https://viewfromtheglass.com/2022/08/20/...-possible/

Miami athletic director David Sayler said.

“I don’t know what the single-sport conference future is,” Sayler said. “With all the stuff going on at the NCAA level right now

“The Big Ten is already there. If you had three all-sport conferences sponsoring hockey away from the east coast I just think it strengthens the sport. So that would be my goal,

Will the MAC consider sponsoring hockey, which is an all-sport conference that we can populate?” Sayler said. “Those are things in the future that if single-sport conferences don’t really have a place,

.

We were discussing this blog post over on the BG message board. Our conversation was more focused on the ADs comments related to how the Nacho* brass views Miami as a league member. Why would the Miami University AD mention out loud to some blogger that a doomsday scenario for the league involves Miami successfully reaching the league playoffs? Knuckleheads like me can do the math and conclude that Miami doesn't travel well to St. Paul relative to the MN schools and subsequently their presence in the Frozen Faceoff would result in a reduction in league revenues. But to have the AD confirm this? What gives here?

Is the message from Saylor that MAC hockey would provide enough cover for Miami to exit gracefully from the Nachos?

I'd be surprised if UMass were interested in leaving HE to join MAC hockey as an affiliate member, but hey...that might get us up to 4 members.


*For those that don't follow college hockey very closely, "Nacho" is a slightly obtuse way to refer to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) and is used liberally by fans of unaffiliated teams.

(08-22-2022 05:51 PM)TalonsUpPuckDown Wrote:  We were discussing this blog post over on the BG message board. Our conversation was more focused on the ADs comments related to how the Nacho* brass views Miami as a league member. Why would the Miami University AD mention out loud to some blogger that a doomsday scenario for the league involves Miami successfully reaching the league playoffs? Knuckleheads like me can do the math and conclude that Miami doesn't travel well to St. Paul relative to the MN schools and subsequently their presence in the Frozen Faceoff would result in a reduction in league revenues. But to have the AD confirm this? What gives here?

Is the message from Saylor that MAC hockey would provide enough cover for Miami to exit gracefully from the Nachos?

I'd be surprised if UMass were interested in leaving HE to join MAC hockey as an affiliate member, but hey...that might get us up to 4 members.


*For those that don't follow college hockey very closely, "Nacho" is a slightly obtuse way to refer to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) and is used liberally by fans of unaffiliated teams.

He's speaking the obvious, its no different than saying the MAC Football Championship attendance suffers in Detroit if its NIU vs Akron or basically when a Michigan school and/or Toledo/BG doesn't make the championship. Same with the basketball tourney if an Ohio, Akron, UB, Kent, don't make the finals in Cleveland.

Obviously the NCHC Frozen Faceoff does better if a Minnesota team and North Dakota make it. Denver, CC, Miami, WMU aren't going to bring the same fans.

We don't have plans to leave the NCHC, he is saying that one-sports conferences may be doomed though. Plan B. CCHA will be in the same boat.

MAC Hockey would be a good thing. ESPN coverage through ESPN+ and a few games on ESPN2/U and probably the Championship.

I'd like to see UB involved if it happens though. WMU, Miami, Buffalo, BG as the MAC core and then 4 others. Ferris State is a shoe-in for #5

(08-22-2022 05:51 PM)TalonsUpPuckDown Wrote:  Is the message from Saylor that MAC hockey would provide enough cover for Miami to exit gracefully from the Nachos?

Is it code for: We'd leave for the CCHA if Western Michigan would as well?

It seems to me Miami would like to leave. I'm not sure Western Michigan wants to, though.

Would Miami leave without Western Michigan?

Maybe?

(08-22-2022 08:08 PM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  

(08-22-2022 05:51 PM)TalonsUpPuckDown Wrote:  Is the message from Saylor that MAC hockey would provide enough cover for Miami to exit gracefully from the Nachos?

Is it code for: We'd leave for the CCHA if Western Michigan would as well?

It seems to me Miami would like to leave. I'm not sure Western Michigan wants to, though.

Would Miami leave without Western Michigan?

Maybe?

