"Scott Miller, a friend of the college teammates, said Schuyler told him that a chopper shone a light directly above them the first night. Schuyler also told him he even saw lights beaming from ashore."

Most boating stores sell a small pouch (some examples: http://www.thefind.com/sports/info-survival-pouch) that attaches to a PFD belt. Its big enough for a strobe, mirror, whistle, a couple of flares and a flashlight, and of course, your PLB (all attached by a separate lanyard). Any one of theses signaling devices might have made a difference.