Dave Aiello wrote, "On Friday, I received a message from RPI Men's Hockey Coach Dan Fridgen that read, in part:"

Subject: Signed Stick

Dave:

Just a quick note to thank you and the others for your support on the NCAA D3 Proposal.... Hope all is well in Jersey and please give my regards to everyone, and once again, thank them for their continued support. See you in the New Year and Happy Holidays!

Dan Fridgen

Head Men's Ice Hockey Coach

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

NCAA CHAMPIONS 1954 1985

My response to Coach Fridgen was:

Dan:

Glad to hear from you on this. We had wondered whether one of those sticks made it to the Field House. I see on the latest Campus Bulletin email that you guys did a similar promotion this weekend at the Yale and Princeton games. I think the more people we can get to participate in this type of consciousness-raising, the better it is for us and the other schools affected.

No one who signed on for the original Play-Up Rule could have imagined that the Presidents' Council would try to include a provision to end it in a large package of reforms. This is ridiculous and the worst kind of bureaucratic wrangling.

I hope everyone associated with the team has a great holiday season. I remember what it was like to make it to this point in the hockey season, and everyone needs a couple of days at home with their families-- the sooner, the better....

Take care,

Dave Aiello