Spring Break
ICY RECEPTION
Without funding CSU D-I hockey gets cold shoulder
Scott Callahan and Adam Bohlmeyer
Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: Sports
Tatman, who has had conversations with Kowalczyk about After multiple seasons full of steps into the national spotlight, the CSU Club Hockey team is looking to take an even bigger step into Division-I competition.
The Rams, who made it to the national club tournament the past two seasons, are currently circulating a petition and gathering support in an attempt for the University to grant them D-I status.
Bret Tatman, a former Ram hockey player, started the petition in July to get a feel of the support his cause had.
"The petition is the beast that got us started," Tatman said. "It was a gauge to see what the interest was."
To date, the petition has 1,133 signatures from community members, which gives Tatman hope his cause is within reach.
"If we can get the financing there and the money lined up it's highly likely that it will happen," he said. "It really depends on our movement."
Tatman plans to take his cause to the CSU campus in hopes of gathering more support.
New head coach Eric Sunness has a strong belief that the Rams deserve to be a D-I team.
"I'm strongly in favor of it," the first year coach said. "Northern Colorado could easily support a division one hockey club. With the popularity of teams like the Colorado Eagles and the Avalanche and the phenomenal growth of hockey in the area there is no doubt in my mind we could support a team."
CSU athletic director Paul Kowalczyk said that it isn't likely the hockey team will become a division one squad anytime soon, explaining that the school should spend an already tight budget on already existing programs.
"We don't fund current sports enough to add additional sports," he said. "We need to take the resources we do have and use them on the sports we already have. That means anything from women's tennis to football."
Jeff Collier, the athletic business manager for CSU, estimated that to add a new program would cost a minimum of one million dollars. The university currently has 16 varsity sports, ranging from men's and women's basketball to track and field.
The Rams, who made it to the national club tournament the past two seasons, are currently circulating a petition and gathering support in an attempt for the University to grant them D-I status.
Bret Tatman, a former Ram hockey player, started the petition in July to get a feel of the support his cause had.
"The petition is the beast that got us started," Tatman said. "It was a gauge to see what the interest was."
To date, the petition has 1,133 signatures from community members, which gives Tatman hope his cause is within reach.
"If we can get the financing there and the money lined up it's highly likely that it will happen," he said. "It really depends on our movement."
Tatman plans to take his cause to the CSU campus in hopes of gathering more support.
New head coach Eric Sunness has a strong belief that the Rams deserve to be a D-I team.
"I'm strongly in favor of it," the first year coach said. "Northern Colorado could easily support a division one hockey club. With the popularity of teams like the Colorado Eagles and the Avalanche and the phenomenal growth of hockey in the area there is no doubt in my mind we could support a team."
CSU athletic director Paul Kowalczyk said that it isn't likely the hockey team will become a division one squad anytime soon, explaining that the school should spend an already tight budget on already existing programs.
"We don't fund current sports enough to add additional sports," he said. "We need to take the resources we do have and use them on the sports we already have. That means anything from women's tennis to football."
Jeff Collier, the athletic business manager for CSU, estimated that to add a new program would cost a minimum of one million dollars. The university currently has 16 varsity sports, ranging from men's and women's basketball to track and field.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Brett Tatman
posted 9/17/08 @ 1:27 AM MST
The link to the petition is:
http://www.ramhockey.com/Site/Petition_Sign.html
Just thought you might want to know.
Brett Tatman
Board Member
Ram Hockey Group, LLC
Meshell
posted 9/17/08 @ 2:06 PM MST
Great idea!! When I was at CSU my fondest memories were going to hockey games. 8 year later I still track their progress and would love to see them be D1. (Continued…)
btatman
Brett Tatman
posted 9/17/08 @ 2:50 PM MST
The website to sign the petition or donate is:
http://www.ramhockey.com
SD Norton
posted 9/18/08 @ 4:04 PM MST
Wow, what a great idea...actually add a sport that might generate enough revenue with ticket sales to support itself versus water polo which although an amazing sport is lucky to draw parents and friends at best. (Continued…)
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