Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

[NUProf]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

This – the 25 game limit – means a split conference is required for a merger to occur, otherwise, it would FORCE the SUNYAC to limit its membership to 13 teams and then be limited to one out-of-conference game – hence, splitting the conference is the only realistic possibility (the current 9, means there is room for only 4 more, the could even take all 5, let alone justify not taking SUNY Canton, when they apply). This is the strongest argument for seeking and justifying an exception to the umbrella issue. Yes, they could have a play-in for the AQ, but as I mentioned before, forcing a conference who has no motivation, other than the desire to advance the sport as whole, to adhere to the current umbrella restrictions would be the definition of poor sportsmanship.

You do what the interlock has done with a 20 team "league" for years - play each other team just one time. This year here, next year there ... There's going to be a lot of change in the interlock mind set next year.

 

[norm1909]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

You do what the interlock has done with a 20 team "league" for years - play each other team just one time. This year here, next year there ... There's going to be a lot of change in the interlock mind set next year.

True - if there was any motivation, but I see very little in the WIFM for the SUNYAC, travel as a whole, even if they "play each other team just one time. This year here, next year there", would still increase on a per-season basis.

 

[NUProf]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

True - if there was any motivation, but I see very little in the WIFM for the SUNYAC, travel as a whole, even if they "play each other team just one time. This year here, next year there", would still increase on a per-season basis.

But that would be the NCAA response to a "we have to have two divisions for schedule reasons" argument. If the NCAA would recognize the D2 programs the ECAC West could move in with the the NE-10 and the NCAAs would get a 12th team.

 

[norm1909]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

But that would be the NCAA response to a "we have to have two divisions for schedule reasons" argument. If the NCAA would recognize the D2 programs the ECAC West could move in with the the NE-10 and the NCAAs would get a 12th team.

To which the SUNYAC will say - we offered....

 

[CornwallAce]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

Hartwick - I don't see a chance. I played pick up with a guy who coached Oneonta's club team for a year or two, and they had to travel to Bingo to play. There was a gentleman willing to put up ALL the money for a rink in Oneonta, but environMENTALists put up a stink cause a little of the area was in a wetland, so the guy said screw it.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

Hartwick - I don't see a chance. I played pick up with a guy who coached Oneonta's club team for a year or two, and they had to travel to Bingo to play. There was a gentleman willing to put up ALL the money for a rink in Oneonta, but environMENTALists put up a stink cause a little of the area was in a wetland, so the guy said screw it.

What a joke.

 

[MountieBoyOz]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

I'm dying to know what teams Russell and Scott know about that may be willing to make the jump. I have a feeling Fisher may be one of them.

 

[joecct]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

In two years time, what happens to the ECAC-E if St. A and St. M don't get the permission to stay D-II and play D-III? IIRC, if you DO reclassify downwards, there is a 4 year "cleansing" perion before a school becomes eligible for the D-III championship. So would the Saints want to bite the bullet, and reclassify all their sports teams downwards?

So what would the ECAC-E do if the Saints go marching out?

 

[norm1909]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

Hartwick - I don't see a chance. I played pick up with a guy who coached Oneonta's club team for a year or two, and they had to travel to Bingo to play. There was a gentleman willing to put up ALL the money for a rink in Oneonta, but environMENTALists put up a stink cause a little of the area was in a wetland, so the guy said screw it.

The gentleman was Robert Bindler.

 

[collegehcky2]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

[Begin Dream]

Too bad the NCAA won't let schools play up anymore because this division in an upgraded Atlantic Hockey conference sounds great:

Elmira
Mercyhurst
RIT
Canisius
Army
Air Force
Niagara

Wear "retro" jerseys during conference play? Oh boy.

[End dream]

 

[joecct]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

[Begin Dream]

Too bad the NCAA won't let schools play up anymore because this division in an upgraded Atlantic Hockey conference sounds great:

Elmira
Mercyhurst
RIT
Canisius
Army
Air Force
Niagara

Wear "retro" jerseys during conference play? Oh boy.

[End dream]

 

[LakerEagleLover]

The gentleman was Robert Bindler.

This was published in 2000

Oneonta ice rink delayed

By Matthew Falconer
Staff Writer

ONEONTA — Plans to open an ice rink on state Route 7 in the town of Oneonta have been delayed for a year because of bad weather, the developer of the project said Tuesday.

Oneonta developer Robert Bindler was counting on a mild winter so he could begin construction on an indoor ice rink this spring, but bad weather has hampered attempts to get the property rezoned and resurveyed, he said.

"We got all that snow and the surveyors couldn't get in to do their work," Bindler said. "If we start now, it won't be ready for fall and the timing has to be right."

In January, the Oneonta Town Board approved Bindler's application to rezone the property from a moderate-density residential area to one suited for general business.

Bindler now plans to begin construction next spring and open the rink in the fall of 2001, he said.

He still needs the approval of the town Planning Board and local banks before the project can begin.

