Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

[ARM]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

I didn't say you can't discuss the coach but was suggesting talking about the team and not the coach.

I wish someone would. Outside of Newbie Bear, nobody else seems to have anything to offer. If people were quicker to follow up on the team-related discussions N.B. starts rather than responding to trolls, then IMO this thread would be better for it.

 

[bosco]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

First off it does have to deal with admissions that is understandable I realize that Brown is an IVY league school and it is a lot tougher with admissions. If I look over to the mens side I do see the number one team in the nation is Yale, and last I remembered they are and IVY league school and I believe there are many other solid IVY league schools on the womens side.

 

[irishbridie49]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

Hey irishbridie49, How many screen names are you going to have?

Just ONE; thank you. You?

 

[irishbridie49]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

ARM: a troll is not defined as a person with a legitimate interest in the discussion at hand. It is usually someone who comes on with the goal of disrupting. I do not fit that category - if that's what you mean. I have a much greater interest in the Brown team than most of you and I feel that my concerns - poor/inadequate coaching - is the key to the team's success or, in this case, lack thereof. However, if you define a troll merely as someone who doesn't share the majority opinion, then call me a troll.

 

[irishbridie49]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

Instead of asking folks on the internet, why don't you ask the ones who showed up this fall? They seem to want to be there.

Better still....ask the ones who didn't show up.

 

[irishbridie49]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

Yup, she is not effective as she hasn't scored a goal in years. Last I checked, the players play the game (and win it or lose it) and the coaches coach. Coaches recruit, but don't admit. We don't know if Digit is getting her top recruits admitted, as the school doesn't discuss those things including how many tips she gets. Nobody here discusses that aspect of a coach's ability to be successful. Let's face it, at many Ivy and NESCAC schools, the sports priorities (allocation of tips and other things) shift over the years and they often ask coaches to deal with less admissions help. The loss of 1 tip per year over 4 or 5 years can make a huge impact on the overall quality of any team.

What I'm saying here is that Digit hasn't changed from the time she was winning to now. The women's hockey environment (more teams, more scholarships) has been discused and we cannot forget the type of support she gets (or doesn't get) from admissions. It is easy to say same coach different result, therefore coach has lost it. Very narrow focus here.

Thanks Digit!!! Nicely put!

 

[IceIsNice]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

thinking everyone should go to their happy place before adding any more messages here.....

Best of luck to Brown over these final few weeks. There are four or five games with real opportunity on your schedule, and if I were participating in the ECAC weekly pick'em, I'd be picking you for sure!

Don't listen to the Irish, we Italians learned that a LONG time ago!

Go Bruno!

 

[ARM]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

ARM: a troll is not defined as a person with a legitimate interest in the discussion at hand. It is usually someone who comes on with the goal of disrupting.

The definition I'm using is that put forth by USCHO:

“Troll” posts will be deleted. If a post is intended for honest discussion, it will be allowed, but if the point is merely to generate anger and hostility in other posters, it will be removed.

The originator of this thread stated that other threads exist for the purpose of criticizing Brown and requested that this one be used to support the team. In my opinion, what differentiates honest discussion from trolling varies from thread to thread -- celebrating in your own thread quickly becomes woofing in an opponent's.

For those who actually watch Brown games, in what areas on the ice has the team shown progress over the course of the season, and where in your opinion does progress most need to be made to move the team forward?

 

[UCONN FAN]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

#1 Disability in America is being Italian!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[IceIsNice]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

#1 Disability in America is being Italian!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doesn't seem to be hurting the Jersey Shore gang!

For those who actually watch Brown games, in what areas on the ice has the team shown progress over the course of the season, and where in your opinion does progress most need to be made to move the team forward?

I think having as few as 2 prolific scorers added to the roster would help Brown out tremendously. I'm actually quite impressed with their D and goaltending. The problem I see is that when they get the chance to transition to offense, none of their lines are capable of wearing down an opponent the way most teams manage to eventually wear down Brown. Forecheck layers quickly become non-existent, opening the ice for faster opponents to transition right back.

One legit scoring line, with two outstanding individual scorers.....it obviously wouldn't be enough to make them a frozen four candidate but opponents might stop circling them as a quick "W".

Just my opinion....but what do I know? I'm Italian!

 

[CanHockGuy]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

thinking everyone should go to their happy place before adding any more messages here.....

Best of luck to Brown over these final few weeks. There are four or five games with real opportunity on your schedule, and if I were participating in the ECAC weekly pick'em, I'd be picking you for sure!

Don't listen to the Irish, we Italians learned that a LONG time ago!

Go Bruno!

Why would you say that you are Italian? I wouldn't if I was Italian. Go Brown!

