>>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I still say the numbers don't tell the whole story. I remember plenty of instances last season when we needed a momentum-changing goal and never got it. All the goals in the world don't make up for not having them when you need them.


Powers &8^]

Give it up. I've tried numerous times to make the exact same point over the last couple seasons. They refuse to get it.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

RIT is capable of beating Bentley, but they are also capable of being swept. Why the offense seems to just miss on passes that could/should lead to goals is beyond me. In any case, the defense needs to play well to contain Grieve and Gensler for Bentley.

 

[mar7967]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

JAR PRIDE, a blog dedicated to Bentley hockey (run by eXcSports on this forum), posted an article about the "End of an Era for RIT." The article discusses the move to the Gene Polisseni Center, and how RIT risks losing the things that make 'RIT Hockey' and give the home ice 'advantage' that the Tigers have. I think this summarizes a lot of the fears the fans have. It's worth the read.

http://jarpride.com/2014/01/09/end-of-an-era-for-rit/

 

[lmg6841]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

We're such has beens :'(

JAR PRIDE, a blog dedicated to Bentley hockey (run by eXcSports on this forum), posted an article about the "End of an Era for RIT." The article discusses the move to the Gene Polisseni Center, and how RIT risks losing the things that make 'RIT Hockey' and give the home ice 'advantage' that the Tigers have. I think this summarizes a lot of the fears the fans have. It's worth the read.

http://jarpride.com/2014/01/09/end-of-an-era-for-rit/

 

[Scott Biggar]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

JAR PRIDE, a blog dedicated to Bentley hockey (run by eXcSports on this forum), posted an article about the "End of an Era for RIT." The article discusses the move to the Gene Polisseni Center, and how RIT risks losing the things that make 'RIT Hockey' and give the home ice 'advantage' that the Tigers have. I think this summarizes a lot of the fears the fans have. It's worth the read.

http://jarpride.com/2014/01/09/end-of-an-era-for-rit/

Is there any part of that opinion piece that is actually new to an RIT fan, or even to most of the non-RIT fans who are paying attention?

All of it has been re-hashed a thousand times already and it has been discussed at length by the folks actually designing the new rink. There will be, and have to be, tradeoffs whenever you move from one *thing* to another *thing* and that should be understood as part of the process.

It doesn't mean we can't all reminisce about the good old days, everyone knows we like to do that a lot

 

[lmg6841]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I learned a lot about BU?

Is there any part of that opinion piece that is actually new to an RIT fan, or even to most of the non-RIT fans who are paying attention?

All of it has been re-hashed a thousand times already and it has been discussed at length by the folks actually designing the new rink. There will be, and have to be, tradeoffs whenever you move from one *thing* to another *thing* and that should be understood as part of the process.

It doesn't mean we can't all reminisce about the good old days, everyone knows we like to do that a lot

 

[Chris Lerch]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Is there any part of that opinion piece that is actually new to an RIT fan, or even to most of the non-RIT fans who are paying attention?

All of it has been re-hashed a thousand times already and it has been discussed at length by the folks actually designing the new rink. There will be, and have to be, tradeoffs whenever you move from one *thing* to another *thing* and that should be understood as part of the process.

It doesn't mean we can't all reminisce about the good old days, everyone knows we like to do that a lot

Dan and you can re-hash this over beers in Boston this weekend.

One thing I will quibble with is Dan's (and other's) notion that this had to be done. A new arena had to be built. It did not. Even before the recent upgrade to the Ritter, it was easily in the top three venues in the AHA. It's been mentioned by national writers as one of the top arenas in all of college hockey (USCHO's and CBS's Dave Starman has it in the Top 5, for example).

Until the Frozen Four happened, those upgrades (chiller and new men's and women's locker rooms) were going to hold us over for the foreseeable future. After Detroit, it all changed. We were turning people away every game. The feeling was to strike while the iron was hot.