"Once we get the project rezoned, the business plan has to be looked at by the town and lenders," Bindler said. "There will be financing that has to be approved."

Bindler said he will look to local banks to finance the $2.5 million project and will use some of his own money, too.

Bindler, who said he is a former hockey player, added that he is counting on receiving tax breaks for building the rink.

Oneonta Town Board member Marie Lusins said that was a likely possibility given the cost of the project.

Lusins has been an enthusiastic supporter of the rink and said she has "every confidence" that it will be built.

"I just felt it was something I should pursue," Lusins said. "It's going to add quite a bit to the economy of the area."

Some residents who live near the proposed site have voiced opposition to the rink.

Residents have cited concerns about increased traffic activity and a growing amount of property being rezoned for commercial use.

If Bindler wins approval to open the rink, he said it would stay open year-round and support youth hockey programs, learn-to-skate programs, figure skating and public skating.

Hartwick College and the State University College at Oneonta also have expressed an interest in participating in rink activities, Bindler said.

Bindler added that the property is big enough for two regulation-size rinks. He said he has toyed with that idea but has not made any final decisions.

 

[pierre maguire]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

Harder for their school to have their cake and eat it too.

If I'm Morrisville/Castleton/NEC/Babson/Curry/Southern Maine you name any mid-tier program etc...why would I want more competition for the auto-bid in my conference when it's already tough enough to try and knock off the Oswego, Plattsburgh, Middlebury, Norwich, St, Norbert of the world.

I can fully see why no one wants them. Everyone wants to win or make it to the NCAA Tournament. Why make it harder on yourself if you don't have to or aren't forced to?

While I agree some coaches and administrators might think/feel this way, if so, they should re-evaluate the reasons they chose to get involved in the NCAA. Until these lower tier schools lose this mentality, they will always be bottom feeders. Maybe that's okay with them but no legit hockey prospect is going to go play for a coach or school that doesn't want to compete against the best. I could see those NY teams like Hobart, Elmira and Utica joining the SUNYAC with Man'ville going to the ECAC E and Neumann going independent (like when the program was born).

A different question might be, which schools of the ECAC W would be best suited to try and make the jump to D1? None of the schools have rinks on campus and I think that's a requirement now for any program wanting to go D1? Most are located in small'ish towns. Neumann and Man'ville being the exception and have the best location located right outside Philadelphia and NYC. Neumann just built a brand new multi million dollar athletic facility and is pursuing University expansion? Has a NCAA National Championship school ever had to fold their team? That could be a first!

 

[NUProf]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

Going D1 is not an option for a DIII school any more. Play ups are now out - RIT just got in under the wire, and the only other route is to first upgrade the entire athletic program to DII (includes a certain amount of transition time) and after that upgrading the entire program to DI with more transition time. DI has become a closed corporation that doesn't want any new competition. The big money schools don't want the competition.

 

[norm1909]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

Below are the distances between the schools - Mileage data city-center to city-center and is from Microsoft's MapPoint.

	Canton	Cortland	Elmira	Morrisvi	Oswego	Plattsbu	Potsdam	Utica
Canton	-	165	223	162	121	111	11	142
Cortland	165	-	58	50	85	308	177	88
Elmira	223	58	-	106	117	334	234	146
Morrisvi	162	50	106	-	80	246	171	32
Oswego	121	85	117	80	-	226	132	87
Plattsbu	111	308	334	246	226	-	99	229
Potsdam	11	177	234	171	132	99	-	153
Utica	142	88	146	32	87	229	153	-
Brockport	228	138	134	142	88	376	239	155
Buffalo 	267	177	173	182	149	414	278	194
Fredonia	315	225	220	229	198	462	326	241
Geneseo	229	140	90	144	102	376	241	155
Hobart	178	87	58	77	61	325	189	104
Manhatta	343	232	236	245	304	304	340	236
Neumann	390	228	244	275	311	411	400	275
	2885	2158	2373	2141	2061	4221	2990	2237

	Brockport	Buffalo 	Fredonia	Geneseo	Hobart	Manhatta	Neumann
Canton	228	267	315	229	178	343	390
Cortland	138	177	225	140	87	232	228
Elmira	134	173	220	90	58	236	244
Morrisvi	142	182	229	144	77	245	275
Oswego	88	149	198	102	61	304	311
Plattsbu	376	414	462	376	325	304	411
Potsdam	239	278	326	241	189	340	400
Utica	155	194	241	155	104	236	275
Brockport	-	89	108	47	63	355	363
Buffalo 	89	-	53	83	102	394	421
Fredonia	108	53	-	98	150	441	470
Geneseo	47	83	98	-	50	323	330
Hobart	63	102	150	50	-	291	299
Manhatta	355	394	441	323	291	-	152
Neumann	363	421	470	330	299	152	-
	2525	2976	3536	2408	2034	4196	4569

Suggested travel partners (Mileage consideration only):

Before Canton:
Plattsburgh-Potsdam (99 miles)
Morrisville-Utica (32 miles)
Elmira-Cortland (58 miles)
Oswego

Brockport-Hobart (63 miles)
Buffalo St.-Fredonia (53 miles)
Manhattanville-Neumann (152 miles)
Geneseo

Post Canton:
Canton-Potsdam (11 miles)
Morrisville-Utica (32 miles)
Elmira-Cortland (58 miles)
Plattsburgh-Oswego (226 miles)

Brockport-Hobart (63 miles)
Buffalo St.-Fredonia (53 miles)
Manhattanville-Neumann (152 miles)
Geneseo

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

Miles...

