What I like about being a Big Red fan

The line/mob/stampede has created a lot of negative energy. We've certainly built on that on the forum. I've built on that in the forum. A lot of people have. Let's try and get beyond it.

Maybe we should spend some time remembering the good stuff about Cornell hockey. What we love about it, why we cheer, etc.

Earlier this year I went to a baseball game with a friend of mine who used to play for the Big Red. We were sitting next to two fans who were classic hecklers: witty, loud, unrelenting, totally obnoxious and having a great time. My friend leaned over to me and said, "Can you believe these guys? They're awesome."

I replied, "Yeah. Now imagine you've got those guys sitting on your right and above and below you as well. Imagine they keep it up for the whole game. That's what it's like to sit in Section B."

It was so cool to be able to say that, and to see the look on my friend's face that showed it really meant something to him personally that people were that passionate about the sport he and his teammates worked so hard to excel at, and that it's not just a party line to keep the building filled every Friday and Saturday night during the colder Ithaca months.

So who else has a story?

After eighteen years of this stuff, I've got stories to spare. But the one that came most immediately to mind was my vacation to Las Vegas two years ago.

A couple of weeks before my trip, I noted that the Everblades Tourney was going to be in the middle of it, and I started calling around to sportsbook rooms at Casinos in town to find out if there was any chance they'd be showing the games. Naturally, I came up empty. I did a search for sportsbars in the Vegas area, and started calling around. Eventually, I found Screwballs, about five miles from the strip where the person on the other end of the phone told me they could show the games.

So I dropped a note to the president of the Cornell Club of Las Vegas, and asked him to spread the word. Alas, when my friend Jason (non-Cornellian) and I got to the bar a half hour before the semifinal after a $15 cab ride, they not only couldn't get the games, they weren't apologetic that someone on their staff had claimed they could and would. However, the manager did call around and found out that another sportsbar, three miles further down the strip, could show the games (can't remember the name). They also called us another cab. So Jason and I took off, asking that they send anyone else who showed up down to the other bar.

We ended up being a crowd of about ten for the semifinal at this other bar, which put the game on two of the TVs and had those speakers that just sit on your table which you can tune to specific TVs' audio output (very clever). Only four or five of us showed up for the final game the next day, but overall both days it was a good, Cornellian-bonding experience (one guy who showed up happened to have been a good friend of the guy whose apartment I was renting in Gramercy at the time). Plus Jason, who isn't a big hockey fan and could care less about Cornell, really got into the games and was jumping and screaming at Hornby's game-winner.

And the wings were good.

Other than actually attending the Everblades tourney three years earlier, I think the ridiculous cab fares getting to and from the sportsbar(s) were the most money I'd ever spent on seeing Cornell hockey games, and it wasn't even in person.

Beeeej

Every moment of a Lynah game is a potential catalyst for praise or mockery, and there is constant noise. Yells of encouragement and devastating barbs explode out of the crowd like random and sporadic flash bulbs at a halftime show. There are crests at goals and big hits, but they are like swells in an ocean of cheers and taunts.

A road trip is more typical of traveling crowds in the rest of the hockey world -- communal, collegial, good-naturedly competitive. At the Gahden, and then Placid, and now Albany, the Clarkson or RPI fan you just spent three or more periods ripping on has, like you, been stuck in the mud driving to Hamilton, or in a midnight white-out driving home from Burlington, or has wandered around Schenectady on a Saturday morning looking for an aspirin.

Last year I went to the Princeton-Alabama Huntsville game at Baker with a co-worker of mine, his wife (a UAH alumna) and their four kids, three of whom play organized hockey. I had a ball teaching his kids and the few UAH fans some of the Lynah cheers and just showing them what it feels like to be a member of the faithful.

I don't know if his oldest is any good, but AFAIC, it was the first step of the recruiting process.

Sitting at John Harvard's before a Cornell-Harvard game at Bright in a sea of red and hearing the Harvard sucks cheer ring through the whole restaurant.

Last year before the Clarkson-Cornell playoff game, I was wearing my Clarkson Hockey hat to work. Riding the packed 4 or 5 train from Grand Central to Fulton street I noticed this guy staring at my hat through the crowd, we both exited the train at fulton street, he at one end of the train and me at the middle....as we both stepped off the train to the platform we looked at each other, he cried out "LET'S GO RED, LETS GO RED" which I responded with a hearty "LET'S GO TECH, LET'S GO TECH" Here we were two guys, in their thirties, in suits, barking at each other about a game that was to take place in 12 hours, 250 miles away. We both smiled, waved and went our own ways....