Y'all are missing the entire point of the interview. Why would Miami jump from one single-sport conference to another (CCHA) when his entire concern is that with the way the NCAA is losing their governance that he is afraid one-sport leagues won't survive - that includes BOTH the NCHC AND CCHA. Its NCHC or MAC hockey for Miami... he also alluded to maybe joining Summit League hockey if the NCHC gets absorbed into it as half the NCHC is already Summit League members. I'd like to see MAC hockey, but Miami is not joining the CCHA.
.

I don't understand why Toledo doesn't have hockey and play where the Walleye play. Would just be one more sport Toledo can beat BG in.... Buffalo needs hockey too. Akron/Kent can share an ice arena.

(08-22-2022 08:29 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  I don't understand why Toledo doesn't have hockey and play where the Walleye play. Would just be one more sport Toledo can beat BG in.... Buffalo needs hockey too. Akron/Kent can share an ice arena.

Kent State has an arena but is being re-purposed. Title IX is why some lost their programs and/or won’t be bringing back.

(08-22-2022 09:26 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(08-22-2022 08:29 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  I don't understand why Toledo doesn't have hockey and play where the Walleye play. Would just be one more sport Toledo can beat BG in.... Buffalo needs hockey too. Akron/Kent can share an ice arena.

Kent State has an arena but is being re-purposed. Title IX is why some lost their programs and/or won’t be bringing back.

ahh. makes sense.

(08-22-2022 08:29 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  I don't understand why Toledo doesn't have hockey and play where the Walleye play. Would just be one more sport Toledo can beat BG in.... Buffalo needs hockey too. Akron/Kent can share an ice arena.

Huntington Center might be a challenge for scheduling purposes. That building generates a lot of revenue. Scheduling college hockey on a weekend instead of events like Disney on Ice might be a tough sell. It could possibly serve them in startup mode but they'd eventually need an arena of their own.

If you're looking for affiliate members for MAC hockey, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Lake Superior, and Ferris State would be available and wouldn't expand the geographic footprint too much. I'm not advocating for them as they're all tiny DII schools and don't fit the traditional MAC profile, but they'd be looking for a home and the MAC could pick and choose.

(08-22-2022 08:16 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  

(08-22-2022 08:08 PM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  

(08-22-2022 05:51 PM)TalonsUpPuckDown Wrote:  Is the message from Saylor that MAC hockey would provide enough cover for Miami to exit gracefully from the Nachos?

Is it code for: We'd leave for the CCHA if Western Michigan would as well?

It seems to me Miami would like to leave. I'm not sure Western Michigan wants to, though.

Would Miami leave without Western Michigan?

Maybe?

Y'all are missing the entire point of the interview. Why would Miami jump from one single-sport conference to another (CCHA) when his entire concern is that with the way the NCAA is losing their governance that he is afraid one-sport leagues won't survive - that includes BOTH the NCHC AND CCHA. Its NCHC or MAC hockey for Miami... he also alluded to maybe joining Summit League hockey if the NCHC gets absorbed into it as half the NCHC is already Summit League members. I'd like to see MAC hockey, but Miami is not joining the CCHA.
.

The MAC could just as easily absorb the CCHA with everyone but Bowling Green (and potentially Miami) becoming affiliate one sport members. CCHA Commissioner Don Lucia could become senior associate commissioner for hockey or something. If that would bring Miami back, I say let's do it.

There is no evidence or reason that the NCHC will dissolve in the coming years. I'm not sure what this guy is talking about. May just be a little butt-hurt that Miami has been struggling in this league recently. Winning cures everything.

(08-22-2022 08:16 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  

(08-22-2022 08:08 PM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  

(08-22-2022 05:51 PM)TalonsUpPuckDown Wrote:  Is the message from Saylor that MAC hockey would provide enough cover for Miami to exit gracefully from the Nachos?

Is it code for: We'd leave for the CCHA if Western Michigan would as well?

It seems to me Miami would like to leave. I'm not sure Western Michigan wants to, though.

Would Miami leave without Western Michigan?

Maybe?

