RPI 2020 Off-season Overtime: In Memory of Turk181

[DavidNardolillo]

I can deal with the decision to not play games, but to needlessly take development time away from the players is ridiculous.

I get the frustration. I also noticed Coach Smith's delicately-worded contrast of the situation with the in person learning on campus. As for comparisons to other schools, I think the local situation had some influence. I bet RPI looked at UAlbany, which has had to intermittently shut down its athletic facilities and practices, and then decided that it wasn't going to open up facilities at all. UAlbany's athletic teams are currently in the same boat (https://www.timesunion.com/sports/ar...g-15715294.php). It's a conservative play by RPI. I can understand that move, but that said, i don't think it is better to allow people to go off campus to privately work out while on-campus opportunities are closed.

 

[NPC19850330]

uhhhh... with the season canceled, wouldn't we have to move to D-II in order to start offering scholarships again? Because doesn't Prop 65-1 state that if you stop offering scholarships for a year, you can no longer offer them while D-III?

 

[Ralph Baer]

uhhhh... with the season canceled, wouldn't we have to move to D-II in order to start offering scholarships again? Because doesn't Prop 65-1 state that if you stop offering scholarships for a year, you can no longer offer them while D-III?

I would hope that the players are still getting the scholarships even though they are not playing.

 

[Ralph Baer]

In honor of Meagan Byrum, today is 20 November 2020. There are 316 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 2 October 2021 for the start of next season.

 

[tony/troy]

uhhhh... with the season canceled, wouldn't we have to move to D-II in order to start offering scholarships again? Because doesn't Prop 65-1 state that if you stop offering scholarships for a year, you can no longer offer them while D-III?

Kudos for an amazing memory for remembering that "gem" from almost two decades ago. However, not sure you remembered everything. Is there not something in that thing that states the program must run without interruption?? In other words, you got to play. Sure hope my memory is faulty or it could be big trouble.

For all the other sports a move to D2 is not very practical for an institution located where this one is. Time spent traveling, class time lost and just plain costs involved would all soar as opposed to traveling the D3 circuit.

 

[tony/troy]

I probably should have been more clear. I didn't mean to imply I was upset with Smith. I feel bad for the guy -- I was more reacting to what the handling of this has meant to the program. Smith's comments about his wife having students in a class and yet he not being able to hold his "class" (practices) were insightful...and probably put him at risk of a remprimand. I give him a lot of credit for being a solid leader and hope he can hang in there and keep his asst. coaches employed here for the next 10-11 months. That is the real immediate concern for me -- the fate of our ACs...i.e. will they receive their salaries.

Risk of a reprimand for making that obvious statement most twelve year old's' could process? Really? More likely to be reprimanded for the one about still trying to process the political portion of the pandemic as opposed to the medical portion of it. Here is a new flash. So am I!!! Would they want to reprimand paying customer fans too?

Would not lose a whole lot of sleep about any reprimands for Dave (as he said he would rather be called) or even the step beyond that. Coaching chops are now very well established. Fifteen years of absolute, total and complete irrelevance were wiped out in the seemingly incomprehensible time frame of just two and a half years.

A contract buyout would most definitely not be the worst day in the lives of this particular family. There are more than a couple higher powered and far more successful programs presently being coached by, well, OLD GUYS. If any of them want to keep the mojo going when the inevitable day comes, our guy would not exactly be a bad choice at all. This guy really knows how to do this coaching thing and, at minimum, deserves far better than this funny farm anyway.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

I would like to welcome the two new posters who identified themselves as parents.
As a parent myself i can say that my priority for my children at RPI (They are both Alums), would be their health and education.
I am very happy with the decision that SAJ made for the health of the student population.
I am not very happy with the way she went about it. Some communication and recognition of the athletes sacrifices would have gone a long way to easing the disappointment of the players and fans.
I am also sorry to see Savory go, and I pray for his health as he plays through this season.
I would hope that the school would honor the coaches contracts.
It would be tragic to lose Smith now that he has us going in the right direction.

 

[sezenack]

uhhhh... with the season canceled, wouldn't we have to move to D-II in order to start offering scholarships again? Because doesn't Prop 65-1 state that if you stop offering scholarships for a year, you can no longer offer them while D-III?

1) Just because the team is not playing does not mean they are not offering scholarships. They are still students studying at the institute after all.
2) I'm pretty sure that the NCAA is waiving that requirement with all the cancelations from covid.

 

[NPC19850330]

Took a look at 20.7 of the D-III regulations, and there's nothing stating the waiver has to be obtained every year, just that it had to be used in 2002-03 and first obtained in 2003. And more than likely we obtained the waiver before the year started anyway. Phew.

 

[Waite21]

Hockey East opened its season this evening. Three games were on the schedule: UNH at BC, UMass at Maine, and UConn at UVM.

Only one game was actually played, and it wasn't one of the three that were scheduled. Apparently after Maine and UVM decided not to play, UMass and UConn arranged a matchup at the last minute and played this evening in Amherst.

Have to wonder how likely it is that Hockey East will actually be able to continue playing games into the second semester. I hope for Owen Savory's sake that he didn't transfer away from RPI only to find that he won't be able to play any games at UMass-Lowell, either.

 

[rpi82]

Hockey East opened its season this evening. Three games were on the schedule: UNH at BC, UMass at Maine, and UConn at UVM.

Only one game was actually played, and it wasn't one of the three that were scheduled. Apparently after Maine and UVM decided not to play, UMass and UConn arranged a matchup at the last minute and played this evening in Amherst.

