Next year's schedule

[PapaBear]

Does anyone know our schedule for next year?

[cbuckser]

Four of the nonconference games have been settled for some time.  We play two home games against BU.  I heard those games will be scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend, but I don't know how accurate that information is.  We'll play in the Everblades College Classic after Christmas again.  Maine, Ohio State, and UMass-Amherst will join us in Estero.

I don't know about the other three nonconference games.

[Grady Whittenburg]

In Florida next season, I think it's BC instead of Amherst as the new blood though I've not seen anything on paper yet.  I'll ask about it tonight on the coaches show.  I believe the tentative schedule also includes a home date with Mercyhurst as well.

[cbuckser]

I heard in December that UMass, Notre Dame and BC were scheduled to play in Estero in December 2002, 2003, and 2004, respectively.  Has that changed?

[DeltaOne81]

Is there any official release on this "partial schedule" or is all this information throug hearsay and connection that I don't have?

-Fred, DeltaOne81 '03

[jtwcornell91]

Any idea whether the BU games are Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday?  From a purely selfish point of view, the former would make it a lot easier for those of us who'd be flying in for the weekend to make it.

[Grady Whittenburg]

On the final coaches show last night, we talked about the schedule.  4 games are definites and the remaining three are close to being done:

The 4 definites are:   BU Thanksgiving weekend (Sat/Sun 3pm) and the Florida
Tournament (open with Maine and then OSU/Amherst...I stand corrected that it will not be BC in this year's edition).

The 3 that are in the process of being finalized are OSU and Western Michigan (2) all on the road.

We also talked of playing national powers like UNH and others on a more consistent basis.  Coach is more than willing on a reciprocating basis (we go there one year/they come here the next), but the bigger western powers pretty much turn their noses up at that.  He did say that UNH coach Dick Umilie was interested in coming to Lynah so we'll have to wait and see how that pans out over the next several seasons.

Overall, the non-conference schedule next year looks to be stocked with teams that should most likely be in or near the Top 15 (with the exception of Amherst).  Sure would love to see a Denver, Michigan, Minnesota, or MSU on there though...

[curoadkill]

From what I understand, the schedule for next year avoids home game over break. I think the team is playing 4 road conference games in January.

[littleredfan]

Thats good about avoiding home games over break...though maybe thats balanced out by the BU games being over Thanksgiving break when many of the student faithful aren't around \

[Tom Hamill \'85]

I like next year's out of conference.  No Alabama/Huntsville patsies.  If we do well out of conference next year, we ought to command some respect in the polls.

Damn, it's hard to wait for another six months!

[DeltaOne81]

As for games over break, 3 PM on Sunday shouldn't be too much to ask for most of the Lynah Faithful... Saturday is iffier, but I definitely plan on being there. Also, my sister (a Sr in High School) just got into BU and very well may end up there next year... bwaahaha, what a rivalry ;-) .

And, Grady, I guess that means no Mercyhurst? That'd be two years we haven't played any MAAC teams (by choice).

-Fred, DeltaOne81 '03

[jtwcornell91]

Although Sunday afternoon will be a bit tougher for folks who live way too far away and need to be back for work Monday.  (Last flight I could find out of Ithaca connecting to New Orleans was 6:50pm.)  But then the schedule is not designed around us.

[Greg Berge]

> OSU and Western Michigan (2) all on the road

Perhaps these are the openers of home-and-home agreements through 2003-04?

[jkahn]

Any clues on the Western Mich. dates?  That's the shortest road trip from the college hockey bereft Chicago area.

[Grady Whittenburg]

Nope, no Mercyhurst/MAAC worries Fred...Coach had talked of them being on the schedule earlier this year on one of the shows but I'm glad that didn't play out.

No idea on dates, but would throw what is strictly a guess out there that they'll start the season at OSU (after the annual Canadian exhibition) for one game and the WMU pair will be mid to late January.  Really cannot picture starting off the year on the road with the WMU pair, but I could be wrong.  Just a guess based on last year's weekends and the opening pair against UAH.