The Bulletin -- April 15, 2009 (#986)

Program: SUNY Plattsburgh – “Athletics at SUNY Plattsburgh”

Men’s Hockey Head Coach Bob Emery spoke with Marsha Cook (Rotary Club Treasurer) during the meeting while Rotarian Bob Donlan talked with Men’s Basketball Head Coach Tom Curle.

SUNY Plattsburgh coaches Tom Curle (men’s basketball) and Bob Emery (men’s hockey) regaled the club with stories from the coaching trenches. Coach Curle started by saying that the first time that he met Coach Emery it was made clear to him that hockey was king at SUNY Plattsburgh, and he would do just fine as long as he remembered that. Coach Curle said that Coach Emery has taught him that there are many ways to get the job done; Coach Curle’s mother-in-law (a 5 year hospice patient) has taught him toughness.

Community service is crucial to the overall success of his program, along with good grades and winning. When recruiting, he looks for players with at least one of two things – they need to be a good student or a good kid. He gave examples of both where the athlete was able to grow at SUNY Plattsburgh, which is his greatest reward.

Coach Bob Emery said that one thing has never changed in his 21 years here in Plattsburgh – “Boothie’s glasses!” To Coach Emery, his team is an extension of the greater college community.

The team regularly gives back to the community. They conducted more than 100 school visits last year supporting the Heart Walk, Downs Syndrome and many other community service events. He noted that they are maxed out and hopes people understand why he can’t honor every request.

As a coach, Coach Emery said you first have to win, then see that the athletes leave as adults. He wants to see his players in the news, but only in the sports section. He cited the renovation of the Stafford Ice Arena at the SUNY Plattsburgh Field House as a recruiting tool, noting that they went from 50 season ticket holders a year to 800, and next year 1,200 will be sold.

He said “Tom is a patient coach – I am not. They do it my way, or it’s the highway.” Last year was a great regular season, but the abrupt ending, when everything looked so promising, was tough to get over. In fact he’s still not over it!

Questions:
What is the cost of a season ticket?
$110 for 12 to 15 home games.

How do the athletes balance classes, sports and fun?
They say that , according to Bruce Delventhal, they don’t need to have any fun. They tell them not to represent the team or school in a negative way. Coach Emery said that if they do, the best remedy is to let the athlete sit with the fans. Coach Curle said that it comes down to three things: common sense, common courtesy and facing the consequences of your actions. Decisions and actions always have consequences.

Where do you find recruits?
Very different answers – for Coach Curle, it is straight down the Northway – Albany area, Orange County, Brooklyn and Long Island. The areas with more population have more players.

Coach Emery said that recruiting is almost always done outside of NY – Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, New England. Many hoped to play Division 1, but their dream didn’t come true.

Will the hockey program ever go to Division 1?
Probably not – you need a budget over $1 million, and, as Coach Emery said, its been good to be a big fish in a smaller pond.

How do NCAA recruiting restrictions affect you?
According to Coach Emery, you need to remember the difference between a prospect and a student. Once their deposit has been paid, they are no longer a prospect. Referring to the recent controversy in Connecticut, he noted that there is no texting and can be no special benefits. You can’t do anything for an athlete that you wouldn’t do for any other student. He was told something as simple as seeing a player walking on a cold day and offering him a drive to a class. So that is why he gives everybody rides over the winter!

Coach Curle is the NCAA compliance officer for the college. He added that besides texting, there can be no use of Facebook, and you can’t talk to a prospect at a tournament until its team is completely done playing.

This Week

• President Steve was back, and sorry that he missed Keith Tyo’s drawing of the Ace of Spades!
• Jay Kerley reminded us of the highway cleanup on April 30. He has a full sign up list and hopes everyone shows!
• May 29 is the Paul Harris Fellowship reception. Location of this event may change. The deadline for nominations for a Paul Harris Fellow is April 20.
• June 5-7 is the fishing tournament, and Bonnie Black still needs some volunteers. Please help out if you can.
• The Rotary Golf Tournament will be held, Wednesday, June 1 at the Barracks. Please contact Marty Mannix with donations of door prizes.
• Ange LaMariana was fined for having his photo in the newspaper. President Steve paid the fine and then reminded all Rotarians to wear their pins to the meetings or drop a dollar to the Ange Collection Agency!

Guests: Wallace Westfeldt (Bob Parks).

Visiting Rotarian: No Visiting Rotarians today.

Happy Thoughts:

• Rick Leibowitz had $10 for “Connor’s Fishes for Loaves.” This covered Connor’s last two weeks of fishing success.
• Marty Mannix was happy that his grand-daughter had a 4.0 GPA last semester and was named an Academic All-American.

50/50: A new pot starts at $500. President Steve noted that the old tradition was to go for the Queen of Hearts, so he broke out a new deck and did the West Chazy shuffle! Bill McBride had the winning ticket, but pulled a two of spades. Close!

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