Have to wonder how likely it is that Hockey East will actually be able to continue playing games into the second semester. I hope for Owen Savory's sake that he didn't transfer away from RPI only to find that he won't be able to play any games at UMass-Lowell, either.

I presume Owen remains enrolled at RPI until the end of final exams. If HE or UML were to throw in the towel in the next 4 weeks I suppose it's possible he could just not enroll in Lowell. However, that is extremely unlikely and, even if the games are cancelled the HE schools would probably at least do some on ice work and have time with coaches. Quite honestly, I could understand Shirley's decision on games and travel but I don't know why they can't do work in small groups with coaching on and off the ice. Owen seems to be a guy that thrives on work - note how his play improved in both his years with us to the point that he was a 60 minutes every game brick wall at the end of the season - so it must drive him nuts not to have any access to the ice.

 

[Ralph Baer]

In honor of Morgan Ondrick, today is 21 November 2020. There are 315 days (45 weeks) until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 2 October 2021 for the start of next season.

 

[Ralph Baer]

I presume Owen remains enrolled at RPI until the end of final exams. If HE or UML were to throw in the towel in the next 4 weeks I suppose it's possible he could just not enroll in Lowell. However, that is extremely unlikely and, even if the games are cancelled the HE schools would probably at least do some on ice work and have time with coaches. Quite honestly, I could understand Shirley's decision on games and travel but I don't know why they can't do work in small groups with coaching on and off the ice. Owen seems to be a guy that thrives on work - note how his play improved in both his years with us to the point that he was a 60 minutes every game brick wall at the end of the season - so it must drive him nuts not to have any access to the ice.

That situation also crossed my mind, but I decided that it won't happen. :-(

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

I presume Owen remains enrolled at RPI until the end of final exams. If HE or UML were to throw in the towel in the next 4 weeks I suppose it's possible he could just not enroll in Lowell. However, that is extremely unlikely and, even if the games are cancelled the HE schools would probably at least do some on ice work and have time with coaches. Quite honestly, I could understand Shirley's decision on games and travel but I don't know why they can't do work in small groups with coaching on and off the ice. Owen seems to be a guy that thrives on work - note how his play improved in both his years with us to the point that he was a 60 minutes every game brick wall at the end of the season - so it must drive him nuts not to have any access to the ice.

I don't quite understand. Do you mean that Owen is still enrolled at RPI on a scholarship and will be playing hockey for UMass Lowell? How is that possible?
Can someone explain that?

 

[RPI67]

Chris Onorato interviewing coach Smith yesterday
https://www.pscp.tv/w/1OwxWVlRBWDJQ

Thanks. Great to hear about hockey.

 

[25+years]

When you enter the transfer portal I would have to think you are agreeing to attend the school you transfer to. What type of deal Savory got re scholarship at UML is not known. I can’t imagine UML will honor RPI’s offer if they don’t have a scholarship to offer. As to Savory returning if the grass isn’t greener at UML, I imagine Smith would take him in a heartbeat, but I can’t see the NCAA allowing players to do that. It would be a major headache for all involved. I imagine another goalie at UML got screwed in this deal i.e. will get zero playing time.

 

[rpi82]

I don't quite understand. Do you mean that Owen is still enrolled at RPI on a scholarship and will be playing hockey for UMass Lowell? How is that possible?
Can someone explain that?

I'm sure he's finishing the semester at RPI under whatever scholarship/aid/out-of-pocket arrangement that has already paid for his courses. He'll then enroll for the spring semester based on his scholarship/aid/out-of-pocket agreement at UM-L and petition for immediate eligibility. Even if he withdrew from RPI and went straight to UM-L I don't think he could play or practice until their semester has ended because he wouldn't be an enrolled student for this term. If the waiver is approved he should be able to play late next month (before actually taking UM-L classes under the same principle that let's many freshman football players practice and play before their first actual college class).

 

[rpi82]

When you enter the transfer portal I would have to think you are agreeing to attend the school you transfer to. What type of deal Savory got re scholarship at UML is not known. I can’t imagine UML will honor RPI’s offer if they don’t have a scholarship to offer. As to Savory returning if the grass isn’t greener at UML, I imagine Smith would take him in a heartbeat, but I can’t see the NCAA allowing players to do that. It would be a major headache for all involved. I imagine another goalie at UML got screwed in this deal i.e. will get zero playing time.

We were talking about a hypothetical scenario where UM-L cancels its season before he enrolls there. As far as I know there's no NLI for transfers so I think he actually could come back. However, it's very unlikely so we were having more of a theoretical discussion than one based on Owen's reality.

 

[Ralph Baer]

From the amount of games which have already been postponed, I cannot completely disagree with RPI cancelling the season, however, as others have said, the players should still have been allowed to practice and exercise on campus.

 

[rpi82]

From the amount of games which have already been postponed, I cannot completely disagree with RPI cancelling the season, however, as others have said, the players should still have been allowed to practice and exercise on campus.

I'm watching the USC-Utah football game. It's the weekend before Thanksgiving and Utah is playing its first game of the year (after 2 cancellations). They will play, at most, 4 games in their regular season. Calling that a season is a bit of a joke. So I can't really blame an administration that feels the risks exceed the benefits. However, make the most of it for the players and coaching staff by letting them work together. They didn't cancel the big lecture classes like Chem I and say "not only can't you take the class, but you can't work with the professors." Instead they made adjustments. I'm sure the players and coaches can adjust by working in position groups or other dissections of the roster to keep everyone healthy.