jcarter7669
Registered User
Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season
So we can expect to start seeing them at the Gutt in 7-8 years
So we can expect to start seeing them at the Gutt in 7-8 years
USCHO Fan Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.
UVM 2015-2016 The New Season
- Thread starter Nosmo King
- Start date
UVM Cat in Texas
Now UVM Cat in Georgia
Let's hope so. Even if they suck, it might get dad involved in things. ;-)So we can expect to start seeing them at the Gutt in 7-8 years
Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season
We didn't play BC and BU. We played Nebraska Omaha and UMass Lowell at home and have been handed our hat by Providence, Merrimack, UNH, Union, Yale etc over the last 10 years. Not recruiting power houses. Since Lowell made a coaching change they have pretty much swept us for the last many years. Are you saying we can't recruit against Umass Lowell and Nebraska Omaha?
I will say Maine and UNH seem to be having troubles and Wisconsin all of whom used to be on top every year (remember the big four?). So there is some dilution in talent around college hockey and recruiting challenges but we seem to always be a step below. As someone mentioned below, the dump and chase and pray seems to be our offensive plan every year. Finally I feel like every year we get worse as the season progresses while other teams get better. I do think it is the coach who is to blame for recruiting as it is his program and player development reputation that get kids to come to your school. Maybe my green glasses have turned brown from being a fan for too many years seeing the same mediocre product year in and year out. Let's hope they prove me wrong this year. And please nobody mention the arena as an excuse as that is old and weak as well.
We didn't play BC and BU. We played Nebraska Omaha and UMass Lowell at home and have been handed our hat by Providence, Merrimack, UNH, Union, Yale etc over the last 10 years. Not recruiting power houses. Since Lowell made a coaching change they have pretty much swept us for the last many years. Are you saying we can't recruit against Umass Lowell and Nebraska Omaha?
I will say Maine and UNH seem to be having troubles and Wisconsin all of whom used to be on top every year (remember the big four?). So there is some dilution in talent around college hockey and recruiting challenges but we seem to always be a step below. As someone mentioned below, the dump and chase and pray seems to be our offensive plan every year. Finally I feel like every year we get worse as the season progresses while other teams get better. I do think it is the coach who is to blame for recruiting as it is his program and player development reputation that get kids to come to your school. Maybe my green glasses have turned brown from being a fan for too many years seeing the same mediocre product year in and year out. Let's hope they prove me wrong this year. And please nobody mention the arena as an excuse as that is old and weak as well.
Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season
I think anybody recruiting against UNO is in for lot more than they might think.
Unlike Vermont, UNO employs a head coach that has actually won NCAA Hockey National Championships (plural), played in another title game besides the ones he's actually won, and who currently sports a career head coaching record of 381-216-57 (.626). This same head coach also led Team USA to the gold medal in the IIHF 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship.
Further, since the 2011-2012 season, Dean Blais has been able to recruit with the knowledge that the school was building a 90 million dollar state-of-the-art dual rink on-campus arena built specifically (mostly) for the UNO hockey program that opened 3 weekends ago. He could also point out to potential recruits the enormous, unprecedented support the program has enjoyed in the community since the day the program started in 1997. UNO has never finished lower than 6th, nationally, in attendance in the history of the program and outside that one outlier season where it did finish 6th, it's been 5th or higher every other year.
To further give you an idea of that support, during UNO's entire tenure in the CCHA, UNO's booster club, The Blue Line Club, was larger than that of the booster clubs of every other team in the conference, combined. The average attendance for UNO hockey games, over the entirety of program history is almost 7,700 fans per game. The average.
Further, and almost as importantly, UNO, being located in Omaha, is in the same city with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL (who also have their own brand spanking new arena here), a team that is widely regarded as the Montreal Canadiens of junior hockey in the United States and their storied franchise is arguably one of if not the most successful amateur sports enterprises in the United States. The USHL is the premiere junior hockey program in this country. Not only are the Lancers right here in Omaha, but 6 other USHL teams are within a 3 hour drive of Omaha. And, 3 of those teams are under 2 hours away. Take a look at UNO's current roster, which contains 16 former USHL players.
