Sorry that this is so tardy. I meant to post this earlier in the week, but unfortunately fate intervened in the form of a family illness...
I just wanted to compliment Coach Schafer, the CU players, support staff, fans, and the Big Red Pep Band on a great showing in Green Bay. The team showed great character both in their inspired comeback against a CC team with two Hobey finalists and the epic duel with my Badgers. As happy as I was for the Badger players---especially the seniors, who endured an absolutely hellish freshman season---to advance to Milwaukee, I also felt a good deal of sadness for the Cornell players, who deserved a better fate.
As for the fans who made the trip...though you weren't great in number, you certainly made up for it in spirit. I know there have been a few Badger fans that have had some silly complaints about you (though I've only seen the couple on USCHO, as I rarely visit the Badger board), but some are just unable to appreciate fans cheering for a team other than their own. Personally, I love it---I think it does nothing but add to the atmosphere. (Unless, of course, it really is WAY out of line and unoriginal---but that certainly wasn't the case here.) I thought the BRPB was great as well---it's a little different from the Big 10-type bands that we hear more in this part of the country, but that doesn't diminish it's greatness in the least.
I know that on boards like USCHO and elsewhere, there's a lot of provincial nonsense that gets bandied about---i.e., the West is better, Eastern hockey sucks, the WCHA is better than the NHL, etc. I've never bought into any of it, and I've tried to remain at least reasonably informed about teams such as Cornell that I rarely see. I thought that I had an appropriate level of respect and appreciation for Cornell's program, as I thought I understood how good they were. The Big Red were the matchup that I feared most for the Badgers---in many ways, a mirror image, built upon the same principles. I now see that even my healthy respect for CU's program entering the weekend was inadequate. Coaches, players, fans---a first-class outfit throughout. And I know that I'm not alone among Badger fans in feeling that way---you definitely have some new western fans.
Thanks to the Big Red fans for being so gracious in defeat. I wish you much success next season, and would love to see a rematch next year---preferably not until St. Louis, though. :-D
Bradford
I just wanted to compliment Coach Schafer, the CU players, support staff, fans, and the Big Red Pep Band on a great showing in Green Bay. The team showed great character both in their inspired comeback against a CC team with two Hobey finalists and the epic duel with my Badgers. As happy as I was for the Badger players---especially the seniors, who endured an absolutely hellish freshman season---to advance to Milwaukee, I also felt a good deal of sadness for the Cornell players, who deserved a better fate.
As for the fans who made the trip...though you weren't great in number, you certainly made up for it in spirit. I know there have been a few Badger fans that have had some silly complaints about you (though I've only seen the couple on USCHO, as I rarely visit the Badger board), but some are just unable to appreciate fans cheering for a team other than their own. Personally, I love it---I think it does nothing but add to the atmosphere. (Unless, of course, it really is WAY out of line and unoriginal---but that certainly wasn't the case here.) I thought the BRPB was great as well---it's a little different from the Big 10-type bands that we hear more in this part of the country, but that doesn't diminish it's greatness in the least.
I know that on boards like USCHO and elsewhere, there's a lot of provincial nonsense that gets bandied about---i.e., the West is better, Eastern hockey sucks, the WCHA is better than the NHL, etc. I've never bought into any of it, and I've tried to remain at least reasonably informed about teams such as Cornell that I rarely see. I thought that I had an appropriate level of respect and appreciation for Cornell's program, as I thought I understood how good they were. The Big Red were the matchup that I feared most for the Badgers---in many ways, a mirror image, built upon the same principles. I now see that even my healthy respect for CU's program entering the weekend was inadequate. Coaches, players, fans---a first-class outfit throughout. And I know that I'm not alone among Badger fans in feeling that way---you definitely have some new western fans.
Thanks to the Big Red fans for being so gracious in defeat. I wish you much success next season, and would love to see a rematch next year---preferably not until St. Louis, though. :-D
Bradford
