Unfortunately this is a fan base that has been beaten down to a fucking pulp so just showing up to the game is considered a win. Doesn’t matter how they play or how many losses they have. It’s expected we lose.
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RPI 2024–25: Come for the Hockey, Stay for the Football
- Thread starter Ralph Baer
- Start date
Unfortunately this is a fan base that has been beaten down to a fucking pulp so just showing up to the game is considered a win. Doesn’t matter how they play or how many losses they have. It’s expected we lose.
Wicked Slappaahs
I miss Tie Domi
Not many positives following that one.... another first period, another two goal deficit. Lather rinse repeat. Credit to the guys for not quitting, but this one was never in doubt. Outshot better than 2-1, 6 penalties ( a few were terrible calls BTW)... Easily one of the worst officiated games I've witnessed this season. No flow, no clean drops, missed or wrong calls.... just bad.
Heard from a few folks who know people that the younger alumni --who have been outspoken at gatherings - that they plan to deliver a strong message to the A.D....expressing their displeasure... Also was told by a friend who had a chat with Bowers at a women's game....who seemed to relate that there isn't any intention to make a change in the off season.... more Covid damage defense. Whether it's true or not, it's odd/interesting/troubling(?) that she'd share that with someone she didn't really know. Chalk it up to inexperience I suppose....dunno.
Heard from a few folks who know people that the younger alumni --who have been outspoken at gatherings - that they plan to deliver a strong message to the A.D....expressing their displeasure... Also was told by a friend who had a chat with Bowers at a women's game....who seemed to relate that there isn't any intention to make a change in the off season.... more Covid damage defense. Whether it's true or not, it's odd/interesting/troubling(?) that she'd share that with someone she didn't really know. Chalk it up to inexperience I suppose....dunno.
WS, assuming everything you heard is true, I also don't think she can say anything other than this during the season. If she drops any hints of a coaching change, the season is effectively over, something I'm sure she knows. I also have to assume there will be an overall assessment at the end of the season, depending on how things shake out. I think it will come down to whether or not there's substantial improvement over this half of the season and a run in the postseason. On the other hand, it's been the same problems most of the season... and the past season as well... and so on. Absent some sign of major improvement soon, I think there's a good chance the writing's on the wall. I also think it's probably not her decision alone.
On another note, I do think the fan base has been owed for awhile now an update - something - on the findings/conclusions of the task force formed to assess the future of HFH.
Speaking for Myself this program is an embarrassment and you can say what you want about Jackson but it was in better shape than it is now and we had competent people running the program Col.Knowlton for starters and albeit insufficient there was some improvements to HFH. Schmidt has been an unmitigated disaster for the program that's not an opinion we have won 1 game at home this year (let that sink in) and the AD is either the worst communicator in the world or utterly lost as to what to do it appears she is not ready to run an Atheletic Dept. W/a D1 program if we are broke and this is the best we can do she needs to communicate that I attended my first RPI games 64yrs ago I can take the bad news but to just let this thing ride Is management malpractice I'll defer to Ralph bur I look at the recruit thread and it escapes me were the improvement is coming from please tell me I'm wrong. I apologize for the rant but I am absolutly sick over the state of the program I don't expect a.national championship I just want to compete !
WS, assuming everything you heard is true, I also don't think she can say anything other than this during the season. If she drops any hints of a coaching change, the season is effectively over, something I'm sure she knows. I also have to assume there will be an overall assessment at the end of the season, depending on how things shake out. I think it will come down to whether or not there's substantial improvement over this half of the season and a run in the postseason. On the other hand, it's been the same problems most of the season... and the past season as well... and so on. Absent some sign of major improvement soon, I think there's a good chance the writing's on the wall. I also think it's probably not her decision alone.
On another note, I do think the fan base has been owed for awhile now an update - something - on the findings/conclusions of the task force formed to assess the future of HFH.
[/QUOTE]
WS, assuming everything you heard is true, I also don't think she can say anything other than this during the season. If she drops any hints of a coaching change, the season is effectively over, something I'm sure she knows. I also have to assume there will be an overall assessment at the end of the season, depending on how things shake out. I think it will come down to whether or not there's substantial improvement over this half of the season and a run in the postseason. On the other hand, it's been the same problems most of the season... and the past season as well... and so on. Absent some sign of major improvement soon, I think there's a good chance the writing's on the wall. I also think it's probably not her decision alone.
On another note, I do think the fan base has been owed for awhile now an update - something - on the findings/conclusions of the task force formed to assess the future of HFH.
[/QUOTE]
The Harvard box score had it the other way around. No matter. I get your point. I've always felt playing up in Troy was a challenge no matter what type of season RPI was having. Guess there is more going on than meets the eye?
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
I do think that we gave some talented incoming players, just like I feel that we have talented freshmen (Tapper, Rullers, Ozolins, and Caron if he stays out of the box). However, among the talented recruits are Adrian and Hilditch. The former has yet to play this season. The latter also has had a lengthy injury.
engineerhockeyfan
PUCKMAN RULES!!!
For the last twenty years or so, we have blamed everybody including two presidents, ADs, and three coaches. and they all deserve some of the blame.