But three years later we are not turning people away anymore. Many games are not selling out. So yes, I have concerns about 1,900 (what we have been averaging) in a 4,200 seat barn once the novelty wears off. And I have big concerns about the atmosphere not being the same. I have yet to see a a new rink replace the atmosphere of an old rink. Cheel at Clarkson sucks. Oswego's rink sucks. Middlebury's rink is a palace but sterile compared to the old Duke Nelson. Sure Canisius' situation is an improvement because there is no atmosphere at Buff State. I guess Penn State's new arena is an improvement, but I was underwhelmed and that one cost twice what RIT is building. Ohio State went from a craphole seating 1,500 to an 18,000 seat arena, where they average 3,500. No atmosphere.

So I don't think the tradeoffs are worth it, personally. But I will wait and see.

 

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

This may seem true but statistically it is not. The distribution of the number of goals RIT scores in a game is about the the same as it has been over the past 5 seasons. It's just that the overall scoring is down by almost 0.4 goals per game compared to last season.

Let me say it a little better, what has been consistent is either the offense will score and the defense will be Swiss cheese or the defense will be firm and the offense fails to score more than 1 goal. Also I will say that RIT has lacked a timely goal the last year or two, however more to that is the surrendering of weak soft or otherwise complete defense break down goals. When it's church time those will kill your hockey team.

Now as for the freak out part, to an extent the frustration is justified. The question this year was if last year was we truly a bump in the road or a sign that RIT is in a down pattern. I think I have been about as optimistic and defended this team as much as anyone over the years. But I have always tried to be honest despite my desire to see this team succeed. That all being said I see a lot this team still has to prove before you can set expectations to what they where before last year. All they have really done was beat teams they should have when they fall just right on the schedule. As nice as the winning streak was, it did not install a sense of yes we are back, at least to me. And would be one thing to lose like they did on Friday, but then getting smoked on Saturday really feels like it undid that win streak.

Look I am not saying give up on this team and start your fantasy baseball draft research. I am just saying this team has a lot of soul searching to do. In a way it will be interesting to see how many men compare to boys we have in the room...

 

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Oswego's rink sucks.

In My Best Lee Corso, "Not so fast my friend!"

Okay I know I may be biased because of an old buddy of mine that I know you still hate, but how do you really figure that? Yes the Romney had a very unique old fashion feel and could be very loud, but it had horrible sight lines, easily made it one of my least favorite D-III rinks to watch a game. Yes, there was something lost in old time atmosphere, but that arena can certainly be loud. The place was rockin when I was there for the Quarter Final game in 2007 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUtyZ-CaVG0

Overall I can not see Oswego's arena as anything more than a success. It has definitely given Gosek an edge on the recruiting trail and from what I have heard they fill it well. My one complaint is they should have made it a full bowl instead of a horse shoe, but I think it's a long way from sucking...

The one thing that will be key for RIT is getting back to winning ways. They just have seem to hit a low point at the wrong time. If they are in the run for conference titles and winning I am sure that the new arena will be sold out more often than not. If the last year and half becomes the norm than we do have a problem...

 

[Chris Lerch]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I'm not sure who you think I hate (one of the Scott brothers?) but I don't.

I stand by my assessment. Oswego is one of three D-III schools that outdraw RIT (Utica and Plattsbugh are the others) but when they have 2,500 in the arena, which holds 3,000, the atmosphere is only half as good as it was at Romney. That place was insane. So loud. So cold. So many drunk kids. Really, really tough place to play. I still remember the look on Wayne's face the first time he was there.

 

[MattS]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

There will be, and have to be, tradeoffs whenever you move from one *thing* to another *thing* and that should be understood as part of the process.

I agree with this. There are always tradeoffs between old and new. I am very, very, skeptical that the TPTB truly know what makes Ritter great and what needs to be kept in the new arena. I have, and this is based upon public information (or maybe I should say lack of public information,) zero faith that this new arena will be an improvement over Ritter in terms of helping to improve the hockey program. I do believe bathrooms will be better, seats will be more comfortable, and food might improve, and maybe the locker room might be better, but none of this will do one thing to help RIT move up the ranks of the hockey elite.

