[ccd494]

Not sure how I wound up on the schedule page for the UHart women, but holy cow. 0-21. Have broken the 60 point barrier once all season. Lost at Quinnipiac by 55. Cornell at home by 51. At Rhody by 54. At Binghamton by 46. At LaSalle by 47. At Penn by 46. At Princeton by 47. They just hosted Chicago State at home for two games, lost both, but the second one by 8. That's the only single digit spread they have had yet this year. Chicago State is 3-21 with two wins at Hartford and one over a D-3.

They have six games left, they finally play a D-3 game Sunday (at Northern Vermont-Johnson), then go to CCSU (already lost to them at home by 14), and then a home game against Villa Maria.

After that it's a "White Out" at home against Merrimack (lost on the road by 13) where the first 100 students get a white t-shirt. I'm not sure that they will need to buy the jumbo pack at TJ Maxx for that one.

They finish with two at Chicago State.

Long way away from Jen Rizzotti winning an NCAA tournament game over Syracuse.

 

[GoCatsGo]

Not sure how I wound up on the schedule page for the UHart women, but holy cow. 0-21. Have broken the 60 point barrier once all season. Lost at Quinnipiac by 55. Cornell at home by 51. At Rhody by 54. At Binghamton by 46. At LaSalle by 47. At Penn by 46. At Princeton by 47. They just hosted Chicago State at home for two games, lost both, but the second one by 8. That's the only single digit spread they have had yet this year. Chicago State is 3-21 with two wins at Hartford and one over a D-3.

They have six games left, they finally play a D-3 game Sunday (at Northern Vermont-Johnson), then go to CCSU (already lost to them at home by 14), and then a home game against Villa Maria.

After that it's a "White Out" at home against Merrimack (lost on the road by 13) where the first 100 students get a white t-shirt. I'm not sure that they will need to buy the jumbo pack at TJ Maxx for that one.

They finish with two at Chicago State.

Long way away from Jen Rizzotti winning an NCAA tournament game over Syracuse.

I understand generally why division-to-division transition, especially moving downward, has to be the way it is. But jeez, as if the indignation that comes with losing your D-1 athletic program wasn't enough they really make you witness the suffering along the way.

 

[Mr quint]

The old Chicago State quadruple header on the schedule is never a good sign.

 

[ccd494]

This is what I really blame UHart's administration for- why are these women playing a full D-I schedule? They are playing the same number of D-III games as most AE teams! You couldn't have put together a hybrid schedule at least? What's the downside- you aren't eligible for the NCAA tournament? Guess what...

 

[Coachrt]

Yea....its a real shame how these students athletes at Hartford are being treated. I still can't believe they were actually able to hire a new WBB coach and convince someone to uproot from Texas and take over this program. The other thing that boggles the mind is that not a single person in the Hartford adminsitration is being held accountable for this mess. The powers that be just continue to go on like nothing is happening.

 

[Aceinthehole]

In what is likely the end of the series/rivalry between Central and Hartford, the Blue Devils beat The Hawk in a men's and women's hoops sweep tonight.

Hartford Women - 55
Central Women - 72

Central Men - 82
Hartford Men - 72

Although Hartford joined D-I a year before CCSU, gained membership to the North Atlantic Conference (America East), hosted games at the Hartford Civic Center, and at the time was considered the more competent athletic program, CCSU gets the last laugh. Hartford men end their D-I era with a 10-13 record vs. CCSU.

 

[GoCatsGo]

Not with a bang, but a whimper. Hartford lost its last D-1 game this afternoon to Chicago State, 75-53. They end the year 5-23, and on a 6-game losing streak.

Godspeed, Hawks.

 

[lsbal]

Woodward is retiring at the end of this year. Thanks for that hit and run job….

 

[GoCatsGo]

Strong. I was thinking about this during this whole episode: given his age (mid-60s), the amount of time he's been there (4 years), the length of this process (4 years just to be fully completed), and the ballpark tenure of the average university president...just based on his own accord, there's a good chance Woodward won't even be on campus in September 2025 when UHart begins its first, full, real D-3 season right? Like, better than 50/50?

Never owned the idea. Probably won't even stick around to see it through.

What do I win?

 

[Aceinthehole]

Woodward is retiring at the end of this year. Thanks for that hit and run job….