How big of an advantage is the Lancers presence to UNO? Can I cite an example? Look no further than current UNO sophomore forwards Tyler Vesel and Jake Randolph. who are a part of UNO's current second line. Two seasons ago, in their last year playing with the Omaha Lancers, Randolph led the USHL in scoring (setting a Lancers team record while doing so) and Vesel was 3rd in the league in scoring and would have easily finished 2nd had it not been for a late season injury.
It's easy to cherry pick guys like this off of USHL teams when they are playing in the same town that you are in, or, are very close by in another town, and are here a lot playing the Lancers to begin with. Don't have to sell the city or the program a whole lot to these guys since it is staring them in the face almost constantly by being here and/or playing here--a lot.
That Omaha is great hockey town is one of the great, sort of hidden-to-outsiders secrets about our city. I am not from here, and did not grow up here, by the way, so this isn't any sort of homer boast by any means. When I moved here it became the single biggest surprise that I discovered after I did move here. Never attended a college hockey game in my life until I moved here.
Here is OTB's recuiting class rankings from last season, where UNO was ranked 3rd:
http://overtheboards.net/2014-college-hockey-recruiting-class-rankings/
UNO has 8 current NHL draft picks on its current roster. There are definitely reasons for this, as I think I have shown. We're fighting with North Dakota and Minnesota for recruits and we have ourselves in a position to offer just abut anything they can, now, and, it is showing. Our days of taking a back seat to just about anyone in recruiting are over. The only thing we don't have to sell is a large trophy case. We're working on that, now.
Good luck to the Catamounts the rest of the season. I am glad we finally crossed you off the very small list of programs we had never played.
I think anybody recruiting against UNO is in for lot more than they might think.
Unlike Vermont, UNO employs a head coach that has actually won NCAA Hockey National Championships (plural), played in another title game besides the ones he's actually won, and who currently sports a career head coaching record of 381-216-57 (.626). This same head coach also led Team USA to the gold medal in the IIHF 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship.
Further, since the 2011-2012 season, Dean Blais has been able to recruit with the knowledge that the school was building a 90 million dollar state-of-the-art dual rink on-campus arena built specifically (mostly) for the UNO hockey program that opened 3 weekends ago. He could also point out to potential recruits the enormous, unprecedented support the program has enjoyed in the community since the day the program started in 1997. UNO has never finished lower than 6th, nationally, in attendance in the history of the program and outside that one outlier season where it did finish 6th, it's been 5th or higher every other year.
To further give you an idea of that support, during UNO's entire tenure in the CCHA, UNO's booster club, The Blue Line Club, was larger than that of the booster clubs of every other team in the conference, combined. The average attendance for UNO hockey games, over the entirety of program history is almost 7,700 fans per game. The average.
Further, and almost as importantly, UNO, being located in Omaha, is in the same city with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL (who also have their own brand spanking new arena here), a team that is widely regarded as the Montreal Canadiens of junior hockey in the United States and their storied franchise is arguably one of if not the most successful amateur sports enterprises in the United States. The USHL is the premiere junior hockey program in this country. Not only are the Lancers right here in Omaha, but 6 other USHL teams are within a 3 hour drive of Omaha. And, 3 of those teams are under 2 hours away. Take a look at UNO's current roster, which contains 16 former USHL players.
How big of an advantage is the Lancers presence to UNO? Can I cite an example? Look no further than current UNO sophomore forwards Tyler Vesel and Jake Randolph. who are a part of UNO's current second line. Two seasons ago, in their last year playing with the Omaha Lancers, Randolph led the USHL in scoring (setting a Lancers team record while doing so) and Vesel was 3rd in the league in scoring and would have easily finished 2nd had it not been for a late season injury.
It's easy to cherry pick guys like this off of USHL teams when they are playing in the same town that you are in, or, are very close by in another town, and are here a lot playing the Lancers to begin with. Don't have to sell the city or the program a whole lot to these guys since it is staring them in the face almost constantly by being here and/or playing here--a lot.
