RPI 2024–25: Come for the Hockey, Stay for the Football

[mainetwentytwelve]

First time at RPI this afternoon and really enjoyed the experience (the result didn’t hurt either ) Really appreciated the free, convenient parking and the friendliness of the RPI fans we spoke with. Some helped entertain my two year old and she even started clapping when they scored - I’m gonna work on that lol. We live outside Syracuse now so don’t get to see the Black Bears in person very often but hope they come back so we can take advantage again. A friend of mine recommended Brown’s downtown for some good pregame food and drinks - fantastic suggestion! Best of luck to you the rest of the way!

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

I have watched every game that ESPN has streamed this year. And this is what I have seen. We have some very talented individuals, and absolutely no chemistry.
I don't know why that is, or if it is fixable. We'll see.
As for the weekend, Maine is just better than RPI.
The good news is, the ECAC doesn't have too many teams as talented as Maine, so we have a chance at the middle of the pack. If we ever put it all together, we could go higher based on the talent on this team.
Someone has to find a way to discipline Lee. He doesn't let a game go bye without taking a bad penalty. He has pretty good offensive talent, but I am not sure that it is worth having him on the ice. JMO

 

[25+years]

Was at both games and it was clear Maine is a top tier team. They are fast, ferocious forecheckers, and they can put the puck in the net. Whenever RPI touched the puck someone from Maine was on them in seconds. I already have frozen four tickets and would not be surprised to see Maine there.

As to attendance and such. When I first got season tickets 36 years ago, the students would pitch tents outside the field house to get in line for tickets. Since then, attendance has dropped not due to anything other than a consistent decline in consistent winning. I am so tired of hearing how the pandemic and the shut down is to blame. This started long before Shirley and long before the pandemic. Sure the shut down may have contributed, but hardly the sole reason. Whoever was the president during the pandemic had an obligation to the entire RPI community. If you remember the pandemic, refrigerated trucks held bodies at ERs and funeral homes. More than a million have died. And cases were vitually non existent on campus due to the restrictions. The campus stayed open for classes as a result. If you were paying tuition at RPI and classes were shut down and students died just so there would be hockey games, I bet you wouldn’t be singing the same song.

 

[DavidNardolillo]

Winning and a charismatic coach that cares about the program will do that. And no I'm not rubbing in anyone's face here that you guys didn't hire him..but..maybe it's time you guys got your own Barr and got a new coach?

The coaching situation has been thoroughly debated here, especially after a deeply disappointing 23-24 season. The other factor for RPI, and also much discussed here, was the relative lack of institutional support for hockey for a long period. The new president is a hockey fan, and a facilities evaluation is underway. Hoping things can turn around with an initiative to renovate or replace Houston Field House.

Dave Smith caught a tough hand with how RPI dealt with COVID; it really arrested some momentum that had been built. But I am concerned for him if this well-experienced team doesn't have a significantly better season in the ECAC.

 

[DavidNardolillo]

I am so tired of hearing how the pandemic and the shut down is to blame. This started long before Shirley and long before the pandemic. Sure the shut down may have contributed, but hardly the sole reason. Whoever was the president during the pandemic had an obligation to the entire RPI community.

I agree there's longer term issues that have brought the program to where it is now, and I also agree that review of COVID decisions have to take into account what was known (and not known) about the disease at the time and understanding the pressure that was on people that needed to make those decisions.

That said, RPI took a route that was more conservative than every other school, not even allowing practices, and were slow to allow spectators back, compared to others. This hurt RPI for a couple of seasons with losing some key underclassmen and with recruiting. I do think most people agree that RPI's COVID shutdown should not carry as much weight in 2024 when it comes to evaluating the current team.

 

[Engineers]

It used to be 5 deep to get to the glass in warmups

I remember that as well.

 

[Engineers]

The reasons go on and on and on, you are right though, by far the biggest reason has been an unappealing product for way too long. Have to view this program as a complete and total rebuild right now. They have absolutely no momentum and need to build it back from the ground up

Agreed
This is a complete and total rebuild. Both president and AD bowers were in attendance this weekend. I will say Marty did not look very happy both games particularly Saturdays game. I belief Marty wants a winning program badly. I think the house cleaning will happen in the spring. Also a little bizarre I thought smith had all these connections to the ohl and major juniors? I’m not seeing any recruits commit to RPI. The recruiting trail has gone cold which is not a good sign at all.

