I JUST SPOKE TO MCFARLAND ABOUT OUR ECAC BID -- CROSSPORTS: Holy Cross Crusaders Sports Message Board

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Date Posted: 12:43:30 07/15/04 Thu
Author: HChockeyalum
Subject: I JUST SPOKE TO MCFARLAND ABOUT OUR ECAC BID

Some of you will not believe this, but anyway...

I was just thinking to myself a few minutes ago, what would I do if I were a big donor to HC, such as being a President's Club member, and wanted to have my voice heard on the subject of the ECAC or any subject? Full disclosure: I have contributed every year to HC, but not in enormous amounts, and have served as a local alumni club President.

And for an athletic analogy, what would I do, especially as a captain or leader of my hockey team (which I was), or just as a member of the team, if we were losing a game in the third period (imagine we're playing Quinnipiac). Well, first let's assume that I WANT TO WIN THE GAME. If that were the case, I would do everything possible within the context of hockey and within my power to win the game.

Well, I thought, I may not be a member of the P.C., and I may never get to speak to him until he shows up next year at our alumni club reception, but I'LL DO WHAT I CAN. I'll call McFarland and when I speak to his secretary and am told that he is not available, I'll identify myself and leave a message that something must be done to save our ECAC bid. I'll also write a letter, probably after the fact, and tell him I am no longer contributing to HC because of the way that this was handled.

So I call. I speak to his secretary; I tell her I want to speak to McFarland about saving our ECAC bid; I am asked to hold (expect to speak to the secretary again). Next thing I know a mild mannered man answers the phone without identifying himself. I identify myself and ask to whom am I speaking. "Michael McFarland," he says. I nearly fall out out my chair. Now I've met him before and know he is mild-mannered (not a good trait in a college President, IMO), but he sounded like a defeated man, not somebody I want sitting on the bench next to me when we're trying to win the game.

We then talk for about fifteen minutes. I ask him what is being done to save our ECAC bid, given that the policy committee has yet to meet? (Note: these are not direct quotes, unless noted, but a paraphrase - I wanted to ask as much as possible and get as much info as possible that I wasn't taking verbatim notes)
McF: well, we'll probably speak to a few of the schools, blah, blah...we're still hopeful that they will see that HC is a better fit..."but we don't want to burn bridges"..."we've done all that we can"..."there is still a possibility for the future"...we made our presentation to the ECAC, they didn't have any demands on HC "per se", they came and did a site visit, but "I (McF) WAS NOT HERE WHEN THE ECAC CAME TO THE CAMPUS" Me: Alumni are distressed at how this is seemingly being handled, that we're not doing enough to win the bid, that the PR from HC is non-existent, that Quinnipiac is inferior in every respect to HC and that this can't be let to happen.
McF: (with disdain) we don't speak to the press about such things, we don't need to communicate with alumni on this, our alumni understand that we are doing all that we can in this regard, we have done all that we can to win a bid, but we are not going to commit the million dollars it would take to do so, we don't have the money in the operating budget to fund what it would take and what Quinnipiac is spending, moreover, we aren't willing to spend that much money on hockey, because then we would be defined purely as a "hockey school" and that is not our #1 priority, if we spent the money that it takes then we wouldn't have it for academic priorities, we made a good presentation to the ECAC, but they asked us about our monetary commitment to hockey (the inadequacy of our rink, scholarships and the women's team) and I (McFarland speaking) personally think that they are being "crass" (direct quote) about money, we assured them that we are making efforts to improve the women's team, but that it will take a few years, you have to remember that the ECAC is the best conference in the nation for women's hockey.
Me: but other schools are able to do it, why can't we? Quinnipiac is doing it, are they going bankrupt? HC has exponentially more money than QU, why aren't we spending it?
McF: see comment above about "hockey school" and "priorities", other ECAC schools have alot more money than we do.
Me: but these other schools aren't going bankrupt either, are they? won't having a hockey team in the ECAC help bring in more resources in ticket sales and application fees and more students, and better students (like BC), etc.?
McF: yes, there are positive financial implications from being in the ECAC, but they don't outweigh the costs associated therewith...this isn't football or basketball where you get a greater financial reward, Boston College isn't better off financially today because they won the NCAA hockey championship a few years ago...

Well, my friends, that is it in a nutshell. I apologize for the things I missed or didn't stress enough. Frankly, I was so shocked that he took my call that I was more respectful and less argumentative than the issue demands. Next time I won't be, and I urge each of you to be forceful as well.

I AGREE WITH HC1843: STOP COMPLAINING IN INTERNET CHAT ROOMS! BE A LEADER! GET OFF YOUR REAR! ...ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH MONEY TO DONATE, P.C. MEMBERS ESPECIALLY:

CALL MCFARLAND NOW!

