ELynah Forum

Quote from: Kyle RoseWith all due respect, you are representing a straw man of my position. I never said, and don't recall anyone but Facetimer implying, that Cornell should make the Frozen Four every season. I said they should be "nationally competitive". What that is is open to interpretation: I know it when I see it.

Kyle, you do know that it's possible to agree with me and still maintain credibility -- you don't have to distance yourself from me in every post.  I agree that we should be "nationally competitive" every year.  Obviously that doesn't mean we will win the championship or get a Frozen Four appearance every year.  But that should be our motivation, our expectation, and our goal.  Schafer has become complacent and has lost sight of these goals.  Trotsky's obscure (yet irrelevant) stats may be enough for some of you to justify your support for Schafer, but it is clear from this thread that many of you are also concerned with the direction of this program.  The first step back on the right path is a fresh face at the helm.

Ask him if he'll resign.

Passing is a fundamental skill that can be improved with a little coaching.  Starting Iles was a coaching decision.  Lacking motivation is a coaching problem.  Jim, I'm disappointed in your comments.  I'd assume a booster like yourself would want what's best for the team.  If they can't even be coached to make a good pass - how are they ever gonna be a successful program?  Your blind support of Schafer is not constructive.


Oh, and last I checked, Yale was a member of the Ivy League.  How is it that they can be a far superior team than Cornell and a serious contender for a national title without being able to offer scholarships?  The answer is evident:  Mike Schafer is not their coach.

I was not there in 1970, but am here in 2011.  Last night was an embarrassment to Cornell hockey ...

Whatever the reason - be it lack of motivation, bad passing (good observation, The Rancor), undisciplined hockey, or, as I've said all along, Coach Schafer's entire system that has proven incapable of returning to championship hockey, I wholeheartedly believe that Cornell is need of a changing of the guard.  I renew my campaign for a coaching change.

I refer you to my original post about playing the scholarship/academic standards card.  I'm obviously not tied to Dennehey - you asked for a name, and he was the first one that came to mind.  Like I said, however, somewhere in the Athletic department, somebody should be having a conversation just like this.  I doubt they are satisfied with Schafer's performance this year, nor should they be.  Heck, at this rate, Scott Mayer '03 would be a better coach than Schafer.

Your putting a little too much emphasis on his record, wouldn't you say?  His abysmal record makes his accomplishments at Merrimack College that much more impressive.  Your asked for a name of someone who could do a better job recruiting, developing talent, etc.  Not who has the best record among active coaches.  You're gonna have a bad record if you coach bad teams in a good conference.

It seems to me like you are content settling with Schafer because you're afraid of change.  It's the same mentality as Jim Hyla, and it's a crap argument.  There is always someone who can do better, and if Schafer doesn't have the class to step aside and allow the program to return to prominence, the Athletics department owes it to us to find a coach that will.

There are guys out there that would take the Cornell job in a heartbeat.  How about a guy like Mark Dennehey of Merrimack College.  Great recruiting, experience in the Ivy League, his team is very competitive in a tough conference.  Imagine what he could do at a school people want to go to.

As discussed elsewhere in this forum, Schafer's post game comments after the surprising Harvard loss were inappropriate and reflect poorly on the University and the hockey program.  Accordingly, I think the time has come for a coaching change.  Schafer is a good coach, but not a great coach.  He's delivered a lot of bridesmaids, but never the bride. With all the talent he's had over the years, he's the only constant. It's time to move on.

Many on this board are quick to come to Schafer's defense.  I admire your loyalty, but I think your trust in Coach Schafer is misguided.  Some defend Schafer because the Ivy League restrictions make success prohibitive.  This is nothing more than a red herring.  He's coached tremendous talent (8 former Cornellians presently on NHL rosters), and had no problem recruiting, matriculating and (in some instances) graduating these young men.  The talent is there, but Schafer doesn't know how to effectively coach this talent.

Others on this board will defend Schafer's "successes."  I won't deny he's had his moments and a decent overall record, but I wouldn't call his coaching career a success.  Success only comes in winning the NCAA championship – a feat Schafer has failed to accomplish.  Do you think Mike Krzyzewski is content winning an ACC tournament, or making a Final Four appearance?  This year, the team is particularly mediocre.  They are a poorly coached, undisciplined team that can't even beat a woeful Harvard squad in their own barn.  Schafer's response to this loss was to blame the fans.

Schafer ought to be ashamed of himself, and out of respect to the hockey program and the Cornell community, he should tender his resignation.  Short of resignation, I call on the University's Administration to replace him with a coach whose priority is to ensure Cornell hockey is a perennial favorite for an NCAA title.  As students, alumni, townies, boosters and supporters of the program, we do a disservice by blindly placing our trust in Mike Schafer – a coach who is content in falling short of a national title, year in and year out.  I welcome a changing of the guard, and know others agree.

