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RPI Hockey 2014-2015: Dedicated to Rich Curadi

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Re: RPI Hockey 2014-2015: Dedicated to Rich Curadi

I'm with FlagDUDE88 on this one. Everywhere, except on this board, it's possible to be critical of the coach and not be accused of wishing to see him fired. I get that a lot of folks like him; he's nice, he's professional, he handled the Bennett thing with a lot of class, he has the team stand completely still for the National Anthem - what's not to root for? But really, we need to tone down the defense of him, it's just irrational. He has done a poor job to date by just about any measure. That said, since he's signed through 2021, he's the coach for the foreseeable future and rooting for the team means rooting for him. I don't think it's appropriate in-season but I'll go back to my offseason idea that we should spend a bit of money and hire someone like Jack Parker to help the staff. I know Jack got tripped up by some of his players toward the end of his career but I really think someone with that much high-caliber experience could help identify specific areas for improvement. If we don't turn it around this season, we really should be looking for some new ideas. If it's not Jack Parker, I'm all ears for other ideas ... other than "let's just fire the coach" ... because that just isn't happening anytime soon.


I'm not saying don't be critical, it's just that certain people here like to get their panties in a bunch for nothing. Like you said, he's signed to a contract through 2021, and RPI is probably not just going to up and fire him because they don't want to spend the money, so there's no use of the "APPART NEEDS 2 GO NOW!" demands. You actually at least offered a solution, one that admittedly, I don't see happening, but it's a start. Let's try to be critical while trying to be positive at the same time. The last thing a player/coach needs to read on here is speculation and innuendo.
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2014-2015: Dedicated to Rich Curadi

If it's not Jack Parker, I'm all ears for other ideas ... other than "let's just fire the coach" ... because that just isn't happening anytime soon.

I've generally concurred with this idea, and have said so for awhile: that we need more depth / talent / skill / whatever you call it on the assistant coaching level. Running a DI program these days is like being a CEO of a mid-sized company: you need a top-quality staff at the second level (CFO, COO, CIO, etc). The CEO cannot micro-manage all details of the operation without that kind of talent abetting his efforts.

In retrospect, perhaps RPI might have given SA a bit less and used some of the differential for assistants, too late now though to revisit that decision.
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2014-2015: Dedicated to Rich Curadi

I'm with FlagDUDE88 on this one. Everywhere, except on this board, it's possible to be critical of the coach and not be accused of wishing to see him fired. I get that a lot of folks like him; he's nice, he's professional, he handled the Bennett thing with a lot of class, he has the team stand completely still for the National Anthem - what's not to root for? But really, we need to tone down the defense of him, it's just irrational. He has done a poor job to date by just about any measure. That said, since he's signed through 2021, he's the coach for the foreseeable future and rooting for the team means rooting for him. I don't think it's appropriate in-season but I'll go back to my offseason idea that we should spend a bit of money and hire someone like Jack Parker to help the staff. I know Jack got tripped up by some of his players toward the end of his career but I really think someone with that much high-caliber experience could help identify specific areas for improvement. If we don't turn it around this season, we really should be looking for some new ideas. If it's not Jack Parker, I'm all ears for other ideas ... other than "let's just fire the coach" ... because that just isn't happening anytime soon.

Last I heard, his mentor was still a free agent.
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2014-2015: Dedicated to Rich Curadi

I'm with FlagDUDE88 on this one. Everywhere, except on this board, it's possible to be critical of the coach and not be accused of wishing to see him fired. I get that a lot of folks like him; he's nice, he's professional, he handled the Bennett thing with a lot of class, he has the team stand completely still for the National Anthem - what's not to root for? But really, we need to tone down the defense of him, it's just irrational. He has done a poor job to date by just about any measure. That said, since he's signed through 2021, he's the coach for the foreseeable future and rooting for the team means rooting for him. I don't think it's appropriate in-season but I'll go back to my offseason idea that we should spend a bit of money and hire someone like Jack Parker to help the staff. I know Jack got tripped up by some of his players toward the end of his career but I really think someone with that much high-caliber experience could help identify specific areas for improvement. If we don't turn it around this season, we really should be looking for some new ideas. If it's not Jack Parker, I'm all ears for other ideas ... other than "let's just fire the coach" ... because that just isn't happening anytime soon.

