Re: And If We Don't Get In? -- CROSSPORTS: Holy Cross Crusaders Sports Message Board

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Date Posted: 14:54:27 07/13/04 Tue
Author: HChockeyalum
Subject: Re: And If We Don't Get In?
In reply to: Zipp 's message, "And If We Don't Get In?" on 08:57:41 07/13/04 Tue

Excuse me for being a little agitated and perhaps unnecessarily pessimistic. My personal experience as a hockey player at HC has taught me to distrust the administration. If HC is now gung-ho for hockey, then that's great. But I'll believe it when I see it. Frankly, the only way I'll believe it is if we are admitted to the ECAC and make an honest effort (not a Union College 40% effort) to compete.

The quote from McFarland came from his letter to my local alumni club. There is not much else to the letter. The preceding sentence only reiterates that HC made an application to the ECAC. I frankly did not understand his quoted sentence. For a guy that apparently takes great pain to speak and write clearly, much like I do as a lawyer, his choice of words is troubling. What "principles" is he afraid will be "compromised" in "joining" the ECAC? Does he instead fear that HC will compromise certain "principles" in "competing" in the ECAC or is he speaking merely on gaining admission? He should have been more clear. The reference to the Big East is made for emphasis and comparison by McFarland, which is a separate issue, but understood. So the only vacuum here, I believe, is that left by McFarland as to what he really means. I had previously understood McFarland as recognizing that admission into the ECAC would NOT compromise HC's principles because of the nature of the ECAC members.

Sader1970, I am NOT trying to take you to task, but exactly how are HC's "academic principles" different from non-Catholic schools? I presume that you were referring principally to the ECAC schools, which include the Ivies. Obviously, HC has a mission that is different from most other colleges, and has standards that are different from and better than most, but "academic principles?" Aren't all ECAC schools, as a general principle, committed to excellence, rigor and the pursuit of truth. I remember a bit about Jesuit educational philosophy, but I don't quite understand your distinction or McFarland's AS THEY RELATE TO JOINING THE ECAC. Should HC compromise academic standards in pusuit of hockey glory? Now we have a legitimate, time-worn discussion.

If I am waxing too philosophical here and McFarland really means that HC won't compromise principle and give scholarships to hockey players, then we have a cut and dried issue. But we don't know what he means, because he obfuscates.

Do tell, how is McFarland a strong supporter of hockey? Perhaps I haven't recognized his efforts. Inquiring minds would like to know. And what would HC have to do, that the ECAC is asking us to do to gain admission, that would compromise HC's mission? Really?

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If HC were serious not only about advancing the hockey program, but about competing in a league of schools in the same academic stratosphere, then HC will gain admission to the ECAC. Period.

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[> [> Re: If HC does not get in... -- Go...'gate, 15:54:55 07/13/04 Tue

I would not blame all HC alumni and boosters for wondering what is going on. The ECAC is a perfect match for HC, and your administration should have sought admission with all flags flying.

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[> [> Re: And If We Don't Get In? -- sader1970, 15:57:59 07/13/04 Tue

In your quote, it doesn't say "academic principles," just "principles." I don't have in front of me the mission of the college, but suspect that Fr. McFarland was referring to more than just academics when he referred to "principles."

I don't know how long it's been since you were on the hockey team. Was it under Fr. McFarland's tenure as president? If it was under Fr. Reedy or Fr. Brooks or Frank Vellacio's reign, I'm not aware that any of them are/were particularly interested in hockey as a sport (though I know that Frank went out to Colorado for the NCAA game and seems currently very interested in HC making the ECAC).

I've had a couple of conversations with Fr. McFarland about HC hockey. The first was at a hockey game a couple of years ago. At that time, he told me that by a wide margin, hockey was his personal favorite team sport. I have seen Fr. McFarland make the obligatory cameo appearance at basketball games only to leave and watch the hockey team play across the way. He also told me that he had tremendous respect for what Paul Pearl was accomplishing and was a great coach. Last year when it looked like Paul was leaving, I opined on this board that I thought that HC would try to keep him. And, it happened. Not because of any "inside" knowledge I had but simply because I was so impressed by Fr. McFarland's extremely favorable comments about Paul previously that I just felt he wouldn't let HC lose him.

I had a second conversation with Fr. McFarland after the NCAA loss vs. UND and I asked him about the ECAC as a possibility. Fr. McFarland was at the game personally as well. He was aglow with enthusiasm at how well and courageously the team played and mentioned specifically the courage of our goalie who was literally sick throughout the game. I left with the distinct impression that he thought that joining the ECAC would be a good fit for HC (and the ECAC) and that joining would do nothing to negatively impact the subject of paramount importance, the academic integrity and quality of HC while staying true to our Catholic roots.

It is my impression, and that's all it is - my impression, that the HC administration does NOT believe it needs to give athletic scholarships in hockey to be successful nor to win a spot in the ECAC. Paul Pearl, himself, has been quoted as saying he doesn't think athletic scholarships are critical to success as there are other ways to get the financial needs of incoming hockey players met. Specifically, I tweaked Frank Vellacio about the rumor that HC has some academic scholarships for "foreign" students and that there was a disproportionate use of those scholarships given to Canadian hockey players. Frank simply and diplomatically said he didn't have a lot of details about that but there was pointedly no denial.

I never played hockey for HC or elsewhere. You probably have more inside information than I or most of us on this board. But, based on my little information, I believe HC really wants to be in the ECAC and has and will use whatever arguments they can make to gain admittance but won't be looking to promise a 5,000 seat expansion of the Hart, or adding 15 scholarships. I believe they'll play to the academic reputation of HC, the long-standing rivalries in other sports especially with the Ivies and Colgate and the geographic locale that should favor us. And, the availability of the Centrum when we need it for those really big crowds.

HChockey, you may well be right and I'm all wet but let's see. We should hear in 2-3 days.

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