[jmdickens]

I love that our hockey team is winning, but what are the chances of them going NCAA D-1 and beat someone like Michigan or Minnesota

I know, 3 and 4 might be the same

[Fumblerooskies]

I put 10 years...but really feel it will be between 5-10 years...after the two rumored female sports are added, first, and become established.

[El Scorcho]

I don't know enough about the situation to vote. I mean, I understand what level our team plays at and everything. I just don't know enough about what's required of the school before the hockey team can move up.

[FlameDad]

Don't underestimate the level that the D1 team is currently playing.
The ACHA has grown exponentially over the past 5 years.
The top 10 ACHA D1 teams can compete with many NCAA D3 teams.

That being said, NCAA D1 is a different universe.
Imagine our football team playing Ohio State, USC, etc. every weekend......

LaHaye would need to be expanded which is not a problem as the building was made to be expanded.
It seems that LU has a history of spending time, money and other resources for the athletic programs and Jerry Jr is a fan......

[SuperJon]

I agree with FlameDad. I spent a week with a few of the players last year and they said that we were a good deal away from NCAA Div I talent wise. We could be competitive at the NCAA Div III level right now, but not necessarily successful. I'm not so sure you'll ever see Liberty Hockey at the NCAA Division I level, mainly because of cost issues. The travel would be insane, along with the scholarships.

[SuperJon]

Crap, I hate my mouse. It's double clicking and clicking crap when I'm not meaning to. I meant to click 10 years instead of never, but my 10 years was a minimum of ten years.

[FlameDad]

And what we have now is really outstanding.
We have a top-10 nationally ranked team that consistently beats teams in the N & NE that have established programs in hockey country.
The games are great entertainment and LU has bragging rights over just about everyone south of the mason-dixon line and everywhere else for that matter.
All of this in Lynchburg, VA.

"Us southern boys don't know a whole lot about hockey. We made a deal with the canadians that they will teach us how to play hockey and we will teach them how to read"
Dr. Jerry Falwell (loose paraphrase and best hockey line ever)

[thepostman]

I said 10 years, but I think in 10 years will be when they will seriously start thinking about it...our team is good and all, but as Flame Dad said, the NCAA DI hockey is a whole other world...I went to a couple UMaine games when I lived in Maine and just the speed of the game itself would be a huge change

[jmdickens]

I started this thread because I wanted to hear people of FF and get a good idea of what LU hockey is....

I heard someone on campus say that hockey is the best team at LU......and I laughed at him

they mentioned that they were one of the best in the nation.....and after a brief conversation I was informed that they could play with any school in America.... I know....they used that as justification to miss football or basketball in order to go to a hockey game....because the hockey team is better....

so D3 is really where our aim for the next 10 years should be??? That sounds feasible

[SuperJon]

Except we can't play Division III due to NCAA regulations.

[PAmedic]

been watching NCAA-D I hockey on CSTV (or whatever its called) and have seen some great matchups.

Michigan/BU the other night had some GREAT action.

[ATrain]

If Alabama-Huntsville can do it, then we can do it.

I say 10, maybe 15 years

[matshark]

I just think its a shame that Title IX is what's keeping the boys from making the jump to NCAA.... we just got our wrestling team back last year from it...

Hey, maybe we can legislate fairness back into all things in sports... any team that gets up by 2 goals must immediately give one of theirs to the other team... we can call it Title X...

[PAmedic]

it is frustrating- but you could make the point that without it, many girls would never have had the chance to compete on the NCAA level.

I'm sort of on the fence on the issue.

Would love to see the ladies/mens programs at EVERY school be as balanced as LU's are.