Hmmm .... I had forgotten how amusing it is to debate off-season topics on Hockey-L. Even with Cornelian Bostonians with tongues half in cheek. (I kind of like that term Cornelian Bostonian -- sort of reminds me of the ECAC's all-time most elite referee crew. Harry, Pierre, and Melanson.) Nothing personal, folks. Let's not get too carried away by arguments of league merit. If the new league has to prove itself over an initial period, then they once they do that they get two automatics just like everyone else. And conversely, if we say no and insist too heavily upon a merit system to deny them that, then it is time to cut the ECAC down to one bid for next year, is it not? They've had what, two teams in the final four in the last decade? (My personal favorite year was when our buddy Lainge Kennedy sold Clarkson down the river to get some undeserving Ivy in and all the ECAC's went down on the same night. 1993?) Just as an aside, I made the point about UConn athletics in response to someone who complained about the name recognition of the proposed member schools. I could have gone on about other sports there as well. Men's and women's soccer, baseball, softball, field hockey -- all sports in which UConn is very commonly ranked nationally. Perhaps a closer look at the other proposed member institutions is in order as well? And we ought to ask ourselves does any kind of institutional reputation have a bearing on this discussion? I think not. All member institutions have equal standing in the eyes of the NC$$. Let's not get into arguments filled with false analogies and non sequitur. I think the debate turns on whether a single immediate bid is justified. I can tell you this, if it isn't granted, the fifth league will never gain enough strength to be viable. If that is what we want, hey, simply don't grant them the bid. If we want a strong viable fifth league ten years from now, we need to make that happen as it won't happen all by itself. Title IX long ago assured that. The game has changed, folks. -- Dick Tuthill HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.