Quote from: BigRedHockeyFanIf you are as sick of the fish ordeal as I am, contact the athletics department and tell them that Mike should denounce fish throwing.  

Athletic Communications
Director: Jeremy Hartigan
   Office Phone: (607) 255-9788
Associate Director: Julie Greco
   Office Phone: (607) 255-4688
Assistant Director (men's hockey contact): Kevin Zeise
   Office Phone: (607) 255-5627
   Home/Cell Phone: (603) 748-1268
   Email: kjz3@cornell.edu
Accounts Rep./Admin. Asst.: Marlene Crockford
     Phone: (607) 255-3752
Athletic Communications Phone: (607) 255-3752
Lynah Rink Press Box Phone: (607) 255-3533
Office Fax: (607) 255-9791
Hotline: (607) 255-2385
Website: www.CornellBigRed.com
Mailing and Overnight Address:
   Athletic Communications Office
   Teagle Hall, Campus Road
   Ithaca, N.Y. 14853-6501

I agree a complaint needs to be made to the Athletic Department.  But not for the fish; rather, because it's time they show Shaffer the door.  Shaffer blaming this game on the fans is disingenuous.  The fans win Cornell games, and give Cornell perhaps the best home ice advantage in all of college hockey.  I couldn't believe it when I read Shaffer's post game comments where he places the blame on the fans.  Shame on you.

The loss (to an awful Harvard team) was because of poor coaching, and an undisciplined team.  Not the fans.  Not the refs.

I'm not gonna toe the eLynah company line here.  I disagree with Age's opinion.  If you ask Schafer what his goal for the season is, he will not say to win the Ivy League title or the ECACs.  The ultimate goal is to win the NCAA title.  This year's team will probably not reach that goal.  The season, therefore will not be a success.  If the coaching staff or the players think otherwise, then the team is destined for mediocrity.  I'm not saying the team isn't entertaining - I'm just saying the team isn't great.

The balance of Age's editorial seems to me like a bunch of excuses.  Cornell hockey players have it pretty good.  They are big fish in a small pond; they get a decent education; they usually get favorable admissions/financial aid considerations; they play in front of sold out and boisterous crowds; etc.  In contrast to other schools with more prominent athletics programs, where hockey isn't necessarily the top sport on the depth chart, Cornell is a viable program which many recruits will (or should) strongly consider.  Plus, I'm tired of hearing about "earning our degrees."  I took a course with Greg Hornby back in the Spring of 2004.  It was his senior year - we were both enrolled in ASTRO202 - Our Home in the Solar System for Freshman and Sophomores.  If Hornby can graduate, anyone can.  The bottom line is we get some pretty darn good players despite not having a prime rib carving station at Lynah Rink.

Schafer has done a good job getting the program to where it is now, and I have enjoyed entertaining hockey over the past 10 years.  However, that isn't good enough.  Perhaps another coach would be able to motivate the team to go the extra mile and win the NCAAs.  The talent is there, and it is disappointing to consistently fall short every year.

Anyone have video of the no-goal call with like a minute left in the 1st  period.  From the student section, that looked like a clear goal, but the ref immediately waived it off.  At the start of the intermission (the next stoppage of play) it looked like the refs reviewed the play for several minutes, but there was no announcement and, of course, no goal.

[quote nyiballs]

I think things were becoming a bit malicious towards me, with implications that anywhere I go, I tout myself as an alum of the varsity team, when it simply is just not the case.[/quote]

Scott, don't forget he also mocked your weather forecasting abilities.  You're not gonna let him get away with that, are you?

[quote redice]

And, if you believe Scott (which I don't), he "backed up David LeNeveu on the '03 team".   Yes, Scott actually told me that one day....   After that, believed his weather forecasts even less.....::demented::[/quote]

Scott was 4th on the depth chart at goalie in the '03 season.  Though there were only 3 roster spots on the varsity team, I do believe he was given the opportunity to back up LeNeveu during the Red/White game.  I don't have the box score from that game (maybe Greg Berge can help me out with that), but if this is true, Scott's statement was accurate.

Scott Mayer '03 played a couple games for the Elmira Jackals (ECHL).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7b3NGghq9o

[quote CowbellGuy]Simultaneously, he displayed a modified Cornell logo that was highly critical of Athletics on the eLynah Forum. Although the logo was clearly parody, Athletics then chose to escalate the situation by threatening Mr. Manocchia with legal action for trademark infringement.
[/quote]

Grow some balls Age, and anyone else who is afraid of Cornell actually suing you for copyright infringment.  They have bigger fish to fry.  Anyone threatened by a cease and desist letter over bullshit like this obviously hasn't consulted with eLF's legal counsel, Beeeej.  You don't deserve to call yourself a journalist.

I would like to see this "modified Cornell logo that was highly critical of Athletics."  Can you post it again?