TELL HIM TO TOW THE LINE OR ELSE. TELL HIM THAT YOU WILL DONATE MONEY TO ALLEVIATE THE GREAT HC MONEY PROBLEM. TELL HIM TO DO AS HE IS TOLD BY HIS EMPLOYERS -- YOU! -- OR ELSE HE WON'T BE PRESIDENT ANYMORE. TELL HIM YOU'RE CALLING THE TRUSTEES AND THEN TELL THEM THE SAME THING...

DO IT NOW, OR SHUT UP.

HAVE ANY OF YOU SEEN THE MOVIE "NETWORK"?

AREN'T YOU ALL MAD AS HELL?

THE MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION IS, ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE????????????????

I DID WHAT LITTLE I COULD, NOW DO WHAT YOU CAN!!!!!!!!!!

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Replies:

[> If as reported, then Fr. McFarland... -- HC1843, 13:02:26 07/15/04 Thu

just does not get it. BC is in several ways better off for having won the NCAA in hockey...they received and still receive national accolades, positive PR, more applications from around the nation...etc etc.

Let's call a spade a spade...HC never intended to make any true commitment to upgrading its hockey program. We were all misled. Fr. McFarland's comments as reported are blindingly clear. The school is happy with mediocrity in all but basketball and will continue to throw money down the drain in football. But HC will be damned if it puts $$$$ behind a program that can compete nationally now and with schools that we should all dream to share a conference affiliation with. This goes beyond short-sighted.

I for one, hope Coach Pearl stands up and walks out the door...he has been misled.

Furthermore, next time I get one of those condescending donation emails from the kid in development, I will politely reply no, give my reason and ask that it be forward to Mr. Shepp (sp???).

Again, based on what was reported, Fr. McFarland's statements are untenable. HC is now the school that lost out because it would not commit to its women's program...passes off some excuse that the Q, a much poorer school, can afford to do what we cannot, and continues to cry poor. It is such a shame.

Cheers.

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[> I JUST SPOKE TO MCFARLAND ABOUT OUR ECAC BID -- sader1970, 13:39:15 07/15/04 Thu

Two points:

1) So you spoke to Fr. McFarland? Sounds like Dick Regan didn't have had much say in the matter. So, let's stop blaming him.

2) I belong to the PC. There's the PC and then there's the PC. I could withhold every dollar I've ever given to HC over the past 35 years and that wouldn't change a thing. Yes, if Park Smith suggested a different tactic and strongly encouraged a more aggressive approach to the ECAC and, incidentally, kicked in another $1-$2 million, the powers that be would be all ears.

I guess I just wanted to let you younger alums know that being older and giving every year and being in the President's Council doesn't guarantee you an audience.

But, when you contribute to the Holy Cross Fund, no matter how much or little you give, are you really doing it for the hockey team, or the football team or the track team? Are you giving money so that you can influence the administration? Or, are you giving it to help perpetuate the mission of the college to educate men and women so that they can help others and improve the American society and the world? To help turn out people who will influence the direction of our country in ethical and moral ways.

I want HC teams to succeed, not just compete. A $400 million endowment sounds like a lot of money but there are a lot of demands and prioritization still comes into play. You don't draw down off an endowment if you can help it, you use the interest. And that's a significantly smaller amount.

One last thing. Give Fr. McFarland credit for taking your call. He may sound mild mannered but he didn't duck you.

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[> Re: I JUST SPOKE TO MCFARLAND ABOUT OUR ECAC BID -- outside, 13:44:21 07/15/04 Thu

I read on this board all the time, but post very little. Just to give you guys an FYI and maybe to shed a little light on exactly what QU is willing to spend. They spend $25,000 on their website with CollegeSports.com, what does HC spend? Nothing. I'm not saying QU is a better school, because it is clearly not, I'm just saying somehow they have resources and are willing to spend it. Another example, they televised about 7-8 hoops games on local TV in CT last season, at $15,000 a pop. That's over 100 g's for the season, and they stunk!

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[> i agree totally with sader 1970 -- hchoops, 16:01:30 07/15/04 Thu

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[> Re: I JUST SPOKE TO MCFARLAND ABOUT OUR ECAC BID -- Rick, 16:11:25 07/15/04 Thu

1970 -

" Yes, if Park Smith suggested a different tactic and strongly encouraged a more aggressive approach to the ECAC and, incidentally, kicked in another $1-$2 million, the powers that be would be all ears. "

Agree.

As you might recall, Brooks chased down Edward Bennett Williams back in 1980 to become more envolved ( $$$ ) with alma mater. Williams agreed subject to the condition of directly reviving/overhauling HC's football program.