 

[NewbieBear]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

Newbiebear, just because some of us disagree with you about the effectiveness of a coach who can't buy a win, it does not equate to lack of support for the team. As long as everyone sits back and does nothing, nothing will change. In that sense, I'm doing more for the team than you are. .....

Just curious. What is it exactly that You are doing for the team that is more than what I'm doing? . I don't sit back. Support this team through thick and thin, and helping out behind the scenes. Not sure, based on your comments the same can be said for you.

 

[WHckyFan]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

Just curious. What is it exactly that You are doing for the team that is more than what I'm doing? . I don't sit back. Support this team through thick and thin, and helping out behind the scenes. Not sure, based on your comments the same can be said for you.

No offense NewbieBear, I think your positive attitude is great for the team, but you epitomize the reason that Brown Women's Hockey is not a D1 contender. You openly stated that your daughter chose to go to Brown first for the IVY league education and then for hockey. There is certainly nothing wrong with this. I am glad that there are still some parents out there that realize their daughters are not going to have a career based on hockey and push them to focus on education and job opportunities in picking a college.

However, the majority of Brown's team is filled with players who feel the same way, that education comes first. As long as this is the case Brown Hockey does not stand a chance. Ultimately, as skilled as these players may be, they do not have the drive and the passion to lead the team to the top of the ranks. The Sarah Vaillancourt's and Rebecca Johnston's that can achieve this did not pick the IVY schools they attended (or are attending) because it would give them a better shot to work on wall street. They picked them because they believed that the program and the school's athletic department was invested in making the team number one.

Brown Women Hockey's main problem is that the athletic department is not willing to invest the time, money, and effort to provide the team with the same resources that programs, such as Cornell, have to attract these top players. On top of this, the program does not have a coach with enough clout and respect inside the athletic department to push for the types of changes they need.

In the end, as great as your cheerleading may be to make the players feel better about losing game after game, it is not going to do anything for the program except keep it at the bottom. If you really want to make a difference, go lobby Brown's Athletic Department to make a commitment to turning the team around.

 

[DC78-82]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

not going to have a career based on hockey and push them to focus on education and job opportunities in picking a college.

Brown Women Hockey's main problem is that the athletic department is not willing to invest the time, money, and effort to provide the team with the same resources that programs, such as Cornell, have to attract these top players. On top of this, the program does not have a coach with enough clout and respect inside the athletic department to push for the types of changes they need.

A playing career is not the only "future" in hockey. With the growth of the female sport comes the growth of opportunities within it. A solid education and the experience of playing at the collegiate level, whether it be D1 or D111, is going to give players a lot of tools to use if they choose to stay in the sport at another level. Program Directors, administrators, and coaches need to have more than soft hands, a good shot, or the ability to stop said shot. From what I am starting to see, Club hockey and Elite U-19 teams are becoming as viable a pathway to a college career as prep schools. It takes a lot of dedication, drive, which players learn on the ice, but to be a successful and viable program and league, the business, administrative, and organizational skills are a must. You don't need a single piece of hockey hardware to pull that off, but the skills you learned by being a part of your college hockey experience are what is going to make this sport grow if the player chooses to stay in the game.

At this point, I think it's safe to assume that the players going in know that they are facing challenges, whether it be to keep a team at the top, or try to be a force of change from somewhere other than the top, and they choose to make their difference with that in mind.

 

[DarthBruno]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

Brown Women Hockey's main problem is that the athletic department is not willing to invest the time, money, and effort to provide the team with the same resources that programs, such as Cornell, have to attract these top players. … If you really want to make a difference, go lobby Brown's Athletic Department to make a commitment to turning the team around.

Sadly, this is exactly right IMO. Under current leadership, Brown simply is not committed to having winning athletic programs; it's not anywhere near a priority for Pres. Simmons (and she is entitled to lead Brown as she wishes). The current A.D. is a very nice guy who doesn't make waves, which is why he's in the job right now. I believe most if not all of the Brown coaches, whatever their individual competencies, are laboring under this "meh" attitude that permeates Brown's leadership. Wish it were not so, but there you go. We fans grasp at whatever little crumbs happen to tumble our way... A victory here and there, a shared Ivy title (football), a glimmer of hope when a promising first-year recruit does something flashy. Look at what happened with men's basketball when a fantastic, winning coach, Craig Robinson (aka Obama's brother in law) left Brown, and instead of recruiting and hiring another fireball coach, the nice AD gave the job to an assistant who lacks both reputation among recruits and the charisma and leadership skills that made Robinson so successful.

I know we fans shouldn't care so much, but some of us DO, and the lack of commitment by the administration and the ho-hum athletic leadership right now are deflating. OK, my rant is over. I wish the best to the current women's hockey team AND the men's team (which is showing flashes of excitement this year thanks to a promising coach who was willing to take Brown's sucky salary offer because he loves this place and wanted a chance to be a head coach). Ever true, and all that.

