Article on schools applying for ECAC membership

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

But you could start an "Ivy League....knew better...Ivy League...knew better" cheer if we beat an Ivy school.

JH

[KeithK]

Of course, we all know the likelihood of Cornell leaving the Ivy League is about as great as North Dakota being invited to join.

[billhoward]

[Q]Jeff Hopkins '82 Wrote:

It is possible for a college to maintain academic standards and competitive teams.  Just not in the self indulgent world of the Ivy League.

JH[/q]


The prime example is Stanford, which is sort of Cornell West -- for its links at its founding, for its team color. It is what Cornell would be if it were a big time athletic power and a school of academic excellence. I believe it was Stanford and Texas that were considered by Sports Illustrated to have the best overall college sports programs.

[cornelldavy]

Not sure if the official announcement has been mentioned here yet, but Niagara applied for ECAC membership this weekend.

[Q]Niagara submits bid to join ECAC hockey
      LEWISTON, N.Y. (AP) - Niagara University has submitted a bid to
have its men's and women's hockey teams join the Eastern Collegiate
Athletic Conference.
      The application was made before Saturday's deadline for
submissions, and announced by Niagara on Monday. The ECAC is
seeking a school to replace Vermont, which is leaving the
conference to join Hockey East at the start of the 2005-06 season.
      The potential move would be a step up in competition for
Niagara's hockey programs, which were established in 1996. The
Purple Eagles are currently members of College Hockey America, a
conference made up of programs stretching from Alabama to Colorado.
      The ECAC's hockey leagues feature 12 men's and 11 women's
programs, including Cornell and Harvard.
      In March, the Purple Eagles men's team qualified for the NCAA
tournament for the second time in five years. The women's team
competed in the 2002 NCAA Frozen Four tournament.
      "Membership in the ECAC would give our men's and women's
programs added credibility and an exciting schedule," Niagara
athletic director Mike Hermann said. "Plus, the footprint of the
league includes many of our best alumni communities, especially
Central New York State, Albany, Boston, Western Connecticut and New
Jersey."[/q]

[Greg Berge]

> The prime example is Stanford, which is sort of Cornell West

As much as I disliked Stanford, comparing it cornel west (http://www.cornelwest.com/) is low.

[Chris 02]

Reading the current article on USCHO about the AD's meeting to discuss the 5 proposals, it seems that things are very much up in the air.  They're going into the process without much of a plan for how scheduling would work out for instance.  Instead, they're just looking at which team fits the ECAC best.  I very much fear what the schedule will look like when they're done.  The travel partner thing has worked nicely.  Can you see Cornell suddenly being paired with Niagara or Mercyhurst?  

I see two travel pairings that stick no matter what.  SLU and Clarkson will stay together and RPI and Union will stay together.  Then I imagine there will be some shuffling amongst the New England teams (plus Princeton) or Cornell and Colgate.  

I wonder how many teams they will accept.  Does anyone think that as many as three teams might join?  Would the ECAC consider Niagara, Mercyhurst, and one of the 3 applicants from New England?  

[billhoward]

[Q]Chris 02 Wrote:

 Reading the current article on USCHO about the AD's meeting to discuss the 5 proposals, it seems that things are very much up in the air.  They're going into the process without much of a plan for how scheduling would work out for instance.  Instead, they're just looking at which team fits the ECAC best.  I very much fear what the schedule will look like when they're done.  The travel partner thing has worked nicely.  Can you see Cornell suddenly being paired with Niagara or Mercyhurst?  

I see two travel pairings that stick no matter what.  SLU and Clarkson will stay together and RPI and Union will stay together.  Then I imagine there will be some shuffling amongst the New England teams (plus Princeton) or Cornell and Colgate.  

I wonder how many teams they will accept.  Does anyone think that as many as three teams might join?  Would the ECAC consider Niagara, Mercyhurst, and one of the 3 applicants from New England?  [/q]

Here we go again. It's so frustrating. The schools that really want to be in (Mercyhurst especially) are in the middle of nowwhere compared to the rest of the ECAC. Someone who wouldn't make a bad entry geographically (Holy Cross) isn't quite as psyched as Mercyhurst. Poor Dartmouth otherwise is left hung out to dry.

It's bizarre for Cornell because you could see some oddball pairing like Cornell-Mercyhurst for travel purposes b/c we're closest. Actually it would be okay for us and murder on teams that have to bus to both places in a single weekend. Most likely they'd overnight Friday in the city (er, town) where they played then drive to the other site next day. Or it could lead the ECAC to have both games of the series be at school A one year, school B the next year (meaning two home games vs. Harvard followed by two away games the next). That would be marginally easier on the players; they might actually get a little more studying done Saturday morning. (Or they could just stay up later partying on Friday.)

The most merit to adding a lot of teams is that, like panning for gold, the ECAC might pick up some real nuggets. HC could well be a BC-level hockey power in a couple years. Better they're in our league than Hockey East.

And the Ivies are hurt by a 29-game cap on the regular season with the current 12 team alignment taking up 22 of the games.

[Greg Berge]

Of course, if we had Friday/Sunday pairings it would be HORRIBLE for the traveling fans.  Not a consideration, I know.  I'm just sayin'.  ::help::

[billhoward]

[Q]Greg Berge Wrote:

 Of course, if we had Friday/Sunday pairings it would be HORRIBLE for the traveling fans.  Not a consideration, I know.  I'm just sayin'.   [/q]

Wouldn't be so great for the players either. Unlike the fans, they have to make all the away games.

What does the team do now for a Friday away game? Leave Thursday evening or Friday morning, or does it depend on how far the travel distance is? You don't really need to leave for Princeton until Friday morning unless there's a blizzard pending. For Harvard, you probably want to go up Thursday. Anyway, a Friday/Sunday series could have the players gone from Thursday afternoon (including practice time) until the early hours of Monday or maybe even Monday afternoon. Not good for grades.

[Greg Berge]

It's the home games that would be Fri/Sun because of the distance between Cornell and Mercyhurst.  The road games would still be Fri/Sat.  God help Mercyhurst on their trips east, though.

[KeithK]

[q]What does the team do now for a Friday away game?[/q]I haven't been on campus for a few years (ack, six!) but I seem to remember the team always leaving on Thursday.  If it was a short trip they'd just leave later in the afternoon.  I specifically remember the team pre-empting hockey class on Thursday afternoon before hitting the road.

Oh, I suppose Colgate might be an exception.