Fire Lucia

[fishing tech]

Lucia's early success at the U was pastially due to the players that committed early when Woog was still here. Vanek, Riddle, Ballard, Leopold all verbally committed at 16 when Woog was still coaching. I don't think he is a bad coach, i think he needs a better support (assistants) staff.

[Bear55]

Lucia's early success at the U was pastially due to the players that committed early when Woog was still here. Vanek, Riddle, Ballard, Leopold all verbally committed at 16 when Woog was still coaching. I don't think he is a bad coach, i think he needs a better support (assistants) staff.

Sorry but a lot of info in this post is not true, Leopold and Pohl were the only significant recruits from the Woog era that helped win a National Championship. Riddle was going to CC and followed Lucia to MN and Ballard and Vanek were Lucia recruits. Not 100% sure where Jeff Taffe fit into all of that but he was another very good recruit that could have been considered a Woog recruit. Considering the shape the program was in when Lucia took over I don't think you can say Woog had a big hand in the success of Lucia, he did a small part by picking those guys up but when Lucia took over they were freshman and sophomores still learning the ropes.

Wow the more I post the more I am torn, I think we need a new coach or at least a couple of assistant coaches but half of me still defends Lucia because honestly considering what he has done he just can't be that bad.

[cbrooks]

Its tough to ignore what he accomplish. Someone mention that some of his credit goes to Guentzl(sp). I'm just puzzled at how Lucia could be soo good before and now he can't get his team to the Final Five. The finger points at Hill. He's the one change from Minnesota's successful years 02-03 to what they are now. Is Hill a better but kissing than couch? Its pretty sad Minnesota was on the verge of taking a few more NCAA banners.

Interesting what Scott said about Don switching up lines. I've heard people(UND fans) point out how Lucia always outcoach Hakstal in matching up lines. I never paid that close attention.

[scsavre]

I am surprised you guys never notice our line changes. He changes them up all the time. You will even see changes durring the game.

Sounds like lucia wanted guentzel to back off, guentzel was doing all the recuiting and most of the coaching. Lucia wanted control and new hill, who follows him everywhere would do it.

[Bear55]

I have always heard great things about Guentzel and would be very happy to have him as our head coach. Hill, not so much.

From what I recall Guentzel ran the defense and the power play, no surprise that both have gone down "hill" after he left.

I guess I am not seeing a crazy amount of line changes this year, maybe more then back in the day but I think Lucia did need to bench/motivate a few guys so the lower lines were changing a lot. As far as the top 6 you could say that the line changes the 2nd half of the season really sparked the team.

[solbes]

You do have to manage the lines to a certain point. Sandelin mixed up Duluth's lines quite a bit this year too. During the middle of the year Brown and Oleksuk got cold so he moved Fontaine down to 2. They got their mojo back and thankfully he was able to move Fontaine back up. When Schmiddy broke his hand from a teamates slash (nice move), he even moved David Grun from line 3/4 to the top line and that worked out okay.

But it sounded like Lucia was maybe just mis-managing the lines in certain situations?

[scsavre]

Lucias didn't really have any sense to it that I could think of. One day a kid would be on the first line the next day he was 4th. You would see the top 2 lines juggle players every game 2. I should post the lineups but I am way to lazy to do that. Its fine to juggle lines to get good combos going but why change the lines after scorring 7 goals on denver and why not have the same lineup after beating wisconsin.

[Shorelunch]

So . . . the Maroon and Gold "Pride on Ice" hockey program has been on a slide the past four years. So what does your brain wizard AD Maturi do? Signs Lucia to an extension for another year.

[scsavre]

Yah you beat me to it. Just heard it on KFAN. Maturi is currently drafting up an extension for Lucia. What the heck. that means Blais did not want the job..........Oh and Lucia said he will accept.

[cbrooks]

Holy balls. That just does not make any sense. I would be so pizz if I was a Gopher fan. Maturi needs to be shown the door.

I would think if Guentzl had an offer he would take it. This just isn't working. Hasn't work in some time. There should have been changes last year when they missed the FF. This year what happens, probably the low point of this hockey program and Lucia gets an extension. This guy has had three times the slack that Brad Childress had. Its time for change. UND needs its rival back. This is disappointing as a hockey fan.

[scsavre]

I cant believe it either. With Lucia you might not ever get your rival back. By the time we fire him we will be in the Big 10.

I still think there is a chance that they are setting up for a retirement, maybe he just wants one last good year. His interview stated that he wanted another Title though, so sounding unlikely.

Can Maturi demand that they fire the staff around him. I am assuming Lucia is fully in charge of that.

I am steaming right now. Maybe NDSU will come down here with their club team and beat us at home next year.

[zepman]

Maturi can and does have the right to negotiate Lucias assistants in every contract he signs. Head coaches will usually protect their assistants somewhere in their own contracts though.

[Bryce]

] Maybe NDSU will come down here with their club team and beat us at home next year.

