One of the unique things about college hockey, college sports in general, really, is the importance of Senior Night. This event, which highlights the accomplishments and contributions of every year’s graduating class, is held in sacred regard by programs and colleges alike. The NCAA, unlike its professional counterpart, provides student-athletes just four years of eligibility. At the University of Denver, seemingly in every sport, it’s constantly astonishing what every class is able to achieve in just four years. More than anything, it’s the student-athletes who compete on the ice, courts, and fields that have built these programs into the powerhouses and developing contenders that DU boasts. It’s during Senior Night that the program and fans have the opportunity to thank those student-athletes for their blood, sweat, tears, and other sacrifices that they’ve made for them. Continue reading Ian Mitchell signs with Blackhawks to forego senior year but his legacy will remain
Denver Men’s Basketball Adds Youth to Bolster Perimeter
Over the past month, the DU men’s basketball team has lost two members and added another two. DU sophomore Joseph Lanzi and freshman Owen McGlashan have entered the NCAA transfer portal. Denver followed these departures by adding freshmen Omar Rowe and flex guard/wing Drake Muller. Rowe and Muller join Sam Hines, Jr., a small forward, as DU’s freshman triad next season. It is worth noting with over 700 players entering the transfer portal each season so losing 1-2 players is not unexpected. Continue reading Denver Men’s Basketball Adds Youth to Bolster Perimeter
Eat Denver. Drink Denver. Support Denver.
Photo: The Duffy Roll Cafe on Pearl Street is offering curbside pick-up
The Crimson & Gold Trail is a program that promotes University of Denver alumni-run businesses. As many LetsGoDU readers know, DU alumni operate a number of excellent hospitality businesses in the Denver Metropolitan area. We have previously encouraged readers to support these entrepreneurs and their employees who have poured their blood sweat and tears into a variety of hospitality businesses in and around Denver and now, we’re doubling down on that call for support in these tough times thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading Eat Denver. Drink Denver. Support Denver.
DU, NCHC release schedules as temporary salve ahead of would-have-been Frozen Four
We are supposed to be in Detroit preparing for Denver’s matchup with Worcester Regional champion (probably North Dakota) right now. We were supposed to fly out yesterday morning, bring you all the pre-Frozen Four content that you’ve grown accustomed to over the past five years – three Frozen Fours in that span make for a pretty great habit. Instead, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was canceled last month and we haven’t had any hockey – college or professional – since. We didn’t get conference tournaments, we didn’t get NCAA Regionals, and now, probably the most painful of all, there is no Frozen Four. Continue reading DU, NCHC release schedules as temporary salve ahead of would-have-been Frozen Four
DU Admissions Successfully Battling COVID-19 Headwinds
According to information shared with the DU Faculty Senate, undergraduate enrollment appears solid for the summer and fall. Compared to last year’s enrollment, spring is holding at 94% and fall is 102% of the prior year. If this holds, the University of Denver would appear to be on relatively solid footing given the uncertainty surrounding the future thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. If this holds, it would stand in stark contrast to many published reports by other colleges and universities across the country. Continue reading DU Admissions Successfully Battling COVID-19 Headwinds
The End of Collegiate Athletics in Uncertain Times
There is a hard truth ahead of us.
The 2020-2021 collegiate athletic seasons may very well be lost.
With a COVID-19 vaccine still expected 12-18 months away and disease transmission still largely fueled by physical contact between people, Universities, sports leagues (and fans) will likely not take the risk of filling stadiums and arenas until such risk has been effectively mitigated. Administrators (and parents) are also not likely to want to expose student-athletes to travel, cramped locker rooms and contact sports with the associated risks. The same concerns extend to the wider University of Denver community — as it may well need to reduce potential liability through exposure in classrooms, common areas, busy dorms, and social interactions. Therefore, it is possible, if not probable, that much of the next school year could be held online, rather than in-person.
Continue reading The End of Collegiate Athletics in Uncertain Times
NCAA Delays Vote on Extended Soccer Season
A proposal to move men’s college soccer to a split season beginning in the 2022-2023 season was put on hold along with nearly 60 other NCAA proposals and reforms because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading NCAA Delays Vote on Extended Soccer Season
COVID-19 Update: University of Denver Set to Make Tough Staff Decisions in Spring
Sources are telling LetsGoDU that the University of Denver has made a decision to pay all full-time employees at least through the end of April. No firm determination has been made on an extension, furloughs, or cuts past that point. As we reported previously, DU is highly-dependent on tuition revenue for operations (about 78% of operating revenue came from tuition in 2019). The University is currently shuffling underutilized staff to other departments, or not filling open roles with a few exceptions (as approved by the Chancellor’s office). Continue reading COVID-19 Update: University of Denver Set to Make Tough Staff Decisions in Spring
Joe Scott Returns to Colorado for Second Stint with Air Force
The Air Force Academy has hired former DU coach Joe Scott (2007-2016) as the Academy’s next head basketball coach. After stints as an assistant coach at Holy Cross and Georgia, Scott returns to lead Air Force basketball for a second time, after head coaching there from 1999-2004. Continue reading Joe Scott Returns to Colorado for Second Stint with Air Force
NCAA Officially Grants Blanket Eligibility Waiver for Spring Athletes
Senior lacrosse star Ethan Walker has an extra year of eligibility. Junior women’s lacrosse star Quintin Hoch-Bullen now has two years of eligibility. Freshman women’s golf star Anna Zanusso – the same Anna Zanusso who carded an NCAA record 61 earlier this year – gets a full 4-year do-over. Yesterday, the NCAA Executive Council approved an extra year of eligibility for all spring NCAA Division I and II athletes. In the case of the University of Denver, this includes the men’s and women’s lacrosse, tennis, and golf.
As for gymnastics basketball and skiing – all three classified winter sports – will not receive special eligibility treatment under the new ruling. Continue reading NCAA Officially Grants Blanket Eligibility Waiver for Spring Athletes