Should He Stay or Should He Go 2014

[KeithK]

I can't imagine Nieuwendyk coming back; we really have nothing to offer him, although occasionally I daydream about him as AD in the mold of Laing Kennedy.  (I don't actually think this would work -- an Ivy AD is supposed to shit marble while fellating the Coors family, and I don't see Joe either enjoying that or being effective.)

I think the bst we could hope for from Joe is some cameo appearances as guest volunteeer coach.

[KeithK]

I don't see anybody in the current landscape who fits, and I see the job as Mike's until he decides to retire.  He's about 50, so that's not going to be for a long time.

His contract expires in 2016.

At which time it will most likely be renewed.  I think there is zero chance that he would be forced out if the team continues to have seasons like the last one.

[Rita]

I don't see anybody in the current landscape who fits, and I see the job as Mike's until he decides to retire.  He's about 50, so that's not going to be for a long time.

His contract expires in 2016.

At which time it will most likely be renewed.  I think there is zero chance that he would be forced out if the team continues to have seasons like the last one.

Oh Keith, I think you just crushed BearLover. I have this image of BearLover crossing days off calendars (or taking over the E-Lynah game countdown ticker).

(Sorry BearLover, I don't know who you are, but it is just the image that has formed in my warped mind)

[RatushnyFan]

Be careful what you wish for.  Brian McCutcheon is available (I think).......wasn't he fired after one season in Italy?

My question is whether we can find and recruit players analogous to Moulson, Vesce, Greening........even a couple more Ferlin types.  I don't think that the staff is either lazy or somehow less competent so I presume that it's not easy but they're working intently on recruiting.  It's a competitive world out there, but at the same time I respect what Coach Schafer has done for the program and I have confidence that he's the right person for the job going forward.  Let's be honest, the Johnny Gaudreaus of the world aren't considering Cornell.  If they were my kid, they would, but every hockey parent is mostly concerned with pro hockey development.  Kids choose Northeastern over Dartmouth all the time.

He should stay!!

Two more things:  (1) I will be shocked if he's not extended - this is idle blog chatter, I can't imagine that the administration is anything but pleased with the hockey program and (2) if he chose not to extend or was fired, I will be shocked if he's not snapped up somewhere else pretty quickly.

Imagine if you're a Michigan hockey fan, like me (grad school)........Red achieved a lot but the results recently have been worse with more talent.  Other than the allure of Big Ten hockey (6 whole teams in the conference!!) and Michigan's history 3+ years ago, why would you consider Michigan?  Di Giuseppe signed a pro contract and was a second round draft pick, but did he leave after his junior year because he's ready or because he's stopped developing?  What about Guptil or Nieves?

There are several "storied" hockey programs with far less consistency.  Michigan State and Maine come to mind.  Where are BU and Miami heading?

Sorry for the rambling manifesto!

[BearLover]

I don't see anybody in the current landscape who fits, and I see the job as Mike's until he decides to retire.  He's about 50, so that's not going to be for a long time.

His contract expires in 2016.

At which time it will most likely be renewed.  I think there is zero chance that he would be forced out if the team continues to have seasons like the last one.

Oh Keith, I think you just crushed BearLover. I have this image of BearLover crossing days off calendars (or taking over the E-Lynah game countdown ticker).

(Sorry BearLover, I don't know who you are, but it is just the image that has formed in my warped mind)

What is wrong with you?  I never said anywhere on this forum that I wanted Schafer to go...??

Schafer's contract is up in 2016 and Cornell will, of course, offer to renew.  But I wouldn't be surprised if Schafer left, given that his youngest child will graduate from high school in that year.

[Robb]

I don't see anybody in the current landscape who fits, and I see the job as Mike's until he decides to retire.  He's about 50, so that's not going to be for a long time.

His contract expires in 2016.

At which time it will most likely be renewed.  I think there is zero chance that he would be forced out if the team continues to have seasons like the last one.

