RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

[Bradz]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

Just changed to lurker status mostly; like many.

Me too!


I never have understood the elimination game in picking a new coach for a program that has lost its shine. By elimination game I mean ADs and fans alike eliminating higher quality candidates simply because there isn’t a direct relationship to the institution. When I look at the success Mankato State has had in hiring Hastings a very successful coach at the Junior level who mirrored his success at the D-I level, I can’t help but wonder why names like Cary Eades don’t surface in the consideration process. Looking at his success in the USHL and his reputation for not only recruiting but also for being able to establish the all-important coach player relationships he enjoys, any AD with an opening would be nutsy not to seek him out and determine if there was any interest on his part.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

I'm no expert but you would think they would invest heavily in a few "scoring" machines.

The problem is that there is a lot of competition for such players.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

Me too!


I never have understood the elimination game in picking a new coach for a program that has lost its shine. By elimination game I mean ADs and fans alike eliminating higher quality candidates simply because there isn’t a direct relationship to the institution. When I look at the success Mankato State has had in hiring Hastings a very successful coach at the Junior level who mirrored his success at the D-I level, I can’t help but wonder why names like Cary Eades don’t surface in the consideration process. Looking at his success in the USHL and his reputation for not only recruiting but also for being able to establish the all-important coach player relationships he enjoys, any AD with an opening would be nutsy not to seek him out and determine if there was any interest on his part.

I don't think that we have had a head coach related to RPI since Garry Kearns unless you count the fact that Dan Fridgen had been an assistant

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

that wasn't an article about RPI or it's hockey program, it was a thinly veiled soliloquy for the ex-coach, who was more interested in PR than doing the job he was hired for.

Best part of the article was where they combined his record w/ Fridgen's and still couldn't reach .500.

Can we be done with this used car salesman?

I was done with it for the past year. Jenny had been urging the same thing for the past 5 years. Would never desert our boys as they really do play their hearts out and give everything they have. The early signs of trouble we saw were mostly talent that came in as freshmen just never progressed much (with a few exceptions) and the same basics never got any better (faceoffs, playing with and holding third period leads, unnecessary penalties, etc. etc. etc.). We are back for now waiting to see who takes the reins. Hope this is the change needed but have some concerns that the coach still has to acquiesce to the powers that hover above him. As far as recruiting goes, this program used to sell itself but as EHF posted, it no longer can rely on 2 NCAA banners obtained 32 and 63 years ago. Not being able to make the ECAC final four in a decade does not help either.

 

[jmhusker]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

that wasn't an article about RPI or it's hockey program, it was a thinly veiled soliloquy for the ex-coach, who was more interested in PR than doing the job he was hired for.

Best part of the article was where they combined his record w/ Fridgen's and still couldn't reach .500.

Can we be done with this used car salesman?

I agree. Can't believe it took so many words to essentially say "He is my friend and is such a nice guy therefore... it's impossible for RPI to find a better coach." The conclusion was almost a complete non-sequitur.

I also don't agree with the premise that we expect an instant return to national championship contention. That would be nice of course but everyone understands that it is a challenge. Many simply long for a team that is well coached, heady and competitive. Hard work and intelligence on the ice can overcome a lot. Given our players have to be so darn smart just to get in... I don't think that's an unrealistic expectation at all.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

Hey Doc, I sat in Section 6 in HFH back in 1984-85 and still sit there today. What row were you in? I never got any desserts from Bella Napoli
BTW, my friend and I used to bring air horns to games like Freakout! and the NCAA tournament games. They were confiscated at the Joe and never got them back...

We spent half the time that year with friends in section 5 also. But in section 6 i am fairly certain we were row K. We had 4 seats every year as we used to often bring my daughter and a friend along. We always had a flask or two of something with us. usually a sweet sherry of some sort and a premium vodka in the other. We had those seats or the ones in section 5 from 1975 through 2001. If you did not get any dessert, i apologize. You missed out on some great stuff (remember the sponge cake ball called the 'Peach' since it was soaked in peach brandy and 151 proof rum?)

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

I've heard that the AD has told the players that the school is spending $22 million on field house upgrades over the next 2 years. Supposedly the Zamboni end will mirror the entrance with boxes and additional offices The seating bowl will be updgraded with new seats and there will be upgrades to player facilities, such as their own gym and a shooting machine.

ugh... no more boxes... Put the band back behind where we shoot twice but a bit higher so they're above the glass, and close off the area underneath for Brown's (or another local brewery) to put some taps in!

 

[Bradz]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

I don't think that we have had a head coach related to RPI since Garry Kearns unless you count the fact that Dan Fridgen had been an assistant

Just referring to comments regarding Barr, Oates, etcetera. Sometimes completely cutting the cord pays in the end.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

Dean Blais has stepped down as UNO head coach. That makes four schools looking for coaches: RPI, UNO, NMU, and Niagara. There will be competition for coaches.

 

[QUAlum2004]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

Dean Blais has stepped down as UNO head coach. That makes four schools looking for coaches: RPI, UNO, NMU, and Niagara. There will be competition for coaches.

I wouldn't be surprised if UNO puts Ben Barr at the top of their list. Has ties to the NCHC from his time at Western Michigan plus they have an elite facility in Baxter Arena.

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

I wouldn't be surprised if UNO puts Ben Barr at the top of their list. Has ties to the NCHC from his time at Western Michigan plus they have an elite facility in Baxter Arena.

You're in the wrong thread, mac.

