Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

As in many cases, saying he should have stepped aside even temporarily is an opinion made in hindsight. Not only does no one else know what they would have done in his shoes, but it's also not a sure thing that anyone knew when it started just how severely the treatments would impact him.

That's really not true at all. Because of the location of the granulomas, Lucia received megadosage levels of corticosteroid drugs from the very beginning. The protocol for the severity of Lucia's condition and response level to a treatment modality of this nature requires consistent monitoring. Just as in the case of anabolic steroids, the androgenic and pathological effects are very apparent and especially extreme with high dosage levels.

In addition, I think it's folly to assume that had they been more open from the beginning (whether or not he took a break) that calls for his head would be any less severe right now because it wouldn't matter based upon the current state of the program. In fact had he stepped aside something tells me the uphill climb would be much stiffer than had he not taken a break.

Is it really folly to assume that there are large numbers of fans out there that may empathize with Lucia's condition and hold back judgment? I don't think so.

Look, I fully believe that regardless of the illness that the program needs a 2nd half turnaround to earn tDon another contract, but unlike some here I don't demonstrate an ulterior motive/belief that nothing can save his job. He will either earn his keep or not, and manufacturing reasons to oust him have no place.

I think Maturi will look at the overall success of the program, the debilitating effects of Lucia's illness, player injuries and defections over the past three years, how Lucia has rebounded from his illness and what strategy he has to rebuild the program. Hanging 7 banners in 11 years speaks volumes at contract talks. There is some doubt in my mind that they will make the NCAAs this season. Even if they don't, if Lucia overcomes any lingering effects of the illness and pulls a rabbit out of the hat next season, I think he gets a new contract.

Also, in reading the effects of the steroids on his personality/mood, I wonder if my wife is secretly getting this same steroid treatment?

You'll know the answer when her voice begins to sound like Mickey Rourke and you see hair growing between her breasts.

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Your self-righteous opinion on what should have happened once he was diagnosed not only gave me reason to disocontinue reading, but also re-affirmed my opinion about pre-coneived notions.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Your self-righteous opinion on what should have happened once he was diagnosed not only gave me reason to disocontinue reading, but also re-affirmed my opinion about pre-coneived notions.

I think you're overreacting Slap. Lots of coaches decide to take a temporary leave of absence when their abilities to coach at the expected optimum level is impaired for medical reasons. I would add that temporarily stepping down does not imply that a coach is a "quitter", but demonstrates character qualities of humility and loyalty to the program's success which actually enhances not contravenes a coach's portfolio. In my view, a LOA would have provided Lucia time to heal, eased family tensions, as well as providing him with a unique opportunity to reflect, and evaluate his future with the Gopher hockey program and return with renewed vision and vigor.

As it was the program really went into the tank shortly after the illness was diagnosed in Dec. 2008. They went 7-0-4 to begin the season and after the illness they were swept 4 times, and missed the NCAAs for the first time since 2000. The program has experienced a consistent meltdown since then. The article reveals the correlating disconnect between Lucia and the players and coaches, due to the serious and causal effects of the comorbid pathology of the drug therapy:

Assistant coach John Hill, who has worked with Lucia for 12 years, handled the damage control. He warned the players when Lucia was moody and reminded them not to take it personally. When opposing coaches and other people complained about Lucia's behavior, Hill apologized and explained the steroid effect.

That gave rise to an inside joke in the Gophers hockey office: If Lucia says you're fired, just laugh it off. The stressful atmosphere came to seem normal, but it took a toll.

"The first few days of the week, Don was like a raging bull," Hill said. "You hear about 'roid rage,' and we witnessed it. Other days, he looked like he was ready to collapse.

"It was a very emotional time for all of us. Everyone did their best to stay upbeat and positive, for the kids and for each other. Really, we were just trying to survive on a daily basis."

I join all Gophers fans who are hoping and praying that tDon has finally overcome this illness and will return to optimum health again.