Oh Keith, I think you just crushed BearLover. I have this image of BearLover crossing days off calendars (or taking over the E-Lynah game countdown ticker).

(Sorry BearLover, I don't know who you are, but it is just the image that has formed in my warped mind)

What is wrong with you?  I never said anywhere on this forum that I wanted Schafer to go...??

Schafer's contract is up in 2016 and Cornell will, of course, offer to renew.  But I wouldn't be surprised if Schafer left, given that his youngest child will graduate from high school in that year.

Because just as kids are entering college is a typical time for parents to make major, potentially risky career changes?  When they graduate college would seem more likely to me.

[Rosey]

Because just as kids are entering college is a typical time for parents to make major, potentially risky career changes?  When they graduate college would seem more likely to me.

If he wants to maximize his kids' grants at a top-tier, need-blind, full-need school, he'll quit his job the year before his kids enter college. That's what my dad did—unwittingly, admittedly—but it cut the loans I would have ended up with by close to 50%. Gotta love the financial aid systemcam.

[nyc94]

I don't see anybody in the current landscape who fits, and I see the job as Mike's until he decides to retire.  He's about 50, so that's not going to be for a long time.

His contract expires in 2016.

At which time it will most likely be renewed.  I think there is zero chance that he would be forced out if the team continues to have seasons like the last one.

Oh Keith, I think you just crushed BearLover. I have this image of BearLover crossing days off calendars (or taking over the E-Lynah game countdown ticker).

(Sorry BearLover, I don't know who you are, but it is just the image that has formed in my warped mind)

What is wrong with you?  I never said anywhere on this forum that I wanted Schafer to go...??

Schafer's contract is up in 2016 and Cornell will, of course, offer to renew.  But I wouldn't be surprised if Schafer left, given that his youngest child will graduate from high school in that year.

Because just as kids are entering college is a typical time for parents to make major, potentially risky career changes?  When they graduate college would seem more likely to me.

I assume any job he would leave for would pay more. And he would probably want a four year contract minimum.

[Josh '99]

Because just as kids are entering college is a typical time for parents to make major, potentially risky career changes?  When they graduate college would seem more likely to me.

If he wants to maximize his kids' grants at a top-tier, need-blind, full-need school, he'll quit his job the year before his kids enter college. That's what my dad did—unwittingly, admittedly—but it cut the loans I would have ended up with by close to 50%. Gotta love the financial aid systemcam.

On the other hand, his current employment does qualify his children for a nice discount on tuition at a quality university.

[Swampy]

Because just as kids are entering college is a typical time for parents to make major, potentially risky career changes?  When they graduate college would seem more likely to me.

If he wants to maximize his kids' grants at a top-tier, need-blind, full-need school, he'll quit his job the year before his kids enter college. That's what my dad did—unwittingly, admittedly—but it cut the loans I would have ended up with by close to 50%. Gotta love the financial aid systemcam.

On the other hand, his current employment does qualify his children for a nice discount on tuition at a quality university.

Schools like Cornell often have reciprocity agreements with other, similar universities. For example, children of employees at Brown, Columbia, and Johns Hopkins get free tuition at any of the participating schools (there are probably more than just these 3). Does anyone know if Cornell participates in this sort of thing?

[Weder]

Because just as kids are entering college is a typical time for parents to make major, potentially risky career changes?  When they graduate college would seem more likely to me.

If he wants to maximize his kids' grants at a top-tier, need-blind, full-need school, he'll quit his job the year before his kids enter college. That's what my dad did—unwittingly, admittedly—but it cut the loans I would have ended up with by close to 50%. Gotta love the financial aid systemcam.

On the other hand, his current employment does qualify his children for a nice discount on tuition at a quality university.

Schools like Cornell often have reciprocity agreements with other, similar universities. For example, children of employees at Brown, Columbia, and Johns Hopkins get free tuition at any of the participating schools (there are probably more than just these 3). Does anyone know if Cornell participates in this sort of thing?