 

[Bradz]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

AD's guy, he brought him in Blais didn't.
Mike Gabinet

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

that wasn't an article about RPI or it's hockey program, it was a thinly veiled soliloquy for the ex-coach, who was more interested in PR than doing the job he was hired for.

Agree on the characterization of the article, but exactly what proof do you have that Appert "was more interested in PR than doing the job he was hired for?" That's an awfully pointed charge to make.

If you wanted to say that he was better at PR than the job he was hired for (producing on-ice success), I won't argue with that. I don't think anyone who could take a holistic view of his time at RPI would be able to argue with that. It's why he was let go even with four years left on his contract. But "more interested?" Please.

This is a big part of the problem I've always had with people who just could not stop the incessant whining over Appert - this attitude that he didn't care about winning, or something. I know where it comes from - he stayed positive to a T, even when things were obviously bad. That's not a character flaw, being positive. But I can see how people who honestly don't know any better - simpletons - could take a look at that and simply come to the conclusion that he didn't care.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

Agree on the characterization of the article, but exactly what proof do you have that Appert "was more interested in PR than doing the job he was hired for?" That's an awfully pointed charge to make.

If you wanted to say that he was better at PR than the job he was hired for (producing on-ice success), I won't argue with that. I don't think anyone who could take a holistic view of his time at RPI would be able to argue with that. It's why he was let go even with four years left on his contract. But "more interested?" Please.

This is a big part of the problem I've always had with people who just could not stop the incessant whining over Appert - this attitude that he didn't care about winning, or something. I know where it comes from - he stayed positive to a T, even when things were obviously bad. That's not a character flaw, being positive. But I can see how people who honestly don't know any better - simpletons - could take a look at that and simply come to the conclusion that he didn't care.

I'm not sure it's so much not caring as being exposed that they were out of options. Admitting this gets you a one-way ticket to the bread line, so no one with half a brain would volunteer that. I look at a number of areas that could use improvement, and obviously finding a problem is going to happen. You can't expect your team to be 69-70 Cornell all the time. Naturally, we expect improvement to be shown. If they try something different and it doesn't work, OK, do some more analysis and get it right. That's also going to happen. What many of the "whiners" saw, however, is the definition of insanity: Performing the same experiment again and again expecting different results. Some may equate that to giving up. Perhaps they either didn't know how to improve, or didn't want to try something else because it wouldn't work with the ultimate team strategy, so they were left in the dust.

 

[ServinisScores]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

Agree on the characterization of the article, but exactly what proof do you have that Appert "was more interested in PR than doing the job he was hired for?" That's an awfully pointed charge to make.

If you wanted to say that he was better at PR than the job he was hired for (producing on-ice success), I won't argue with that. I don't think anyone who could take a holistic view of his time at RPI would be able to argue with that. It's why he was let go even with four years left on his contract. But "more interested?" Please.

This is a big part of the problem I've always had with people who just could not stop the incessant whining over Appert - this attitude that he didn't care about winning, or something. I know where it comes from - he stayed positive to a T, even when things were obviously bad. That's not a character flaw, being positive. But I can see how people who honestly don't know any better - simpletons - could take a look at that and simply come to the conclusion that he didn't care.

Fair point. Should have said "seemed more interested". The slanted article seemed to be testament to his image and a series of excuses - not grounded in reality (much like his exit statements in the press). Fair enough. He and others spend a lot of time patting him on the back for his work in the community, but not much else. Maybe that's indicative of this year. I would also add he wasn't always positive, which I don't have a huge issue with one way or the other. His inability to coach and lead (his #1 priority at RPI) has been demonstrated over a more-than-fair sample size.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

Although when I linked it in post #299, I called what appeared in the Record an article, it is billed at the top as Opinion.

 

[fishcore12]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

If Ben Barr is not hired, the posters on this board are going to poo poo all over whoever gets hired. I feel bad for the guy who gets the job if Ben Barr doesn't take it. Whoever gets the job has my full support like the last coach had and the coach before that had. The only thing I wasn't crazy about with Appert was that motivational coach or whatever he was that was brought in. The guy seemed like a scam artist. Either way, I hope to see a new coach announced sooner rather than later.

 

[giwan]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

If Ben Barr is not hired, the posters on this board are going to poo poo all over whoever gets hired. I feel bad for the guy who gets the job if Ben Barr doesn't take it. Whoever gets the job has my full support like the last coach had and the coach before that had. The only thing I wasn't crazy about with Appert was that motivational coach or whatever he was that was brought in. The guy seemed like a scam artist. Either way, I hope to see a new coach announced sooner rather than later.

Real question is, whatever coach gets hired IS there the proper funding for success?

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

If Ben Barr is not hired, the posters on this board are going to poo poo all over whoever gets hired. I feel bad for the guy who gets the job if Ben Barr doesn't take it. Whoever gets the job has my full support like the last coach had and the coach before that had. The only thing I wasn't crazy about with Appert was that motivational coach or whatever he was that was brought in. The guy seemed like a scam artist. Either way, I hope to see a new coach announced sooner rather than later.

I could care less if it's Ben Barr, Jason Lammers, or Santa Claus. In my book, he/she gets five years (about the time it takes for your first recruits to become seniors; I won't hold the previous hand against the coach) to get something together to satisfy. If he/she pulls it off, consistency is what I look for. If it doesn't deliver, my support is lost.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future

Real question is, whatever coach gets hired IS there the proper funding for success?

Given what we've seen with ECAV, the gear, and what not, I highly doubt funding is an issue.