That right there is funny. Sioux fan would have one heckuva time figuring out who to root for... or against.

[scsavre]

Done deal Lucia just got a 3 year extension.

[solbes]

Ouch. I guess .500 hockey is what's expected then? On the plus side you will almost assuredly get Mario to commit to the U.

[PurpleFloyd]

]Done deal Lucia just got a 3 year extension.

In typical "U" fashion that means he will get fired next season and they will be on the hook for the remainder of his contract. I cannot fathom how the AD can still have his job at this point.

[Bear55]

I have to say I am not very happy about this, 3 F*#^&@(* years!!!! Are you kidding me!

I still think he is a good coach but this is not the message we need to be sending to him, if I am the most forgiving fan in the world I let him finish his current deal and not so gently hint that you make the NCAA's or it's your job.

[Shorelunch]

Ouch. I guess .500 hockey is what's expected then? On the plus side you will almost assuredly get Mario to commit to the U.

"Not so fast my friend." I bet Mario goes to ND (no not UND, but the other ND) or CC.

[solbes]

Really? I know Tony had offers from Michigan and somewhere else if I remember. I don't think it was ever really in question where he was ultimately going though. I could be wrong, it happens all the time

Bear and ScSavr is who Maturi should have been talking to. I can't believe he didn't give this more consideration after what's gone on the last 3-4 years. It seems like a slap in the face to the fans.

[brmuskie]

Settle down - it seems like every college coach that is nearing the end of a contract gets an extension...... for recruiting purposes. It hurts thier ability to recruit if the coaching situation is uncertain.

The bad news (or good news for people like me) is that there might be some kids out there who won't go to the U because Lucia might still be around.

[scsavre]

I could see mario maybe doing that. I've heard he might not be the hardest working student though. Or atleast he has missed a ton of school and people had mentioned that before.

I just can't see why they would offer him an extension. It is just crazy. It was almost a stretch for him to get to coach next year. Much less get added time. I sure hope they know something I don't know. Maybe he blamed it on early departures, we loose 3 a year.

[Bear55]

Bear and ScSavr is who Maturi should have been talking to.

I was expecting a call but never got one.

[Bear55]

Settle down - it seems like every college coach that is nearing the end of a contract gets an extension...... for recruiting purposes. It hurts thier ability to recruit if the coaching situation is uncertain.

The bad news (or good news for people like me) is that there might be some kids out there who won't go to the U because Lucia might still be around.

This is very true, Lucia could be gone after next season but I think a lot us are unhappy about his return next year.

I am starting to wonder if the Gophers will lose some recruits, it hasn't been a problem yet but you have to wonder when things will start to turn on us.

[cbrooks]

I got to agree with brmuskie too. It makes more sense with the extention from a recruiting standpoint.

[solbes]

You know what would have really solidified their recruiting situation?

Hiring Dean.

[solbes]

Sorry, could't resist. Combo of me being a semi-closet Gopher fan and rubbing a little salt in the wounds of the truly faithful.

Speaking of a lot of posts, the post totals have been adding up in a hurry lately. So close to 2000 now.

[solbes]

Shoulda fired Donny. Okay I'm done here for awhile.

[cbrooks]

In my own humble opinion. I thought Dean would be a Gopher but I'm pretty sure that won't happen. He's got a nice contract in Omaha. He appears happy with his situation and he's came out and said after my 4 year contract with UNO I'm retired. Last time he came out in public and said something like this was at UND when he sign a 5 year contract and said after that he was going to move on. He did exactly that. I just get a feeling Dean is a person who says something he means it. There always a small chance after all he is a native minnesotan who played as a Gopher in college.

[scsavre]

I wouldn't hold my breath for blais either.

Your right muturi should have called me.

Sounds like contract is going to be favorable for a buyout. I'm more worried about have a medioce program scarring recruits away then the coach. But I have heard the whole recruiting exuse.

[scsavre]

OK, So I visited with someone who is very involved in MN hockey at all levels, and is also very close to Mike Guentzel. I know, right....im so cool.

Ok here it is. Guentzel is no less then livid right now. If you ever hear someone say that he or Blais didnt want the Gophs job, you would be 100% wrong. An expected path would be, Hastings takes over UNO, Balis and Guentel come here and Guntzels takes over after a 3 year Blais contract.

It was also said that they along with the Alumni are absolutley livid with Maturi, its like Repubs vs the liberals there. They say Maturi cares nothing about the alumni or sports in general. Maturi knows they want the job and there has been no communication as of tuesday.

Also, you cant be mad at Lucia here, why wouldnt he accept another contract at his dream job, who wouldnt. This is all Maturi.....Side note, they also saod that they are hearing rumblings about further decreasing the student sections and raising ticket and parking prices to try to recapture some lost revenue.

I agree with not blaming Lucia - why wouldnt he take the job.

so again, this is from a good source, but it doesnt means things cant change. Sounds luike Lucia has a cheap buyout and a short leash.