I want to add my two cents to this already well-covered topic.
I grew up in the Albany area and have followed the team since
my brother went to RPI in '74. Back then, the team was lucky
if it reached eighth place in the ECAC and made the playoffs.
Expectations really shot up following the team's great run in
the mid-80's and IMHO have remained too high. The way I see
it, if RPI can grab home ice in the ECAC and you can see them
a few extra times, its a good year. Anything above that and
you are into "gravy territory"!
Ken V.
RPI '86
(When I was there chants of "We want TEN" were common!)