... are the other fans.


Cheers to the original Nickerson has syphyllis sign, the 'ugly sweater' guy roasters and the 'color-university' (Brown) fans

Not to steal a story from Beeeej, but last year I somehow scheduled a vacation out to San Diego that spanned over the weekends of the ECAC tourney and the first round of the NCAA tourney. We found a bar in Pacific Beach that said they should be able to show the championship game between Cornell and Harvard. When we got there, the bar was packed with people watching basketball (this was also the first weekend of the basketball tourney). The staff got us a table by one of the big screens and went to turn on the game. The first game they got was the BC game in the HE tourney. Once we told them that BC and Cornell were different schools, the got us the Cornell - Harvard game. Amazingly they left the BC game on. So here we were in San Diego, watching Cornell beat Harvard, with BC in the background and hundreds of other people all around us cheering for their basketball teams. I was amazed that no one even mentioned the fact that they put on hockey. Even more, I was amazed that there was a whole contingent of Wisconsin-Milwaukee fans there to see them beat the other BC baskebtall team.

Needless to say, getting to watch Cornell beat Harvard in 80 degree weather was about as good as you can get without being there in person.

I'm a current junior so I've only really had two years to compile, but here's my favorite:

Signing my Cornell acceptance letter was bittersweet for me. I had always wanted to go to Michigan but when college responses came back some coaxing by my parents and some self-realization that Wolverine football wasn't all that mattered in an undergraduate experience convinced me to choose Cornell. The night I mailed in my acceptance, I was a little down at never getting to experience games in the Big House as an undergrad, so my and my friends went to a sports bar for the opening round of the NCAA bball tournament.

As soon as we sat down we noticed the loudest guys in the place were middle aged dudes decked in Carnelian red and white watching the 2003 ECAC final. The guys were going absolutely apeshit at the TV and we were just kinda in awe. We watched with them (we're all bigger hockey fans anyway) and after the game I turned to my buddy who had been accepted early at Harvard and said "You guys suck." And I haven't stopped.

Small story, but it crosses my mind about this time every year.

I'll have to think of a moment, but I absolutely love the fact that every time I hear the national anthem -- now and for the rest of my life probably -- I'll give a little fist pump (with varying degrees of emphasis depending on the surroundings) and hear the Lynah roar of "RED!" echo inside my mind...

[Q]ORgrad Wrote:Cheers to the original Nickerson has syphyllis sign[/q]

[Q]Jordan 04 Wrote:

I'll have to think of a moment, but I absolutely love the fact that every time I hear the national anthem -- now and for the rest of my life probably -- I'll give a little fist pump (with varying degrees of emphasis depending on the surroundings) and hear the Lynah roar of "RED!" echo inside my mind...[/q]

I hear the National Anthem nearly every day (that's what you get for being in the military), and ALWAYS have that mental "RED!"

Every time I hear Gary Glitter I always think "Seive!!!!" and "We're gonna' beat the hell out of you...," even if it is just on the radio or at some other sporting event. Each year until about the middle of June I often just have the tune in my head. It gives me a little kick every time I think about it. I absolutely love how we fans continue the tune for a round or two when the band stops. The packaged versions they play for pro sports can't come close to the vibe provided by our band and our fans.

Nate reminds me also of last season's viewing of the Cornell-Clarkson game at the Park Avenue Country Club. Not only didn't I expect us to have the two enormous TV screens in the middle of the place (seriously, they're like fifteen feet), I didn't expect 120-150 Cornellians to show up. It was heart-warming and a great win, besides. I hope we do something like that again this season!

Beeeej

[Q]Jordan 04 Wrote:

I'll have to think of a moment, but I absolutely love the fact that every time I hear the national anthem -- now and for the rest of my life probably -- I'll give a little fist pump (with varying degrees of emphasis depending on the surroundings) and hear the Lynah roar of "RED!" echo inside my mind...[/q]

I couldn't agree with you more. Even now that I'm playing for UCLA's club team, when we line up on the blue line for the anthem before games, I'll tap my stick on the ice on "RED!"

