Mike Schafer retiring 2025

[Al DeFlorio]

Clarkson academics are up there with RPI.  

This is almost as silly a what used to be thrown about in Troy. "RPI is right up there with MIT."

I don't buy Clarkson being overall near RPI academically - even after Shirley Jackson jacked off and pissed off the majority of the RPI faculty.

I can't say there aren't excellent programs at Clarkson and there are some clinkers at RPI.  I could be wrong.   Yet I think they aren't really close in academic stature.

My comments are based on a small sample:  my own work experience, which doesn't include any lawyering or doctoring.  But the Clarkson engineers were as good as any, Which included RPI and Cornell products. Included is experience before Shirley wrought her woe.

Anyway, the point is that Casey has dealt with academic constraints of the most stringent kind successfully.  Constraints not only on recruiting, but on hockey budgets and the conflict for time between school work and athletics.  He is much better prepared for Cornell than a candidate from one of hockey factory schools.

RPI admits 65%, Clarkson 78%.  Some difference.  SAT score range is higher at RPI.  Key factor for hockey coach is how supportive are admissions office and administration.

[marty]

Clarkson academics are up there with RPI.  

This is almost as silly a what used to be thrown about in Troy. "RPI is right up there with MIT."

I don't buy Clarkson being overall near RPI academically - even after Shirley Jackson jacked off and pissed off the majority of the RPI faculty.

I can't say there aren't excellent programs at Clarkson and there are some clinkers at RPI.  I could be wrong.   Yet I think they aren't really close in academic stature.

My comments are based on a small sample:  my own work experience, which doesn't include any lawyering or doctoring.  But the Clarkson engineers were as good as any, Which included RPI and Cornell products. Included is experience before Shirley wrought her woe.

Anyway, the point is that Casey has dealt with academic constraints of the most stringent kind successfully.  Constraints not only on recruiting, but on hockey budgets and the conflict for time between school work and athletics.  He is much better prepared for Cornell than a candidate from one of hockey factory schools.

Agree.

[Trotsky]

The university should consider retiring Mike's jersey number, not because of his HOF achievements in the NHL but because of his extraordinary, lifelong contribution to Cornell Hockey.

Totally agree on retiring his jersey number.  They probably ought to let Jack O'Brien play his last two years trying to live up to the Schafer standard, then retire #3.

Un-retire the numbers and create a "Ring of Honor" (Wall of Honor? Rafter of Honor?) instead.  Then we'd be able to honor people like Ned and Teet.  

I'll die on this hill.

You won't be alone.

[Trotsky]

I wonder if any of Casey's recruits will move with him?

[Swampy]

The first thing my youngster asked me after I told him the news was, "what song will they play after a win?".

Two possibilies:

• Johnny Cash
  
• Grateful Dead (Cornell 77, if we can find it)
  

Only problem is they're both somewhat pessimistic. Then there's this takeoff, which uses the toon, but with the wrong name.

• Engineer Charlie
  

[BearLover]

Clarkson academics are up there with RPI.  

This is almost as silly a what used to be thrown about in Troy. "RPI is right up there with MIT."

I don't buy Clarkson being overall near RPI academically - even after Shirley Jackson jacked off and pissed off the majority of the RPI faculty.

I can't say there aren't excellent programs at Clarkson and there are some clinkers at RPI.  I could be wrong.   Yet I think they aren't really close in academic stature.

My comments are based on a small sample:  my own work experience, which doesn't include any lawyering or doctoring.  But the Clarkson engineers were as good as any, Which included RPI and Cornell products. Included is experience before Shirley wrought her woe.

Anyway, the point is that Casey has dealt with academic constraints of the most stringent kind successfully.  Constraints not only on recruiting, but on hockey budgets and the conflict for time between school work and athletics.  He is much better prepared for Cornell than a candidate from one of hockey factory schools.

RPI admits 65%, Clarkson 78%.  Some difference.  SAT score range is higher at RPI.  Key factor for hockey coach is how supportive are admissions office and administration.

ECAC admissions rates (based on last available data via quick googling):
Harvard—4%
Yale—4%
Princeton—5%
Brown—5%
Dartmouth—5%
Cornell—7%
Colgate—12%
Union—47%
St. Lawrence—63%
RPI—65%
Clarkson—78%
Quinnipiac—84%

Most hockey recruits don't care about academic prestige, though. Frankly, I personally don't even care. While it has been cool to attend academically prestigious schools, I have to say, having now been ten years removed, it doesn't affect my life much if at all. (And that's assuming admit rate even correlates with prestige in the first place.) I doubt most college hockey recruits care either.

