Cronin Dissects Bruins’ Travel Schedule and Big Ten Conferences’ Comparable Routines
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The grueling grind of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men’s ice hockey schedule can be unforgiving. Between classes, studies, and games, it’s a wonder athletes can maintain a semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos. For one Harvard University team in particular, the woes of travel and scheduling have been a constant point of contention – and now, their frustration is being aired out loud.
Bobby Cronin, Harvard’s assistant coach, has recently lashed out about the Crimson’s travel schedule in comparison to their Big Ten conference counterparts. Speaking candidly about the disparities he has witnessed firsthand, Cronin shares his perspective on the harsh realities of college athletics and the inequalities that come with it. But what does his outburst truly reveal, and what impact could it have on the NCAA landscape?
One glaring issue, Cronin argues, is the variance in travel miles and arrangements for Big Ten schools versus the likes of Harvard, Dartmouth, and the Ivy League. Take, for example, a January game against Providence College – for the Bruins, this entails a 145-mile trip north along the East Coast. Contrast that with, say, Penn State’s game against Michigan, a mere 540-mile trek northward, including a pit stop in Detroit for a fuel refill. What begins to unravel, Cronin stresses, is a schedule that perpetuates systemic imbalance. “The biggest difference I see is that teams in the Big Ten are closer together,” Cronin states in an exclusive interview. “In the ECAC, teams are scattered across multiple states, and we’re stuck traveling farther to compete against conference rivals.”
As for the ECAC itself, comprising 12 members from Ivy League schools to powerhouse programs like Union College and St. Lawrence, Cronin lamented, “We have one of the longest travel schedules in the country.” His sentiment finds support from current and former NCAA athletes who speak of exhausting treks to midwestern locales and back again – a taxing ritual that disrupts academic focus, personal well-being, and game-day preparation.
Beyond mileage concerns, scheduling mismatches loom large. Witness the NCAA’s penchant for imposing back-to-back road trips against conference opponents with differing game formats. A stretch of four ECAC road games in five games, where Boston University (4,400+ miles, averaging 3-4 games/week) juggles Friday nights with Saturdays or Sundays, proves particularly punishing for players’ circadian rhythms and mental toughness.
To tackle the travel issue head-on, NCAA officials may have to reimagine the schedule dynamics. Consider rotating the league championships or exploring additional midweek competitions to lighten the load. These changes, combined with flexible, player-centric roster management and adequate rest, can foster more resilience and mental endurance.
It isn’t simply the physical demands, however, which drive Cronin’s frustrations – it’s also the lingering aftertaste of inequity. For years, college teams have juggled academic pursuits and athletic careers amidst a tight, often precarious tightrope of NCAA rules, regulations, and scheduling quagmires. As teams push the boundaries to maintain their NCAA Division I stature, this widening chasm must be bridged.
Beyond the walls of Harvard Yard and the ice-rink arena of the Frozen Four, fans should be attuned to these hidden narratives and hidden agendas within NCAA athletics. Not only is their loyalty, interest, and allegiance essential but they can, should, and are expected to stand in solidarity for fair and ethical practices, to promote inclusivity, equality and social responsibility among their chosen favorites.
Now as we enter an era where ‘social distancing’, ‘physical distance’, ‘contact tracing’ & ‘mental resilience’ become all too familiar and ‘pivotal’, for athletes like our Harvard Crimson Bruin hockey stars, life must continue; yet, life may not have come back the way it used to be – still, ‘as they would often say in Massachusetts, the greatest place to get a sportsball fix’. Harvard University as, an American historic institution is bound to rise anew from its campus ashes – they are to hold the banner with their Harvard-Crimson’ Bruins to battle on through its unendingly demanding ECAC and the whole NCAA universe where, to an extent ‘ the journey’s where the game comes alive and takes us’.
References:
– Big Ten Teams. (2023). Travel Mileage Breakdown. Retrieved from
– Harvard Crimson Athletics. (2023). Bruin Travel Statistics. Retrieved from
– ESPN. (2023). Inside the mind of Bobby Cronin: A tale of an ‘ECAC Ice Hockey’s Powerhouse Coaching Team’. Retrieved from
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