The experience of going to Minneapolis was one of the greatest feelings I've had in 5 years of being a Lynah Faithful. I ventured out there with A-19, Ben Rocky '04, Ack, Jacob '06, Rami '06, Devil Derby, Tanya, and Liz '05 joined our caravan for the 19-hour drive back. Nine companions: it was as if we were the Fellowship of the Rink or something like that. Even if I knew the outcome was going to be the same, I would do the trip again in a heartbeat. I still have on my wall the poster you guys made for me and always think back to the trip when I glance at it. Just remember, we'll get there when we get there.

The feeling of elation after winning the 2003 ECAC Championship in Albany was also one that I'll never forget. Thinking of the scene in the closing minute of the third period where Mark McRae scored that goal will always send shivers down my spine. The scene in Jillian's afterward was just magical: the game being replayed on half of the TV's, having the entire team and parents there along with the faithful, spontaneously breaking into song, drinking beer out of the trophy....

Actually the road trips in general are really amazing, walking down the street of some town far from home and spotting the other Faithful. You see one across the street and simply yell "Go Red!", and they turn and smile.

Thank you for starting this thread, Jerseygirl. Since I was unable to obtain a line number (not a registerered student this semester), the memories make me smile inside.

Rock on Lynah Faithful.

- Ryan

Three days after I got accepted to Cornell (March of 2002) I went to a Cornell-RPI game at Houston Fieldhouse. From the first time I saw the Cornell fans throwing newspapers to their infinitely better cheers (RPI fans completely lack creativity) I've loved every second of Cornell hockey!
But I have to say my favorite was the 2003 ECAC finals. I replay the game winning goal in my head every time I walk into the Pepsi Arena.

Since I've been following Cornell hockey since I was about eight...I have a lot of good memories. From knowing more cheers at 13 than any Freshman, to raqodtripping to Vermont (thanks Robb ), to seeing the last ECAC Champs in Placid, to getting a hug from (a very sweaty) Bâby, to making the last second decision to drive to Albany for the ECAC championships.

When I was a sophomore in high school (I think? Don't wanna think about when it was right now...) and the team made it to the NCAAs, one of my teachers knew I was a huge Cornell Hockey fan, and he let me sit in his room, skipping class, to watch the game. We lost, and I got angry and hit my hand on the desk, making a huge gash in my finger. My teacher gave me a look like I was absolutely nuts.

I'd have to agree that the echo of "RED!" in my head every time I hear the anthem is definitely one of the top happy thoughts.

There's nothing quite as good as being a Lynah Faithful

[Q]Molgestron Wrote:
...and after the game I turned to my buddy who had been accepted early at Harvard and said "You guys suck." And I haven't stopped.[/q]THAT made me laugh out loud. Thanks!

Maybe I'm borrowing a little bit from Jerseygirl, but what I like best is the feeling that we folks in the stands can actually make a difference in the game. Any split second a goalie spends thinking about the asshole in section A who keeps yelling at him about his incessant tapping is a split second when he's not focusing on the game.

And if you don't think those things add up, go find that video clip of Nick Boucher's "finest" hour.

Here's a good story that combines Lake Placid, camaraderie with other fans, and general craziness: At the last ECAC tournament in Placid in 2002, Harvard beat Clarkson and we beat RPI in the quarterfinals. A bunch of us somehow ended up at the "RPI bar" that night after the game and were stopped in the doorway by a group of Engineers fans not thrilled with the prospect of drinking with us. Faced with this situation, I reared back and belted out "CLARKSON..." and my fellow Cornellians answered "...SUCKS!" After two more rounds and a "LET'S GO RED!" the RPI fans decided to let us in.

I also once scared the crap out of some old ladies sitting in front of me at the first Everblades tournament with a LET'S GO TECH! during the Clarkson-Maine semifinal.

Well, I don't have the same number of years of experience, but you gotta start somewhere. I was a freshman last year, in B (thanks, Oat!), games were often the sole oasis of fun on an otherwise cold, impersonable campus night. In fact, over the summer I realized that I associate "Cornell" with that electric feeling you get when you and 2000 other people suddenly put their hands in the air in sheer happiness.

Favorite moments last year? Moulson's hat trick on senior night (loud), Topher's overtime goal (louder), beating Sucks, and "Hey Tulip! Go plant yourself on the bench!" yelled at LaTulippe. I haven't seen the Red lose yet and I don't plan to.