Brooks said 'done' and Rick Carter, doubled salaries, more coaches, new uniforms, a new locker room, in-ground sprinkler system for Fitton, re-modeled offices and plans for aluminum seating and new grandstands for Fitton quickly followed.

Too bad Park Smith isn't a sports guy.

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[> [> Re: HC alums must get constructively angry. -- Go...'gate, 17:16:43 07/15/04 Thu

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[> EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES... -- HChockeyalum, 17:09:55 07/15/04 Thu

EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES...with all due respect to my colleagues on this board, some of whom I probably know quite well and respect personally, all I'm hearing is how insignificant we all are, that there are President's Council members and then there are "real" PC members, and that only Park Smith and EBW really get what they want...that is all true, so true, and so sad...If I thought that way, I never would have called McFarland's office and got those infuriating quotes.

I remember Fr. Markey commenting one time about an entirely different issue that, "You're either part of the problem or part of the solution." And I am also reminded about some quote with respect to the Holocaust or "liberty" or some really serious issue that "they took so and so away and I did nothing and then they took so and so away and I did nothing and then they came for me..." You all get the idea. Well, everyone, they took football away, and they took BB away (kind of gave it back), and now they're taking hockey away...(I'm exaggerating to make a point here) They are doing what we let them do. If we never voice our opinions, then we get the government we deserve (absolutely no political overtones to that comment whatsoever), and we also get a beautiful, expensive organ at HC which few of us will ever hear.

What if you PC members (not the real kind, just the insignificant ones) called up a few of your other insignificant friends and they called a few of their insignificant friends and then presented a united front? Do you think that might have an impact?

And with due respect to sader1970, we do give to HC so that others will benefit from the same education we received and to perpetuate the mission of the college, and for the wonderful, liberating cultural experiences that are so attendant, but we also pay for sports teams, because of their popularity, their ability to foster school pride, and their invaluable role in our education. Whether as a varsity athlete, intramural player or just a fan, sports has taught me and many others, probably you too, more about the important lessons in life than just about anything else. To teach HC students on one hand about the Jesuit philosophy of rigor and excellence and then on the other to say that mediocrity is OK is bull. We don't always have to come in first, but to give a half-hearted effort is not acceptable.

So what are all of you going to do to be part of the solution?

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[> Now I Feel Even Worse -- Zipp, 19:05:08 07/15/04 Thu

If that account of the conversation is accurate (no reason to believe its not) it only serves to make matters worse. It shows that there was no secret behind the scenes effort, no "rest of the story", no "more to it that we just don't know". Its exactly as we feared. HC made only enough effort to fill out the application. HC basicly said "here we are, take us or leave us". Well guess what, they left us.

This conversation says that we aren't even willing to spend ANY money, even to do the very basis necessary. Even withour newly increased endowment, we won't spend a dime to invest in our future (atleast as far as athletics go). Yet, evidently QU,with FAR less resources can.

Well, that's it; that sums it all up. Don't bother rooting for Willard or Gibbons or Gilmore to bring us back to respectability because obviously if it happens it will be no more than an accident. A winning season will be no more than a random event that happens every few years. Oh, we'd like to win, just as long as we don't have to try too hard or spend too much money.

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[> To: HChockeyalum -- Rick, 20:43:53 07/15/04 Thu

I honestly appreciate your passion and commentary ( you as well Zip ).

Everything that you ( and others ) are suggesting, begging for....no offense but 18-19 years ago, myself and maybe 65 to 90 alums wrote letters of protest, asked for explanations and requested that the decision be reconsidered during a much more damaging episode in HC athletic history.

And you know what ? Most of us were charactorized as 'nuts', or idiots who only wanted 'big-time' football with a return to playing the Penn States and Syracuses. While 90% of that group wanted NOTHING of the kind, that's how it was portrayed. I KNOW that several dozen letters were mailed to Brooks ( I still have xerox copies ) and yet in front of over 150 alums in Hogan on a Fall Saturday morning weeks after they were mailed, he stated that he had only received 17-18 and that only a 'handful' were against the decision. And there were 30-40 other alums in that room that morning who had the same data I did ! How do you think we felt ? How astonished/sick to our stomachs do you think we were at the time ?

Those who spoke out were bruskly told both that day - as well as in the media - to 'move on'....translated = 'go somewhere else', 'leave Holy Cross', 'GET OUT' ! Can you fathom this ? Fellow alumni being told to leave our school since we were questioning a unilateral decision !

That man is still on premises today....and judging by what we've read previously ( that recent NCAA editorial ), coupled with media reports PLUS the comments related today, his footprint remains firmly in place via McFarland.

Thus a well intentioned warning....be mindful of how you might be portrayed and how you may be treated. Like it was for me and many others, it could get nasty, quite disturbing and frankly....quite sickening.

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