Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

[DaveStPaul]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

(if I joined the PWR conversation I would blow my brains out)

MSP this year? Seriously who wants to go to MSP this time of year. I have been offered tickets and housing there, but I've been to MSP early April and it looks like the tundra in Alaska and everyone is pasty white.

So this is what it's come to, eh? Twenty-seven pages in this thread since March 13, and now I have to hear Saint Paul being taunted? That's disappointing. (Minneapolis I could stomach; they deserve all the negatives you know and then some, poor bastiges.) Go see a game at the X, and then have a dram or two at The Liffey, and then we'll talk again.

 

[25 N Countin']

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

So this is what it's come to, eh? Twenty-seven pages in this thread since March 13, and now I have to hear Saint Paul being taunted? That's disappointing. (Minneapolis I could stomach; they deserve all the negatives you know and then some, poor bastiges.) Go see a game at the X, and then have a dram or two at The Liffey, and then we'll talk again.

He's clearly someone who's never been. If you wanna go watch good hockey in a good atmopshere where people really care, go to Minnesota. I had an amazing time when I roadtripped with four other friends, leaving on New Year's Day in 2004, for the BU-Minnesota series. Much better overall fan atmosphere than any of the Boston schools, including ours.

 

[Bomber]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

Now, did I need 600 words to say that? Debatable.

May the Fanboy accusations and and general "you're wrong-ery" begin!

This entire post was excellent, but didn't feel the need to quote all 600 words. Time for my two cents on the coaching situation:

The product I saw on the ice this year is not well coached. A well coached team doesn't take stupid penalties. A well coached team doesn't have the 50th ranked power play in division 1. A well coached team doesn't consistently make passes to nobody. A well coached team plays its best hockey in big moments. I don't know why it has gone south, but it has.

Some random thoughts on leadership:

- A good leader leads everyone differently. Some kids need tough love, others need positive reinforcement, and a third needs to be left alone.
- A good leader takes the blame for EVERYTHING. If one guy two-hands a kid when the team is already down a man late in the 3rd, that's on the coaching staff.
- A good leader LOVES 18-22 year old college students and can't wait to "coach them up," teach them the game of hockey, and teach them how to be better citizens.
- A good leader doesn't lose his cool on the bench over a tough call that costs his team a goal.
- A good leader learns from his mistakes and works to improve the product moving forward.

BU Hockey: It Needs to be Better

 

[J.D.]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

Hey Bomber, I agree with you that in theory, a well coached team doesn't take stupid penalties. I don't want to get started on the officiating, but that aside, I've seen certain guys on BC take dumb penalties over and over. I'm starting to think that some guys will never get it--no matter who the coach is. Chalk it up to youth I guess.

 

[Bomber]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

Hey Bomber, I agree with you that in theory, a well coached team doesn't take stupid penalties. I don't want to get started on the officiating, but that aside, I've seen certain guys on BC take dumb penalties over and over. I'm starting to think that some guys will never get it--no matter who the coach is. Chalk it up to youth I guess.

It's not an absolute of course. But, it's no accident that BU leads Hockey East in penalty minutes most years. Of course their penalty kill is always good. I'll give coach credit for that.

 

[Tater]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

The product I saw on the ice this year is not well coached. A well coached team doesn't take stupid penalties. A well coached team doesn't have the 50th ranked power play in division 1. A well coached team doesn't consistently make passes to nobody. A well coached team plays its best hockey in big moments. I don't know why it has gone south, but it has.

Some random thoughts on leadership:

- A good leader leads everyone differently. Some kids need tough love, others need positive reinforcement, and a third needs to be left alone.
- A good leader takes the blame for EVERYTHING. If one guy two-hands a kid when the team is already down a man late in the 3rd, that's on the coaching staff.
- A good leader LOVES 18-22 year old college students and can't wait to "coach them up," teach them the game of hockey, and teach them how to be better citizens.
- A good leader doesn't lose his cool on the bench over a tough call that costs his team a goal.
- A good leader learns from his mistakes and works to improve the product moving forward.

BU Hockey: It Needs to be Better

Great summary. Frame this.

Hey Bomber, I agree with you that in theory, a well coached team doesn't take stupid penalties. I don't want to get started on the officiating, but that aside, I've seen certain guys on BC take dumb penalties over and over. I'm starting to think that some guys will never get it--no matter who the coach is. Chalk it up to youth I guess.

