This will take awhile because the answer is multifaceted.

A successful hockey program is a function of (1) school record and on-ice success (2) academic performance (3) alumni (contributions) support (4) post Wildcat performance (5) NCAA compliance (no $400 left in hat on a desk chair) and (6) personality. To look at only one of them (i.e. Record) may distort the measurement of the whole hockey program. Furthermore, even point (1) which is the main one everyone sees, school record and on-ice performance, is a multi-product output: (1) you have to recruit good players, (2) form those players into a cohesive whole making each of them a contributing teammate with a clear role to play, (4) individual practices must be geared to the big picture, (5) behind-the-bench strategy must be successful even under pressure, and (6) off ice conditioning, supporting academic programs, and front office must all run very smoothly. No one is going to be good at all of these aspects (and why most are best left to the specialists) and then you add in the problem of monetary budgets and it is no wonder that most programs struggle.

Now even if Umile is weak in a few of these areas (has he had the wrong players on the ice at the wrong time, has he recruited badly, has he had teams that could not jell?), he may be very strong in the others (academic performance, post-Wildcat representation, NCAA compliance) and just because you eliminate him for those weaknesses, is there any guarantee that he will be replaced by someone better? Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you do not know. I am not trying to vilify nor defend Umile, but it is often important to "be careful what you ask for" because it might not be any better. So being able to relax and enjoy the game is important - control the things you can (your enjoyment) and ignore the things you cannot (the record) change. Besides, what if you do "WIN THE DAMN THING!!!!"? The only result will be higher expectations and larger disappoints as reality sets in - do you really want that?

Just my two cents from a long distance away.
Nathan Hampton


On 4/1/08 11:53 AM, "Spreeman, Cathryn" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

As a long time UNH fan, I have done some serious soulsearching in the past several years concerning the track record of UNH hockey in the post season.  I sometimes chide my husband over his attitude of complete disgust -- he is one that says Umile definitely must go -- and I try to remember when we just went to a UNH hockey game to enjoy the game.  Back in the days of Snively Arena, we just plain had a great time watching a college hockey game.  For the past ten years or so, we've had the experience of rising expectations.  Good players, good records, post-season appearances, some successes (two Hockey East tournament championship teams) and some excruciating failures (two Frozen Fours lost in the championship game; losses in the semifinals, losses in early rounds). Having grown up a Boston Red Sox fan, I had good training to be a UNH hockey fan.  The Sox broke their curse; what will it take for the Wildcats to break theirs??  A new coach who knows how to win at that level? Once I actually drafted a piece for the UNH student newspaper about being tired of being "Umile-ated" every year.  I never sent it in.  Part of me says, hey, just enjoy the game.  If they go to the tournament, fine.  The other part of me says WIN THE DAMN THING!!!!

Cathy Spreeman
UNH '72

________________________________

From: - Hockey-L - The College Hockey Discussion List on behalf of Deron Treadwell
Sent: Sat 3/29/2008 10:05 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: UNH



I'm curious to know what people (specifically UNH fans) think about the latest first round exit for the University of New Hampshire.

As Charlie's release mentioned earlier, UNH is now 4-8 in first round games and I believe have lost in the first round in 3 of the last 4 years (at least one of those games in Manchester, NH).  All the while, UNH has had dominant regular season teams, winning or near the top of HOCKEY EAST every year it seems.

Almost shockingly, I've seen a few messageboard posts from UNH fans saying that perhaps Dick Umile needs to go.  I think its an interesting question, because there is no doubt UNH has the facilities and they are getting the talent.  Is it time to make a change in order to get over the top or is it something else?

-Deron