True-but you have to also remember that recruiting for the women is a bit more slanted to the role of the institute in providing an education. Most of our ladies are not looking to be playing professional hockey as a career (although most certainly would qualify). Many of these girls are truly student athletes who are competing quite well while on the road to a valuable degree from a top notch academic institution. This is certainly not the case on the men's side for most D1 schools. Boys who are talented enough want to try their hand at a future in professional hockey at some level (with of course the NHL as the ultimate goal). They are most often far better served in this pursuit elsewhere where academics do not matter much and concern about obtaining a full four year degree is on the back burner.
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RPI 2024–25: Come for the Hockey, Stay for the Football
- Thread starter Ralph Baer
- Start date
True-but you have to also remember that recruiting for the women is a bit more slanted to the role of the institute in providing an education. Most of our ladies are not looking to be playing professional hockey as a career (although most certainly would qualify). Many of these girls are truly student athletes who are competing quite well while on the road to a valuable degree from a top notch academic institution. This is certainly not the case on the men's side for most D1 schools. Boys who are talented enough want to try their hand at a future in professional hockey at some level (with of course the NHL as the ultimate goal). They are most often far better served in this pursuit elsewhere where academics do not matter much and concern about obtaining a full four year degree is on the back burner.
Wicked Slappaahs
I miss Tie Domi
Apparently, I am a glutton for punishment as I went back and looked at last year's schedule/results. In what was an abysmal season, RPI won a grand total of 3 home games: Minn. St. Mankato, Brown, SLU. Thats it. So this year we're following that up with nearly identical results...and there's an argument to be made that two more home wins is a reach. Listening to Smitty on Wyland's show today, he has ZERO insight into why his teams are HORRIBLE at home.
As Bill Parcells famously said, "Your are what your record says you are." That's really the bottom line for me. This past weekend was the new low water mark for me....RPI slept walked their way through the weekend.... I am beyond tired of arriving at HFH with zero expectations. Add in the fact that Union is hammering my email in box with "25'-26' Season Ticket interest" messages has only accelerated the depletion of my give a damn.
As Troy Boy and others have mentioned, the administration's flat out disregard for the fan base is maddening...given what we put up with from SAJ. That we're halfway through January and there's been ZERO public mention of the HFH facilities study and what the school's intentions are for the program is insulting. I think we're just about ready for an online petition to Schmidt.... 'cuz the status quo isn't sustainable. The goodwill of this member of the RPI Faithful is running dry.
As Bill Parcells famously said, "Your are what your record says you are." That's really the bottom line for me. This past weekend was the new low water mark for me....RPI slept walked their way through the weekend.... I am beyond tired of arriving at HFH with zero expectations. Add in the fact that Union is hammering my email in box with "25'-26' Season Ticket interest" messages has only accelerated the depletion of my give a damn.
As Troy Boy and others have mentioned, the administration's flat out disregard for the fan base is maddening...given what we put up with from SAJ. That we're halfway through January and there's been ZERO public mention of the HFH facilities study and what the school's intentions are for the program is insulting. I think we're just about ready for an online petition to Schmidt.... 'cuz the status quo isn't sustainable. The goodwill of this member of the RPI Faithful is running dry.
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engineerhockeyfan
PUCKMAN RULES!!!
I understand the fans need for transparency, but what happens to our current recruits if we tell all about a shake up in the hockey coaching situation.
I will not complain about this until I find out that we are keeping the status quo.
If there is no change at the end of this season, then we should all be shouting at the administration for their lack of attention to their number one athletic team.
Unfortunately, I think a lot of this has to do with the student body.
If they are not interested in the team, then why would the administration.
When I started following the Engineers in 1993, the building was at least 3/4 full for all games. It was hard to get tickets for some of the more popular games.
Now we hardly get half the HFH filled.
I know how to fix that, but with all the changes in college athletics, NIL et al, it makes a school like ours more difficult to put a winning team on the ice.
I know that it will be hard, but we have to at least try.
sk8tronthepond
Registered User
What change are you expecting from the administration?
engineerhockeyfan
PUCKMAN RULES!!!
I would want to see a whole new coaching staff. More responsibility to the new AD. It is her team now.
Bringing in ex players and alum for round table discussions about the future the hockey team.
I would love to see a new facility, but I don't see that happening.
sk8tronthepond
Registered User
Seriously? What lunatic in their right mind would want this coaching job? Look at the history.
We'll have no trouble recruiting a coach. RPI has been a stable job with relatively low expectations. We've had Dave for 8 years with sub-mediocre results. We kept Seth through 11 years of similarly sub-mediocre results. His predecessor, Dan, was here for 12 years of mediocre results (a .520 record). Our standards have become so low that those results get you the emeritus color commentary position on our broadcasts and we think back fondly to when he actually won in Lake Placid (30 years ago). The students that were on campus for the '85 championship are now reaching or at retirement age.
