Two points.
 
First, I suspect that discomfort in the fund raising is one big reason for
Woog's departure, despite his devotion to the all-Minnesota policy, and
despite the realization that the next coach may not be so loyal to the
policy.  Winning, or the lack of it, matter also.  I'm sure that if Don
Lucia is smart enough to have a healthy number of Minnesotans on the roster,
including as many as he can of the high school kids who achieved state-wide
notoriety, AND he wins, things will be just fine.
 
Second, I don't think that Minnesota's recent failures can be SOLELY
attributed to the all-Minnesota policy.  The problem is that if you put a
restriction on yourself that nobody else has, and your competition is smart
and works as hard as you do, then they'll beat you.  The policy doesn't make
the job impossible, but it does make it far more difficult than anyone
else's job, and removes any margin of error.
 
Clay
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Edwards [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Saturday, April 10, 1999 8:18 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: Xenophobia
>
> On Fri, 9 Apr 1999, Cutler, Ken wrote:
>
> > hasn't won for a variety of reasons.  Clay Satow pointed out the
> original
> > reason for the adoption of the all--Minnesota policy. It encouraged
> > development of Minnesota HS players.  The policy is no longer necessary
> and
> > will probably not be followed.
>
> I would not be so quick to state that point. My impression has always been
> that a significant part of Minnesota's support (both financially and in
> terms of fan base) has been because they are truly Minnesota's team. I
> suspect that a move away from the all-Minnesota policy may cause some
> discomfort among boosters. This discomfort may hurt fundraising for the
> hockey team in particular, or the U in general. For so long, the Gophers
> have been "Minnesota's Pride on Ice". Will Minnesota's supporters be able
> to adjust to being "Minnesota and Manitoba's Pride on Ice?"
>
> I think people are being too quick to attribute Minnesota's recent
> failures
> to the all-Minnesota policy. It may simply be that Minnesota's recent
> failures are because of Doug Woog, not the origin of their players. If
> that's the case, then the coaching change may be all that's needed.
>
> See you later,
> John
>
> --
>  John Edwards - Carleton (Ont) '96, Manitoba '00 -
> [log in to unmask]
>                   "You're telling me the fun's over?
>       Man! I'm still waiting for the fun to start." - Brad Hamilton
> The opinions expressed are mine alone, because everybody else says I'm
> weird.
>
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