One thing I will quibble with is Dan's (and other's) notion that this had to be done. A new arena had to be built. It did not. Even before the recent upgrade to the Ritter, it was easily in the top three venues in the AHA. It's been mentioned by national writers as one of the top arenas in all of college hockey (USCHO's and CBS's Dave Starman has it in the Top 5, for example).

Agreed. I think RIT administration got caught up in the euphoria of the Frozen Four run. I also think TPTB thought that RIT was going to build on the run and unfortunately they did not. I thought this too.

Let me say it a little better, what has been consistent is either the offense will score and the defense will be Swiss cheese or the defense will be firm and the offense fails to score more than 1 goal. Also I will say that RIT has lacked a timely goal the last year or two, however more to that is the surrendering of weak soft or otherwise complete defense break down goals. When it's church time those will kill your hockey team.

I understand what you are saying now and the point you are trying to make here. I am not sure if this is really true or not. I agree that it does seem that way based upon my memory but I am unsure if it really is true. When I get the chance I will investigate it based upon statistics of the games.

Look I am not saying give up on this team and start your fantasy baseball draft research. I am just saying this team has a lot of soul searching to do. In a way it will be interesting to see how many men compare to boys we have in the room...

I don’t think there is any more soul searching that can be done in that room. If it hasn’t been done and the answers found by now then it will never be with these players. It’s not like this past weekend was their first bad one. It’s been like this for a season and a half. Based upon performance the majority of players currently on the team don’t have the mental toughness to overcome moderate adversity.

The one thing that will be key for RIT is getting back to winning ways. They just have seem to hit a low point at the wrong time. If they are in the run for conference titles and winning I am sure that the new arena will be sold out more often than not. If the last year and half becomes the norm than we do have a problem...

Well said. I wholehearted agree with this in terms of attendance. Atmosphere is a whole different matter and we will not know that until the new arena opens.

I stand by my assessment. Oswego is one of three D-III schools that outdraw RIT (Utica and Plattsbugh are the others) but when they have 2,500 in the arena, which holds 3,000, the atmosphere is only half as good as it was at Romney. That place was insane. So loud. So cold. So many drunk kids. Really, really tough place to play. I still remember the look on Wayne's face the first time he was there.

I hated and loved Romney at the same time. The atmosphere was very good but hated the coldness. However, there is a charm about going outside to warm up at a game because of the cold in the rink.

 

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I'm not sure who you think I hate (one of the Scott brothers?) but I don't.

I stand by my assessment. Oswego is one of three D-III schools that outdraw RIT (Utica and Plattsbugh are the others) but when they have 2,500 in the arena, which holds 3,000, the atmosphere is only half as good as it was at Romney. That place was insane. So loud. So cold. So many drunk kids. Really, really tough place to play. I still remember the look on Wayne's face the first time he was there.

The "Hate" comment was a joke, referencing Ryan Scott beating RIT twice, I still get grief for that. All though Mike Scott is drawing paychecks by Canisius as a broadcaster. However I am happy to report that will end this season as Mike will relocate to Cincinnati, Ohio and is currently browsing the great selection of Bengals zubaz pants...

I hear what your saying and it's not without some merit. Maybe in hindsight if they made it a little smaller it would have been better. However when it is full it rocks, I don't think Plattsburgh has notice a difference since the new arena open in Oswego and may even say it louder with the extra people there, minus the bagels (THANK GOD!)...

What I'd like to ask you Chris is while I agree there was some loss in atmosphere when Oswego moved to their new arena, was it worth the trade off when you consider some of the clear positives that the new arena brought. I think the new arena was a big positive for the Oswego college and local community. And I definitely noticed a surge in recruiting ability since they open that arena. And even with the loss of the old time hockey atmosphere I would argue that the "viewing" experience has improved for fans going to the game. The sight lines are much better and in regard to overall game presentation as greatly improved with the video scoreboard and a nice sound system...