 

[Engineers]

Thought RPI played much better tonight, but you are right, RPI very inconsistent within games and Maine demonstrated the gulf in talent by punishing mistakes. The defensive breakdowns on the 3rd period goals were concerning for an experienced group; lots of puck-watching and people out of position. Bad things are likely to happen for your goaltender when you give up 44 shots, but Watson looked rusty from the lack of recent game time.

It’s very concerning to have this many breakdowns with a veteran group. Comes back to coaching.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Sadly, I was not surprised by the weekend outcome as I fully expected Benny to hand us our heads. Mission accomplished.

The truly alarming thing for me is that this is the result Smith's team got after having two weeks off to heal, rest, recoup, practice, film study etc etc etc.

The program is wheels up in the ditch .....and the coach doesn't own a tow truck. I'd send Smith packing over break and ask Weber to take the reigns for the 2nd semester. Open a legitimate search and take hard run at AIC's Lange and Riley from LIU.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

I have watched every game that ESPN has streamed this year. And this is what I have seen. We have some very talented individuals, and absolutely no chemistry.
I don't know why that is, or if it is fixable. We'll see.
As for the weekend, Maine is just better than RPI.
The good news is, the ECAC doesn't have too many teams as talented as Maine, so we have a chance at the middle of the pack. If we ever put it all together, we could go higher based on the talent on this team.
Someone has to find a way to discipline Lee. He doesn't let a game go bye without taking a bad penalty. He has pretty good offensive talent, but I am not sure that it is worth having him on the ice. JMO

You're not wrong about Lee, but your concern should be on Felix Caron who is a walking, talking 5 minute major waiting to happen. He leads the ECAC with 39 PIM while amassing just 2G 6A in 12 games.
I was excited to see this kid in Troy, but until he figures out some self control, he belongs in street clothes, IMO. How Smith hasn't yet sent the kid a message is truly scratching.

 

[25+years]

You know who I thought was a big disappointment? Muzzatti. He looked like he was at a public skating session out there. He is the biggest guy on the team and seemed to only be in the areas in the middle of the ice.

 

[rpi82]

You're not wrong about Lee, but your concern should be on Felix Caron who is a walking, talking 5 minute major waiting to happen. He leads the ECAC with 39 PIM while amassing just 2G 6A in 12 games.
I was excited to see this kid in Troy, but until he figures out some self control, he belongs in street clothes, IMO. How Smith hasn't yet sent the kid a message is truly scratching.

The lack of discipline is what bothers me too. As I noted in the game thread, the late first period penalties on Lee and Tinling that almost instantaneously turned a scoreless game into a 2 goal deficit were unnecessary and should have gotten them some time on the pine. This is a pattern and it falls first and foremost on the coaches, but also the leadership in the locker room. Not only should Smith be making it clear that such plays are selfish and hurting the team, but Gagnon and whoever we have wearing A's this season should be setting a tone that you can't hang your teammates, particularly the goaltenders, out to dry. The voices that are supposed to set the culture on this roster, one filled with veterans, are either not loud enough or the rest of the guys just aren't listening.

I can accept accidental penalties or even those caused because we are outgunned, but foolish, undisciplined and, frankly, unintelligent plays make it hard to watch.

 

[Engineers]

Sadly, I was not surprised by the weekend outcome as I fully expected Benny to hand us our heads. Mission accomplished.

The truly alarming thing for me is that this is the result Smith's team got after having two weeks off to heal, rest, recoup, practice, film study etc etc etc.

The program is wheels up in the ditch .....and the coach doesn't own a tow truck. I'd send Smith packing over break and ask Weber to take the reigns for the 2nd semester. Open a legitimate search and take hard run at AIC's Lange and Riley from LIU.

agreed send him packing let Weber finish the year out.
I would include Joe Dumais qpac, Bill Riga holy cross, Joel Beal providence, Kirk mcdonald in that group.

