I just read my post regarding the potential for some
CCHA-ECAC regular season match-ups, and noticed
that my addition of "Kent who?" at the bottom sounds
insensitive. So...I want to get the following off my chest,
and I know from private discussions that there are
others who feel similarly [although, maybe not as
"grudgingly" as I probably sound].
I empathize with head coach Bill Switaj, his staff, the
players and the loyal, hardcore Kent fans [which seem
to be few, judging by KSU's attendance figures...but
I'm sure they love the game and their team as much
as the folks in Ann Arbor, Boston, Madison, etc.].
However, the Kent State administration handled the
situation VERY poorly, and that is difficult to tolerate.
When the CCHA Commissioner has to learn about the
situation via the media, and the school then refuses to
return telephone calls from the conference, well...
From the outside looking in [which is the only view I
have], I'd say the Kent State President and administration
can burn in h....you get the idea. Hey, you felt that dropping
hockey was in the best interests of the school...OK. Hockey
fans won't be happy, but that's life. But to handle the situation
the way Kent State did is a crime.
Since the university has repeatedly, publicly asked to be
referred to as "Kent"...in an attempt to shed the "Kent State"
image...my response is, "too bad, so sad." These days,
the administration seems to be acting in such a manner to
ensure that the killings 20+ years ago will be the only thing
the school is known for.
AHHHH...C-YA, KENT STATE!
John H
U Mich
P.S. I do hope the staff and players will be able to recover
from the loss of the program. No word yet on what Coach
Switaj will be doing, but two players have announced their
transfer...Quinn Fair to Bowling Green and Claude Morin to
Clarkson. I wish them the best at their new schools. And, my
guess is that many of the players will remain at KSU and
play at the ACHA level. I look forward to seeing them in
action versus Eastern Michigan next season.
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