But this year, I believe it is all on the players. The underclassmen seem to be talented and the older ones not so much. Goaltending is spotty at best.
And the worst part of it is that there does not seem to be any leaders on the ice.
We have the worst special teams for two years now. I am sure that the coaches have made many changes to try to fix this, but the guys on the ice just don't get any of it.
We definitely need changes next year, I just hope that one of those changes is a real leader on the ice. JMO
But this year, I believe it is all on the players. The underclassmen seem to be talented and the older ones not so much. Goaltending is spotty at best.
And the worst part of it is that there does not seem to be any leaders on the ice.
We have the worst special teams for two years now. I am sure that the coaches have made many changes to try to fix this, but the guys on the ice just don't get any of it.
We definitely need changes next year, I just hope that one of those changes is a real leader on the ice. JMO
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If we are broke you wouldn’t be able to tell based on the 9 coaches behind the bench? Seriously I’ve never seen so many guys in a suit behind the bench? They were almost tripping over each other for Christ sake. Minus tonelli there has to be over 500k in coaching salary on the bench. Before appert was fired he had to do everything plus be a head coach. Could you imagine what he could do with number of staff smith has at his disposal? There is no excuse for this level of performance.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
Who are the 9? The most I can come up with is 7, and even that includes a couple not called coach, like the trainer.
Ralph it’s starting to look like a union job site behind the bench. One guy working 4 guys standing around. We have 5 coaches behind the bench I was being sarcastic about 9 lol
5 coaches is ridiculous especially given the results from this group. If we were winning I would say great but we are not. Also a little bizarre in the past year we have 2 recruits commit to us? Talk about bang for your buck?
If we are broke you wouldn’t be able to tell based on the 9 coaches behind the bench? Seriously I’ve never seen so many guys in a suit behind the bench? They were almost tripping over each other for Christ sake. Minus tonelli there has to be over 500k in coaching salary on the bench. Before appert was fired he had to do everything plus be a head coach. Could you imagine what he could do with number of staff smith has at his disposal? There is no excuse for this level of performance.[/QUOTE]
How long have you been following college hockey? Appert had a full staff as authorized by the NCAA, which included 2 ACs, a director of operations and a volunteer assistant. Smith's staff includes one more full-time AC because a couple of years back the NCAA increased the maximum from 2 to 3. That is the only difference in staff resources between Seth and Dave.
How long have you been following college hockey? Appert had a full staff as authorized by the NCAA, which included 2 ACs, a director of operations and a volunteer assistant. Smith's staff includes one more full-time AC because a couple of years back the NCAA increased the maximum from 2 to 3. That is the only difference in staff resources between Seth and Dave.[/QUOTE]
long time! The 3rd AC is optional but Marty gave the thumbs up to hire the additional AC. Dave himself said the commitment from the institution is much better than what it was under Shirley. Having 3 full time AC is huge. It balances out the work load significantly. So we have a more $$ coaching staff compared to appert days and we have worse results. Make that make sense
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
Besides for Krawchuk and Chingwaru; Dorfman, Giesbrecht, Gilson, McDermott, Ozolins, Rullers, and Tonelli committed less than a year ago.
I think both SA and DS (thusfar) have fallen short of expectations for the program. Endless comparing of the two doesn't matter, at least in my book. We've had five seasons above .500 in the last 20 years. 23 years since we've made it to LP. We all want the program to turn around.
It is very easy to get into the micro of the program as we so often have... Is anyone else very concerned about the ability for a school with 2 D1 programs to compete in this landscape? NIL is only going to get crazier, as are player development facilities. Tradition and academics just mean less to the athlete now, and that hurts not just RPI but the entire league. It can be done (QPAC, Dartmouth lately, and others), but man it just feels like the schools with more money are just going to rise and rise and rise. There isn't THAT much money in pro hockey, it is hard to fault a player for taking 25 or 50k a year from a bigger program (Chump change for them) as opposed to valuing the "tradition" of a school like RPI, which was a more valid selling point 10 years ago.
The margin for error is so much smaller than it was when DS was hired. RPI is further from its relevant, "tradition" days, facilities have fallen further behind, and the introduction of NIL and the portal makes it way harder for the little guy (Us). I feel it is going to take an institutional commitment in viewing hockey as a means for institutional growth again. Obviously last admin did not view it that way. And coaching staff to really, really maximize the talent they have and build a bulletproof culture where players don't want to leave. That applies regardless of what decisions are made about the program's trajectory concluding this season
this could be the time all those jokes about Jenny’s credit card finally, well, pay off.
ServinisScores
I'm an Implant Engineer
I wonder if that’s why the Institute is painfully slow to make any moves re: program commitment. The deck is stacked against RPI compared to schools that are fully D1 committed, not to mention the Big 10
programs of the world, and the increasing investment (Arizona State, SEC) of even larger institutions. Also, RPI is in a league where half the constituents (Ivies) can go forward without a commitment and be fine, while the remainder will shrivel?
And in NIL & the major junior changes and the environment and economic situation is totally different than even 5 years ago.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
FWIW the women's team appears to be improving this year, and there are assistant coaches who don't appear to have much experience.