To add to Mike Hodgson's comments:
 
One major part of the reason why any of the Big Ten schools may be
holding back on developing their hockey programs is the Big Ten's (I'm
not sure if this is a NCAA rule or just within the Big Ten) Gender Equity
Act.
 
The Gender Equity Act is forcing schools to equalize the number of
scholarships given to men and to women's sports.  This rule is the biggest
reason that the University of Michigan men's soccer team remains a club
sport, while the Women's soccer team was made varsity last year.  With
football taking up some 85 or so scholarships, it is very difficult for the
schools to fulfill the requirements of the Gender Equity Act--especially
when you consider that almost every sport is financially supported by Men's
Basketball and Men's Football.  (Unless, of course, you're at UMich or
Penn State and have Nike along for the ride ;-)
 
Adding a men's varsity sport such as hockey, and at the same time adding
any number of women's sports to the varsity ranks to equalize the new
men's scholarships is most likely very cost prohibitive.
 
Nike--while causing tremendous numbers of complaints--has given smaller
sports at UMich new life.  For example, Nike is practically funding ALL of
the Intramural Sports program.  Nike's "donations" to the UM program have
made is possible for the smaller sports at UM to get funds that they would
have NEVER seen.  And all UM has to do in return is wear the litte swoosh
on our shoulders.  Doesn't seem like that bad a deal, hmm?
 
see ya at the rink,
roger :)
 
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Roger L. Spurgeon                                        [log in to unmask]
Systems Research Programmer, M-Net           http://www.umich.edu/~rls
University of Michigan Medical Center
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