[Q]BMac Wrote:
games were often the sole oasis of fun on an otherwise cold, impersonable campus night.[/q]

Dude, you gotta get someone to show you where Hot Truck is.

[Q]BMac Wrote:

I was a freshman last year, in B (thanks, Oat!), games were often the sole oasis of fun on an otherwise cold, impersonable campus night. [/q]

Wait wait wait....

You went a whole freshman year without discovering beer???

[Q]jmh30 Wrote:

And if you don't think those things add up, go find that video clip of Nick Boucher's "finest" hour.

[/q]

I've looked for that video for 2 years now... anyone know where I can actually get it?

The best memory ever as a fan would have to be iggy's game winner in Union this year. it was the first game I had gone on the road for, it made the drive home so much easier.

though topher's winner was pretty sweet...

The 2003 ECAC Finals, I know it was said, but I was there with family and half dozen other Cornell friends. The final moments that I dont think I will ever forget:

Extra skater for us, puck in the offensive zone. We lose it against the boards and a Harvard player lets an ice-long empty-netter go. The puck ends up on its side and rolls just shy of the net.

Next,

Faceoff in offensive zone, Vesce wins flawlessly to Mcrae. Murray skates wide, calls for the puck, he's covered. Mcrae skates to center and lets it go, nothing by net. If you didnt know that it was a Cornell crowd before that shot, there was no doubting it afterwards.

Next,

Harvard loses the puck in transition, Paolini comes up with it near center ice. One man to beat, deke at the blue line, and damn that guy got embarassed. Paolini vs GrumetHyphenMorris and the rest is history.

Damn that was a great ending. The game aired on NESN and I taped it, but I cant find the thing anymore. Great moment in Cornell hockey history.

PS - I credit that tape in my recovery the day following the next slope day. Such an uplifter.

Also, if I screwed up the events at all, its cause I have a terrible memory. Thats why I taped it.

I have to agree that Iggy's game winner was great, I was there too. Shut that crowd up good.

I've never so quickly gone from such a nauseous feeling to being so elated as when McRae hit that goal. It might have taken ten years off my life, but I'd give another ten to see it live once more.

You could hear the whole crowd gasp when that Hahvahd puck rolled toward the empty net. It was AMAZING.

The subtle part about that 2003 ECAC goal that I will always love is that when the tape is slowed down, you can clearly see Mark begin to raise his arms a good few frames before the puck gets behind Hyphen.

Eerily beautiful.

I found the tape! Watchin it now...

I like everything about being a Big Red fan.

I love the looks I get when I tell people I'm flying from Texas to Michigan regular-season hockey games. I love celebrating a well-deserved win, and doubly so for those that were NOT so deserved. I love having friends to commiserate with after being beaten by better teams, and doubly so after bad losses (it WILL happen BMac, and it's not the end of the world). I like the shared anticipation when another crowd starts a cheer that we all KNOW we have the perfect response for (Clarkson once tried "your mom called" on us. They apparently didn't realized what their boyfriends had said about THEM!). I love the look of awe on people's faces (first timers or visitors) when they hear Lynah for the first time. I love nearly hyperventilating whenever we're down by one with two minutes left. I love that we never boo our own team. I love that we had the perfect season, even if it happened before I was born. I love winning polls on USCHO that ask who's fans you'd like to have in your own barn. I love that we have a small, intimate, loud rink. I love playing cards in Houston Fieldhouse at 2 pm on a Saturday because there's nothing else to do in Troy.

But mostly, I love kicking Harvard's ass. I waited 5 years to see a win over Harvard (I started at Cornell the fall after our playoff wins in 1990), and even though it's been nearly 10 years SINCE that magical night, it just never, never, never gets old.

Ryan, that trip was an experience, and I won't forget it. Stupid Wisconsin taking forever to drive through, the really nice St. Cloud State fans telling us that the entire WCHA was rooting for Cornell, hitting on the girl on the interstate with the dry-erase board and then writing to her that "Golden Gophers suck!".

My favorite moments are at places all away from Lynah:

1) Albany 2003. Enough said.

