Ask the Coach

Just noticed the current "Ask the Coach" thing on USCHO is for our own Mike Schafer.

"Is it true that you're the most awesome coach in college hockey right now?" seems like a question we all already know the answer to though.

Now's everyone's chance to (at least try to) ask Coach about fish, profanity, toys, etc.

Do we really want to put him on the spot in the national spotlight?

Presumably, Schafer could simply decline to answer any question he felt put him on the spot - I'd say ask away and let him define his own boundaries.

Exactly, Robb. Obviously there's filtering of questions, probably first by USCHO staff to get rid of some of the complete junk, and then by Schafer himself, simply determinig which questions he feels like answering and which ones he doesn't.

Therefore, it doesn't hurt to ask. It's not as if you're posting something to a message board for all to see, keeping the nation waiting with baited breath for a response from our coach.

I'm probably looking really dumb for asking this, but...I can't find the link to the "Ask the Coach" thing (either current or otherwise). Or, is it just in the magazine form?

It's on the far left, looks like an advertisement....took me a while too.

The question I dare not ask (and even if someone did it would understandably go unanswered) is: "Is there a college hockey program that you'd be willing to leave Cornell to coach?". *Shiver* Just thinking about that makes me ill.

Has anyone submitted "how do you personally feel about the throwing of fish against Harvard, use of profanity in cheers, etc. in Lynah?" yet?

It doesn't really matter whether anyone asks those questions, dss28. Schafer is smart enough to either a) toe the party line and say what the athletics department wants him to say, or b) decline to answer the question....

True enough. I guess I was reasoning that if enough people ask him the same general question, it'd be enough to warrant some sort of a response. Enquiring minds want to know, right?

If the intention is to get the administration to back off a little, then airing the issue in public is exactly the wrong approach. This is one of those things that is done, if at all, behind the scenes and with tact.

So when does this thing "air," for lack of a better word?

Schafer's transcript has now been posted at: [www.ahcahockey.com]

Did anyone else notice how he completely ignored the question about Chabot?

If you combine Schafers interest in the NHL and Ryan O'Byrne's Q&A at hockeysfuture, it sounds like the NHL has their eyes on Schafer.

Good job on getting two questions answered, Avash!

[q]Did anyone else notice how he completely ignored the question about Chabot?[/q]

Noticed it immediately. Telling, isn't it?

Thanks....how'd ya know it was me?



Post Edited (12-18-03 13:44)

Jeff Hopkins '82 wrote:

[q]Did anyone else notice how he completely ignored the question about Chabot?[/q]

Noticed it immediately. Telling, isn't it?

I'd like to think that I would have noticed it immediately also if I hadn't read that he ducked the question here first; it was my question. I can't decide if he ducked the Marr question as well or if the Marr injury is serious enough that he hasn't been able to evaluate him yet.

Schafer answered my question too! Yay! Well, it wasn't much of an answer, but it's nice to be acknowledged.

[Q]Min from Atlanta, GA

Have you ever thought about coaching in the NHL? (Personally, I hope you stay in Cornell forever). Thanks.

Coach Schafer's Answer:

Yes, it is one of my goals to coach professional hockey, but I have never set any type of time table. It would be great to focus on hockey and the players all day long.[/Q]
[Q]Dave from Knox, NY

Coach Mike: As a long-time, rabid CU hockey fan, I appreciate what you have done with Cornell hockey. Please tell me your career aspirations are to stay at Cornell and bring home a national championship.

Coach Schafer's Answer:

Yes, one of my career goals is to win a National Championship and will stay at Cornell University as long as that goal is shared by our Athletic Department.[/Q]So, does he stay till NCAA Championship and then bolt, or leave sooner if opportunity knocks?

Personally I don't see him getting a head coaching job, and don't know that he'd like to move around again as assistant coach, but ?

Winning an NCAA championship would certainly put him on the market.

I was a little thrown by the "which player most surprised you" question...