That Omaha is great hockey town is one of the great, sort of hidden-to-outsiders secrets about our city. I am not from here, and did not grow up here, by the way, so this isn't any sort of homer boast by any means. When I moved here it became the single biggest surprise that I discovered after I did move here. Never attended a college hockey game in my life until I moved here.
Here is OTB's recuiting class rankings from last season, where UNO was ranked 3rd:
http://overtheboards.net/2014-college-hockey-recruiting-class-rankings/
UNO has 8 current NHL draft picks on its current roster. There are definitely reasons for this, as I think I have shown. We're fighting with North Dakota and Minnesota for recruits and we have ourselves in a position to offer just abut anything they can, now, and, it is showing. Our days of taking a back seat to just about anyone in recruiting are over. The only thing we don't have to sell is a large trophy case. We're working on that, now.
Good luck to the Catamounts the rest of the season. I am glad we finally crossed you off the very small list of programs we had never played.
Last edited:
UML Puck Hawk
New member
We're fairly even in terms of recruiting, I'd say the difference between us comes down to the fact Lowell players seem to get better as they spend more time on campus. UVM players don't seem to be, and if they are the rate seems slower.
jcarter7669
Registered User
Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season
I'd say the difference has more to do with the fact that there was some really poor recruiting done for a few years. Plenty of UVM players have made tremendous strides throughout their 4 years. However, 3-4-5 or more years ago there were a crop of players that came through where something was always going and it disrupted the progress of players and the team as a whole. That makes it seem like players aren't progressing but it's really the team as a whole. Hopefully that has straightened out, but at least the annual drama of having 3-4 guys get booted or leave on their own has finally gone away.
I'd say the difference has more to do with the fact that there was some really poor recruiting done for a few years. Plenty of UVM players have made tremendous strides throughout their 4 years. However, 3-4-5 or more years ago there were a crop of players that came through where something was always going and it disrupted the progress of players and the team as a whole. That makes it seem like players aren't progressing but it's really the team as a whole. Hopefully that has straightened out, but at least the annual drama of having 3-4 guys get booted or leave on their own has finally gone away.
Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season
I can't speak on the quality of the recruits, but it doesn't appear Sneddon is having any problems getting players. The Heisenberg site is showing 23 commitments for Vermont for next year and beyond.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...MYiKzOY5yDBrjdq9ceiPvSdNIc/edit#gid=839105835
I can't speak on the quality of the recruits, but it doesn't appear Sneddon is having any problems getting players. The Heisenberg site is showing 23 commitments for Vermont for next year and beyond.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...MYiKzOY5yDBrjdq9ceiPvSdNIc/edit#gid=839105835
Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season
Getting players has never been the issue, its getting the ones that the big schools also want that is the problem. Another problem is we have never
got a recruiting push from any of the teams success. After those final four teams left the team dropped right back down to the level it was. We
get maybe 1 Stalburg/ST Louis type once every ten years while the BC's of the world get one every other year. Look at Union who won 32 games
and a NCAA title only to drop down to 19wins and a .500 team the next year and the same this year. And for those who say the arena doesnt matter
just take a trip down to Union and see why no big time prospect would pick them over BC.
Getting players has never been the issue, its getting the ones that the big schools also want that is the problem. Another problem is we have never
got a recruiting push from any of the teams success. After those final four teams left the team dropped right back down to the level it was. We
get maybe 1 Stalburg/ST Louis type once every ten years while the BC's of the world get one every other year. Look at Union who won 32 games
and a NCAA title only to drop down to 19wins and a .500 team the next year and the same this year. And for those who say the arena doesnt matter
just take a trip down to Union and see why no big time prospect would pick them over BC.
UVM Cat in Texas
Now UVM Cat in Georgia
Maybe he plans on forming a JV team. ;-) But then again, some might say we have one right now....
Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season
A quick look at the records over the last 10 years
Providence....Vermont leads 12-10-7
Merrimack.....Vermont leads 11-10-7
UNH.............UNH leads 7-17-7
Union...........Tied 1-1
Yale.............Tied 2-2-1
Well at least you had 1 out of 5 right
A quick look at the records over the last 10 years
Providence....Vermont leads 12-10-7
Merrimack.....Vermont leads 11-10-7
UNH.............UNH leads 7-17-7
Union...........Tied 1-1
Yale.............Tied 2-2-1
Well at least you had 1 out of 5 right
pokecheckguy
New member
Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season
But Union obviously did more things right with that little arena and the system and the players it got in that span to reach and win the national title than Sneddon has ever done at UVM. It is hard with this style because it is dump and chase and boring and for many of us who have been here for years it grows tiresome to watch especially when they are so overmatched against elite teams. IF you want the status qou and are ok with going to a game and maybe making the NCAA once every five years fine but some of us are not like that and expect greater and for many reason program has plateaued that eventually it is going to need a change. Fresh blood never bad thing. And with a new AD this person may agree and see more potential even in the current state of the team than some people here do.
And it is irrelevant what a kid going to BC does Union found the guys that made them better than BC that year. It is irrelevent if a kid goes to those schools been happening for a long time. UVM can find gems if Lowell can UVM can. I do not see why people feeling that way and feeling like a change eventually is not a bad thing.
But Union obviously did more things right with that little arena and the system and the players it got in that span to reach and win the national title than Sneddon has ever done at UVM. It is hard with this style because it is dump and chase and boring and for many of us who have been here for years it grows tiresome to watch especially when they are so overmatched against elite teams. IF you want the status qou and are ok with going to a game and maybe making the NCAA once every five years fine but some of us are not like that and expect greater and for many reason program has plateaued that eventually it is going to need a change. Fresh blood never bad thing. And with a new AD this person may agree and see more potential even in the current state of the team than some people here do.
And it is irrelevant what a kid going to BC does Union found the guys that made them better than BC that year. It is irrelevent if a kid goes to those schools been happening for a long time. UVM can find gems if Lowell can UVM can. I do not see why people feeling that way and feeling like a change eventually is not a bad thing.
jcarter7669
Registered User
Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season
It's a little tiresome reading some of these comments on how bad UVM is at recruiting and how they can't be successful. If it were true fine, but it's not. The fact that some aren't happy with going to the NCAA's every 5 years just goes to show that. When Gilligan was coach the goal was simply to be successful in the ECAC. Sneddon raised that expectation to making the NCAA's, so he has very clearly elevated the compete level of the team. Oh, and lets not forget that we just finished back to back 20+ win seasons... how many times in UVM's history has that happened?
As for recruiting, why Union is the example is beyond me. They had an all american defensman that carried that team to a national championship. They have had sustained success and aren't a perenial power. They found a gem and had a good season. It's not like that's never happened to UVM... Stalberg ahem.
And they do find gems, how many Cats have gone onto the NHL since Sneddon as compared to before Sneddon? Is he loading a team with them, no but outside of the BC's and BU's not many teams can field a roster of draft picks. As for Lowell, they have gotten some good recruits as well, and they luck into some. They didn't recruit Boyle, he fell into their lap.
The short of it is UVM has gotten off to a rocky start, if they were sitting at 6-2-1 instead of 2-6-1 we wouldn't be having this conversation. If they lose the next 4 games I'll eat crow, but let's not get carried away here abandoning the ship just yet over losses to #1, #2, and #4.
It's a little tiresome reading some of these comments on how bad UVM is at recruiting and how they can't be successful. If it were true fine, but it's not. The fact that some aren't happy with going to the NCAA's every 5 years just goes to show that. When Gilligan was coach the goal was simply to be successful in the ECAC. Sneddon raised that expectation to making the NCAA's, so he has very clearly elevated the compete level of the team. Oh, and lets not forget that we just finished back to back 20+ win seasons... how many times in UVM's history has that happened?
As for recruiting, why Union is the example is beyond me. They had an all american defensman that carried that team to a national championship. They have had sustained success and aren't a perenial power. They found a gem and had a good season. It's not like that's never happened to UVM... Stalberg ahem.
