What should RIT do?

[UCBadger]

What do you hope RIT does in the near future? (We may have a separate poll on what you think RIT will do.... :p )

[smbenny]

I think RIT should stay D-III, that is unless they can move all sports to D-I. What a shame it would be for them to be a cellar dweller in D-I after having a lot of success at the D-III level.

[kbranch]

RIT should continue to be a serious contender in their conference, with a reasonable shot at a National Championship. To that end, if RIT moves hockey up they should move all programs up.

[d3follower]

Unless RIT is prepared to make an all-out commitment to D1 for all sports (athletic scholarships, etc.), it should stick with D3 where it has the chance to be the national champion.
Also, right now, the Atlantic Hockey league seems to be a poor league, with its teams losing most out-of-conference games, not advancing beyond the first round of the NCAAs, and drawing very sparse crowds. If you look at the attendance records for AIC, Bentley, Sacred Heart, Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, etc., it is a sad tale (little more than friends and family members at too many games). Only Army seems to draw fans and that's probably only because the cadets do not have anything else to do.
So unless there are plans to radically revitalize the Atlantic Hockey league, it does not look much of a take-off point for a successful D1 team unless, of course, the long-term plan is an eventual migration to the ECAC.

[GoRITTigers]

So unless there are plans to radically revitalize the Atlantic Hockey league, it does not look much of a take-off point for a successful D1 team unless, of course, the long-term plan is an eventual migration to the ECAC.

I'm surprised that no one has brought up that last point until now. Let's not forget RIT at the least made a passing inquiry into the vacancy left by Vermont in the ECAC. Joining AHA could be a short-term decision as part of a long-term plan. I could see a time down the road where RIT and Niagara make an attempt to go into the ECAC together (assuming the ECAC would expand beyond 12).

[jconnor]

[QUOTE=d3follower] Only Army seems to draw fans and that's probably only because the cadets do not have anything else to do.
So QUOTE]
They are probably just following orders ;) :D

[schiegs]

Only Army seems to draw fans and that's probably only because the cadets do not have anything else to do.

If you go to Army games, you will (usually) see only a hanful of cadets in the stands. Most of the people there are locals.

[bjdrit]

I'm surprised that no one has brought up that last point until now. Let's not forget RIT at the least made a passing inquiry into the vacancy left by Vermont in the ECAC. Joining AHA could be a short-term decision as part of a long-term plan. I could see a time down the road where RIT and Niagara make an attempt to go into the ECAC together (assuming the ECAC would expand beyond 12).

I agree completely. If RIT were to make a full DI move, I think most of the programs would reside in the AHA equivalent leagues. However, with hockey being the "flagship" program, I suspect they'd have higher hopes down the road. Obviously, you need to prove yourself at one level to take the next step. With Niagara, Mercyhurst, and Canisius, there are some rivalries that could develop in the mean time.

[JohnN]

If you go to Army games, you will (usually) see only a hanful of cadets in the stands. Most of the people there are locals.

Yeah, I almost choked when I read that comment about Cadets having nothing else to do but go to a hockey game. Very few cadets go to the games simply because they are much too busy to go.

[OSU2002]

[QUOTE=d3follower] Only Army seems to draw fans and that's probably only because the cadets do not have anything else to do.
So QUOTE]
They are probably just following orders ;) :D

It's very possible, the Naval Academy mandates student (midshipmen) attendance to many athletic events.

[ihw30]

I don't see them as a threat to win d3 ncaa anymore, so I don't see them doing it at d1 level. I know i'm not popular for this but they are not the team they were 4 or 5 years ago.

[bjdrit]

I don't see them as a threat to win d3 ncaa anymore, so I don't see them doing it at d1 level. I know i'm not popular for this but they are not the team they were 4 or 5 years ago.

The irony in this is that RIT really only had a single "down" season. This season included an above .500 record and a conference championship loss (while narrowly missing the regular season title), while playing one of the most challenging schedules in the nation. Also, it's not like RIT, like virtually all programs, have been immune to rebuilding in the past (even 4 or 5 years back they had 1 final four appearence, it wasn't a dynasty). It happens, last season, and perhaps this one, include young clubs that are going through that phase. They should be in solid shape next year.

Regardless, they don't really care a great deal regarding whether you are a true DIII championship contender or just a top 10 or 15 team. It's based on the total package that you deliver mixed with the university's interest in moving up (which there appears to be, but there is time for that to change too). RIT has interest, have recently upgraded their athletic facilities, and provide a good geographic fit. Whether Norwich, RIT, Middlebury, or Plattsburgh (etc) is a real championship contender in 2005 is irrelevant. Of course, RIT may enjoy a recruiting boost with such a possibility for the next season or two.