RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaanyway... I'm definitely not bullish on this team anymore, though it's more a function of facing our current situation than anything. We haven't been healthy all year long and just when it looks like we're getting better on that front, suddenly we're not. Cullen back, but Haggerty out three games now. Koudys a scratch on Saturday. Still no Neal, who could really give a boost on the draw if nothing else.

The issue I see with this team that does not go away is in leadership. Defensively, the most sound guys on the team on a night-in, night-out basis are Leonard, Dolan, and Koudys. I can't name Bergin or Bailen with a straight face. The former is in the box far too frequently. The latter sometimes forces me to remind myself that he was an All-American last year with the defensive blunders - not all of which lead to goals but many of which lead to golden opportunities. That takes what should be an asset - defense - and turns it into a "let's make Merriam stand on his head" deal.

Offensively, the freshmen are finally coming alive, but they're still adjusting to the rigors of the college game (and remember this about Bourbonnais and Zalewski for next season). I've never thought that Malchuk and Angers-Goulet were going to be offensive leaders and to some extent it almost feels like they're trying to do too much. They're grinders, they're good at that. Wouldn't trade them for anyone in the league on the penalty kill.

I am surprised to here you say that you are not bullish on this team.
I can understand it, but we have had much less talented teams in the past that you got behind.
This has been a frustrating year for all of us (fans and team), but I don't think that you should throw in the towel yet.
The offense is just starting to come around, and I think that you may be a little to hard on Bailen and Bergin.
Nobody gets more icetime than those two defensemen. They seem to be out there for at least half the game. They play every situation, and if we are behind, as we have been a lot this year, the seem to be out there for the entire third period.
I really don't get that, since we have a very strong defensive core. We need to rotate the defense better.
I was hoping that we would improve during December and come out with new resolve when the conference games started again, but I was not happy with the Union game. We still have work to do.
I will remain bullish until they prove that they can't win in the conference after the break.
I still think that we have very talented players. And if SA can get them to believe that, he will have won a battle. And if he can give them a system to play that compliments their talents, he will have won the war.
We shall see.

 

[ibanezist00]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

Exactly. I'm glad to see they haven't given up on themselves-Bergin in Ed Weaver's article insisting that the team can get it done, Lee and McGowan crediting their linemates for their scoring successes...we have a very classy team, and I'd rather lose with these guys than win with a group with less integrity. (Pep band has an interesting story about Union's team laughing at them on their way out of Lake Placid.)

Brock Higgs had a letter to the editor in the Poly this week, thanking the Rensselaer community for supporting him when he was injured last year. Really well-written, and a great thing for him to do.

To put it more bluntly, from my perspective, I'd rather watch this classy group of guys lose games 100 times than support/watch a group like North Dakota win once. Don't mean to call out specific teams, but it does serve to strengthen my point.

On another note, you can't give up on the team or stop supporting them through the season just because they're not doing well. That's the very definition of being a fairweather fan. If someone wanted to root for a team that just wins all the time, they can go be a Yankees fan

 

[ibanezist00]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

That's OK. I'm allowed one.



No offense... but these rules are fairly arbitrary and not binding upon anyone.

Did someone surgically remove your sense of humor? I'm pretty sure no one actually expected anyone to rigorously follow the "Ten Commandments of RPI Hockey" and that they were invented to lighten things up in times like the ones our team is facing right now.

I'm sorry you don't see any talent, push, or improvement in this team, but when we're a smaller school with relatively no name next to some of the AMFs (Athlete Manufacturing Facilities, as I call them) like Boston College, Notre Dame and North Dakota, any amount of talent we can see shining through is a good thing. It's plain as day to me that these guys, though struggling and with occasional falter, work very hard and clearly don't want to have the record they currently do -- who in their right mind would? Fans need to stay positive and give a positive aura, especially at the games. Have you ever had a successful day at work/class/whatever by having a massively negative attitude the whole time?

 

[AspyDad]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

Way to select the guy who's leading to more goals against than anyone else on the team as a rally point.

Beman, I am sick of you bad mouthing the team when we're not playing well...wait...that's not Beman... never mind.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

Exactly. I'm glad to see they haven't given up on themselves-Bergin in Ed Weaver's article insisting that the team can get it done, Lee and McGowan crediting their linemates for their scoring successes...we have a very classy team, and I'd rather lose with these guys than win with a group with less integrity. (Pep band has an interesting story about Union's team laughing at them on their way out of Lake Placid.)