And they do find gems, how many Cats have gone onto the NHL since Sneddon as compared to before Sneddon? Is he loading a team with them, no but outside of the BC's and BU's not many teams can field a roster of draft picks. As for Lowell, they have gotten some good recruits as well, and they luck into some. They didn't recruit Boyle, he fell into their lap.
The short of it is UVM has gotten off to a rocky start, if they were sitting at 6-2-1 instead of 2-6-1 we wouldn't be having this conversation. If they lose the next 4 games I'll eat crow, but let's not get carried away here abandoning the ship just yet over losses to #1, #2, and #4.
CTcatamount
New member
Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season
Decent win against a UCONN team that has been playing terribly lately. I have seen them twice at the Hartford Civic Center this season and there is some talent on the team (G- Nichols especially) so it wasn't an automatic.
Let's take get after UMass! We certainly can start to get the season back on track these next 4 games. As far as making the jump from mid-tier program... **** that is going to take some doing.
Decent win against a UCONN team that has been playing terribly lately. I have seen them twice at the Hartford Civic Center this season and there is some talent on the team (G- Nichols especially) so it wasn't an automatic.
Let's take get after UMass! We certainly can start to get the season back on track these next 4 games. As far as making the jump from mid-tier program... **** that is going to take some doing.
UVM Cat in Texas
Now UVM Cat in Georgia
Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season
Maybe one can argue Sneddon gets a slight edge in that quite a few of his players have achieved success in the NHL. Even so, I'd still have to discount giving the credit to Sneddon. A lot more good players are choosing to go to college today than in Gilligan's era and, consequently, NHL teams are plucking players from college more than they were back in the day. Today college is a legitimate development path for NHL players. Plus, when you look at someone like Connor Brickley, you have to really wonder about Sneddon's ability to develop players. I mean, the guy is now in the NHL, and was good enough to play in the world junior's while at UVM. No small feat! And yet he was a total non-factor during his time as a player at UVM (injuries notwithstanding, but still he sucked (to put it bluntly)).
I haven't jumped ship yet, but man, I wish our program were able to produce something more than a mid to mid-bottom conference team year after year. A new arena will help immensely but, I agree, it's not the sole answer. Maybe UVM doesn't have as much going for it, from a hockey perspective, as we'd all like to believe. (Just read the post above from the UNO fan and all the things that school has going for it -- it's pretty eye opening). But, on the other hand, Lowell seems to have made the jump to a consistently good program (maybe elite), and what do they have going for it that UVM doesn't? I don't have the answers, but I do know I'm frustrated, and I think a lot of us are.
I think Gilligan might be surprised to hear that his goal was to simply be successful in the ECAC. Frankly, I don't think Sneddon's raised the level of the program much, if at all. If you look at some numbers, Sneddon's won 48% of his games while head coach at UVM. Gilligan won 49% of his games as head coach, so slight advantage to him. Sneddon's teams have finished in about 6.4th position in league play, while Gilligan's finished in about 6.8th position (not counting the 1999-2000 when the program was suspended). So slight advantage to Sneddon there. Sneddon's teams have made 3 trips to the NCAA tourney and 1 trip to the Frozen Four. Gilligan also made 3 trips to the NCAA's and one to the FF, so no advantage there to either. (Maybe a slight advantage to Sneddon since he's done it over 12 seasons, while Gilligan had the same result, but over 18 seasons (again not counting 1999-2000)). So, while Sneddon may have "raised the expectations," I think unfortunately we're all still waiting for that to actually translate into results.
Actually, once before, during Gilligan's tenure (see 95-96 & 96-97 seasons). In fact, it almost happened 3 years in a row under Gilligan, as the 94-95 Cats were 19-14-2. So good job by Sneddon, but let's not get carried away.
I hear what you're saying, but dang, I would have expected better than ZERO wins during that tough stretch, especially since all 6 games were at home! Not good, not good at all.
