As discussed yesterday, Wayne State made the heartrenching news official last night, ending their offering of Women's Hockey in a roughly three paragraph release. No comments from former players or coaches were given, only a brief quote from Director of Athletics, Rob Fournier stating:
“With all the successes we have enjoyed recently with championships, high academic achievement and graduation rates this action leaves an empty feeling and is a disappointment for our women’s hockey student-athletes, our alumni and the department,” stated WSU Director of Athletics Rob Fournier. “This last resort consequence only underscores the economic reality that confronts higher education in the State of Michigan today. In the end, the cost and expenditures of our most expensive operating program determined this difficult decision. Importantly however, the educational objectives of our women’s hockey student-athletes will be protected.”
The school also stated that all current student-athlete scholarships will be honored, provided they meet satisfactory progress standards under NCAA guidelines. Releases will be offered to those who wish to transfer to other schools this summer, where they will be eligible to participate immediately as the normal residency requirements of the NCAA are waived.
The timing of this announcement is especially troubling from a player's standpoint. With schools already out for the summer and most programs already focusing on the 2012-2013 recruiting class finding a new home for the 20+ current and formerly incoming recruits will be a huge challenge.
In addition with most coaching openings filled or candidate lists being narrowed finding new coaching gigs for the upcoming season could also be a large undertaking on the staff from WSU. In eight seasons at WSU Head Coach, Jim Fetter compiled a 117-123-24 record with the school in addition coaching Hockey Canada programs on multiple occasions.
During nine seasons in the CHA and twelve as an NCAA program WSU complied a 138-209-29 record overall and a 48-59-7 mark in conference play. The Warriors tied for the CHA regular-season title in 2007-08.
The void left by Wayne State will be felt across the nation as conference schedules will have to be redrawn, travel arrangements changed, and for the athletes the wounds of having your make shift family ripped apart and spread across the nations landscape.
While the school states that this was a decision made purely for economic reasons the timing of this decison could have easily been handled in a better manner and shows that Wayne State has a long way to go if they ever strive to be a well respected NCAA institution.
No comments:
Post a Comment