knightflyer150;1131553 wrote:I disagree with those of you who say there isn't a "casual fan". There is and can be more: the student.

I watched 200 Orange kids that know NOTHING about hockey (hell, I know nothing about hockey and I was there) at our state's "Frozen Four". End of season tournaments that advance...and don't take all day....do strange things to students. I think it will be a draw and it is a model that has worked in other states.

If i were to say there were casual fans a student would be it. But the point made earlier by another person was growth. I am a believer that your average student wants to be a part of something and have some school spirit. So they might attend a meet to do that or just hang out with some friends. So this may attract some extra students. Then what? Most do not stick with it or this sport would have large sell out gyms for all dual meets. Just like the current state tournament does on a Thursday/Friday. I just don't buy this a growth event. Where are these casual fans at during normal dual meets on a tues-thrus? You do get a few but enough to grow the sport and maintain that growth.

The real lingering problem I have with this is that for no apparent reason the powers that be have simply changed the way our sport decides its champions. One of the things that makes our sport great, it that a few guys can get together and build something out of nothing. Three guys from Ignatius can can topple all of DI like they did in '88. Half of the Lake Catholic team can wrestle out of thier minds and shock DII in '89. Five stars can dominate the Division I tourney like St. Joes did in '90. A set of brothers and one move-in can vault West Liberty Salem to the top of DIII in '91. Four guys from Monroville finish top three four straight years and win a title in DIII.

The one thing I don't like about these "super teams" that St. Edward and Graham have become, is you lose that element. But even with them, the special group of kids now fights for that number two spot. Think Claymont a couple years ago, or Oak Harbor. The Dual meet tourney actually makes sure the rich stay richer. By rewarding depth and not individual excellence, you cut out a huge chunck of what used to be the Top Ten.