With that said, academic prestige is obviously a major recruiting selling point for all the Ivies, and probably not for the other ECAC schools. Admissions standards are surely also more relevant in the Ivies. Couple the academic aspects with the lack of scholarships, and I'd say Casey will now be recruiting into a completely different world than at Clarkson.

[Trotsky]

The first thing my youngster asked me after I told him the news was, "what song will they play after a win?".

Two possibilies:

• Johnny Cash
  
• Grateful Dead (Cornell 77, if we can find it)
  

Only problem is they're both somewhat pessimistic. Then there's this takeoff, which uses the toon, but with the wrong name.

• Engineer Charlie
  

This is the only version worth considering.

Adjacent, and more upbeat.

But I vote we enshrine Mike and play the Scha(e)fer song for the next hundred years.  As with "Screw BU," some things transcend the moment and become immortal.

[upprdeck]

the problem with admission rates now is that for many its artificial.

Back in the day you applied to the schools you thought you might get into and it cost real money to apply so you kept choices low

Now it's a rite of passage to apply to all the ivies and try to get accepted to all of them even if the intentions is to go to one single school.  That rarely happens with other types of schools in such high numbers.  if 75% of ivy kids over apply it totally skews numbers

[The Rancor]

The university should consider retiring Mike's jersey number, not because of his HOF achievements in the NHL but because of his extraordinary, lifelong contribution to Cornell Hockey.

Totally agree on retiring his jersey number.  They probably ought to let Jack O'Brien play his last two years trying to live up to the Schafer standard, then retire #3.

Un-retire the numbers and create a "Ring of Honor" (Wall of Honor? Rafter of Honor?) instead.  Then we'd be able to honor people like Ned and Teet.  

I'll die on this hill.

You won't be alone.

I'm on this too. I don't like retired numbers (maybe in a unique and unprecedented career or circumstance)  Bring on the circle of honor.

Also, Casey Jones by the Dead is perfect (and still room for the Schafer's Beer Song forever)

[pfibiger]

Casey Jones is a home run in this scenario - everyone knows it - and I assure you, I would never say or think otherwise. Casey is the best candidate for the job by a factor of 10 million.

I'm thrilled that Casey is an alum and a successful coach and a demonstrated great recruiter and coached here previously — he feels like the perfect choice to me.

My visibility to what a really wide candidate pool could look like isn't anywhere like Adam's — so this statement means a lot to me. I'm super excited about next year and the future!

[Swampy]

Also, Casey Jones by the Dead is perfect (and still room for the Schafer's Beer Song forever)

I agree, but I also like Trotsky's idea of using Mississippi John Hurt's version. Perhaps recruiters for Cornell's Band can get some alums to establish a few special scholarships for recruiting delta blues guitar players. They could even start recruiting this summer at the Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg next month. ::drunk::

[Troyfan]

Leaving Mike and Casey aside for the moment, all I can say is it's straight out of Bizzaro World that Clarkson and RPI admit well over half of their applicants.  Things have obviously progressed much worse than I ever could have imagined!

[George64]

Posted on X by Topher Scott —

"A true legend of the game. I owe so much of what I have in my life to Schafe. Gave me a chance as a college hockey player. Gave me a chance as a college hockey coach.

Getting the chance to work with him and be a part of what goes on behind the scenes...it's not an accident Cornell has been a top team in the country for the last 3 decades.

When I think  about Cornell Hockey, I know exactly what that means. It's tough to play against. It's a collective group of players bought in to the front of the jersey. It's a culture of accountability and excellence.

It's identity.

Congrats to one of the best.

On top of that, I'm really excited for Casey too. What an awesome person to pass the torch to. Cornell Hockey will continue to thrive.

Go Big Red."

[Chris H82]

Side note on this - some Deadhead friends went to see Dead & Co at the Sphere in Vegas yesterday.  Evidently they project the inside of Barton Hall on the inside of the Sphere at one point in the show.

And here's the obligatory Youtube link - see the first 30 seconds or so.

[dag14]

My son sent me the video and it completely freaked me out because it was almost exactly my perspective from the bleachers in the back of Barton in 1977!