We'll be inundated with candidates that figure this is still a D1 job and if they deliver even mediocre results they will be here for an extended period. The question is, do we have the people that can actually separate the wheat from all that chaff and find us a coach that can win here? It will require more support, which I think is why people are concerned about the lack of feedback on the facility study. Announcing a new coach without also announcing a real strategy (not a Shirley empty promise) for being competitive in staffing, facilities, NIL, etc. is just kicking the can and setting us up for more sub-mediocre results.
Money still talks. Offer enough as bait and there will be plenty of bites.
No doubt about it doc.
Eric lang is someone I would be looking to Contact if I was bowers. He’s worked miracles at AIC with a underfunded program. Brett Riley at Long Island University is another great coach. Bill riga holy cross, joel Beal etc…. Kirk mcdonald of course if he’s interested in coming back.
Here’s an idea that Bowers should know all about - BU has a group called “Friends of BU Hockey.” Maybe we could have Friends of RPI Hockey. Great concept.
https://www.bu.edu/changingthegame/friends-groups/mens-ice-hockey/
https://www.bu.edu/changingthegame/friends-groups/mens-ice-hockey/
Not going to pretend that I am the all time RPI or RPI Hockey historian because I am not.
However, I signed up for my first ever booster club sponsored bus trip to an away game as a high school kid in 1969. That trip was sponsored by the INDEPENDENT booster club that was already in existence for some time prior to that first trip of mine. There would be many more such bus trips to away games for me through the 1970's and the early 1980's. At that point the INDEPENDENT booster club was notified by the institution that they were abruptly and summarily cancelled and terminated. Soon thereafter they were replaced by the institution sponsored booster club which still exists to this very day, namely Let's Go Red.
Oh by the way, the name of the original INDEPENDENT booster club was Friends of RPI Hockey.
Other than the bus trips to away games vanishing within a few years after the formation of the replacement club, I really had at the time nor have today any strong feelings either way as to whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
I felt that a lot was lost when the Friends of RPI Hockey was replaced.
RPI fan 4 life
Season Ticket Holder since 1974
Totally agree Ralph.
i was a long time member and supporter of Friends of RPI Hockey. They used to have numerous bus trips to road games, some even overnight weekend trips (Dartmouth- Harvard and Lake Placid back when we used to make it there) come to mind. I still have a large number of red RPI buttons that were given out at home games. Also, they used to have a reception area in a small room between the two bathrooms on the non-student (or south side) of HFH.
The late Bob & Sally Wygant were tremendous in all the work that they did to make this all happen. Sadly, those days appear to be over.
With all the talk of the HFH Facilities Study and the Athletic Director not communicating. We need to first have a plan to fix the Field House Floor. This is the 4th season playing on the Portable PVC system that runs on top of the concrete floor that needs to be replaced. Same system they use for outdoor games. The Field House has steel plates over the piping in the zamboni area, so the zamboni doesn't crush the piping that runs the length of the end boards. That is why the visiting teams are forced to walk out to their bench to enter the ice. The floor crapped the bed during Covid, and the school brought in a company to repair the leaks and after repairing a whole section, leaks opened all over the floor. Instead of taking up the floor and replacing it while the teams were not practicing or playing, the school went with the portable system, as it was cheaper. The parents of Troy/Albany youth hockey replaced the floor at Frear Park 3 years ago with parents and volunteers, but RPI can't figure it out. Actually, the City of Troy just replaced the Ice System and floor at the Knick arena in Lansingburgh.
RPI is in a holding pattern for the NIL/Profit Sharing lawsuit that is scheduled to be settled in April. When the case is settled the scholarships for D1 will change for all sports, Men's and Women's Hockey will move from 18 scholarships per team to 26 Scholarships per team, but 26 will be the cap of each teams roster. I have read and everyone should google the lawsuit, that schools will be given the choice to either participate in the NIL/Profit Sharing and new Scholarship and roster total or not. I am not seeing how the Engineers survive either way. How are they going to fund 16 more scholarships between the men and women? How can they afford to profit share with the athletes, as any money they bring in from advertising helps to run the Athletic Department. The NIL money is not pouring in, and it is a tough sell for a team that has had one season above .500 in 8 years under Coach Smith. They have not had the money to replace the rink floor. If they choose not buy into the NIL/Profit Sharing with Scholarships you might as well move down to D3 and be a powerhouse as it will be hard to recruit against teams that will be paying their players to play. I have a hard time seeing any of the D3 schools with D1 hockey surviving. I think AIC was just the first of many to move down.
