tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13652090.post116477870064512313..comments2023-06-08T08:10:31.126-05:00Comments on Husker Mike's Blasphemy: A Conundrum on Mike KempHusker Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764508184267042143noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13652090.post-1165190224782116342006-12-03T17:57:00.000-06:002006-12-03T17:57:00.000-06:00We'll just have to agree to disagree. But hocke...We'll just have to agree to disagree. But hockey really is kind of passe for the next few weeks. Bentley (never heard of them before March madness) and then 2 weeks off for the holidays.Husker Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05764508184267042143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13652090.post-1165005608663478242006-12-01T14:40:00.000-06:002006-12-01T14:40:00.000-06:00I beg to differ. UNO made the tourney last year, ...I beg to differ. UNO made the tourney last year, because the non-con teams they beat early in the year helped them in the pairwise. They played HORRIBLY down the stretch, from the day after the Michigan series on. <BR/><BR/>Worse yet..when they did sneak in..they got absolutely blasted so the rest of the college hockey world could laugh at us.<BR/><BR/>The pinnacle of UNO hockey was Tuesday night and the CCHA title game that followed a few weeks later. We have NEVER EVER been as successful as that since...and it was over 7 years ago.<BR/><BR/>I'm sick of mediocrity. There is too much potential.<BR/><BR/>I stand by my statements.A Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05518175756747531986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13652090.post-1164827194794391762006-11-29T13:06:00.000-06:002006-11-29T13:06:00.000-06:00We made the NCAA tournament last season. THAT is t...We made the NCAA tournament last season. THAT is the pinnacle of the program, though that week in March 2000 when UNO knocked out Northern, Bowling Green on "Tuesday Night", then Michigoon in Detroit is a close second. But I'm not ready to throw in the towel so quickly on Kemp.<BR/><BR/>Here's my Husker analogy. Frank Solich took the Huskers to the National Title game in 2001. Some will argue they shouldn't have been there in the first place, but that's another argument entirely. A year later, the wheels fell off the cart and Solich acted to shake things up. The changes were dramatic; he hired the top defensive coordinator in the country and had recruiting reenergized. But Solich was fired anyway, leading to a losing record in 2004 and a mediocre 2005. Fans are still split on the firing. Fund raising has stagnated.<BR/><BR/>Mike Kemp built this program from the ground up, and they went from birth to the NCAA tournament faster than any other program. However, the rate of progress has slowed dramatically. It's cause for concern, that's for sure.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps a better analogy is Dan McCarney at Iowa State. McCarney did a great job at Iowa State and took the Cyclone football program further than anybody else ever did. But by that same token, they didn't seem to be able to take it to that next level. Finally, this season made it painfully obvious that a change was needed. McCarney deserved every opportunity to work it out, and I think he got those opportunities. I think we both thought McCarney got a bum rap in this.<BR/><BR/>Is UNO hockey at that point? Not yet...Husker Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05764508184267042143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13652090.post-1164823184191926682006-11-29T11:59:00.000-06:002006-11-29T11:59:00.000-06:00The Panic button should have been pressed a year a...The Panic button should have been pressed a year ago. <BR/><BR/>Losing is one thing...losing with good talent is quite another. The loyalty to Mike Kemp is unlike anything I've ever seen..and yes, I think it's justified.<BR/><BR/>We have passed the point of no return. I said it this summer..I'll say it again, Mike Kemp could not afford a start like this, and sitting back..wishing and hoping things will change isn't going to help.<BR/><BR/>How come every other coach in ever other sport at every other school is expected to win except this one? I don't understand it. It's been TEN YEARS. TEN...and progress has been moderate if that. Hell, the pinnacle of the team was reached in 1999. <BR/><BR/>Think about that for a second.A Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05518175756747531986noreply@blogger.com