>> They will throw their money at the biggest schools, making the rich, richer. Well, as long as the sport remains truly amateur, this shouldn't make that much difference. There are three levels: programs without the resources or will to support an adequate program, programs with such will and resources, and programs with a super-adundance of such will and resources. With proper watchfulness of ethical standards, there should be not that much difference between schools of the latter types. I am not suggesting subsizing schools of the first type -- if you literally cannot afford it or don't want to be there, then don't do it in the first place. But when it comes to a true student-athlete's chosing between schools of the latter types, his/her own academic/professional/social preferences will often outweigh a simple consideration of who has more money to throw around. > (it's inevitable, brace yourself - just a matter of when). I disagree *absolutely*. Nothing destructive is ever inevitable -- that's simple defeatism. Life *is* standing up for and working on behalf of your beliefs. If college football and basketball had had organized and motivated defenders, they would not have become sewers. The college hockey community has many, many such defenders, and there is no reason to predict that they cannot keep the sport vital. An example from a different world: I love in an absolutely lovely city -- and it has *only* remained that way because decades ago the populace moved to severely restrict growth within various zones around the outlying area. The result has been managed growth without unsightly sprawl or weakening of the general level of civic conduct. Rich developers still have a place here , and they make their immense bundles, but they don't leave the area an unaesthetic dust bowl in the process. Everyone benefits. Here, capital does what its best at, but doesn't destroy what it touches. There are plenty of other urban landscapes which are utterly desolate, in large part because the locals felt they were powerless to defeat the onrushing forces. It is only nice here because a sufficient number of motivated people acted. We can do the same thing in college hockey -- all it takes is imagination and optimism, and the occasional healthy reflex to give the "bigger is better" types the finger. -- Greg HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.