True, but a good coach minimizes the transgressions. BU has had too many games where things start to get out of hand at the end.

But, it's no accident that BU leads Hockey East in penalty minutes most years.

But!! But!! I thought Jackie has the refs in his back pocket!?!??!!

 

[bantam75]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

He's clearly someone who's never been. If you wanna go watch good hockey in a good atmopshere where people really care, go to Minnesota. I had an amazing time when I roadtripped with four other friends, leaving on New Year's Day in 2004, for the BU-Minnesota series. Much better overall fan atmosphere than any of the Boston schools, including ours.

You are obviously MUCH younger than moi. That was the way the FFs were in Boston when they played at the old Garden 1972-1974. I remember being at the final in 1973 when Wisco won for the 1st time with their wild fans and ending up in some alumni's hotel room in downtown Beantown drinking beer until all hours, singing that song "Thank Heaven there is not beer, that's why we drink it here" over and over and over again.

Now don't get too carried away with the so called better atmosphere out west, especially for Minny. Yes they have a great tradition and are quite avid followers, but they are easily the most arrogant hockey fans going, as they think they invented the game. Eastern Mass and Boston hockey is the equal, just different, including the fans.

 

[bantam75]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

So this is what it's come to, eh? Twenty-seven pages in this thread since March 13, and now I have to hear Saint Paul being taunted? That's disappointing. (Minneapolis I could stomach; they deserve all the negatives you know and then some, poor bastiges.) Go see a game at the X, and then have a dram or two at The Liffey, and then we'll talk again.

So does that mean your buying if we show???

 

[J.D.]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

BU has had too many games where things start to get out of hand at the end.

That's a little different...I see what you're saying.

But!! But!! I thought Jackie has the refs in his back pocket!?!??!!

Perhaps it's just limited to video reviews at the Garden now

 

[DaveStPaul]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

So does that mean your buying if we show???

Dave's Bar For Travelling Alums is always open. (Though I'm overseas until July, so it'll have to be next time.)

 

[BU Hammer]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

There's some stuff to do right around the St. Pete Times Forum IIRC. But yeah, if you plan on getting out of the city and getting to the beaches or Busch Gardens or whatever, you're gonna need a car. I'm hoping to cover next year's FF because I'll be able to stay at my grandfather's place and probably snag his car.

There's a bar right across the street (The Tiki Hut) that had $1 pitchers the last time I was there.

 

[kbz]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

2) Regarding potential coaches not named Quinn or Sullivan, I'd take a look at the Merrimac coach if he banks a couple more good seasons or someone similar to that (as in a guy who's taken a program higher than what it ought to be over a sustained period of time).

I worry far, far less over hiring a lesser coach than Parker. Say you do that, and the guy's a bozo. Fire his *** and then hire somebody else. Back in the 90's BC did the same thing, made a couple of bad decisions, but eventually found the right guy. Programs like BU and BC in hockey, much like the Alabama's and Michigan's of the football world, can make a mistake now and then because the program is bigger than one person.

Having said that, I'd really like to see them land Quinn. Sure seemed like the recruiting got back to its heyday when he was here. With replacing Parker, that's the key as its his reputation that you can't replace. All the other things (new rink, good school, Boston location, etc) will still be there and I would expect the motivation of the team to improve as the general consensus seems to be that the team currently isn't getting as much as it could out of the players. I find it hard to believe that could get any worse.

If Coach Parker will be at BU at least four more seasons and the hope is that there will be at least some sort of transition plan involving the next head coach being on BU's staff for at least a season, and people want to identify other candidates besides Quinn, Sullivan, and Hynes, here's one for you... Chris Drury.

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

If Coach Parker will be at BU at least four more seasons and the hope is that there will be at least some sort of transition plan involving the next head coach being on BU's staff for at least a season, and people want to identify other candidates besides Quinn, Sullivan, and Hynes, here's one for you... Chris Drury.

Yea, Drury has a ton of coaching experience.

 

[mpereira]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

If Coach Parker will be at BU at least four more seasons and the hope is that there will be at least some sort of transition plan involving the next head coach being on BU's staff for at least a season, and people want to identify other candidates besides Quinn, Sullivan, and Hynes, here's one for you... Chris Drury.

