Re: If HC does not get in... -- CROSSPORTS: Holy Cross Crusaders Sports Message Board

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Date Posted: 15:54:55 07/13/04 Tue
Author: Go...'gate
Subject: Re: If HC does not get in...
In reply to: HChockeyalum 's message, "Re: And If We Don't Get In?" on 14:54:27 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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