Drop men's basketball, add hockey

[proudofyosef]

That Davidson game was embarrassingly pathetic. I'm convinced that making basketball work at App is fruitless these days. We have a school of 17,000 students and can't draw 2,000 to a conference game?!? The Sports Information Office and athletic department pays about the same amount of attention to men's hoops as they do wrestling. Nobody gives a crap about basketball at App and it's not going to change, especially with the school refusing to spend for a decent coach. We actually hired a guy to be our head coach who had only been an assistant at ANY LEVEL for one stinking year--just because he played at Carolina! Who does that?!I think the students would get behind a Division I hockey team and it would provide a niche around these parts that could really be leveraged. I'm not even a big hockey fan, but anything is better in the winter than watching players, students and administrators who just don't care.

[ASUMountaineer]

That Davidson game was embarrassingly pathetic. I'm convinced that making basketball work at App is fruitless these days. We have a school of 17,000 students and can't draw 2,000 to a conference game?!? The Sports Information Office and athletic department pays about the same amount of attention to men's hoops as they do wrestling. Nobody gives a crap about basketball at App and it's not going to change, especially with the school refusing to spend for a decent coach. We actually hired a guy to be our head coach who had only been an assistant at ANY LEVEL for one stinking year--just because he played at Carolina! Who does that?!I think the students would get behind a Division I hockey team and it would provide a niche around these parts that could really be leveraged. I'm not even a big hockey fan, but anything is better in the winter than watching players, students and administrators who just don't care.

Interesting attempt at trolling. Even with a bad basketball team, the school earns more money from basketball than it would from hockey. Do you have any reasonable recommendations?

[pkasu]

I would never want to drop the Basketball program. I agree that there might need to be some changes made. But “if” we could add one more sport my vote goes to Lacrosse. We have a LOT of talent here in NC and is fast and growing sport. Only D-1 teams in NC are UNC, Duke and I think High Point (which is new this year). So we could have regular scheduled games with these schools.

[proudofyosef]

What in the hell is trolling? I was just making what I thought was a legit suggestion. NOBODY CARES about basketball in Boone. If this was a business, the program would have declared bankruptcy long ago. Do something out of the box that students could get excited about and would be a revenue generator. Give it up, man. You old farts continue to relive that glorious NCAA tourney team of Darryl Robinson, Mel Hubbard and Walt Anderson of more than 30 years ago. Get over it. Bobby Cremins ain't walking through that door. Buzz Peterson ain't walking (back) through that door.

[proudofyosef]

I agree that lax is very popular, but we already have a successful spring sport that's well-attended and successful: baseball.
We don't have a winter sport that generates excitement or revenue. That's why I think hockey is a good idea. I would rather watch a lacrosse game, but not in 20 degree Boone weather in February, which is when the lax season starts.

[T-Dog]

Let's forget that every single full-membership conference requires basketball, no lets jump to irrational decisions after one game.

[JCline0429]

That Davidson game was embarrassingly pathetic. I'm convinced that making basketball work at App is fruitless these days. We have a school of 17,000 students and can't draw 2,000 to a conference game?!? The Sports Information Office and athletic department pays about the same amount of attention to men's hoops as they do wrestling. Nobody gives a crap about basketball at App and it's not going to change, especially with the school refusing to spend for a decent coach. We actually hired a guy to be our head coach who had only been an assistant at ANY LEVEL for one stinking year--just because he played at Carolina! Who does that?!I think the students would get behind a Division I hockey team and it would provide a niche around these parts that could really be leveraged. I'm not even a big hockey fan, but anything is better in the winter than watching players, students and administrators who just don't care.

When Bobby Cremins was at App, we pretty much filled Varsity Gymn on several occations. One Davidson game, the only seats available were way up high and diagonal to the back of the North endzone.
So, it can be done; we just need the AD to push basketball as much as he has been given credit for giving football.

[JCline0429]

That Davidson game was embarrassingly pathetic. I'm convinced that making basketball work at App is fruitless these days. We have a school of 17,000 students and can't draw 2,000 to a conference game?!? The Sports Information Office and athletic department pays about the same amount of attention to men's hoops as they do wrestling. Nobody gives a crap about basketball at App and it's not going to change, especially with the school refusing to spend for a decent coach. We actually hired a guy to be our head coach who had only been an assistant at ANY LEVEL for one stinking year--just because he played at Carolina! Who does that?!I think the students would get behind a Division I hockey team and it would provide a niche around these parts that could really be leveraged. I'm not even a big hockey fan, but anything is better in the winter than watching players, students and administrators who just don't care.

In what conference would we feasibly play? And don't say something like the NorPac we play FH in. There is enugh controversey about that already. How many SunBelt teams have a hockey program?

[ASUMountaineer]

What in the hell is trolling? I was just making what I thought was a legit suggestion. NOBODY CARES about basketball in Boone. If this was a business, the program would have declared bankruptcy long ago. Do something out of the box that students could get excited about and would be a revenue generator. Give it up, man. You old farts continue to relive that glorious NCAA tourney team of Darryl Robinson, Mel Hubbard and Walt Anderson of more than 30 years ago. Get over it. Bobby Cremins ain't walking through that door. Buzz Peterson ain't walking (back) through that door.

First, as I stated, which you apparently ignored, basketball generates more money than hockey would. If that wasn't the case, you would have more teams playing hockey. Try again.

Second, I am 31 years old and graduated in 2003. I may be growing older, but I am far from an old fart.

Anything else?

