According to recent articles in the TU and Gazette, Union was ranked #12 in December 2000. That team started off winning 6 of their first 8 games including a sweep of Cornell/Colgate and win over RPI.. of course from there on the wheels came off and had only 6 more wins the whole season. I don't remember U being ranked during the 96-97 season, which was probably the only other time it might have happened.. but I doubt they were ever above #12. I could have swore U got some rankings love in 04-05 when they got off to the 6 win start in the league, but I could be wrong.. and again that was a team that took a nosedive after the quick start.
I think I can definitely say this is the latest in the season that U has been ranked and is the most deserved ranking the program has garnered. However, it's still pretty early in the season and it would not surprise me to see programs like Notre Dame, Michigan, Minnesota and BU make big rebounds in the second half and get back in the rankings. If U is ranked in mid-March, we'll have something to talk about.