Most current Cornell employees get 50% off Cornell tuition/fees for their kids or 30% off another school's tuition/fees (unless the other school is more expensive than Cornell).
https://www.hr.cornell.edu/benefits/education/ccts.html

[BearLover]

I don't see anybody in the current landscape who fits, and I see the job as Mike's until he decides to retire.  He's about 50, so that's not going to be for a long time.

His contract expires in 2016.

At which time it will most likely be renewed.  I think there is zero chance that he would be forced out if the team continues to have seasons like the last one.

Oh Keith, I think you just crushed BearLover. I have this image of BearLover crossing days off calendars (or taking over the E-Lynah game countdown ticker).

(Sorry BearLover, I don't know who you are, but it is just the image that has formed in my warped mind)

What is wrong with you?  I never said anywhere on this forum that I wanted Schafer to go...??

Schafer's contract is up in 2016 and Cornell will, of course, offer to renew.  But I wouldn't be surprised if Schafer left, given that his youngest child will graduate from high school in that year.

Because just as kids are entering college is a typical time for parents to make major, potentially risky career changes?  When they graduate college would seem more likely to me.

No, but he no longer has a reason to stay in Ithaca.

[CowbellGuy]

I don't see anybody in the current landscape who fits, and I see the job as Mike's until he decides to retire.  He's about 50, so that's not going to be for a long time.

His contract expires in 2016.

At which time it will most likely be renewed.  I think there is zero chance that he would be forced out if the team continues to have seasons like the last one.

Oh Keith, I think you just crushed BearLover. I have this image of BearLover crossing days off calendars (or taking over the E-Lynah game countdown ticker).

(Sorry BearLover, I don't know who you are, but it is just the image that has formed in my warped mind)

What is wrong with you?  I never said anywhere on this forum that I wanted Schafer to go...??

Schafer's contract is up in 2016 and Cornell will, of course, offer to renew.  But I wouldn't be surprised if Schafer left, given that his youngest child will graduate from high school in that year.

Because just as kids are entering college is a typical time for parents to make major, potentially risky career changes?  When they graduate college would seem more likely to me.

No, but he no longer has a reason to stay in Ithaca.

I've been of the same mind. Being a college head coach is a slog (not as much as the assistants, but still unpleasant at times). Schafer's made no bones about wanting to be a coach in the pros and this would seem like the right time for that switch if there's something available to his liking. If not, I can see him sticking around for maybe another 10 years, but I don't think he has any intention of being the next Jack Parker. If he does go, good luck finding a replacement for a comparatively low-paying position in an underfunded, Ivy League-handcuffed sport at a university where the AD cares more about wrestling. They'll probably end up having to promote from within (Topher or Ben). Or worse yet, Barry Melrose.

[Trotsky]

Or worse yet, Barry Melrose.

Kevan Melrose.  Line brawls every night.  Putting on the foil.

[ScrewBUHarvardtoo]

I've been wondering this question all season. Even if they lost that Game 3 to Clarkson he I'd say he should stay, but he needs to make some changes. I think the issue is now the ECAC is WAY more competitive now than it has ever been. This team is about as good as the one 2 years ago (and they made the regional finals in the NC$$), but the only difference is that year the only team worth a damn in the ECAC was Union (who we were 1-0-1 against that year!), so we had very few games (i.e Colgate and Harvard) that were against quality opponents. In the early to mid-2000s, there was usually only us and one or maybe two other teams that could put up a fight in the NC$$ tourney (usually Harvard or Clarkson, and that one year Princeton was really good). This year, the ECAC had SIX teams (Union, Colgate, Qpac, Cornell, Clarkson and Yale) who were threats. Schafer's system worked fine a decade ago, but he needs to change some things up. And I know he has his ways, but isn't a coach's job to make adjustments? At least fix the power play for God's sake. If we had even an average one, we could still be playing right now