RPI is in a holding pattern for the NIL/Profit Sharing lawsuit that is scheduled to be settled in April. When the case is settled the scholarships for D1 will change for all sports, Men's and Women's Hockey will move from 18 scholarships per team to 26 Scholarships per team, but 26 will be the cap of each teams roster. I have read and everyone should google the lawsuit, that schools will be given the choice to either participate in the NIL/Profit Sharing and new Scholarship and roster total or not. I am not seeing how the Engineers survive either way. How are they going to fund 16 more scholarships between the men and women? How can they afford to profit share with the athletes, as any money they bring in from advertising helps to run the Athletic Department. The NIL money is not pouring in, and it is a tough sell for a team that has had one season above .500 in 8 years under Coach Smith. They have not had the money to replace the rink floor. If they choose not buy into the NIL/Profit Sharing with Scholarships you might as well move down to D3 and be a powerhouse as it will be hard to recruit against teams that will be paying their players to play. I have a hard time seeing any of the D3 schools with D1 hockey surviving. I think AIC was just the first of many to move down.
I think this is one of the most profound postings I have ever seen on this thread. Only I beat you to it by over two decades when I first started believing D3 institution should be playing D3 sports and stop beating their heads against the freaking wall. Yes, even back then before anybody had a twenty million dollar PAYROLL for their football program. Appears to be the going rate these days to win a NATTY. Even if it could be done with a mere one million dollar PAYROLL for hockey, the answer would probably still be no thanks.
Truth be told I have been keeping tabs on the two time defending D3 national champions for a few years now as Hobart is a D3 Liberty League cohort of ours. Should we ever go D3, D3 hockey would hardly be a punishment as it is actually quite good. I actually went to see Hobart in person for the first time two weeks ago when they visited Skidmore. Trust me, I did not drive home with the feeling I spent a night watching some beer league product. There guys are freaking good. Would not mind one little bit having either of the two goaltenders Hobart rotates playing in Troy. One has a CAREER GAG average of slightly under while the "screw up" has a CAREER GAG average of slightly over. Slightly under or over what??? ONE!!!
The only fans that would possibly be put out at all are those who like to attend away games. Some of the D3 rinks, a number municipality owned, are barely suitable for youth tournaments and like Skidmore's they are absolutely bone chilling freezing. That includes the two time defending national champs whose municipality owned home rink is dubbed "The Cooler". In D3 world the Fieldhouse would be considered a palace that would have fans of the visitors walking around just to see it all while in awe of the place and it would do so as is without spending a freaking dime on the place (except for fixing the floor). I have no doubt whatsoever that the Fieldhouse would eventually serve as the host site for the D3 Frozen Four and would probably do so multiple times.
ServinisScores
I'm an Implant Engineer
Great post AD. They are clearly waiting for something to evolve or develop. I tried to position up thread - RPI hockey is in a tough position as a stand alone D1 program, with the influx of NIL and larger schools developing D1 programs. I can’t see how the current path is sustainable.
I simply don’t have the answers as to what to do with the hockey program. I don’t have enough knowledge about the state of RPI’s finances and such. But I do think it’s a bit more complicated than any of us know. And throw in the changing nature of college sports and declining college enrollments nationwide, I can understand why an administration would go slowly. So I think we all need to have some faith they will do the right thing for the entire university, not just the hockey program.
Now the mayor’s cup. 7,000 plus in attendance was nice to see. Despite the state of the program, Marty Schmidt being applauded was a rare thing in all of college sports. The games were well played, fun to watch, and close. Despite our side losing both games, I enjoyed the games. I only wish the men could play that way more consistently.
And I wish the Union women’s coach would shut up and not yell out corrections to the officials all game. All I could think was it was a good thing there wasn’t a folding chair for him to throw on the ice. A Ric Bennett wanna be. The officials were young and learning and tried their best. If he has a problem, call the league on Monday. I got my kids out of youth hockey because of people like him. It left a bad taste in my mouth then and it does now.
Now the mayor’s cup. 7,000 plus in attendance was nice to see. Despite the state of the program, Marty Schmidt being applauded was a rare thing in all of college sports. The games were well played, fun to watch, and close. Despite our side losing both games, I enjoyed the games. I only wish the men could play that way more consistently.
And I wish the Union women’s coach would shut up and not yell out corrections to the officials all game. All I could think was it was a good thing there wasn’t a folding chair for him to throw on the ice. A Ric Bennett wanna be. The officials were young and learning and tried their best. If he has a problem, call the league on Monday. I got my kids out of youth hockey because of people like him. It left a bad taste in my mouth then and it does now.
engineerhockeyfan
PUCKMAN RULES!!!
I have never been a fan of the mayors trophy game being played at this time of year. The teams are in a race for position in the ECAC, and they have to stop and play a game that can only hurt either or both teams.
Play it in November along with the other OOC games when the teams are trying to find out who they are.
Fortunately no one was hurt but nothing was gained.
Move this game next season.
Play it in November along with the other OOC games when the teams are trying to find out who they are.
Fortunately no one was hurt but nothing was gained.
Move this game next season.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
FWIW, the Connecticut Ice Tournament (Yale, QU, UConn, SHU) was also held the past weekend.