citrin@CSVAX (02/22/83)
From: citrin@CSVAX
To: net-sport-hockey@ucbvax.UUCP
One reason for the decline of teams like Cornell and Harvard is the
policies of the Ivy League. The lack of scholarships gives schools like
Providence, Northeastern, Colgate, and Clarkson an edge in recruiting.
Two years ago, RPI realized this and, for the first time, began awarding
hockey scholarships, and now RPI hockey is on the way back. I believe
that the recent resurgence of St. Lawrence is also due to a decision to
offer scholarships.
The Ivy League also debases the quality of its hockey program by restricting
competition. Before the reorganization of the ECAC, teams were free to
schedule games against whichever teams they wanted subject to some very
loose rules. Now, with home-and-home series required with all teams in
a school's division, a team like Cornell, which plays in the weakest ECAC
division, does not have a schedule that adequately prepares it for games
with schools like Providence, Clarkson, and St. Lawrence. And if an Ivy
team somehow makes the ECAC final four and goes to the NCAA's, it certainly
won't be able to compete with the likes of Wisconsin, Minnesota, or even
Northern Michigan. One should note that the weak competition in the Ivy
division is the reason why Harvard has such a deceptively good record this year.
Just watch them struggle in the ECAC playoffs this spring. I might also add
that when the oft-tabled Ivy league proposal is finally enacted to require
Ivy teams to play each other three times each season, it will mean the end
of Division I Ivy League hockey. Cornell was the only Ivy school to oppose
it and it may be enacted as soon as next year.
Finally, Ivy restrictions on scheduling practices have contributed to
the decline of Ivy League hockey. Ivy teams cannot even practice with a
coach present until October 15, by which time Clarkson and Providence have
already started their regular season. These teams have already played
ten games by the time the Ivy League schedule starts. (Strangely enough,
team captains can call early practices, but neither the coach or the
trainer can attend, which not only reduces the usefulness of the practices,
but can lead to unnecessary injuries.
The Ivy League must acknowledge the realities of division I hockey competition.
Those schools that do not wish to compete on college hockey's highest level
should drop down to division II. However, those teams that have a tradition
of quality hockey and wish to maintain it should consider breaking their
ties with Ivy League hockey competition. This should not be as shocking as it
might sound: Cornell and Harvard certainly do not derive their academic
reputations from the fact that they compete in the Ivy League, and they
would not lost their reputations if they left the Ivies. Simply easing
the scheduling and practice restrictions would greatly improve the hockey
programs and would allow those teams to keep their Ivy ties in football
and basketball, but even the more drastic action of offering scholarships,
which would certainly require a school to leave the Ivies, should not be
dismissed. Schools like Stanford and Colgate have offered scholarships for
years, and it does not seem to have hurt their academic integrity.
Having flamed for long enough,
Wayne Citrin (Cornell '81)
ucbvax!v:citrin
PS: I hear that Lowell will be competing in ECAC division I next year.
Also, does anybody know when Army becomes a full-fledged member of
division I?