A mentor or short-term consultant is a pretty good idea. Jimmy Patsos at Siena has brought in his friend Gary Williams for a couple of days the pst two years. Williams works with the team in some practices, but I'm sure he and Patsos spend a lot of time over dinner and drinks talking basketball and the Siena team specifically.

As for the coaching situation, you are probably right in that he is not going anywhere with that long-term deal in his pocket. Besides, I doubt that Dr. Jackson is going to say she made a mistake with such a high-profile hire, if in fact she believes that. As far as the upper administrtion is concerned, because of all the good behavior, good grades, community relations, etc. he may be doing a good job. Fans look at it in terms of wins and losses and championships. Especially since the athletic director and coach have expressed a goal of winning a national title, the fans have every right to expcet more than has been delivered most of the past 5 years, and I think Colonel Knowlton and Coach Appert would agree. Fans cannot influence personnel decisions, however, unless enough of them stop buying tickets. Though attendance figures are not falling, the fan base is clearly beginning to erode. If that continues, pressure from Alumni and others will increase and that may force the president's hand. I wouldn't like to see this coach fired. A firing like that usually means at least another 3-4 years of mediocre resultts. We all want him to succeed. Most who know him at all really like him, as well. I wish I knew tha answer. Smarter people thatn me have not been able to explain what is wrong. We can only coninue to root for and support the guys on the roster. LGR!
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2014-2015: Dedicated to Rich Curadi

Not that I agree with FlagDude on most things, but I think he's right on a couple points here. If I was a star athlete on a college team, who has been dreaming of playing pro hockey for my entire life, and someone throws a good amount of money in my face with a chance to play in the NHL? You know for sure I'm gonna take that deal. Especially with the constant threat of season- or career-ending injuries, you gotta get while the getting's good.

Pirri is actually an example of someone who DID make it-- it's not like RPI is alone in having players sign and then warm the bench in the minors for years. Look to our more-recently-successful neighbor to the west and you'll find a bunch of players who left early and have been chilling in the AHL. Kinkaid, Groesneck, Welsh, and others. I'd even say Josh Jooris, though he just got called up to play in the NHL for the moment. I don't think it has as much to do with a specific coach or the success of the team as people think.

And yes-- while we may not be getting a playoff glance this year, the raw talent is there for great things in the future. Most of the freshmen look great and just need experience. I knew this was going to be a rebuilding year when I watch the PEI game and realized that I didn't know what names went to the numbers I was seeing on the jerseys-- it seems like an entirely new team.
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2014-2015: Dedicated to Rich Curadi

Spare me with the deal that these kids are leaving for money! Pirri left because Jerry left. Its not the kids making these decisions its their parents. Jerry left because he was never going to play in Troy for 4 years. His collective had a plan and it wasn't staying in college for 4 years. Seth knew that but he was having such a miserable time in Troy he would do anything to beef up.
I would suggest that we go to the games, enjoy watching the engineers improve, and hope that we can party in LP this year. The Red and White haven't played an ECAC game yet. Beat Union once this weekend and stay tough all weekend............ and well fill in the blanks. Its sports thats why we watch thats why we play!
Never been an Appert fan but I believe that after all this time behind the bench he must know something.
 
I would suggest that we go to the games, enjoy watching the engineers improve, and hope that we can party in LP this year. The Red and White haven't played an ECAC game yet. Beat Union once this weekend and stay tough all weekend............ and well fill in the blanks. Its sports thats why we watch thats why we play!

