The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Moving on up!

(01-23-2017 12:49 PM)SilentStryk09 Wrote:  Moving on up!

I've been critical of the size of the crowds at Lawson this season. Even though the Broncos were playing CC, the last-place team in the NCHC, over the weekend....less than capacity crowds showed up. I was at Friday's game and a good but not great crowd was there.
The Broncos are now ranked #10 in the latest USCHO poll. What does it take for these guys to play in front of a full house every night?

(01-23-2017 01:10 PM)BrownandGoldforever Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 12:49 PM)SilentStryk09 Wrote:  Moving on up!

I've been critical of the size of the crowds at Lawson this season. Even though the Broncos were playing CC, the last-place team in the NCHC, over the weekend....less than capacity crowds showed up. I was at Friday's game and a good but not great crowd was there.
The Broncos are now ranked #10 in the latest USCHO poll. What does it take for these guys to play in front of a full house every night?

For us to play teams who people recognize. College hockey fans know how the NCHC teams are. The rest want to see UM, MSU, ND, and Ferris come into Lawson on a regular basis.

Quote:For us to play teams who people recognize. College hockey fans know how the NCHC teams are. The rest want to see UM, MSU, ND, and Ferris come into Lawson on a regular basis.

X2

The local casual hockey fan is also not willing to see WMU play the same "not recognizable name" team two nights in a row.

(01-23-2017 02:00 PM)okgc Wrote:  

Quote:For us to play teams who people recognize. College hockey fans know how the NCHC teams are. The rest want to see UM, MSU, ND, and Ferris come into Lawson on a regular basis.

X2

The local casual hockey fan is also not willing to see WMU play the same "not recognizable name" team two nights in a row.

+1

I would MUCH rather see WMU play a national class team from the NCHC than some 'name' program like scUM or MSU. Those schools are DOWN this season, we learn a lot more as a program by playing Colorado College than MSU or the Whinerines.

(01-23-2017 04:26 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  I would MUCH rather see WMU play a national class team from the NCHC than some 'name' program like scUM or MSU. Those schools are DOWN this season, we learn a lot more as a program by playing Colorado College than MSU or the Whinerines.

True but it is nice to see them get their azzzzzes kicked

(01-23-2017 04:26 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  I would MUCH rather see WMU play a national class team from the NCHC than some 'name' program like scUM or MSU. Those schools are DOWN this season, we learn a lot more as a program by playing Colorado College than MSU or the Whinerines.

But beating MSU/U-M creates more "buzz" and credibility in Kalamazoo, the State of Michigan, and the Midwest region than beating Colorado College, or North Dakota, regardless of how good the laters may be.

Bottom-line is fans like rivalries, particularly local rivalries.

Unfortunately WMU is not Notre Dame so there is no "brand-name" conference for us to jump into when we're sick and tired of playing conference road games a thousand miles away...

Yes it would be great to schedule UM, MSU, and ND for home games, and even if we do in the non-conference, WMU still needs fans to come to the conference games in the second half of the season. It'd serve the Broncos well to find a way to advertise how strong of a conference they're in (and winning games in). The NCHC has had the most Frozen Four teams of any conference since the realignment (oh and it'd help if WMU could get there too).

Quote:Yes it would be great to schedule UM, MSU, and ND for home games, and even if we do in the non-conference, WMU still needs fans to come to the conference games in the second half of the season.

scUM still has delusions of grandeur, they won't come to Lawson on an even exchange. If we could get them in we would. After we beat their asses at the GLI the last two times they're gun shy, there is no upside to them to taking on Western at Lawson.

(01-23-2017 09:08 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  

Quote:Yes it would be great to schedule UM, MSU, and ND for home games, and even if we do in the non-conference, WMU still needs fans to come to the conference games in the second half of the season.

scUM still has delusions of grandeur, they won't come to Lawson on an even exchange. If we could get them in we would. After we beat their asses at the GLI the last two times they're gun shy, there is no upside to them to taking on Western at Lawson.

I guess they're fine taking their losses against Lake Superior State and Tech instead. Now why Wisconsin plays Northern 4 times this season is beyond me.

(01-23-2017 09:08 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  there is no upside to them to taking on Western at Lawson.

There is if they win! They just don't think they can.

(01-24-2017 08:04 AM)Bronc33 Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 09:08 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  there is no upside to them to taking on Western at Lawson.

There is if they win! They just don't think they can.

True. Losing to MSU or another Big 10 team is tolerable-just barely. But losing to 'lowly WMU' sticks in their craw. They really feel they are higher on the evolutionary scale than we directional school graduates. Believe me after dealing with the UM attitude for 40 years over here in Metro Detroit, I know.

Safe to say, another sweep is needed this weekend, but will be tough against a hot and improving Miami team and we usually do not play well in Oxford historically.

It would be really nice to sweep these next two series, we should have no problems sweeping Arizona State at home in two weeks, but at Miami may be tough.

(01-24-2017 09:50 AM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  

(01-24-2017 08:04 AM)Bronc33 Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 09:08 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  there is no upside to them to taking on Western at Lawson.

There is if they win! They just don't think they can.

True. Losing to MSU or another Big 10 team is tolerable-just barely. But losing to 'lowly WMU' sticks in their craw. They really feel they are higher on the evolutionary scale than we directional school graduates. Believe me after dealing with the UM attitude for 40 years over here in Metro Detroit, I know.

It's not unique to the Detroit area. I have seen it in my travels around the country.