Brian Morris writes:
>I think every self-respecting RPI fan out there prays this is the case.  This
>is the weakest schedule the Engineers have ever put together, and that's saying
>a lot.
 
Not by a long shot.  Look at their nonleague opposition since 1986-87,
especially the years 86-87 and 87-88.  I don't even think it is their
weakest under Buddy (how about 91-92).  (I don't recall why they only
played 6 NC games in 86-87...this was, however, during the time they
seemed to have trouble getting NC games.)
 
86-87 Babson, RIT, Union, Alaska-Fairbanks, Merrimack, Quebec
87-88 Babson, Union, Holy Cross, McGill, Elmira, Lowell, St Cloud (2)
88-89 Lowell, UMass-Boston, Union, Concordia, Minnesota (2), Notre
      Dame, Providence
89-90 Providence, UNH (2), Lowell, Union, Merrimack, North Dakota (2)
90-91 BU, Concordia, Providence, BC, UNH, Union, Western Ontario, Lowell
91-92 BU, Merrimack, BC, Alabama-Huntsville (2), St Lawrence, UNH, RIT
92-93 Providence (2), BU, Merrimack, Lowell, UNH, Alabama-Huntsville (2)
93-94 Merrimack, Army, BU, UNH, Bowling Green, Maine, Mount Allison, Lowell
94-95 BU, Merrimack, Army, Lowell, 2 of Maine/Merrimack/?, Air Force (2)
 
In 94-95, most likely 5 of RPI's 8 NC games will be with DivI conference
opponents.  Since 86-87, RPI has played more than 5 NC games with
DivI conf opp 4 times.  They have played 5 or fewer 4 times, including
0 in 86-87 and 1 in 87-88.
 
>The entire strength of schedule will be determined by RPI's first game
>against a loaded BU team (no offense intended Mike.)
 
None taken, although I see Merrimack, Maine, and possibly Lowell as being
formidable foes for RPI next season too.
 
I expect a lot of other people will continue to look at Merrimack the
same way as they have over the last few years.  In 94-95, they will be
in for a surprise.  Top 15 ranking at Christmas.
 
>>Thu     12/29           RPI Invitational                5:30/8:30 PM
>>Fri     12/30           (RPI, Maine, Merrimack, ?)      5:30/8:30 PM
>
>Hey CCHA!  Need a couple of games to fill your schedule?  LSSU how about a
>return to Houston Fieldhouse?  And echoing Ralph's question: what was the deal
>with Miami of Ohio?  I heard the problem was fitting their NC games into their
>league schedule, but I would think that things have opened up with the demise
>of the program at Kent State.
 
No idea on Miami.  But LSSU is in the Badger Showdown at the same time
as the RPI Invitational.  That will be the hardest time of the year
for anyone to find another opponent, even among the CCHA teams.  BG is
also in the Badger Showdown, Michigan & MSU are in the GLI, and WMU is in
the Mariucci Classic.  I don't know what UIC, Notre Dame, OSU, and FSU
are up to.  But the CCHA teams want to find replacements for the same
dates they were scheduled to play Kent - not over Christmas, I believe.
 
BTW, I have no more information than Jayson...but I think that Miami
has simply not yet confirmed their appearance in the RPI Inv.  I do not
believe they have actually backed out.  Please correct me if I am wrong.
---                                                                 ---
Mike Machnik                                          [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc.                                  *HMM* 11/13/93