Brock Higgs had a letter to the editor in the Poly this week, thanking the Rensselaer community for supporting him when he was injured last year. Really well-written, and a great thing for him to do.

Don't get me started on the kids pointing fingers at the pep band when Union scored. I know the CAN/AM players are normally a lot classier than that, and I'm not sure if they were CAN/AM or not, but you get the idea.

Granted we're ones to talk after last year a group of us had done "It's All Your Fault" at the CUP band after scoring, as well as "Goalie! Sieve! Morons!". At least the CCT crowd only cheered after Union's 1st goal (and yes, as payback, I cheered after SLU's first goal ).

 

[AspyDad]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

Was confused as to why there was little chatter about this. Koudys is certainly one of the top three guys on the blue line this season no matter how you're looking at it. Can't imagine it was related to his play.

Heard he had the flu. You're right PK is steady as they come.

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

Beman, I am sick of you bad mouthing the team when we're not playing well...wait...that's not Beman... never mind.

At least I'm here when they're playing well. Am I supposed to merely whisper sweet nothings mindlessly? How is that different from mindlessly lashing out at the coach? I'm at the very least offering rational justification.

Did someone surgically remove your sense of humor? I'm pretty sure no one actually expected anyone to rigorously follow the "Ten Commandments of RPI Hockey" and that they were invented to lighten things up in times like the ones our team is facing right now.

Oh, I get it. "Someone surgically removed" MY sense of humor. Got it, friend.

One other thing... if I'm such a fairweather fan... why I am still here?

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

Heard he had the flu. You're right PK is steady as they come.

i hope that is correct although one can't be sure these days.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

To put it more bluntly, from my perspective, I'd rather watch this classy group of guys lose games 100 times than support/watch a group like North Dakota win once. Don't mean to call out specific teams, but it does serve to strengthen my point.

On another note, you can't give up on the team or stop supporting them through the season just because they're not doing well. That's the very definition of being a fairweather fan. If someone wanted to root for a team that just wins all the time, they can go be a Yankees fan

Oh yeah, he's giving up on the team, hence why Without a Peer has stopped tweeting.

There's a difference between drinking Kool-Aid and seeing something that needs to improve to better a team's game. It's something that I have come to accept recently, and before I continue on this rant, I want to issue an apology to those people (I won't mention names on a public forum) that I have berated for realizing improvements that can be made by the team, yet will still support them to the end. I know at least one of them posts here (or at least used to do so).

When a team is down, you can either give up on them and go do something else, or you can take a look into why things are happening, look for some positives, and see what needs to improve. Obviously it isn't something we can fix because there are three gentlemen hired to do that, but it is a good discussion point.

 

[ibanezist00]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

Oh yeah, he's giving up on the team, hence why Without a Peer has stopped tweeting.

There's a difference between drinking Kool-Aid and seeing something that needs to improve to better a team's game. It's something that I have come to accept recently, and before I continue on this rant, I want to issue an apology to those people (I won't mention names on a public forum) that I have berated for realizing improvements that can be made by the team, yet will still support them to the end. I know at least one of them posts here (or at least used to do so).

When a team is down, you can either give up on them and go do something else, or you can take a look into why things are happening, look for some positives, and see what needs to improve. Obviously it isn't something we can fix because there are three gentlemen hired to do that, but it is a good discussion point.

By "on another note", I meant addressing the public in general, not someone in particular, sorry (only felt like submitting one post so we don't have to come up with another thread title soon ). There are fans outside of the board... and I've overheard a lot of them really talking not-so-great about our own team, and I'm not a fan of that. Maybe it's just who I am -- trying to find the positive in everything, that some people interpret as drinking the Kool-Aid
And while I agree with the Kool-Aid notion, it seems like some of the lack of support is unwarranted.

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

And while I agree with the Kool-Aid notion, it seems like some of the lack of support is unwarranted.

How many games have you been to this year, hero? Is it more than 10?

Lack of support indeed.

 

[ibanezist00]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

How many games have you been to this year, hero? Is it more than 10?

Every single home game thus far, and I've watched/listened to as many away games as I can. Why?