Now if they can only keep the pop corn machine from catching fire and causing alarms during the game, things will be okay

I want to also weigh in on the notion that the new arena had to be built. And I have to say I agree that it had to be built. Simply put what would the Outlook of the program look like right especially if this year's team finishes another 500ish season. The Ritter is a great D-III arena but if the goal is to try and make the program to rival a top notch D-I hockey progam you needed a new arena. If it was possible to expand the Ritter to be in the 3k-4k range I think you would have had other options. Otherwise to just keep the Ritter as is would have been to give up on competing at anything more than the best team of a low end conference. The run to the Frozen Four got the opportunity, Steve Shultz graciously supplied the first Million and here we are. As I have been saying all along, to me this arena is undermined if RIT doesn't find a way to offer scholarships. I know some will argue that till blue in the face, but these days we are seeing a increase in the number of voices calling for college athletes to be paid, which I say I am very much against. However, given the push I worry it may actually happen and if it does could negatively impact RIT as the program is now...

 

[lmg6841]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Agreed. I think RIT administration got caught up in the euphoria of the Frozen Four run. I also think TPTB thought that RIT was going to build on the run and unfortunately they did not. I thought this too.

I think if RIT would have made another NCAA tournament (which they came very close to twice) and shown that we're going to stay relevant on the national stage, then the rink would have been a must have. That, sadly, did not happen. As mentioned already, lack of success and the fair weather Rochester community has given up on us. It still amazes me that a hockey school with a large student body can't fill those seats on its own.

 

[RITProf]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

It still amazes me that a hockey school with a large student body can't fill those seats on its own.

Free tickets for students and free beer for faculty and we can jump start that puppy!

So now let's just hope for a surprise sweep at Bentley to give fans hope again.

 

[Bing]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Free tickets for students and free beer for faculty and we can jump start that puppy!

So now let's just hope for a surprise sweep at Bentley to give fans hope again.

How about free beer for the players? Now THAT would be a hockey game

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Free tickets for students and free beer for faculty and we can jump start that puppy!

So now let's just hope for a surprise sweep at Bentley to give fans hope again.

There are already opportunities for free tickets, at least in the dorms. And the $5 price of admission isn't going to keep even the poorest students away from going to a game if their friends are going.

The majority of students are going to be casual fans, they probably couldn't name 3 players on the team or who we played last weekend - but they will know the general tone because people around them will make blanket statements proclaiming us terrible because we're not in first place, thus it's very easy to turn off people from going because they just assume we're super bad and going to lose...even though we're still competitive in almost all our games, even the losses.

When you have a team barnstorming the league and sitting in 1st/2nd place all season and regularly making championship games, people get the impression that if they pay $5 to get in, it will be money well spent. The team just doesn't have much buzz right now, and now that the rink is (more or less) standing, the hype around it seems to have evaporated along with the fundraising. Once the rink is built, I imagine we'll be able to pull in big attendance for at least a few months (hopefully the whole first season) because it's new and shiny and different. Ideally the team will not start 0-6-2 next season.....

 

[lmg6841]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

There are already opportunities for free tickets, at least in the dorms. And the $5 price of admission isn't going to keep even the poorest students away from going to a game if their friends are going.

$5-10 is a night of drinking in undergrad. At least, while I was underage, that was the door fee to parties. That price of course went up when I could start going to bars.

You're right though. People aren't willing to pay anything for a lack luster experience.

 

[RITFan67]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Speaking of tickets... has anyone heard what the season ticket prices are rumored to be next year?

 

[komey1]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

If they didn't start building the new arena after the Frozen Four run - it wasn't going to happen. They had to strike while the iron was hot. And now after six years being at or near the top of the standings, the Tigers are facing their first downturn in results. The timing could not have been worse. Early departures of players like Tanev took their toll, and the lack of quality goaltending since Madolora has been a thorn in the side of the program.

RIT needs to put the pieces back into place to make the team more successful. A new arena is part of the equation.

 

[35TH40TH]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

In the immortal words of Charlie Brown WERE CURSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At the end of one at the girls game we are down one and down by two in the boys game.

Ok time to get some hot chocolate and regroup!

GO TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!