Y'all are missing the entire point of the interview. Why would Miami jump from one single-sport conference to another (CCHA) when his entire concern is that with the way the NCAA is losing their governance that he is afraid one-sport leagues won't survive - that includes BOTH the NCHC AND CCHA. Its NCHC or MAC hockey for Miami... he also alluded to maybe joining Summit League hockey if the NCHC gets absorbed into it as half the NCHC is already Summit League members. I'd like to see MAC hockey, but Miami is not joining the CCHA.
.

I agree with this, but only because Western won't go with you. You'd move to the CCHA in a heartbeat if Western was up for it.

(08-22-2022 08:29 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  I don't understand why Toledo doesn't have hockey and play where the Walleye play. Would just be one more sport Toledo can beat BG in.... Buffalo needs hockey too. Akron/Kent can share an ice arena.

Hockey is just an expensive sport to get off the ground. And it takes a really long time to get it to a revenue sport level. Unless your school has a massive endowment where they could afford having hockey as a non-revenue sport, you need to have hockey pay for itself in the program.

I must admit I was surprised on this board when I was told that all 3 MAC teams consider their hockey teams a revenue sport. That's great.

Someone mentioned that Buffalo should have a hockey program and I agree. What about EMU? Or are there enough college hockey teams in Michigan?

I think the Lawson Lunatics would have a conniption if Western even considered leaving the NCHC.

(08-23-2022 02:15 PM)Schaefer Beer Wrote:  Someone mentioned that Buffalo should have a hockey program and I agree. What about EMU? Or are there enough college hockey teams in Michigan?

One could argue there are enough. The Division I hockey programs include Michigan, Michigan State, Western Michigan, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Northern Michigan, and Michigan Tech. The latter four are Division II universities that play up a level in hockey.

Wayne State tried Division I hockey for a few years, but dropped it in 2007-08. Adrian has a very good Division III program, but the school might be too small to pull off Division I.

Someone mentioned Buffalo Bulls for hockey it isn’t going to happen for a number of reasons and MAC schools should think twice if you care about basketball and football at your school. The problem with UB with hockey is Western New York has the NHL Buffalo Sabres. They also have Canisius Golden Griffins hockey City of Buffalo Harbor Center where the Buffalo Sabres practice and Niagara Purple Eagles hockey Niagara Falls north of Buffalo. Both those programs drain on there basketball programs while the other Little Three basketball school St Bonaventure Bonnies south of Buffalo Olean has no hockey to drain the basketball program of funding that is one of the secrets of the Atlantic 10 schools like the Bonnies gave up hockey long ago. Canisius and Niagara draw 1,000 hockey fans that’s it. Niagara really tried a decade ago the Hockey East wouldn’t take them and neither did the conference that RPI is in. Hockey is very expensive the cost the Calgary Flames AHL club in Stockton, California the city passed on renewal of there lease letting them move to Calgary now the Calgary Wranglers. Here is the eye opener to cool ice for the city of Stockton, California was $5,000 a month. No way should UB touch hockey and as a Canisius College alum I would like to see Canisius College drop hockey focusing on getting Canisius a new basketball arena the school needs it badly and push to get Canisius to the Atlantic 10 conference. Hockey takes from the basketball program and you get very little school recognition in hockey compared to basketball there is no money in it for the school. I question how long UB can afford FBS football with the NIL and Super Conferences. Now isn’t the time to start adding programs now is the time to drop programs like UB men’s wrestling and track. Unless it is professional wrestling there is no money in wrestling. If I added a sport if there was money and basketball and football were in Power Conferences it would be UB men’s soccer brought back and men’s and women’s lacrosse that is a lot cheaper than hockey. Arizona State is spending a fortune for hockey to build that 5,000 seat arena no thanks. I rather save the money for UB basketball to get them to the Big East Conference along with renovating UB Alumni Arena or just building a new Power 6 Conference basketball arena in my opinion. UB Horns Up! Go Bulls! Let’s Go Buffalo

The deepest pockets in Bufffalo (Pegula’s) have invested a ton in hockey, problem is at the collegiate level those checks were sent to Penn State to start both a mens and women’s program and build a nice new arena.

It's a crime that Buffalo doesn't have D1 hockey, although they'd be in an Eastern based conference. The MAC will never sponsor hockey.