when there is an illusion of support, but not real financial support, all that can happen is there is the illusion of Rutgers quashing the dreams of the illusory supporters. How is that anything but bad?
it doesnt cost a cent to start these petitions, all it does is get the local population interested. If it doesn't happen immediately because we don't have billionaires donating than so be it, but it does set up a chance, however small, to have a real hockey program years down the road. There's no illusion.
It doesn't cost a cent to start the petitions. But it costs time and energy for Rutgers to respond to them.
According the the article linked in the first post in this thread: athletic director Julie Hermann said through a spokesman, "We are not currently in a position to add any new programs." So theoretically, that is the end of story and Rutgers shouldn't have to waste any more energy on this. But Klassen says, "I'm not going to rest until it's done." So I guess Rutgers will have to continue to waste energy and resources on this. Klassen (and anyone who supports him in this mission) is either evil, ignorant, or so self-absorbed that he can't envision or doesn't care that he is hurting Rutgers.
I disagree. NJ produces more than its share of great high school athletes in almost every sport and yet I don't see the Lacrosse, soccer, baseball, basketball, wrestling programs dominating the recruiting scene. I have no idea if Nj high school hockey is producing a lot of D 1 talent but if it what leads you to believe a fledging Rutgers hockey program would have any more success.
I say improve all the sports we have now before wasting another breath on hockey.
People these days have no sense of foresight. What is easier getting 10 million Dollars over 10 year from multiple donors when Rutgers recognizes the potential of Men's and Women's hockey as a D1 Program., or wait for someone to donate 100 Million one fell swoop to start the program. People are missing the point that he is not asking for this for FY2018, he wants the administration to recognize a possible future revenue stream which would increase the B1G payout by $5million Annually and likely more when they renegotiate as they add teams to the Hockey Conference.
They are going about it the right way by gradually building momentum. You need to walk before you can skate.
They are going about it the right way by gradually building momentum. You need to walk before you can skate.
What energy and resources are being wasted by Rutgers? Do you really think it took a ton of effort and resources for Hermann to say that we are not in a position to add new programs? They aren't trying to get the school to start hockey right now, they obviously are aware that isn't going to happen. Right now their objective is to raise enough support to show potential donors that this could be successful. They know they need a lot of money for this to happen. I have no idea how much an NHL CEO/president makes, but it may be worth noting that the CEO/president of the Florida Panthers is a Rutgers grad and has signed the petition and commented on it, as well as retired NHL players Keith Primeau and Kjell Sanderson, who both live in New Jersey.
Do you really think this is going to be the end of it? Do you think that since Hermann said that we are not in a position to add new programs, that the people advocating Hockey are going to stop publicity and only work behind the scenes until some point in the future when Rutgers could consider adding new programs. Or do you think they will work publicly, and try to keep media and alumni pressure on Rutgers to add hockey, forcing Rutgers to repeatedly explain why we can't add hockey, and repeatedly have to smooth over hurt feelings from alumni who thought this was a real possibility?
Where does the $5 million figure from B1G for hockey schools come from? There was a tweet last year claimIng the number was $2 million, but it was eventually discredited as being too high.
Obviously this is not the end of it, but I don't see how this is going to be some huge burden for Rutgers. It probably took her almost no time to make her concise statement, and that was all that needed to be said. Of course the supporters are going to continue raising public awareness, without that it is never going to be considered, but that doesn't mean Rutgers needs to constantly respond to it. Everyone involved is well aware that this isn't happening right now.
I think you are being naive. From the article:
He wants some acknowledgement from Barchi that hockey is part of the athletics future at the university, no matter how far down the line that is.
"I have used every scintilla of my influence and personal connections to get (Barchi) to say 'hockey,'" said Bingham,
Well of course they are trying to get some acknowledgement that hockey may be in the future plans, but that doesn't mean Rutgers needs to respond anytime the issue gets brought up. It's not like Rutgers needs to spend time and effort planning a massive PR campaign denouncing the idea. They can continue to do nothing and the supporters will continue gathering interest and the athletic department doesn't need to address it at all until the time is right.
The point is you do that work behind the scenes. If you start publicly now people can tire of hearing your sales pitch. Things like online petition are a waste of time. You work behind the scenes and get that seed donation. That big donation that makes it realistic goal. Not many small donators are going to donate now because it unrealistic. How ever if in 5 years your are able to announce you have $2 million in donations then your start solicting publicly to the small fish for the $500 type donations.
The schools are not getting anywhere near $5 million each from the conference. One place reported it as $2 million per team and another said they would be splitting $2 million.
I am so happy people like you support this and want to get it done. I cannot wait to name the new arena in your name for your generous donation of $100 million.
JH has said multiple times this is not even on the drawing board. We just got the great news that we have to come up with more $$ for at least 20 new scholarships for women sports because of the addition of the medical schools. That is a huge nut for a school that is in a big hole when it comes to sports. Maybe in 10 years but short term not happening unless someone donates very big $$
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