Hear hear to this. I think this is the most on-point thing I've read in this thread since I came back for the season. Everyone should just enjoy, and I am pretty sure the engineers will improve, and yes, they WILL score another goal. Enough drivel, we've changed the thread title already.
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2014-2015: Dedicated to Rich Curadi

What the heck is the Collegiate StarLeague? For that matter, what the heck is SC2? :confused:

SC2 = StarCraft 2. The CSL is part of the e-sports community, where students battle it out. Things like SC2, League of Legends, Hearthstone, and DotA 2.
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2014-2015: Dedicated to Rich Curadi

I cannot parse this for the life of me, but you and pretty much anyone else complaining should just read this.

http://www.withoutapeer.com/2014/10/save-it.html?m=1

It will be saved when the coach shows he can put together an offensive strategy. Sure, I understand that there are assistant coaches, but Monty's and Graham's strategies seem eerily familiar. Pundits such as yourself like to bring up successful moments. As I posted a while back, it's like rolling a hard 8 one out of 36 times. Eventually, long run odds say it will come. The chances are exactly the same from roll to roll, yes, but the only ones bringing up short term results are you, WaP, First Church, and others. The rest of us are looking at the big picture. Zero ECAC semifinal appearances in over a decade when the long run should be one out of three. And it's not like those are one-off rolls either, they are two out of three. Strings of meltdowns across every season, even the "successful" ones. February 2011 and November 2012, for those who don't remember. The NCAA season is too short to afford any sort of a meltdown.
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2014-2015: Dedicated to Rich Curadi

I don't think most people - even the most vocal critics - seriously expect any coaching change before the end the season. A split with Union this weekend, *or* wins over UNH or BU or some of the other tough teams on the schedule (e.g. Colgate) will go a long way toward erasing the memories of this past weekend.

On the other hand, you can't totally blame those are not happy with coach. Appert is in his ninth season - not his second or third - his ninth - and after nine years at the helm the program is less competitive now than at any time in the last 35 years. Those calling for his immediate ouster *and* those who say the guy walks on water are both wrong, in my opinion. This season will be pivotal; if Appert can get this team on a run, that will go a long way toward restoring confidence. But if it's another subpar season, you can't blame those who are disappointed with him for being a little let down and impatient with his results after nine seasons. Pretty much any D-I coach - in any sport - with .432 win percentage after nine seasons is an endangered species, no matter how much some segment of the fan base looks up to him. Personally, I want to see him right the ship, and take this team deep into the playoffs. I hope it happens. But I don't blame those are frustrated with the lack of success over the last several seasons. With the exception of the 2009-10 season, it's been a long run.
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2014-2015: Dedicated to Rich Curadi

I cannot parse this for the life of me, but you and pretty much anyone else complaining should just read this.

http://www.withoutapeer.com/2014/10/save-it.html?m=1

Sorry.....but I have to disagree with some of the facts stated in this.............literature? All I know is that I bought a dozen donuts at Dunkin' in Latham yesterday, served by SA. I pulled away, stopped, opened the box and there were only 11 donuts in the box. When I looked back, SA and RB were sharing my donut!!
 
As usual, Without a Peer summed it up quite well. Get your black shirts on, root like hell and let's hope for the best. April is a long way away yet.
LGR!

Yup, and it seems to me that most either missed the point, or feel better continuing to complain to absolutely no avail. The coaching is not going to change any time in the near future, period, so how about we support and root for success instead? The drivel is starting to get toxic.
 
It will be saved when the coach shows he can put together an offensive strategy. Sure, I understand that there are assistant coaches, but Monty's and Graham's strategies seem eerily familiar. Pundits such as yourself like to bring up successful moments. As I posted a while back, it's like rolling a hard 8 one out of 36 times. Eventually, long run odds say it will come. The chances are exactly the same from roll to roll, yes, but the only ones bringing up short term results are you, WaP, First Church, and others. The rest of us are looking at the big picture. Zero ECAC semifinal appearances in over a decade when the long run should be one out of three. And it's not like those are one-off rolls either, they are two out of three. Strings of meltdowns across every season, even the "successful" ones. February 2011 and November 2012, for those who don't remember. The NCAA season is too short to afford any sort of a meltdown.

Pundits such as myself? I've been critical of this coach, I just choose to not complain about everything all the time and make a claim alluding to the idea that theyre not going to score another goal all season. It gets really tired to most ears and eyes.
 
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