Re: Colgate 2014-2015: Part II
The schedule is completed and it is not going to change.
Colgate normally plays 34 games during the regular season and there may occasionally be an exhibition game as well against a Canadian university. This includes 22 league games and 12 non-conference games. Of the 22 league games, 11 are at home and 11 are on the road. Thus, Colgate is normally guaranteed at least 11 home games. Now, because Colgate will be playing a home game against Brown in Northern Ireland this coming season, the number of ECAC league home games falls to 10.
So, outside of the 22 league games, you have 12 non-conference games. These are normally set up well in advance and contracts are made, usually these involve a home-and-home scenario where for example Colgate will host a school for two games and then travel to that school the following year for two games, or this could just be a one-and-one. Some examples of previously completed two-year contracts include St. Cloud State, Miami, Bowling Green and Lake Superior State just to name a few.
Overall last season, there were 18 home games - 15 regular season games, one exhibition and two playoff games. The 15 regular season games included four non-conference games at home with both Northeastern and Mercyhurst being at Starr Rink in October for two-game weekends. This coming season, those contracts both flip and Colgate travels to both Northeastern and Mercyhurst - though in the case of Northeastern, the second game of what was originally supposed to be two at Matthews Arena will be played as part of the Friendship Four in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The games versus 'Hurst and NU/Friendship Four championship/consolation take up four of Colgate's 12 non-conference games.
The three non-conference home games come against defending national champion Providence (2) and 2015 NCAA participant R.I.T. And the game against R.I.T. is part of a home-and-home weekend. So then you have eight of 12 non-conference games.
Then you have two at Maine which are very likely part of a reciprocal agreement to where Maine will travel to Class of 1965 Arena in 2016-17 or 2017-18. Union and Maine are just wrapping up a contract much like that this coming season with the Black Bears playing in Schenectady after hosting Union last year. And Colgate also plays in the Vermont tournament. Colgate and UVM have had several different home-and-home type contracts and this may be the start of a new agreement that has Vermont coming to Hamilton to play at Class of 1965 Arena.
Scheduling is an inexact science and oftentimes, agreements are made several years in advance or long-ranging contracts are made (like with the four-year agreement with Providence that was initially reported by the ProJo's Mark Divver). There was talk during last season about Colgate playing a home-and-home with Arizona State. From those conversations on the Coaches Show with Coach Vaughan, this agreement should be starting in 2016-17. I believe it was also mentioned on this board that Colgate would be hosting Army in the first game at Class of 1965 Arena, that's another home game.
And regarding the lack of a home game from early December through mid-January, that's just how the league schedule sets up this year and schools really do not have a say in the matter. Some years there will be a dearth of home games in the first half, other years there will not be. The Cornell weekend is also normally in the second half but with the block schedule not having an open weekend after league play resumes in mid-January, a decision had to be made. Colgate and Cornell both had an open weekend in November and that's when the games were scheduled. The only other option would have been to stagger the games and play them on random Tuesday nights.
Hopefully this explanation helps. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on the schedule but I figure it helps to have some insight for those that maybe have forgotten how things work or simply were not aware.
The schedule is completed and it is not going to change.
Colgate normally plays 34 games during the regular season and there may occasionally be an exhibition game as well against a Canadian university. This includes 22 league games and 12 non-conference games. Of the 22 league games, 11 are at home and 11 are on the road. Thus, Colgate is normally guaranteed at least 11 home games. Now, because Colgate will be playing a home game against Brown in Northern Ireland this coming season, the number of ECAC league home games falls to 10.
So, outside of the 22 league games, you have 12 non-conference games. These are normally set up well in advance and contracts are made, usually these involve a home-and-home scenario where for example Colgate will host a school for two games and then travel to that school the following year for two games, or this could just be a one-and-one. Some examples of previously completed two-year contracts include St. Cloud State, Miami, Bowling Green and Lake Superior State just to name a few.
Overall last season, there were 18 home games - 15 regular season games, one exhibition and two playoff games. The 15 regular season games included four non-conference games at home with both Northeastern and Mercyhurst being at Starr Rink in October for two-game weekends. This coming season, those contracts both flip and Colgate travels to both Northeastern and Mercyhurst - though in the case of Northeastern, the second game of what was originally supposed to be two at Matthews Arena will be played as part of the Friendship Four in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The games versus 'Hurst and NU/Friendship Four championship/consolation take up four of Colgate's 12 non-conference games.
The three non-conference home games come against defending national champion Providence (2) and 2015 NCAA participant R.I.T. And the game against R.I.T. is part of a home-and-home weekend. So then you have eight of 12 non-conference games.
Then you have two at Maine which are very likely part of a reciprocal agreement to where Maine will travel to Class of 1965 Arena in 2016-17 or 2017-18. Union and Maine are just wrapping up a contract much like that this coming season with the Black Bears playing in Schenectady after hosting Union last year. And Colgate also plays in the Vermont tournament. Colgate and UVM have had several different home-and-home type contracts and this may be the start of a new agreement that has Vermont coming to Hamilton to play at Class of 1965 Arena.
Scheduling is an inexact science and oftentimes, agreements are made several years in advance or long-ranging contracts are made (like with the four-year agreement with Providence that was initially reported by the ProJo's Mark Divver). There was talk during last season about Colgate playing a home-and-home with Arizona State. From those conversations on the Coaches Show with Coach Vaughan, this agreement should be starting in 2016-17. I believe it was also mentioned on this board that Colgate would be hosting Army in the first game at Class of 1965 Arena, that's another home game.
And regarding the lack of a home game from early December through mid-January, that's just how the league schedule sets up this year and schools really do not have a say in the matter. Some years there will be a dearth of home games in the first half, other years there will not be. The Cornell weekend is also normally in the second half but with the block schedule not having an open weekend after league play resumes in mid-January, a decision had to be made. Colgate and Cornell both had an open weekend in November and that's when the games were scheduled. The only other option would have been to stagger the games and play them on random Tuesday nights.
Hopefully this explanation helps. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on the schedule but I figure it helps to have some insight for those that maybe have forgotten how things work or simply were not aware.
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