George Kuzmicz, 1952-2015

George Kuzmicz, Cornell All-American and Toronto attorney, died September 25, 2015. Here's a Cornell Sun article by Bill Howard.

Oh man, do I remember that Wisconsin game.

Photo of George Kuzmicz in the ECACs at Boston Garden March 1974 in the semifinals vs. BU getting what was probably a forerunner of the concussion protocol after being knocked to the ice. In the bottom photo, that's the protective helmet Kuzmicz wore: a football helmet with a plexiglas shield to protect his broken jaw. With him is defenseman Bill Murray '74, almost as big as Douglas (no relation) Murray '03. They were an impressively talented defensive pairing. I recall wishing in hindsight I'd found a better word than "gimmick" in the story to describe the protective helmet; it made the fans notice him but the coaches didn't need the helmet to see how good he was.

In that game, Cornell got knocked out 7-3 by BU, then after beating RPI in the ECAC consolation game (remember consolation games?) did not make the NCAAs, finishing 17-9-1, the worst season Cornell had since 1965. Expectations were a lot higher then. We still didn't realize the era ended - the era when Cornell was expected to be in the final four almost every year - the year before in 1973 with that crushing NCAA semis loss to Wisconsin: up 5-2 early in the third, tied by Wisconsin with 0:05 to play, beaten in OT. If you can't find video of the game, just watch the 2009 Cornell-Syracuse lax game. Different sport, same crushing outcome.

A shame to lose Kuzmicz. I recall him being exceptionally articulate about more than hockey.

Ugliest Cornell sweaters, ever.

Trotsky
Ugliest Cornell sweaters, ever.

Not to mention the "Where's Waldo socks." Fortunately, they were only around for a couple of years. See earlier post.

George64

Trotsky
Ugliest Cornell sweaters, ever.

Not to mention the "Where's Waldo socks." Fortunately, they were only around for a couple of years. See earlier post.

I could probably put up with the truly awful unis if we could have another Lance Nethery wearing one.

Al DeFlorio
I could probably put up with the truly awful unis if we could have another Lance Nethery wearing one.

We do, The System is just holding Vanderlaan back...

(After all, you know the only guy who could hold Michael Jordan to 20 a night was...)

George64

Trotsky
Ugliest Cornell sweaters, ever.

Not to mention the "Where's Waldo?" socks. Fortunately, they were only around for a couple of years. See earlier post.

Phew, my long-term memory remain sound - the uniforms were designed by a Hum Ec class. Now, if only I could remember why I came upstairs?

Jesus. I hope none of them got their Mrs. degree.

Seems to me those socks were just two contrasting color stripes- with athletic tape at the ankle and below the knee - so white tape on red socks makes that look Waldo-ish. Also reminiscent of the socks on the witch in Wizard of Oz when the house fell on her...

Maybe vertical stripes like the old Denver Broncos would accent the vertical arm/shoulder striping? Niiiiiice...