 

[Driftryder]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

I think Maturi will look at the overall success of the program, the debilitating effects of Lucia's illness, player injuries and defections over the past three years, how Lucia has rebounded from his illness and what strategy he has to rebuild the program. Hanging 7 banners in 11 years speaks volumes at contract talks. There is some doubt in my mind that they will make the NCAAs this season. Even if they don't, if Lucia overcomes any lingering effects of the illness and pulls a rabbit out of the hat next season, I think he gets a new contract.

I am thinking along the same lines that he will be given an extension at the end of the year no matter what the outcome of the season is minus us losing the rest of our games of course.

It appears that for about 18 months tDon was in survive mode not in a coaching mode at all, hopefully now he can get this program back to the top where it belongs.

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

I agree that it is difficult to say now what should have been done. While the extent of the effects of steroid use is well known to the medical community, I am sure it was a first for Lucia and Maturi. People starting chemo are regularily told how bad it till be, but it still seems like a lot respond it is worse than they ever expected. I would guess Lucia figured he could fight through it and then wasn't in the condition to make the decision to take a leave once he was feeling the full effects. And as for not revealing the extent of the problems earlier, I think Don seems like the type of person who doesn't want to appear to jump to excuses, even if they are reasonable. The Ambroz situation is a perfect example. When people claimed he told Ambroz he couldn't play, it wasn't until a reporter asked that he mentioned it was about academic ineligability. I think Don realizes that he has to answer to his boss, not to all of us on message boards, and he is confident enough to let us speculate away while he tries to prove himself with his actions, rather than words.

You'll know the answer when her voice begins to sound like Mickey Rourke and you see hair growing between her breasts.

When one only get to see his wife naked about twice a year, it is hard to know. Then again, 2011 is coming soon....

 

[SoCalSiouxFan]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

That article was a real eye-opener. Between the roid rage and the sleep deprivation, I don't know how the **** he made it through 18 months of that. Hindsight's always 20/20, but I think when it became apparent how severe the impact on him was from the treatments, he should've taken a leave of absence.

Let me guess the sleep deprivation was before they played the Fighting Sioux. Then the roid rage kicked in after the Hill coached gophers got humiliated up in North Dakota. Seems like normal predictible behavior to me.

But seriously, if just after he started receiving treatment that illness prevented Lucia from exercising self restraint when dealing with his assistant coaches and the players, the results from that Sioux/Gopher series that was played while Lucia out ill should have definately set him off like TNT.

But then as a Sioux fan it would have been entertaining to see him explode. Not so much fun for the gophers though.

 

[burd]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

I agree that it is difficult to say now what should have been done. While the extent of the effects of steroid use is well known to the medical community, I am sure it was a first for Lucia and Maturi. People starting chemo are regularily told how bad it till be, but it still seems like a lot respond it is worse than they ever expected.

Absolutely true. I went through some nasty chemo/throat and head radiation two years ago and was warned by more than one physician that it would be tough. I basically blew that off, thinking I could handle it better than most. I was a puzz!.

Puts the whole thing in better perspective for us about what Lucia was dealing with. We Sioux fans say we love to see the gophs lose, but in the end I think we really want them hitting on all cylinders and playing up to their considerable reputation.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas: Slap Shot, state of hockey, Driftryder, Greyeagle, Koho, Bakunin, Brenthoven, GopherBigGuy911, goldy_331, 4four4, thebrain, dxmnkd316, HoosierBBall_GopherHockey, ajoyce02, Happy, Handyman, JF_Gophers, Gophers #1, Turk 77, 5mn_Major, burd, trixR4kids, ScoobyDoo, Stauber1 (I probably missed someone).

Thanks for putting up with my blog like, academic like posts you guys. Have a happy holiday season! Go Gophers!

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas: Slap Shot, state of hockey, Driftryder, Greyeagle, Koho, Bakunin, Brenthoven, GopherBigGuy911, goldy_331, 4four4, thebrain, dxmnkd316, HoosierBBall_GopherHockey, ajoyce02, Happy, Handyman, JF_Gophers, Gophers #1, Turk 77, 5mn_Major, burd, trixR4kids, ScoobyDoo, Stauber1 (I probably missed someone).

