RPI

Being a student-athlete is not easy at any level. Competing in a sport with the best of your peers can be extremely challenging, physically and mentally. High school student-athletes are going through intense bodily chemical changes as they grow and compete at the same time. Collegiate student-athletes are usually on the back end of the growth spurt but most are living on their own for the first time and are faced with brand new expectations, challenges and temptations.

On Tuesday, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced that current President Mark Emmert would step down by June 30, 2023. Running an organization that governs the athletic operations of hundreds of a colleges across the country, with different financial models, is an impossible task for the most part. However, having worked at one of those institutions' athletic department for a few decades, Emmert doesn't get a pass for his performance or lack there of.

In a video that is not safe for work, or for the kids, RPI coach Dave Smith showed his disdain for an invasive camera during his team's game against Harvard.

Just one month after being re-named the MVP Arena, Albany's downtown sports venue is going to be very busy come the end of January.

Each day, we watch the NBA and NHL shuffle another season of games. Canadian franchises are now playing in front of empty arenas. How will these stoppages effect the high schools and colleges in upstate New York? Will the expected surge of positive COVID 19 test results shut down games to fans or even worse cancel games?

On January 1, 2022, the Times Union Center changed its name for the first time since 2007, becoming the MVP Arena. With a new name, brings new signs everywhere.

In the battle for the Dutchman Shoes Trophy, it was one player who had recently just changed his shoes who secured victory for the RPI Engineers' football team.

The UAlbany and Siena men's basketball coaches, Dwayne Killings and Carm Maciariello, may not face each other on the court this year but they are continuing the tradition to team up for the 16th annual Coaches vs. Cancer Basket "Ball", Monday, October 4th at the Albany Capital Center. This is a tremendous evening of true community camaraderie centered around our two Division I college basketball programs. It is definitely one of the best events of its kind.

I am not a scientist nor do I claim to be. However, I always liked science and understand a good hypothesis. August 13th, RPI's Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D., President, Institute Professor, Professor of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, Professor of Engineering Sciences released "plans for the upcoming year." In those plans, #15 "Institute athletic teams will participate in intercollegiate athletics for NCAA programs during the 2021-2022 academic year. External spectators will not be permitted at this time. The Institute will continue to confer with the NCAA, the ECAC, and the Liberty League regarding subsequent decisions." Long and short, no family and friends can attend RPI home games.

It's hard not to be skeptical of the NCAA or some of the larger conferences, aka the Power 5 schools, when it comes to things like, well, paying student-athletes above and beyond their tuition, room and board and more recently, a "cost of attendance" stipend. Yes, they are institutes of higher learning but over the years even some of the most prestigious universities in the United States, such as Notre Dame, Stanford, Duke and even Harvard have been marred by athletic scandals. Then add in the football and basketball powerhouses that occupy your tv screen every week and the list of improprieties would make your head spin.

Pandora’s Box has now been opened. The NCAA ruled that student-athletes may now own their NIL (Name, Image & Likeness). The ruling seems like it would be a common sense decision and it should be but it’s not.

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