Re: MTU Hockey - Trying to Get Mel Back to the NCAA's Since 1981...
Re: MTU Hockey - Trying to Get Mel Back to the NCAA's Since 1981...
I'm not sure why I feel the need to explain/justify my previous comments further; perhaps my conscience is bothering me...perhaps I'm annoyed to think I was misunderstood. For whatever reason, I'm going to take another shot at this, even with the knowledge that many of you have probably sent me to your 'ignore' list and will never see this.
I've been following college hockey since I was a freshman in high school way back in 1970. Nobody here in Ohio (certainly including me)knew ANYthing about hockey. NObody here played, and in the days before internet and cable, we never even saw it on TV. Lot's of people here in BG thought it was silly to build an ice arena and dump loads of money into a sport nobody cared about. It was a game for those goofy Canadians and snobbish New Englanders. We couldn't possibly compete against traditional powerhouse programs like Michigan, Minnesota, Boston University or Cornell.
"But look" others would say; "the landscape of college hockey is different...LOTS of smaller schools compete with the big boys". Clarkson, RPI, Colorado College and Michigan Tech were examples we'd point to. We had a great run of success here in the 70s and 80s, highlighted by that NC in 84. We were happy to have you come over to the CCHA with the others in 81, sad to see you leave (and take your cup with you) a couple of years later. I had a great time the weekend we spent in Houghton one of those years, met some fine folks and was thoroughly impressed with the spirit, enthusiasm and atmosphere in your building.
Sadly, both of our programs took slides into extended periods of, shall we say; non-relevance. As far as I'm concerned, this only served to strengthen the bond between us. Each year, we have fresh hope that THIS will be the year we return those glory days, or at least take a step toward re-emergence. I've been a regular reader of the forums on USCHO for quite some time, altho I'm not one to post a lot of comments. I make it a point to look at the threads of our upcoming opponents...sort of my own unscientific scouting report...get a feel for where they're at, which players to keep an eye on, what match-ups to look for.
Every school has its passionate followers. Most have a few total jack-holes. Some (at least among those who post) seem to be dominated by the latter, while others come off as sensible folks with genuine knowledge of the game we all love. I have ALWAYS regarded the Tech fans who post here to be among the best of the bunch.
Last weekend's playoff series was some of the most nail-biting and entertaining hockey I've seen in years. BG has been plagued by some inconsistent play at times this year, especially having difficulty holding third period leads. Your guys showed tremendous heart and grit in the third period Friday night, there were several times I feared we were about to cough it up. The final score of Saturday's game is in NO way indicative of the way the game actually went. It had all the feel of a one-goal game, right up to that ENG.
I was shocked and embarrassed by the low fan turnout, especially on Friday. Yes, I know the students were on spring break, and the basketball team was playing in MAC tournament, but fewer than 1000 at a home playoff game? That stinks. At times it seemed like we were playing on the road, particularly due to the presence of your band. I had the opportunity to engage several Tech fans in conversation over the weekend, all were cordial and well informed fans of the game. I even took the time to go over and congratulate the band for bringing some energy to an otherwise empty building.
Now, let me get to the point. After the series was over, I went back to your board to see what you were all saying about the series. I don't think I went there specifically looking for some group genuflect to our superiority, but as I read through the posts, I just kept seeing the same rumbling, grumbling, 'we-suck' comments. I certainly understand that you are feeling frustrated, and are stinging from being eliminated...BUT I would have thought that SOMEONE among you might have at least mentioned (even in passing) that BG played a solid series....and PERHAPS it wasn't so much that you LOST as it was that we WON.
That "drool-bucket" remark really set my teeth on edge, and it all just spun out of control from there. I didn't feel that was called for, and still don't, but in hindsight I wish I had just dropped it there. For the record, I do see a couple of negatives on my reputation from Tech fans regarding this exchange, but also see the exact same number of positives from others among the Tech faithful. This serves to both: renew my faith in your collective sense of fair-play, and relieve me from being overly worried that my original post was poorly worded, and therefore misunderstood.
Please allow me to offer my best wishes on the continued re-birth of your program. I sincerely hope that we have the opportunity to meet in MANY meaningful contests over the coming years. In closing, I'd like to quote from one of my favorite films "A Fish Called Wanda".
"I apologize unreservedly. I offer a complete retraction.
The imputation was totally without basis in fact, and was in no way fair comment, and was motivated purely by malice.
I deeply regret any distress my comments may have caused you or your family.
And I hereby undertake not to repeat any such slander at any time in the future."