Bâby has always been my favorite player... and to a large extent, I follow his career now. I knew he was a great all-around player... given Schafer was doing the recruiting, wouldn't he be aware of this? How can you be "surprised" when one of your players does well, or better than you "expected" when you've hand-picked them? This seems to be a good candidate for the backhanded compliment award.

Jim Hyla '67 wrote:

[Q]Min from Atlanta, GA

Have you ever thought about coaching in the NHL? (Personally, I hope you stay in Cornell forever). Thanks.

Coach Schafer's Answer:

Yes, it is one of my goals to coach professional hockey, but I have never set any type of time table. It would be great to focus on hockey and the players all day long.[/Q]
[Q]Dave from Knox, NY

Coach Mike: As a long-time, rabid CU hockey fan, I appreciate what you have done with Cornell hockey. Please tell me your career aspirations are to stay at Cornell and bring home a national championship.

Coach Schafer's Answer:

Yes, one of my career goals is to win a National Championship and will stay at Cornell University as long as that goal is shared by our Athletic Department.[/Q]So, does he stay till NCAA Championship and then bolt, or leave sooner if opportunity knocks?

Personally I don't see him getting a head coaching job, and don't know that he'd like to move around again as assistant coach, but ?

If you parse his responses differently, they aren't inconsistent. He wants to coach in the pros but, as you said, they probably aren't knocking down his doors yet. That ambition is separate from his goals as a college coach.

He wants to win a national championship and he will stay at Cornell (as opposed to, strictly by way of example, North Dakota) as long as the Athletic Department is also committed to giving him the resources/commitment to that same goal.

dss28 wrote:

I was a little thrown by the "which player most surprised you" question...

Bâby has always been my favorite player... and to a large extent, I follow his career now. I knew he was a great all-around player... given Schafer was doing the recruiting, wouldn't he be aware of this? How can you be "surprised" when one of your players does well, or better than you "expected" when you've hand-picked them? This seems to be a good candidate for the backhanded compliment award.

You can expect a guy to be good and be surprised when he turns out to be one of the best college players in the country. Bâby improved quite a bit between his freshman and senior years.



Post Edited (12-18-03 14:32)

No argument re: improvement... and granted I'm biased, but still. It seemed a bit odd...

Coach sure dipped into the bag 'o clichés enough times in his responses

Certainly nice to see his thougts on a wide variety of issues. I found the "stay at Cornell as long as the AD is commited to winning a championship." I read it as saying he'll stay with us at least until he wins an NCAA, but provides him with a fairly abstract reason for getting out if he wants out.

I agree. It was the improvement that made Bâby one of my favorites, too.

One of the guys who got revenge on Volonnino wrote:

Schafer answered my question too! Yay! Well, it wasn't much of an answer, but it's nice to be acknowledged.

Ditto.

I was a little thrown by it, too, but only because it was my question and I was credited as "Cornellhockey07 from Ithaca."

Beeeej

I would've credited you the biggest facetimer of them all. But that is just me.

dss28 wrote:

I was a little thrown by the "which player most surprised you" question...

Bâby has always been my favorite player... and to a large extent, I follow his career now. I knew he was a great all-around player... given Schafer was doing the recruiting, wouldn't he be aware of this? How can you be "surprised" when one of your players does well, or better than you "expected" when you've hand-picked them? This seems to be a good candidate for the backhanded compliment award.

Steve did move like a bag full of elbows as a freshman. Maybe his improvement in skating was better than Mike expected. Likewise, I doubt the scouting process gave any insight as to how great a leader Steve was. If the AHL doesn't pan out in a season or two, I'd expect to see Steve back at Cornell as an assistant coach.

I read it as "I'm coaching in the Ivy League, and God only knows when the Presidents might get a wild hair and make it impossible to compete."

Much as when the Ivy League caused the break-up of the old ECAC and the formation of Hockey East.

JH