Thanks for putting up with my blog like, academic like posts you guys. Have a happy holiday season! Go Gophers!

Thanks and I'd like to wish a Merry Christmas to "the list" as well! Hope you all have a great couple days.

 

[Driftryder]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas: Slap Shot, state of hockey, Driftryder, Greyeagle, Koho, Bakunin, Brenthoven, GopherBigGuy911, goldy_331, 4four4, thebrain, dxmnkd316, HoosierBBall_GopherHockey, ajoyce02, Happy, Handyman, JF_Gophers, Gophers #1, Turk 77, 5mn_Major, burd, trixR4kids, ScoobyDoo, Stauber1 (I probably missed someone).

Thanks for putting up with my blog like, academic like posts you guys. Have a happy holiday season! Go Gophers!

Thanks Harley. Merry Christmas to all on the "list" and many others have a good one.


Let's go Gophers!

 

[4four4]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Merry Christmas everybody!

 

[HoosierBBall_GopherHockey]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Merry Christmas (Eve) everyone!

 

[wasmania]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas: Slap Shot, state of hockey, Driftryder, Greyeagle, Koho, Bakunin, Brenthoven, GopherBigGuy911, goldy_331, 4four4, thebrain, dxmnkd316, HoosierBBall_GopherHockey, ajoyce02, Happy, Handyman, JF_Gophers, Gophers #1, Turk 77, 5mn_Major, burd, trixR4kids, ScoobyDoo, Stauber1 (I probably missed someone).

Thanks for putting up with my blog like, academic like posts you guys. Have a happy holiday season! Go Gophers!

What about me? I'm a UMTC alumni? Don't I get wished a merry christmas??

 

[burd]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

OK. We can do this. We can do this.

merrychristmasgopherfans

Gotta lie down for a while . . .

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas: Slap Shot, state of hockey, Driftryder, Greyeagle, Koho, Bakunin, Brenthoven, GopherBigGuy911, goldy_331, 4four4, thebrain, dxmnkd316, HoosierBBall_GopherHockey, ajoyce02, Happy, Handyman, JF_Gophers, Gophers #1, Turk 77, 5mn_Major, burd, trixR4kids, ScoobyDoo, Stauber1 (I probably missed someone).

Thanks for putting up with my blog like, academic like posts you guys. Have a happy holiday season! Go Gophers!

Thanks, Harley - and the same to you!

wasmania - you went to UM? I have no words for you.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Happy Ramachristmakwanzakkah!

Even to the Sioux and Badger fans.

 

[Happy]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Let me guess the sleep deprivation was before they played the Fighting Sioux. Then the roid rage kicked in after the Hill coached gophers got humiliated up in North Dakota. Seems like normal predictible behavior to me.

But seriously, if just after he started receiving treatment that illness prevented Lucia from exercising self restraint when dealing with his assistant coaches and the players, the results from that Sioux/Gopher series that was played while Lucia out ill should have definately set him off like TNT.

But then as a Sioux fan it would have been entertaining to see him explode. Not so much fun for the gophers though.

This is why normal people think sue fans are *******s.

 

[state of hockey]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

God Jul all my fellow Scandinavians! I suppose I can wish everyone else a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays as well.

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas: Slap Shot, state of hockey, Driftryder, Greyeagle, Koho, Bakunin, Brenthoven, GopherBigGuy911, goldy_331, 4four4, thebrain, dxmnkd316, HoosierBBall_GopherHockey, ajoyce02, Happy, Handyman, JF_Gophers, Gophers #1, Turk 77, 5mn_Major, burd, trixR4kids, ScoobyDoo, Stauber1 (I probably missed someone).

Thanks for putting up with my blog like, academic like posts you guys. Have a happy holiday season! Go Gophers!

Merry Christmas to all co-Gopher fans, players and coaches and a Happy New Year with many more victories!

 

[Bakunin]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Merry X-Mas or whatever to my fellow Gopher fans.

To the fans of other programs: may you all get a lump of coal in your stockings.