Brian,
 
And just what makes you think that we Ivy-League types don't have a
mega-conference plan up our sleeves???  :)
 
Excellent points below - thanks for having the courage to share them!
 
The only time I raised my eyebrows is when you use the phrase "truly D-I
calibre."  It almost sounds as if you believe that the only teams that
belong in a given league/division are the ones that have a legitimate shot
at winning the championship.  I know that's not what you mean, but where
DOES one draw the line?  Also, what's so wrong about playing for pride -
should the team picked to finish last (or 10th, Greg!) in the conference
just forfeit all their games?
 
Robb Newman
Cornell 94
 
On Friday, June 26, 1998 2:04 PM, Brian D Helland
[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] wrote:
> I have to make some comments on this whole debate over the future that
> small schools have in D-I Hockey.  I have been raising these concerns for
> the past couple of years, but I keep being told that I am overreacting or
> I'm "just paranoid".  Well, as a fan of a small school program (North
> Dakota), I believe that we small school fans have every right to fear
such
> proposals as a Big Ten Hockey Conference, future involvement in the game
> by E$PN, and the elitist attitudes of some (and I emphasize SOME) big
> school fans towards our programs.  I have said many times that the
> proponents of a Big Ten Hockey Conference are NOT after an Ivy League
type
> conference like they claim, but rather a full-fledged big media, big
> $$$$$ conference in the model of the Basketball/Football conferences.  If
> this happens, the Big Ten would become the "big time" and the small
school
> programs will become the "small time", and will get garbage-type
treatment
> by the media and the big schools.  I know I will get e-mails now denying
> that this will take place or that I'm being irrational (I have before
when
> discussing this topic).  But if you look back at the history of D-I
> Basketball, you will see why us small school fans are so concerned.
> Today, D-I Basketball has over 300 teams but only about 100 or so are
> truly D-I calibre.  So in effect, over 2/3 of the teams in D-I Basketball
> are playing for pride every single season.  Not a pretty picture if you
> ask me.
>
> Do I think this will happen in Hockey?  Not in our lifetimes, I don't
> think.  If D-I Hockey gets to 100 teams, I'll consider that a miracle.
> But even 100 teams could cause problems for schools like North Dakota,
> Colorado College, LSSU, ect.  And there would be more than just a little
> opposition from Fighting Sioux fans, I can assure you.
>
> Soon, I will write an editorial on my web site discussing the potential
> growing pains that College Hockey faces, and how to minimize the impact
on
> the aspects of the game that we love.  I will inform Hockey-Lers when it
> is up.  Take care everyone!!!
>
>
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> Fighting Sioux Hockey
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> 1959, 1963, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1997.
>
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>
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