	Canton	Cortland	Elmira	Morrisville
Canton	-	165	223	162
Cortland	165	-	58	50
Elmira	223	58	-	106
Morrisville	162	50	106	-
Oswego	121	85	117	80
Plattsburgh	111	308	334	246
Potsdam	11	177	234	171
Utica	142	88	146	32
Brockport	228	138	134	142
Buffalo St.	267	177	173	182
Fredonia	315	225	220	229
Geneseo	229	140	90	144
Hobart	178	87	58	77
Manhattanville	343	232	236	245
Neumann	390	228	244	275
	2885	2158	2373	2141

Might want to check the Oswego mileage again...

 

[norm1909]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

I was having formating issues - I think I got it corrected, if not what cities appear off?

 

[collegehcky2]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

I was having formating issues - I think I got it corrected, if not what cities appear off?

Oswego to Elmira is approximately 109 miles.

Buff State to Oswego is approximately 153 miles.

 

[CARDS_rule_the_Burgh]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

Going D1 is not an option for a DIII school any more. Play ups are now out - RIT just got in under the wire, and the only other route is to first upgrade the entire athletic program to DII (includes a certain amount of transition time) and after that upgrading the entire program to DI with more transition time. DI has become a closed corporation that doesn't want any new competition. The big money schools don't want the competition.

Did all that legislation actually end up getting passed? I know it was up for consideration. But I know I just read the other day that RIT will be applying for a playup in Women's Ice Hockey after the moratorium ends in July...

 

[Ozz]

Re: Utica to the SUNYAC? - Biggar's Column

Below are the distances between the schools - Mileage data is from Microsoft's Map Point.

	Canton	Cortland	Elmira	Morrisvi	Oswego	Plattsbu	Potsdam	Utica
Canton	-	165	223	162	121	111	11	142
Cortland	165	-	58	50	85	308	177	88
Elmira	223	58	-	106	117	334	234	146
Morrisvi	162	50	106	-	80	246	171	32
Oswego	121	85	117	80	-	226	132	87
Plattsbu	111	308	334	246	226	-	99	229
Potsdam	11	177	234	171	132	99	-	153
Utica	142	88	146	32	87	229	153	-
Brockport	228	138	134	142	88	376	239	155
Buffalo 	267	177	173	182	149	414	278	194
Fredonia	315	225	220	229	198	462	326	241
Geneseo	229	140	90	144	102	376	241	155
Hobart	178	87	58	77	61	325	189	104
Manhatta	343	232	236	245	304	304	340	236
Neumann	390	228	244	275	311	411	400	275
	2885	2158	2373	2141	2061	4221	2990	2237

	Brockport	Buffalo 	Fredonia	Geneseo	Hobart	Manhatta	Neumann
Canton	228	267	315	229	178	343	390
Cortland	138	177	225	140	87	232	228
Elmira	134	173	220	90	58	236	244
Morrisvi	142	182	229	144	77	245	275
Oswego	88	149	198	102	61	304	311
Plattsbu	376	414	462	376	325	304	411
Potsdam	239	278	326	241	189	340	400
Utica	155	194	241	155	104	236	275
Brockport	-	89	108	47	63	355	363
Buffalo 	89	-	53	83	102	394	421
Fredonia	108	53	-	98	150	441	470
Geneseo	47	83	98	-	50	323	330
Hobart	63	102	150	50	-	291	299
Manhatta	355	394	441	323	291	-	152
Neumann	363	421	470	330	299	152	-
	2525	2976	3536	2408	2034	4196	4569

Suggested travel partners (Mileage consideration only):

Before Canton:
Plattsburgh-Potsdam (99 miles)
Morrisville-Utica (32 miles)
Elmira-Cortland (58 miles)
Oswego

Brockport-Hobart (63 miles)
Buffalo St.-Fredonia (53 miles)
Manhattanville-Neumann (152 miles)
Geneseo

Post Canton:
Canton-Potsdam (11 miles)
Morrisville-Utica (32 miles)
Elmira-Cortland (58 miles)
Plattsburgh-Oswego (226 miles)

Brockport-Hobart (63 miles)
Buffalo St.-Fredonia (53 miles)
Manhattanville-Neumann (152 miles)
Geneseo

Platty and Oswego weekend with 226 miles of travel between...would be a tough weekend for a lot of team...