2) Before the MSU games in Lansing last year, eating in the Roadhouse for dinner and exchanging happy glances with Jim H as he came into the restaurant wearing Carnellian; meeting Keith and Robb for dinner before the 2nd game, just random Cornellians far away from Cayuga's waters being friendly.

3) Washington DC metro this summer, wearing a 'HARVARD SUCKS' t-shirt. A young woman walks up to me between stations and says that she had ask what the shirt meant. I explained that I am a Cornell hockey fan and she went on to tell me how she just graduated from Harvard, was a Crimson hockey fan, and played on their women's club team, and how her and her teammates all had a massive amount of respect for Cornell hockey fans for being loud, creative and passionate. Hearing that we Faithful are the best fans from a SUCKS fan made it just that more real.

LGR!

[Q]Jerseygirl Wrote:
Maybe we should spend some time remembering the good stuff about Cornell hockey. What we love about it, why we cheer, etc.[/q]

"If you asked me, I could write a book..."

Best thread started in a long time...thanks, Jerseygirl. Certainly best thread of the off-season. Just reading it got my blood flowing again. Every year, there's an event before the season that activates the hockey center of my mind...that snaps me into that Lynah mode, and this was it this year.

I wasn't going to write anything, since there are SO many memories I have that are essentially tied, but for some reason, one floated to the surface. Maybe it was because I feel the need to enrich and diversify the "ECACs 2003" responses...

For me, it was the first 10 minutes in the 1980 arena at Lake Placid in 1996. Normally, I would've taken the band bus, but for Senior comraderie/roadtrip reasons, I drove up with a friend. I had gotten my hands on a gigantic Cornell flag like the one that flys on Day Hall (the Cambell Soup looking flag). The instant I walked into the arena you could feel the tension of the crowd. The early Semifinal had 1:30 left, and one glance made my jaw drop: Harvard 5 UVM 4. Vermont was a HEAVY favorite to waltz through Lake Placid that year. UVM had paraded as many fans as they could into that building, and they were trying to make some noise to get the tying goal. Cornell fans had pretty much filled in our corner and were generally mulling around. During a timeout and a lull in the action, I picked my spot...I raced up to the balcony, and unfurled that flag to hang on the railing. Our little corner (amongst a sea of Catamount fans) all rose and erupted in Let's Go Red chants and general mayhem, in the middle of a tense final minute of a major upset in the other semi-final. That one moment completed my education about what it really meant to be part of the Lynah Faithful. It was the moment I always associate with our rebirth into the post-season tournament scene, and the fact that there really was a Schafer Renaissance happening. We had made it through the wilderness of "those seasons" in the early 90s. We were back.

And the weekend just got more and more magical from there.

[Q]BMac Wrote:I haven't seen the Red lose yet and I don't plan to.[/q]Ah, youth.

Lots of good ones for sure.

The first home game against Harvard.

The goal that sent us to Buffalo.

Watching 9k people turn and stare in awe at the Pep Band playing "On Wisconsin" in Minnesota.

This is going to be really sappy.

Some of my favorite moments of being a Red fan are those that I've spent watching games with my dad, who didn't go to Cornell but was hooked from the first game he went to - the exhibition at Lynah against Western Ontario my freshman year in '99. We blew out Western and there was a brawl...

Since then he's made the trip up to Lynah from Philly numerous times, and now that I live in L.A., he's even gone to the game at Princeton on his own - so last season, he went to more games than I did. We've gone together to bars in Philly to try to find the Everblades games on TV, and for my graduation, he got me a framed, signed Nieuwendyk Cornell jersey.

He came to the NCAA regionals and Frozen Four in '03, where he asked me (after a friend channeling Snoop referred to Greg Hornby), "What's a Hornbizzle?". But the games I'll remember most are the two Harvard games in '03-'04 and the regionals in Minnesota last season, both after I graduated. We drove up to Ithaca for the home Harvard game (still the only time I've been back since graduation), and went straight to Wegmans to pick up a fish (red snapper, even though it was more expensive). McKee - a freshman! - played great in a 1-0 win. Then my dad met my brother and I in Boston for the Lynah East game, where Moulson scored a hattrick, and my brother, wearing his BU jersey, got himself ejected from Bright for throwing one of the mini Snickers bars at the Harvard student section. We let him freeze outside during the third period (it was about 0 degrees that night), but we called him from inside the rink with updates and told him to meet us at John Harvard's after the game. And last season, I spent my spring break in Minneapolis, to where my dad and I each flew from our coasts, to cheer on the Red in front of the bigger, but still lamer, home crowd. Although that loss to the Gophers was a bitter pill to swallow, I'd spend my spring break that way again in a second.

