I agree with you in that I want there to be more D1 hockey teams. It would make things even more interesting. I just think it's very difficult to get a
D1 program started.
I talked to my friend at Illinois. He said most of the sports fans know that they have a good club hockey team. He has never been to a game, but they seem to be known. the problem is, if they were going D1, they would have to invest the same amount of money in a girls program, or take/cut a men's program that would give them that money. I don't think you can simply cut rowing, because rowing isn't nearly as expensive as a hockey program would be.
I don't think the AD's are willing to risk trying to establish a big hockey program, when most are concerned with how football and basketball are doing. That's why we see smaller schools have hockey programs. They don't have to invest heavily into huge football and basketball programs.
I talked to my friend at Illinois. He said most of the sports fans know that they have a good club hockey team. He has never been to a game, but they seem to be known. the problem is, if they were going D1, they would have to invest the same amount of money in a girls program, or take/cut a men's program that would give them that money. I don't think you can simply cut rowing, because rowing isn't nearly as expensive as a hockey program would be.
I don't think the AD's are willing to risk trying to establish a big hockey program, when most are concerned with how football and basketball are doing. That's why we see smaller schools have hockey programs. They don't have to invest heavily into huge football and basketball programs.