[ASUMountaineer]

That Davidson game was embarrassingly pathetic. I'm convinced that making basketball work at App is fruitless these days. We have a school of 17,000 students and can't draw 2,000 to a conference game?!? The Sports Information Office and athletic department pays about the same amount of attention to men's hoops as they do wrestling. Nobody gives a crap about basketball at App and it's not going to change, especially with the school refusing to spend for a decent coach. We actually hired a guy to be our head coach who had only been an assistant at ANY LEVEL for one stinking year--just because he played at Carolina! Who does that?!I think the students would get behind a Division I hockey team and it would provide a niche around these parts that could really be leveraged. I'm not even a big hockey fan, but anything is better in the winter than watching players, students and administrators who just don't care.

In what conference would we feasibly play? And don't say something like the NorPac we play FH in. There is enugh controversey about that already. How many SunBelt teams have a hockey program?

In this fantasy, travel would be of no concern because hockey generates much more revenue than basketball.

[ASUMountaineer]

Let's forget that every single full-membership conference requires basketball, no lets jump to irrational decisions after one game.

^^This.

[MAD Doctor]

Put a decent product on the floor, and the fans will come. There are coaches not named Buzz who can revive the program, IF it becomes a priority. Wish Capel well, and send him on his way, and start to rebuild this train wreck of a program. Frankly, why should we invest so much time in someone who, if he ever is successful, would leave us the first chance he got? Dropping basketball is NEVER going to happen; dropping the coach should in April.

[ASUPATCH]

What in the hell is trolling? I was just making what I thought was a legit suggestion. NOBODY CARES about basketball in Boone. If this was a business, the program would have declared bankruptcy long ago. Do something out of the box that students could get excited about and would be a revenue generator. Give it up, man. You old farts continue to relive that glorious NCAA tourney team of Darryl Robinson, Mel Hubbard and Walt Anderson of more than 30 years ago. Get over it. Bobby Cremins ain't walking through that door. Buzz Peterson ain't walking (back) through that door.

Even fewer people care about hockey. Especially college hockey. Im as die hard a football, basketball, baseball fan you will find and I cant stand hockey. Or as I call it soccer on ice.

[canes_mj]

I would love to add hockey as I am a huge hockey fan, but not at the expense of men's bball. As other have pointed out, it's not feasible, so no need to go into that. But regarding bball, it could work if the university would commit to fielding a winning team. With our facilities and name recognition there's no excuse for not having a winning program. I remember in another thread on this board, that for all the "can-do" attitude that everyone has about the football program, it seems to be the polar opposite with constant excuses about why basketball can't succeed. It can. Change the attitude about the program, commit to it, spend some money, and we can field a winner. Regarding attendance, if they put a winner on the floor, students will come. On a side note, I wasn't born for the Cremins era, but I have some great memories of those App/ETSU games in Varsity (even though we lost most of them).

[asumike83]

I love hockey and as a cold-weather school in the South, it's possible that we could find our niche if we started a varsity team.

However, we will not and should not ever drop basketball. Aside from that being my personal opinion, Appalachian would effectively cease to exist as a Division I athletic department if we did not sponsor basketball.

There is also the question of what conference we would play in. Not only would we have to pay to sponsor a scholarship hockey team but all of our road trips would be brutal. There are only 59 DI hockey teams and not one of them is in the South.

http://siouxsports.com/hockey/rankings/rpi/

[pkasu]

When Bobby Cremins was at App, we pretty much filled Varsity Gymn on several occations. One Davidson game, the only seats available were way up high and diagonal to the back of the North endzone.
So, it can be done; we just need the AD to push basketball as much as he has been given credit for giving football.[/quote]

Looking in the Book of records, it seems that all but 2 of the largest crowds were all in Varsity Gym. Not sure if it was because of the better teams or because Varsity was right on campus....
HCC is a great facility, but the crowds don’t lie.

[Gonzo]

Looking in the Book of records, it seems that all but 2 of the largest crowds were all in Varsity Gym. Not sure if it was because of the better teams or because Varsity was right on campus....
HCC is a great facility, but the crowds don’t lie.

The Holmes Dome is 100 yards from Varsity gym. I don't see how that could ever be a reason or how it's not "right on campus."

[RankinApp]

I would love to add hockey as I am a huge hockey fan, but not at the expense of men's bball.

Same. Hockey is up there with App football on my list of Favorite Sporting Things. Someone from the hockey club team used to post updates on the old MMB. They played games down in Greensboro, and from what I remember, seemed to do quite well.

I'd love to see App offer hockey and men's and women's lacrosse. Unless a charitable App wins the Powerball I don't see it happening though. One can dream.



Love my puck signed by Ronnie Franchise.

[goapps93]

Looking in the Book of records, it seems that all but 2 of the largest crowds were all in Varsity Gym. Not sure if it was because of the better teams or because Varsity was right on campus....
HCC is a great facility, but the crowds don’t lie.

The Holmes Dome is 100 yards from Varsity gym. I don't see how that could ever be a reason or how it's not "right on campus."

Well, it's a littler farther than that but you point is valid. It is APPsolutely ridiculous that the location of the HCC is used as an excuse for poor student attendance. WALK A LITTLE DADGUM FARTHER. I guess students who live on the East side of campus never go to the Quinn or whatever the other student rec center is that are both on the West side of campus.

[asutrnr81]

When Bobby Cremins was at App, we pretty much filled Varsity Gymn on several occations. One Davidson game, the only seats available were way up high and diagonal to the back of the North endzone.
So, it can be done; we just need the AD to push basketball as much as he has been given credit for giving football.

Looking in the Book of records, it seems that all but 2 of the largest crowds were all in Varsity Gym. Not sure if it was because of the better teams or because Varsity was right on campus....
HCC is a great facility, but the crowds don’t lie.[/quote]


i can answer that question.....better basketball against better competition!