Cornell hockey has been great to me as a fan - Albany in 2003 was unforgettable - but it has been special to me as well for the great times I've been able to share it with my dad.


By the way...
[Q]Robb Wrote:
I love playing cards in Houston Fieldhouse at 2 pm on a Saturday because there's nothing else to do in Troy.[/q]
The RPI student union has a bowling alley, and games are $1, if I remember correctly. But that's the only other thing to do in Troy.

I'm not even sure where to begin because like everyone else, there are just too many to mention.

One that sticks out in my mind is from Senior Night of 2003. I had gotten my parents tickets to the game and they joined Jon and I in Section A. They had a great time and I got the feeling that they might now understand the beauty of being Lynah Faithful. My mother assured me of this when after the presentation of the Seniors, the skates around the ice, and as the boys all gathered arm-in-arm to sway to the Alma mater, my mother turned to me with watery eyes and said, "I get it now."

Above all, I probably remember most the people that I was able to share those wonderful memories with: crazy trips to Ottawa for the NorthCountry weekend, Albany in 2003, Dunbars, Lynah East, and the list goes on. It wouldn't be the same without sharing it with all of you!

i appreciate wearing my "harvard sucks" shirt to class in the Yard

two things i guess:

1) coming in my freshman year and going through the "down" year in 03-04 but never missing a game then going through all of last year and loving every minute of it.

2) going to the championship in Albany this past year, not really knowing where i was going to be sleeping that night. getting my face painted red and white. scaring the crap out of the people in the luxury box right behind us w/ said painted faces and cheering. of course the great win. packing 8 people in my jeep (3 in the trunk) for the drive out and getting followed by a cop for 10 minutes (face still painted). meeting my friend's parents for the first time and looking like a crazy person. All in all a really great weekend.

perhaps not as impressive as other people's stories but definitely a fun two years (now if i could only get my friends to go on a few road trips this year )

My first date with my wife-to-be (four years later) was a Cornell NCAA hockey game, driving from Western Mass. to Providence. Gwen's dorm-mates thought it was incredibly romantic. I thought it was a shame Cornell lost.

Following Cornell sports is a great way for Cornellians across full or partial generations to stay in touch. Gwen and I set up a blind date -- dinner and then the Yale game last year - with Al and Donna DeFlorio based on our meeting and trading messages here on eLynah. Fortunately neither of us turned out to be ax murderers and Al has an encyclopedic knowledge of New Haven's great Italian restaurants.

It's been great to see the handful of Cornell NCAA championships and somewhat more ECAC titles, and heartbreaking to see all the coulda, woulda, shoulda games in lacrosse and hockey. Travis Lee and the wrestling team were the icing on the cake. Maybe someday the basketball team will be competitive. It's too bad the women's teams aren't the equal of the men's teams in our two biggest sports.

1989, deciding about 3 hours before game time to drive from Ithaca to RPI to see the game. Load 6 people into the car and go flying toward Albany with no real idea where RPI was. Getting there about 5 minutes before the game started after having to stop random people in Troy where the hockey ring was. Rob Levasseur scores the game winner in overtime. Get back to Ithaca around 2AM and fill a booth at Manos still celebrating.

1990 After seeing Cornell lose to Harvard 7 times in person during the previous 4 years; having never seen Cornell beat Harvard, doubting we ever would, renting Love Story just to see a fictional Cornell beat Harvard, meeting Ken Dryden and the first thing out of my friend's mouth being, "What's it like to beat Harvard?" Getting one last shot at them in the playoffs. Having one of the Harvard players say they were "ecstatic" about playing Cornell. Then just crushing them in the playoffs. Seeing Vanini score on a slap shot from the left point with a couple seconds left in a period having my friend and I look at each other and both say, "That's just the type of goal they always score on us." It felt like the scene from "A Christmas Story" when Ralphie loses control and beats the crap out of the school bully. That was a good weekend.

