"I have the strangest feeling of deja vu....." Michael Palin
As others have already said on this thread, Dick is the head coach of UNH until Dick is ready to retire. Until he leaves, what we see is what we get. UNH is a D1 program that's tantalyzingly competitive at times, generates a majority of the athletics revenue for the school and continues to put fans in the seats. Whether it's a coaching deficiency, lack of on ice talent or that hard to define ability to rise to the occasion, or a combination of all of the above, this program lacks whatever it is that makes teams succeed on the big stage.
Flashback moment....Friday March 21st 2008. UNH and BC in the HE semis. Thomas Fortney scores a shorthanded goal and UNH takes a 4-1 lead at 12:23 of the second period. UNH fans are having a rollicking good time. Isn't this fun? We're kicking the %$@# out of BC! Jerry York calls time out. I recall this very clearly: during the time out, a very animated Jerry York is back and forth behind the BC bench, not screaming or ripping his players, but instead clapping his hands, encouraging his team, patting them on the back and telling them not to panic and that they were alright in that situation. About a minute and change later, BC scores a PP goal making it 4-2. Anyone there watching realized that BC knew right then they had a chance to get back in that game. Fast forward to the opening minutes of the third period...BC has tied the game at four. The entire complexion of the game has changed. BC has the momentum and is flying around the ice and UNH is back on their heels. UNH fans have that "here we go again" voice whispering in their ears. Meanwhile, what's Dickie doing? Rallying his team? Encouraging them like Jerry? Not quite...he's doing a superb impression of a mannequin behind the UNH bench. Scowling, arms folded, with one hand under his chin. Kinda like an anti York. Of course, we all know how that one ended. Another tent in a wind storm. It was such a stark contrast in coaching styles and when you really break it down, one the biggest reasons, IMHO, why this program comes up short time and time again.
I don't know if UNH gets to Manchester or not. I'd like to say I'd feel really confident if they do go, but I've seen this movie too many times already and I think I know how it ends.