It isn't an awful idea but considering he is still playing in the NHL and would need to be an assistant coach for a good period of time before being considered for the position. Unless he retires after this season and joins the BU staff for next year I dont see it happening but I could be wrong.

 

[chickod]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

. I remember being at the final in 1973 when Wisco won for the 1st time with their wild fans and ending up in some alumni's hotel room in downtown Beantown drinking beer until all hours, singing that song "Thank Heaven there is not beer, that's why we drink it here" over and over and over again.

Just curious...were you there in '74 also, when Vic Stanfield coughed up the puck at the blue line in overtime and Polich beat Eddie Walsh with a slapshot to send us home? That was a tough one! I actually enjoyed the Michigan Tech fans with their "miner's helmets."

 

[Rogie21]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

Just curious...were you there in '74 also, when Vic Stanfield coughed up the puck at the blue line in overtime and Polich beat Eddie Walsh with a slapshot to send us home? That was a tough one! I actually enjoyed the Michigan Tech fans with their "miner's helmets."

Yes, next to the '91 and '97 NC game losses, one of the toughest BU losses I've seen. BU had been down 2 to Minny but tied it on two Rick Meagher goals--one was an end-to-end rush thru all 5 Gophers. Polich's shorthanded GWG wasn't in overtime, but came in the final minute of the third. Was covering the tournament for AP and I recall that while interviewing Brooks after Minnesota beat MTU, several MTU fans were baiting Brooks. He was ready to chase after them but the reporters convinced him otherwise. He had a very short fuse.

 

[bantam75]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

Just curious...were you there in '74 also, when Vic Stanfield coughed up the puck at the blue line in overtime and Polich beat Eddie Walsh with a slapshot to send us home? That was a tough one! I actually enjoyed the Michigan Tech fans with their "miner's helmets."

Unfortunately yes. Tough my memories of those games is somewhat of a blur. That was the closest BU ever came to winning any FF games from 74-77. I still don't understand exactly why those BU teams that had great goaltending and even better blueliners gave up so many goals in all those semifinal losses in those 4 years. They just seemed to fall apart at just the wrong times, like your referenced Stanfield coughup. Mostly I remember how potent the PP was with Stanfield as he used to run the PP like a quarterback. I can't remember which year it was, but Stanfield had 60 or 70 assists one year.

 

[buoldtimer]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

Just curious...were you there in '74 also, when Vic Stanfield coughed up the puck at the blue line in overtime and Polich beat Eddie Walsh with a slapshot to send us home? That was a tough one! I actually enjoyed the Michigan Tech fans with their "miner's helmets."

Since the game you refer to was played 37 years ago(!!!!), my memory may be a bit sketchy here, but I think "coughing up" is an overstatement. I think Stanfield received a pass in his skates. While trying to get a handle on it, Polich swooped in and took it away. Certainly, a rueful memory; at least from a BU perspective.

 

[chickod]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

Since the game you refer to was played 37 years ago(!!!!), my memory may be a bit sketchy here, but I think "coughing up" is an overstatement. I think Stanfield received a pass in his skates. While trying to get a handle on it, Polich swooped in and took it away. Certainly, a rueful memory; at least from a BU perspective.

Well.................it was right in front of me and I'll concede maybe that it was "halfway in between" both of those extremes. In any event, it was a tough way to lose because, as <b>bantam</b> said, those were good BU teams that seemed to be snakebitten at times. I was in school from 72-76 and I was CERTAIN I would see another National Championship while I was there (I missed the '72 NC because I started in the fall of '72). Then there was the debacle against Minny in '76 before they finally broke through again in '78 (after the "reprise" by the ECAC committee after the loss to Providence).

 

[buoldtimer]

Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?

Well.................it was right in front of me and I'll concede maybe that it was "halfway in between" both of those extremes. In any event, it was a tough way to lose because, as <b>bantam</b> said, those were good BU teams that seemed to be snakebitten at times. I was in school from 72-76 and I was CERTAIN I would see another National Championship while I was there (I missed the '72 NC because I started in the fall of '72). Then there was the debacle against Minny in '76 before they finally broke through again in '78 (after the "reprise" by the ECAC committee after the loss to Providence).

The loss to UMTC in 1976 was the worst of the four, to me. That team should've brought home a flag.