 

[bosco]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

" On top of this, the program does not have a coach with enough clout and respect inside the athletic department to push for the types of changes they need."

I have heard from other coaches within the Brown Athletics department possibly the lease respected out of any is the Womens Hockey coach and possibly the reason this program is where it is now and the lack of support from the department itself.

 

[bosco]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

Another tough loss last night to speak of the matter at home and outshot badly again thank god for Jameson

 

[DarthBruno]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

I think it is about time Brown University looks at what is going on here and starts to makes some changes if they are going to ever turn the program around.

Totally agree, but as I said in my previous post, above, it ain't gonna happen during this administration. While "athletic opportunities" are considered important enough to build nice facilities, etc., the nurturing of winning varsity programs are not on the top 10 list in University Hall.

Alumni and, yes, parents who have some clout, whether because they are potential top donors or have insider status with the administration and corporation need to step up NOW and make it very clear to the president and AD that a mediocre Division I program is not acceptable, that it does not reflect well on Brown's commitment to excellence (which should include on the field/ice as well as in the classroom and lab), and that it's time to ramp up every aspect of our once-great programs... and that includes getting tougher about non-winning coaches (look how long Roger Grillo stayed on with men's hockey way past the point of no return), committing some salary money to coaching that brings in more skilled, charismatic, and motivated experts, and then committing 100% to the athlete recruiting program. Our good coaches are paddling upstream, people; and our mediocre coaches seem to think they have lifetime tenure at Brown. And maybe they do. But why should they? We are not running a charity here.

Go Brown! I'm behind the women on the team 100%. Just wish they could have a much finer athletic experience at my alma mater.

 

[bosco]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

Our good coaches are paddling upstream, people; and our mediocre coaches seem to think they have lifetime tenure at Brown. And maybe they do. But why should they? We are not running a charity here.

I am in total agreement of this in any other organization if they went almost 10 years of mediocre and more resently a streak of absolute poor preformance it is time to make a change. There are very qualified younger coaches out there who would take a less of a salary, I agree money aspect is tough, but at the same time get a coach in there that is looking to build a program looking to spark some fire and come in with a new attitude. The attitude of yeah the girls are improving coming along three quarters through the season just does not work. If you look at the past performances of this team it is just getting worse and worse and it really comes down to the leadership in the office not the dressing room. Like you said before why not go play for a poor DI team and get an IVY experience and the education if you could use hockey, but unfortunately that is a club hockey reasoning not a Division I reasoning and you can see Cornell and teams of the such with IVY league and a great hockey team.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Brown Bears 2010 - 2011 - Dawn of a new Era

No offense NewbieBear, I think your positive attitude is great for the team, but you epitomize the reason that Brown Women's Hockey is not a D1 contender. You openly stated that your daughter chose to go to Brown first for the IVY league education and then for hockey. There is certainly nothing wrong with this. I am glad that there are still some parents out there that realize their daughters are not going to have a career based on hockey and push them to focus on education and job opportunities in picking a college.

However, the majority of Brown's team is filled with players who feel the same way, that education comes first. As long as this is the case Brown Hockey does not stand a chance. Ultimately, as skilled as these players may be, they do not have the drive and the passion to lead the team to the top of the ranks. The Sarah Vaillancourt's and Rebecca Johnston's that can achieve this did not pick the IVY schools they attended (or are attending) because it would give them a better shot to work on wall street. They picked them because they believed that the program and the school's athletic department was invested in making the team number one.

Brown Women Hockey's main problem is that the athletic department is not willing to invest the time, money, and effort to provide the team with the same resources that programs, such as Cornell, have to attract these top players. On top of this, the program does not have a coach with enough clout and respect inside the athletic department to push for the types of changes they need.

In the end, as great as your cheerleading may be to make the players feel better about losing game after game, it is not going to do anything for the program except keep it at the bottom. If you really want to make a difference, go lobby Brown's Athletic Department to make a commitment to turning the team around.

In the case of Vaillancourt, that's not exactly true. She was recruited heavily by Wisconsin and if she wanted to win a national title, going there would have given her a better shot. At the time of her recruitment, Wisconsin was just becoming a power in women's hockey so she may have felt that with Julie Chu and others aboard, she had a better shot with the Crimson. Time obviously proved otherwise.

I agree that Sarah did not come to Harvard to work on Wall Street. The same would have held true had she chosen Dartmouth. But I also believe she had to know that the WCHA was coming on strong as a power conference and that Wisconsin was recruiting some blue chip players (Erika Lawler comes to mind). Although I have no proof of this, I have to believe education was a factor in her decision; if it wasn't, she would have ended up at a WCHA school.