Not trying to rub salt in the wound - but is the Woodward really responsible for this situation or is it the Board of Trustees? I won't pretend to know enough about how the UHa BOT charter, how members are selected, donor politics, etc. - but this decision was APPROVED by majority vote. In general, a CEO/President works for a board and needs their support to get anything accomplished. I guess he could have worked the system to get his visionaries on the board - but aren't they just accountable for the decision?

When some CCSU fans complain ad nauseum about the NEC Commissioner - but the fact is she work for the Presidents of the member schools. So when we don't like a decision (like including Merrimack in the NEC Tourney, but ineligible for the NCAAs), I remind them we're really mad at the University Presidents.

Anyway ... just wondering how much the "Neighborhood" has been addressing this with the BOT and not just an empty suit President.

 

[lsbal]

Not trying to rub salt in the wound - but is the Woodward really responsible for this situation or is it the Board of Trustees? I won't pretend to know enough about how the UHa BOT charter, how members are selected, donor politics, etc. - but this decision was APPROVED by majority vote. In general, a CEO/President works for a board and needs their support to get anything accomplished. I guess he could have worked the system to get his visionaries on the board - but aren't they just accountable for the decision?

When some CCSU fans complain ad nauseum about the NEC Commissioner - but the fact is she work for the Presidents of the member schools. So when we don't like a decision (like including Merrimack in the NEC Tourney, but ineligible for the NCAAs), I remind them we're really mad at the University Presidents.

Anyway ... just wondering how much the "Neighborhood" has been addressing this with the BOT and not just an empty suit President.

It’s a combination. The BOR who wanted to stay at the D1 basketball level were basically pushed out. While the President brought in BOR who were likeminded to his agenda. Some he even worked with at his prior D3 college. That being said unless the BOR has a major overhaul ( which I don’t see happening) they will bring on board a type of president that has D3 priorities. With what Woodward has “accomplished “ the next President will have their hands full keeping the lights on and doors open never mind the athletic status. They have been on a steady path of enrollment decline since Woodward took over.

 

[BSalz3586]

Isn’t this the guy who ruined their basketball program?

 

[Aceinthehole]

It’s a combination. The BOR who wanted to stay at the D1 basketball level were basically pushed out. While the President brought in BOR who were likeminded to his agenda. Some he even worked with at his prior D3 college. That being said unless the BOR has a major overhaul ( which I don’t see happening) they will bring on board a type of president that has D3 priorities. With what Woodward has “accomplished “ the next President will have their hands full keeping the lights on and doors open never mind the athletic status. They have been on a steady path of enrollment decline since Woodward took over.

Sorry, sounds like a corporate "hostile takeover." It just goes to show how important an influential big $$ or political members can be to protect an institution from a rouge Administrator.

However, the fact he could do this under the radar and have this a done deal before a group of supporters could put up a fight does show the relative low profile of UHa athletic program. I wonder how big of deal the sports journalism outcry would have been if they lost in the AE finals and never went dancing.

Anyway, this does feel like a case of 'tyranny of the minority'

 

[NotDeadYet]

Yes, he is the one who never set foot on campus and put the torch to the athletic programs. Maybe Hartford might be able to get back to D1 and rejoin the AE? That would be sweet.

 

[ProfessorDavid]

I miss the Hartford fans here on this forum.

 

[Dane96]

File this in the HOLY CRAP section of the news. Somewhat unexpected, fantastic for the students, seemingly too late for the athletic department. Would be great if they reversed course but there would need to be MASSIVE guarantees to get back into the AE.

 

[Aceinthehole]

File this in the HOLY CRAP section of the news. Somewhat unexpected, fantastic for the students, seemingly too late for the athletic department. Would be great if they reversed course but there would need to be MASSIVE guarantees to get back into the AE.

I don't see the institution making a reversal on athletics, but if they did, they would be much more likely to land in the NEC rather than back in the AE.

 

[Dane96]

I don't see the institution making a reversal on athletics, but if they did, they would be much more likely to land in the NEC rather than back in the AE.

Trade one Connecticut institution for another.

 

[South End]

Looks like Woodward announces his retirement right after a vote of "no confidence" from the Board of Regents. I have read U of H has until July of 2025 to reverse the D3 downgrade.

A hit and run indeed. The University is much worse off because of his tenure.

 

[ball_of_rubber]

Is there an article I can read about the “no confidence” vote?