September 11, 2009 E-MAIL PRINT

BGSU Throws Full Support Behind Hockey Program

Ready to Launch $5 Million Fund-raising Campaign

CHN Staff Report

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — In its strongest statement yet in support of its men's hockey program, Bowling Green administration officials officially announced that the program will remain intact, and that to strengthen it, a $5 million fund-raising campaign will start immediately.

As recently as March, Bowling Green faced potential extinction because of budgetary cuts, but managed to stave it off — temporarily at first, pending more investigation. Head coach Scott Paluch then resigned later in the spring, replaced by 29-year old Dennis Williams.

Numerous factions came together, however, to work out plans to save the program, based in large part on ideas that helped save Miami more than 15 years ago. With president Carol Cartwright open to ideas that would save the program, it gave the green light for all that followed.

According to Bowling Green, its fundraising feasibility report has been finished, and based on the findings, the school will proceed with its plans to $5 million for the program and the BGSU Ice Arena. Earlier in the summer, the program received a $4 million commitment from the state and the school to provide ice arena renovations.

The report by Bentz Whaley Flessner, which was presented to Cartwright this week, indicates the hockey program at BGSU has strong support.

“We are committed to hockey at BGSU,” Cartwright said. “It is apparent that the hockey program is a treasured part of our history, and we have assured our former and current hockey players and the community that the program will continue.

“This campaign will be a top priority for me. The reality is that there is a direct relationship between the success of the campaign and the success of the program.”

The fundraising campaign will be overseen by University advancement. According to Marcia Sloan Latta, interim vice president for University advancement, the campaign will begin immediately.

“Over the next 18 months, we hope to raise $2 million for hockey scholarships,” Latta said. “We will establish a campaign committee, identify a chair or co-chairs, determine an overall campaign plan and secure the necessary leadership gifts.”

The campaign will continue beyond the 18 months to raise additional money, according to Latta.

“With the extremely difficult economic times in Ohio and the nation, we have decided to focus our efforts on making the necessary improvements to the Ice Arena and putting the hockey program on sure footing,” she explained. “We view this as a multi-phase effort that will allow us to launch further endowments as the economy rebounds.”

The $4 million appropriated by the state and the University will aid in the renovation of the Ice Arena to upgrade the compressors, chillers and infrastructure. Additional improvements will be considered based on the Ice Arena's business performance and the interest of private donors in supporting the arena.

“The fundraising effort for hockey will need to be a group effort, from alumni, Falcon supporters and the local community,” Cartwright said. “We hope the community will be eager to join the effort.”

A combination of factors put Bowling Green on the brink, including the poor economy. Further, alumni support — rich with many prestigious members — had slipped, as past financial contributors saw previous opportunities squandered.

Alumni such as Garry Galley, and numerous coaches around the country that once played for the Falcons, were outspoken about how the program was let slip. They suggested that alumni would be there to contribute, once the school administration showed genuine support of the program.

In that chicken-egg scenario, the administration did step up, and according to the school's feasibility study, the alumni are ready to put their money where their mouth is.

This is good news for everyone, including Bowling Green fans, players, alumni; and the CCHA in general, still reeling from the loss of Nebraska-Omaha to the WCHA.

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