Maybe one can argue Sneddon gets a slight edge in that quite a few of his players have achieved success in the NHL. Even so, I'd still have to discount giving the credit to Sneddon. A lot more good players are choosing to go to college today than in Gilligan's era and, consequently, NHL teams are plucking players from college more than they were back in the day. Today college is a legitimate development path for NHL players. Plus, when you look at someone like Connor Brickley, you have to really wonder about Sneddon's ability to develop players. I mean, the guy is now in the NHL, and was good enough to play in the world junior's while at UVM. No small feat! And yet he was a total non-factor during his time as a player at UVM (injuries notwithstanding, but still he sucked (to put it bluntly)).
I haven't jumped ship yet, but man, I wish our program were able to produce something more than a mid to mid-bottom conference team year after year. A new arena will help immensely but, I agree, it's not the sole answer. Maybe UVM doesn't have as much going for it, from a hockey perspective, as we'd all like to believe. (Just read the post above from the UNO fan and all the things that school has going for it -- it's pretty eye opening). But, on the other hand, Lowell seems to have made the jump to a consistently good program (maybe elite), and what do they have going for it that UVM doesn't? I don't have the answers, but I do know I'm frustrated, and I think a lot of us are.
Last edited:
Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season
“Good is the enemy of great”
Sneddon is a good coach. That’s the problem. He’s just good enough to keep his job, but not great. That’s the nightmare scenario in my opinion. Whenever one of my favorite sports teams hires a new coach my first hope, of course, is that it will be a smashing success. If not however, I hope for it to be a disaster. That way the coach can be replaced and the team gets to try again. The worst case is the coach is just good enough to keep his job, but not great, and the team becomes mired in mediocracy. This is where the UVM hockey program has been for a long time.
“Good is the enemy of great”
Sneddon is a good coach. That’s the problem. He’s just good enough to keep his job, but not great. That’s the nightmare scenario in my opinion. Whenever one of my favorite sports teams hires a new coach my first hope, of course, is that it will be a smashing success. If not however, I hope for it to be a disaster. That way the coach can be replaced and the team gets to try again. The worst case is the coach is just good enough to keep his job, but not great, and the team becomes mired in mediocracy. This is where the UVM hockey program has been for a long time.
pokecheckguy
New member
Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season
well i can sum up today's game in one word UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
debate as you wish if that is a real word but sentiment remain.
well i can sum up today's game in one word UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
debate as you wish if that is a real word but sentiment remain.
jcarter7669
Registered User
Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season
I would only point out that the level of competition is much greater under the Sneddon era, then the Gilligan era, and many of Gilligan's wins and FF appearances hinged on a once in a life time class that came through. But point taken, it's not tremendously different. I do think that doing it in HE where the 8th place Cats made the FF is much different then when they were playing in the ECAC in the 80's.
That said, do I ever expect the Cats to be an elite team... not really. I do however expect them to be competing for an NCAA berth every year, or nearly every year. And that said, I still expect that of them this year. They are ... mostly... taking care of the teams they should be, they havent' played many I'd consider in their tier just yet, and they are playing the elite teams tough and making it close. They should have walked away with some wins in that stretch, the D let them down... I do not expect the D to be playing that way in the second half of the season and when they match up with those teams again they may pull off that win.
I expect UVM to be a 3-6 place team in HE and goto the NCAA's on a consistent basis. I actually don't think the team is far off from that.
I would only point out that the level of competition is much greater under the Sneddon era, then the Gilligan era, and many of Gilligan's wins and FF appearances hinged on a once in a life time class that came through. But point taken, it's not tremendously different. I do think that doing it in HE where the 8th place Cats made the FF is much different then when they were playing in the ECAC in the 80's.
That said, do I ever expect the Cats to be an elite team... not really. I do however expect them to be competing for an NCAA berth every year, or nearly every year. And that said, I still expect that of them this year. They are ... mostly... taking care of the teams they should be, they havent' played many I'd consider in their tier just yet, and they are playing the elite teams tough and making it close. They should have walked away with some wins in that stretch, the D let them down... I do not expect the D to be playing that way in the second half of the season and when they match up with those teams again they may pull off that win.
I expect UVM to be a 3-6 place team in HE and goto the NCAA's on a consistent basis. I actually don't think the team is far off from that.