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

By "on another note", I meant addressing the public in general, not someone in particular, sorry (only felt like submitting one post so we don't have to come up with another thread title soon ). There are fans outside of the board... and I've overheard a lot of them really talking not-so-great about our own team, and I'm not a fan of that. Maybe it's just who I am -- trying to find the positive in everything, that some people interpret as drinking the Kool-Aid
And while I agree with the Kool-Aid notion, it seems like some of the lack of support is unwarranted.

Some people are more blunt than others. One thing where I do not agree with the "fans outside of the board" is calling for Coach's head because of an old adage (players win, coaches lose). That's stopped as of recently, but you never know when it could start again. Sadly, I think our society has put too much emphasis on how we word things that we forget to realize the actual content of the message we are trying to convey. Looking for positives is a good thing, but we cannot put blinders in front of the areas for improvement.

BTW, I'm shocked no one has yet called me "fair weather" for only going, thus far, to 4 games.

 

[AspyDad]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

I'm shocked no one has yet called me "fair weather" for only going, thus far, to 4 games.

Fair weather fan.

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

Every single home game thus far, and I've watched/listened to as many away games as I can. Why?

Because I've been to more than just the home games. But please, continue telling me how I'm a fair weather fan.

Or maybe you've had your sense of humor surgically removed too?

BTW, I'm shocked no one has yet called me "fair weather" for only going, thus far, to 4 games.

You're involved. That's plenty to keep from being called fair weather.

 

[ibanezist00]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

Some people are more blunt than others. One thing where I do not agree with the "fans outside of the board" is calling for Coach's head because of an old adage (players win, coaches lose). That's stopped as of recently, but you never know when it could start again. Sadly, I think our society has put too much emphasis on how we word things that we forget to realize the actual content of the message we are trying to convey. Looking for positives is a good thing, but we cannot put blinders in front of the areas for improvement.

BTW, I'm shocked no one has yet called me "fair weather" for only going, thus far, to 4 games.

There is not necessarily a correlation between number of games attended and how much of a fan you are, especially if you live a distance away. If one makes no effort and lives right near the venue, or avoids going to the game specifically because the team isn't playing well... that's a whole other ball game. (Puck game?)

I agree with what you said here -- but saying your own team sucks, calling for the coach's head because some guys might be under-performing (coaching is an important factor, but so are the guys actually performing out on the ice), or deciding you're going to change your game-going habits for the reason of them not playing well is to me not acceptable if you call yourself a fan. You know by now that I also call out areas for improvement and point out what RPI is not doing correctly on the ice IMO, but my point is that some people, whether on this board or not, can be awfully snarky about it.

But, hey, what control do I have over other fans? This is why I generally don't argue with other fans of whatever I am a fan of.

 

[ibanezist00]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

Because I've been to more than just the home games. But please, continue telling me how I'm a fair weather fan.

Or maybe you've had your sense of humor surgically removed too?



You're involved. That's plenty to keep from being called fair weather.

I never specifically called you a fair weather fan. I'm also not a fan of bitterness, so I'm calling a truce on this. Was just trying to make points of discussion.

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

You know by now that I also call out areas for improvement and point out what RPI is not doing correctly on the ice IMO, but my point is that some people, whether on this board or not, can be awfully snarky about it.

You do catch on quick.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

There is not necessarily a correlation between number of games attended and how much of a fan you are, especially if you live a distance away. If one makes no effort and lives right near the venue, or avoids going to the game specifically because the team isn't playing well... that's a whole other ball game. (Puck game?)

I agree with what you said here -- but saying your own team sucks, calling for the coach's head because some guys might be under-performing (coaching is an important factor, but so are the guys actually performing out on the ice), or deciding you're going to change your game-going habits for the reason of them not playing well is to me not acceptable if you call yourself a fan. You know by now that I also call out areas for improvement and point out what RPI is not doing correctly on the ice IMO, but my point is that some people, whether on this board or not, can be awfully snarky about it.

But, hey, what control do I have over other fans? This is why I generally don't argue with other fans of whatever I am a fan of.

This is why many of us, on a regular basis, deliver something constructive to these forums. Snarkiness is something I've tried to look past (although have sometimes delivered). I do agree that "they suck" isn't constructive, although providing good reason as to why "they suck" is constructive.

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: RPI 2011 - 12 Part IV: We ain't Bailen on this season yet, Go Red!!

I do agree that "they suck" isn't constructive,

Beman

although providing good reason as to why "they suck" is constructive.

Red Cloud