MINNESOTANS DRAFTED in the 2010 NHL Draft

[DubCHAGuy]

Alt's odds of making something of a career is much better in hockey. If for nothing more than the sheer quantity of opportunities beyond just the very highest level (NHL or NFL).

Why? Because of the sheer numbers of kids playing football vs. hockey? That logic goes both ways, for instance the odds of a kid who QB'ed at Cretin making it to the NFL is higher than any kid who played hockey at Cretin. That's what statistics would tell me anyway. If you're basing this on his hockey ability now or in the future then make that point becuase throwing out statisics based on numbers of kids playing makes no sense at this time.

Because of all the different levels of pro hockey and the number of different leagues in all sorts of countries obviously there is a much better chance to eek out a living for a few years playing hockey than there is in football with no minor league and really only 2 professional leagues. My opinion is based on his talent level in both sports and it's soley my opinion having seen him play both and that's his develoment playing QB at a Big Ten univeristy would prepare him better for the NFL than playing defense at Minnesota will prepare him for the NHL.

I'd like to hear why you think otherwise other than basic statistics which at Alt's level are meaningless.

According to Rivals.com, Alt was recruited by Stanford, UCLA, Minnesota, and Iowa. I don't know of any NFL quarterbacks from those schools, where as the list of Gopher Defensemen in the NHL includes Leopold, Ballard, Martin, Goligoski, Johnson, etc. with several in the AHL.

[sorno82]

Plunkett, Elway, Broadie - Stanford

Aikman- UCLA

Podalak, Long - Iowa

Nagurski? - Minnesota

Some good QBs from Stanford and UCLA

[goldy313]

Alt was recruited by a number of schools, maybe he fell into the same category Joe Mauer did and he wasn't highly recruited because the writing was on the wall he (Mauer) was going to play baseball. Alt made his decision to play hockey pretty early in the football signing period, prior to Seantrel Henderson signing I believe. Alt also only officially visited 1 school, Iowa. You're a fool to think Kirk Ferenetz only recruited him because who is dad was, there is a reason Iowa is annually among the top teams in Big Ten and the country and it's not because they throw away scholarships to alumni's kids. Iowa failed to sign a top or any QB, a position of need for the Hawkeyes as Stanzi is a senior and the rest are untested pretty much unheralded underclassmen.

Alt is/was the top QB prospect in Minnesota this past season.

As for NFL QB's from the schools mentioned...
Stanford -Jim Plunkett, John Elway and their coach is former NFL pro bowl QB Jim Harbaugh they also had the 26th best recruiting class.
UCLA - Troy Aikman, Norm Chow came from USC to run the Bruin offense, they also have the 8th best recruiting class for 2010.
Iowa - not exactly QB U but a very good program.

Other than Minnesota these are good football programs that recruited Alt.

Gopherblog, a grey shirt allows you pay a semester to preserve your eligibility, in Alt's case Iowa offered him a grey shirt knowing he was going to play hockey, should he change his mind come December and enroll at Iowa there is a spot for him on the Hawkeye's for 2011 allowing him 5 full years of football. Florida State offered Joe Mauer the same thing.

I'm glad he's doing what he wants to do instead of what others tell him he should do, that's very important. Also from what he has said he enjoys hockey more which is the best reason to choose that route, not his chances of making it to the NFL or NHL because in both cases the odds are slim.

[DubCHAGuy]

Alt was recruited by a number of schools, maybe he fell into the same category Joe Mauer did and he wasn't highly recruited because the writing was on the wall he (Mauer) was going to play baseball. Alt made his decision to play hockey pretty early in the football signing period, prior to Seantrel Henderson signing I believe. Alt also only officially visited 1 school, Iowa. You're a fool to think Kirk Ferenetz only recruited him because who is dad was, there is a reason Iowa is annually among the top teams in Big Ten and the country and it's not because they throw away scholarships to alumni's kids. Iowa failed to sign a top or any QB, a position of need for the Hawkeyes as Stanzi is a senior and the rest are untested pretty much unheralded underclassmen.

Alt is/was the top QB prospect in Minnesota this past season.

As for NFL QB's from the schools mentioned...
Stanford -Jim Plunkett, John Elway and their coach is former NFL pro bowl QB Jim Harbaugh they also had the 26th best recruiting class.
UCLA - Troy Aikman, Norm Chow came from USC to run the Bruin offense, they also have the 8th best recruiting class for 2010.
Iowa - not exactly QB U but a very good program.

Other than Minnesota these are good football programs that recruited Alt.

Gopherblog, a grey shirt allows you pay a semester to preserve your eligibility, in Alt's case Iowa offered him a grey shirt knowing he was going to play hockey, should he change his mind come December and enroll at Iowa there is a spot for him on the Hawkeye's for 2011 allowing him 5 full years of football. Florida State offered Joe Mauer the same thing.

I'm glad he's doing what he wants to do instead of what others tell him he should do, that's very important. Also from what he has said he enjoys hockey more which is the best reason to choose that route, not his chances of making it to the NFL or NHL because in both cases the odds are slim.

Well, I was referring to current pros. Good point by Goldy though. I think we all wish we had Alt's "problem" at 18 years old.

[High Flyer]

Mattson was soft in the USHL, had a very average year and that hurt him in the draft. Lets see how Alt does this year before we make any comparisons. My guess is that it is going to e a VERY long year for Mark Alt in the WCHA.

Why? Because the Gophers aren't very good? Because their recent history at defense isn't very good? Or Alt isn't that good?

Alt is a tremendous athlete and my guess is he'll fit in quickly, much quicker than many hockey only kids do with the jump up. Alt's athletic ability will overcome a lot at the college level. My personal opinion is he should be at Iowa playing football as I think his future is brighter there but I hope this works out well for him.

And how did that athletic ability help him this year at the high school hockey level??? Many, many times I saw him getting beat by much younger, smaller, slower and less athletic players than what he will face in the WCHA. Defensivley speaking, his footwork/skating has a ways to go.

I'm going to side with Flatontheice, in that its going to be long year for Alt this year in the WCHA, though I do think he will eventualy turn the corner.

[breakout]

Mattson was soft in the USHL, had a very average year and that hurt him in the draft. Lets see how Alt does this year before we make any comparisons. My guess is that it is going to e a VERY long year for Mark Alt in the WCHA.

Why? Because the Gophers aren't very good? Because their recent history at defense isn't very good? Or Alt isn't that good?

Alt is a tremendous athlete and my guess is he'll fit in quickly, much quicker than many hockey only kids do with the jump up. Alt's athletic ability will overcome a lot at the college level. My personal opinion is he should be at Iowa playing football as I think his future is brighter there but I hope this works out well for him.

And how did that athletic ability help him this year at the high school hockey level??? Many, many times I saw him getting beat by much younger, smaller, slower and less athletic players than what he will face in the WCHA. Defensivley speaking, his footwork/skating has a ways to go.

I'm going to side with Flatontheice, in that its going to be long year for Alt this year in the WCHA, though I do think he will eventualy turn the corner.

It will be interesting to see who they partner Alt with.