As a fan who attended RPI games even before matriculating 15 years
     ago, I've been intrigued by the RPI to HE rumors.  I used to think it
     was a terrible idea.....now I'm mildly opposed.  My view of the
     issues:
 
     1) Attendance - I don't believe HE will help here at all.  Maine is an
     attractive opponent with a strong following.  On the other hand,
     Merrimack, Lowell, Providence and Northeastern are poor draws with
     little road following and no natural rivalry with RPI.  I've been to
     several games at Lowell where RPI fans outnumbered (or at least
     matched) the locals.  BU, BC and UNH are all attractive opponents when
     they are winning but won't bring many fans to Troy.  Remembering top
     ten RPI against number 1 BU a few years back playing to an almost full
     Field House but with only a hundred or so BU fans.......
 
     This compares to the fanatical following and traditional rivalries
     versus Clarkson, St. Lawrence, Cornell, UVM, etc.  Not to mention the
     Capital District rivalry with a Union program that will improve over
     the next few years........
 
     2) Number of games - This used to be my biggest gripe.  When HE played
     40+ games per year and travelled out west regularly I thought it was
     absurd.  With the 34 game limit and end of the WCHA relationship this
     is less of an issue.  Still, the fact that HE played that many games
     prior to NCAA cutbacks is indicative of the importance of athletics at
     those schools.
 
     3) Mass pipeline - Don't bet on this changing dramatically.  With
     UMass added to the mix there is more competition than ever.  A few
     more might sign on, but if a player wants to play a lot of games close
     to mom and dad why go to RPI when there are 5 or six schools that play
     75% of their games in Metro Boston.  RPI would be playing approx. 25%
     of its' games in that area (up from approx. 10-15% now).
 
     4) Media coverage - Not all its' cracked up to be.  The Globe and
     Herald generally have short stories by staff about BU, BC or NU games
     played in Boston (same for Harvard home games).  For out of town games
     by those clubs they'll pick up abbreviated wire service reports.
     Non-Boston teams.....2-3 lines.  Not bad, but hardly a PR overload.
     As for TV, for a regular season game to receive coverage it has to be
     critical (e.g. Maine-BU for first place) or a very slow sports day.
     Either way, RPI's coverage will be a very small fraction of the
     locals.
 
     5) Harvard-Brown "front-loaded" schedules.  This is only a problem if
     those teams are winning and others aren't.  No matter what Harvard's
     record is, if the Engineers were 4-1 or 5-0 as they "were supposed to
     be" (if you believe local press clippings) this wouldn't be too much
     concern.  Not much of a reason to switch leagues in my opinion.
 
     6) Buddy Powers' hiring and George Low's death - I know these are
     hardly linked events, but I suspect Jayson is right on the net effect.
     Buddy is a Boston area guy (CM, BU, etc.) and playing there must get
     his juices going (on the other hand he has pulled out of the running
     for two HE jobs for which he was reportedly a strong contender).
     George Low had a strong interest in emphasizing the school's academic
     strengths - directly or via association.  The changeover in regimes
     can only work toward an RPI move.
 
     I'd be in favor of staying in alignment with the Ivies. {Side note: I
     did go to graduate school at an Ivy League institution but it is a
     fact that I often keep quiet).  There is nothing wrong with aligning
     sports leagues with schools of like academic interest.....and make no
     mistake about it I think RPI is in that category albeit with a much,
     much narrower focus.  It keeps sports in some sort of perspective.  HE
     also contains fine institutions, but with a few exceptions there is
     clearly a much stronger emphasis on athletics (not a negative....just
     reality).
 
     Bottom line: If it is inevitable so be it.....but HE is not a panacea
     and I personally would not be happy with the move.  Not crushed....but
     not happy.
 
     Jon
 
     P.S. Having spent my undergraduate years working in the Academic
     Advising office on campus I know that there's a range of students on
     the hockey team.....just as there is in the general population.  Mike
     correctly pointed out that non-engineers are often frowned upon - but
     that does not mean they are not "real students."  Management/business
     is considered a perfectly viable major for untold thousands of
     students per year - why not a hockey player?
 
     Someone mentioned Oates, Carter, etc.  FYI, Adam Oates returned to
     Troy for many summers after he was a highly paid NHL player and did
     receive his RPI degree (despite signing after his junior year).  John
     Carter also received his degree.` With all the demands on their time
     and the opportunities to walk away, that is something deserving of
     respect.
 
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     Jon Greene
     [log in to unmask]
     Cheyenne Software, Roslyn Heights, NY
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