 

[CMcGarvey]

agreed send him packing let Weber finish the year out.
I would include Joe Dumais qpac, Bill Riga holy cross, Joel Beal providence, Kirk mcdonald in that group.

I find the life lesson of "you want what you don't have" to be very present in coaching searches. The case was certainly strong at the time (and shown last weekend) that BB was an incredibly attractive candidate, but was cut from the same cloth as Appert, sans the alumni status for SA. So, they hire the well-spoken, experienced coach in Smith who they expect to run a tight stop especially given the culture mess that was the 16-17 team. Now, we are starting to mention the flashier assistant (Beal, Dumais) as an attractive option because they are generally better recruiters (Like SA was). Just an interesting observation that we have sort of come full circle and are interested again in the younger guy who can bring more talent and energy

 

[Engineers]

I find the life lesson of "you want what you don't have" to be very present in coaching searches. The case was certainly strong at the time (and shown last weekend) that BB was an incredibly attractive candidate, but was cut from the same cloth as Appert, sans the alumni status for SA. So, they hire the well-spoken, experienced coach in Smith who they expect to run a tight stop especially given the culture mess that was the 16-17 team. Now, we are starting to mention the flashier assistant (Beal, Dumais) as an attractive option because they are generally better recruiters (Like SA was). Just an interesting observation that we have sort of come full circle and are interested again in the younger guy who can bring more talent and energy

I think what everyone wants is a winning program? I’m not of the mindset that Beal, dumais are “flashier” coaches? They are good coaches who come from winning programs who have worked under very good head coaches. When Dave smith was hired he had 2 winning seasons at canisius. It defies logic why you would hire him over bb or bill Riga or ed gosek etc… You wanna win…. Hire a winning coach. If I’m hiring a HC I want a winner who can recruit and bring energy. I don’t think we can make the same mistake simply because he doesn’t have “head coaching” experience.

 

[CMcGarvey]

I think what everyone wants is a winning program? I’m not of the mindset that Beal, dumais are “flashier” coaches? They are good coaches who come from winning programs who have worked under very good head coaches. When Dave smith was hired he had 2 winning seasons at canisius. It defies logic why you would hire him over bb or bill Riga or ed gosek etc… You wanna win…. Hire a winning coach. If I’m hiring a HC I want a winner who can recruit and bring energy. I don’t think we can make the same mistake simply because he doesn’t have “head coaching” experience.

Apologies, wasn't refuting your points at all. Was just making the point that I think a reality of coaching searches is that often a school/pro team doesn't hire someone from the same mold two times in a row if the first one went poorly. Look at the Giants, people are clamoring for Mike Vrabel or Belichick because the "former OC, QB whisperer didn't work".. Wasn't an attack whatsoever, more was saying it was a flaw in the process the first time to let that be considered at all, which in my opinion it was

 

[CMcGarvey]

Point was, if we have an opening, I suspect you will see more of the top assistant at a top program, like Beal and Dumais. Rather than the head coach of an atlantic team because we just tried that

 

[Engineers]

Apologies, wasn't refuting your points at all. Was just making the point that I think a reality of coaching searches is that often a school/pro team doesn't hire someone from the same mold two times in a row if the first one went poorly. Look at the Giants, people are clamoring for Mike Vrabel or Belichick because the "former OC, QB whisperer didn't work".. Wasn't an attack whatsoever, more was saying it was a flaw in the process the first time to let that be considered at all, which in my opinion it was

All good man. My bad it’s tough sometimes to take things in context. But yes you are correct usually they break the mold especially after things don’t go well first time. Giants are a good example. Daboll killed it in Buffalo as did schoen. I thought for sure they would do really for the giants.

 

[Engineers]

Point was, if we have an opening, I suspect you will see more of the top assistant at a top program, like Beal and Dumais. Rather than the head coach of an atlantic team because we just tried that

I really hope so!

 

[sk8tronthepond]

BB was an incredibly attractive candidate, but was cut from the same cloth as Appert - because they are generally better recruiters (Like SA was)

You are way off with this analogy! Most programs assistant coaches are the recruiters.