Re: RIT Tigers 2017 / 2018. Is time to go out and capture some prey!
Usually we can blame poor performance on injuries, but it seems like injuries haven't been as much of a problem this year, is that true? Also, if you were the coach, what would you do to try and turn things around for the rest of the season?
Injuries are never a science. Many can be just to much to over come, but sometimes it just takes one. I've often wonder what would have happen Garbowsky's Junior year if he had not gotten injured for most of it. At the same time you can't really give them the proper respect an injury deserves cause then what does it say about the player replacing the injured one. Everyone gets them, you hope not to many of your key players, you go one when they happen.
As for what I would do if I was the coach...
I offer this fully admitting that Wayne Wilson has many more NCAA wins than I do. I have nothing but admiration and respect for the man who I want to be RIT's coach till he is ready to hang it up. And also lets remember that they just dominated one of the better teams in the league on Saturday.
That being said as Crash said to the skipper in Bull Durham, Scare them, they are kids. I am a big fan of Wayne's calm approach and always keep his cool. But at some points I sure hope he scares them and open up on them in the room. I get a little tired of the supportive talk, which you should be, but there are times kids just need a kick in the behind. At most you only get 4 seasons here guys, make them count because when they are over you will never forget them and give just about anything to go back.
The other thing is stop the dang ride the hot goaltender train. It's not working. I like Andriano and still have high hopes for him, but I think he should have had a start long ago. As Short should have as well. The impression I got was there was going to be a short (no pun) rotation and then a decision was going to get made. That never happen, Drackett has a bunch of talent and I like him too, however it shocked me how he just seemed to get the keys to the car from the start. When he had a hiccup the entire team started to go off the tracks. Let me again express how highly I think of this coaching staff, but I honestly have been at a loss this season and last at the goal-tending decisions. There have been lessons over the years on goaltenders like Jared DeMichiel and Jordan Ruby that just seem to have been forgotten. Even though I thought Rotolo was the more talented goaltender I was amazed at how long they rode him till giving Short a shot after the wheels had already come off on that season. Given Rotolo's back to back night history and they fact that he was very good in the previous year's playoff run after he was injured and had rest just screamed don't ride him into the ground. They did and he had nothing in the tank by years end. He was a man and gave it his all and I doubt would complain. I would have given all 3 guys at least 2 starts before going with a guy back to back. At this point I am honestly not sure what the right move is, other than hope what he is doing now works out.
