Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!
Just back to the thread - sorry I had to jet last post....and a lot has and continues to be said (including Ralph's description of stripper and pasties during GM !!
).
I dont think its that they quit. All along I have been thinking about playing with a sense of urgency, all the time, both offense and defense. At the beginning of the season, it almost seemed to me like maybe we thought we were pretty good and just controlled the puck and that we could manage and set things up. That just hasnt been the case all year. We are having defensive breakdowns when we dont press the play, particularly getting the puck out of our own end. I forget the games at HFH, but there were at least 2 (Yale being 1) where we were on the power plan and couldnt get out of our own end. By not pressing the play, the play got taken to us, and we lost the ability to dictate the play. For the life of me, I cannot understand the forwards basically standing at the far blue line either, waiting for a pass from deep in our end to break out. I'll again mention Yale and say that once they got control of the puck in their end, that they didnt have much issue breaking out against us, and virtually all of their passes were 10 feet or less and everyone was in motion.
This is supposed to be a team built on speed. Would love to see it and us play that way. There are time that we get the puck in the offensive zone and just control it thru effort and speed. We have had our fair share of good lookes during some of the earlier home games this year, and the puck just didnt fall. that happens sometimes and there is no answer for why. I also agree that injuries and penalties have killed us. As for the "kids", I really liked Haggerty and Neal right from the start, and Schroeder has been very good as well. JL looks better by the game and the kid is going to open it up. On D, we have made some errors, but we play with a chip we havent seen in a while and are much more physical. I personally just want to see intensity. Every one of these kids has been a winner everywhere they have been. They have it. They are not quitters - cant be. I do think that they are playing a bit frustrated, and maybe they are not entirely happy with the style of play this far. I know that they are not happy about losing and actually quite aggreavated by it. Just remember Haggerty's 1-timer...there was so much anger in that shot it was unbelievable.
What I would like to see and want for these kids at this point if to just go out and play the game that they have been recruited for. Play with speed. Play with intensity. Jam the god**** puck down peoples throats. Play with a scramble in all 3 zones and forget about settling things down. Not worry about the season and what anyone is saying anymore and attack and maul teams like a pack of hyienas. And have fun doing it.
I'm sure I'll catch fire, but I dont care. I havent quit, and I dont think they have either. I'd still give my left nut to even just have a chance to practice with these kids. I couldnt be more happy and proud that my oldest is a freshmen at the 'tute, and wish he was somehow affiliated with the team and the coaches and organization because they are special people and the kind of people I pray for him to be associated with. I was told way too often that i would never be able to acheive or do things, and I never believed it and have been very very fortunate in my life - but did it on my own when no one else believed. I believe. Call people out and quit on them if you want....just leaves me an extra seat in the stands to put my jacket in during warmups and the game. I'm sure I'll see you again when they acheive the greatness that they are capable of and deserve....and if not, well, that's OK too in my book.
) Then again most of the strippers weren't that good looking, and they only stripped to g-string and pasties.
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