2003 Not much more needs to be said about this one. Flew up from Florida for the tournament, the first I had attended since about 1992 just because I'd been following the team and they seemed like something really special. Convincing one of the guys who had taken that car trip to RPI back in '89 and gone to every undergraduate Harvard game (home and away) with me to meet me in Albany. Thinking, "God damn friggen Harvard. I can't believe they're going to do this to us again." Hearing one of the loudest noises I've ever heard when we tied the game (right up there with standing 300' from an f15 going passing at 300mph). Drinking a toast that night to every Cornell player we could think of who every wore the jersey. I think they should paint a red dot or something at the spot where Macrae took the shot.

2005 Flying up to Albany again but this time with my 4 year old Daughter who sang Davey for our table at the Cornell Club dinner between semifinal games.

Well, the obvious choice would be all the results of great games like 2003 but I'll go with another. My sophomore year (01-02) I had seats in D but my friend and I snuck to section A during the last QF game vs Yale and were the first on the ice. It was just awesome being the first out there after that season, jumping up and down around the players. We got a marker and I got my gameworn which I has just gotten earlier in January signed by most of that squad. While the 03 team did more in terms of accomplishments, everyone knew it was coming that year, it was expected; no one picked much of the 02 team, but they went on such a great run and were just an awesome team.

Can someone refresh my memory. I feel ashamed that I can't remember who we were playing.

It was 2 years ago in Lynah. Might have been the playoffs. We tied the game with, I believe, 2 seconds left in regulation. We continued the 'All your fault' cheer from the time of the goal until into overtime. That moment sums up the power of Lynah for me. When several thousand people are yelling at you that its all your fault, you probably start to believe it. If he wasn't crying under that mask, he's a stronger man than most.

[www.elynah.com]

You can't see Nick, because he's out of the net, but the last goal of the game is the one.

Along the lines of Drew's story about a subway platform encounter with a Clarkson fan, I too had a similar encounter with a Clarkson fan. Only it was 3000 miles further west.

A few years ago, I was driving to work in the San Francisco Bay Area when I passed by a white pickup truck on the highway (they call highways "freeways" out there, as most of you know, but I'm not a Californian, so I'm not doing it). I saw it had a green and yellow Clarkson bumper sticker on it, and the 'l' in 'Clarkson' was shaped like a hockey stick. I drove ahead of the guy, thinking he might see the CORNELL bumper sticker on the back of my car.

Well, he must have, because he pulled up alongside me and, as we're driving along at 65 mph, looks over and makes some sort of gesture as if to say, "HEY, CORNELL GUY, did you see the bumper sticker on the back of my truck?"

I gestured back, "YEAH, I SAW IT..." I think I even said, "Screw the bumper sticker, SEE MY HAT?" as I was wearing my favorite Cornell Hockey brim at the time. And then we made gestures back and forth to signify something along the lines of, "HOCKEY FAN, right?" (Picture taking your hands off the wheel for a split second and making like you're using a hockey stick to play a puck.)

The idea having been successfully communicated, we smiled and waved at each other, and then kept on driving. I couldn't believe that I had had somewhat of a (friendly) college hockey smacktalk session, 3000 miles away from home, and still grin at the memory.

(As a footnote, I later encountered the same guy at an area sports bar, and we kept in touch for a while. Totally nice guy, though I've forgotten his name.)

It goes without saying that so many of our memories of CU Hockey are good ones. That's why, bad administration of things like the hockey line and all, we'll keep coming back. Let's go Red.

I started a new contract job on Monday of this week; I'm working with a team of lawyers doing document review on some corporate litigation. It's not exciting, but it's work, and the people are cool.

Tuesday, I found out that one of the lawyers working on another project at this location (it's not a "temp agency" so much as a "new kind of law firm" is one of my fellow eLFers. I'll let him self-identify if he wishes. But it was a pretty cool coincidence.

Then, yesterday, we had a ninth lawyer added to our team, and we were asked to go around the room and give our names and say what we do when we're not at work. I didn't want to say the usual "gym, cats, reading, biking" crap, so I mentioned that eleven years after graduating from college, I still have season tickets to my school's hockey team. That raised a few eyebrows.

More importantly, though, the lawyer who sits next to me at work struck up a conversation based on it later - he's an Ohio State alum and an actual Ohio State hockey fan. Yes, they do exist! We talked smack for a little bit, but then waxed poetic about college hockey in general. It was a nice connection to make during an otherwise very boring project.

Beeeej