I've been following this thread with interest. I too noticed this article
in the TU on Wednesday. But it did not mention some important points, which
I will elaborate on in a few.
 
BTW, I would like to thank everyone for making this an interesting thread
with their good onsights.
 
One more thing, as a sidenote, Bob Croce, who now covers RPI again for
the TU (after a layoff with the River Rats), is a very insightful man,
but does not always get things correct.
 
Let's go over some of the things mentioned:
 
1) Academic Index.  This has nothing to do with it.  It is a smokescreen
at the most. While yes, there is supposedlly an index which must be
maintained, it is not for ANY potential student. If the RPI wants you, you
will be admitted.
 
2) Number of games. Here is the stickler of it all.  Yes, there should be
more games, and RPI fullly supports this.  Buddy supposrts this. He would
like to have a 2 game series between anyone before the end of October.
A definite reason.
 
3) The Mass pipeline.  This is totally true. Buddy would love to get more
players fromn Mass. And this is one way of doing it.
 
Now for some things which are not mentioned.
I will start off by saying that I believe the move of RPI to Hockey East is
probably 95% DONE!!
 
Why?
 
1) This whole thing stems back to when the HE split. Why did RPI not go?
Because of TWO PEOPLE. Who?
        a) George Low
        b) Lee Wilcox
 
As the president of RPI, Low believed in standards that were on ppar with the
Ivy's. Not to say that HE teams are lower, but Low LOVED to be identified
in the same breath as the Ivies, therefore, one way to stay there was to
maintain membership in the ECAC.
As VP for Student Affairs at RPI, Lee was adamant that things be done the
George Low way. A devoted protegee of Low, it was his wish that things be
the same as they ever would be under Low.
Now, George Low is gone.. Lee WIlcox has resigned. WHo is in charge?
President Byron Pipes has left all hockey decisions to AD Ducatte. And
hockey decisions to Powers.
 
2) Buddy Powers INTENSE desire to be in Hockey East.
Buddy would dearly love to be in HE. Do you think it is a coincidence that
RPI plays so many of it's non-league games against HE?
 
3) The total dislike of the current league standings situation.
WHy do ppeople hate playing in the ECAC? Because by the time January rolls
around, Harvard and Brown have already played almost HALF of their league
games because of the way it is set up.  EVERYONE in the ECAC hates playing
catchup, and the extra prpessure that is added because of this only makes
it worse.
 
4) The MEDIA coverage.
When you plpay the Ivies which major market are you catering to?
Or any of the other teams in the ECAC? None is the answer.  When you play in
HE your exposure quadruples with the addition of Boston. TV contract with
NESN, big dailies, big tv. Is exposure what they want? You bet your ass.
 
5) Putting Fannies in the seats.
Do you think that teams likeMaine, BU, BC, Merimack and the others put
fannies in the seat? Again, you bet your ass. Hmmm, 5217 every night sounds
good to the administration of RPI.
 
Take all this into consideration.  Low and Willcox are gone. Buddy and Ducatte
are in charge. Take into account the other factors. I think it's safe to
say that we'll be seeing RPI in Hockey East next year or the year after.
 
 
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*  Jayson Moy RPI '89 '93       * One of the Voices of Rensselaer Engineer    *
*  [log in to unmask]                 * Hockey, Baseball, Football, and Basketball  *
*  The "J Man"                  * on Crystal Clear FM Radio, 91.5FM WRPI, Troy*
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