Harvard at Cornell postgame

[cbuckser]

Here's something weaker than the Harvard offense in the third period -- The Harvard Crimson game story: "Harvard Loses in Rivaly Matchup."

"We didn't play 60 minutes—we played 40," captain Alex Biega said. "That's the difference between us winning and losing. But I'd rather learn these lessons now than have it happen later on down the road."

Apparently, pissing away a 4-1 lead at Colgate the night before didn't give Harvard enough of a lesson.

In all seriousness, Harvard's new up-tempo system makes it harder for Harvard to retain leads.  In prior seasons, Harvard's trap would make it extraordinarily difficult for the opposition to move through the neutral zone.  Overcoming a two-goal lead seemed like an insurmountable task.  Not this year.  When Harvard held a 3-1 lead, I thought the game was far from over.  Some of that was the product of Cornell's much-improved transition game.  But not all of it.

This is not to say that Ted Donato has made a mistake by changing systems.  Harvard has the talent to succeed in its new system.  I doubt that a more conservative Harvard team would have taken a 3-1 lead in the first place.  And, I expect the Harvard players to become more adept at protecting leads over the course of the season.

[KenP]

"Scoreboard" isn't woofing, it's merely pointing out when the other team is giving you crap that you're the one currently in the lead.  Chanting "shutout" or dangling your keys is closer to woofing, and thus should only be done at the end when it's safe.

Why is it called woofing anyway?

http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~dwilson/rsfc/Woof.html

The link doesn't work.

[andyw2100]

"Scoreboard" isn't woofing, it's merely pointing out when the other team is giving you crap that you're the one currently in the lead.  Chanting "shutout" or dangling your keys is closer to woofing, and thus should only be done at the end when it's safe.

Why is it called woofing anyway?

http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~dwilson/rsfc/Woof.html

The link doesn't work.

The cached version works, though.

[Beeeej]

I'll jump in here for a moment and do my own old codger impression - why the hell was Section B chanting "Scoreboard" with eight minutes left?!

I thought it was to shove it right back at the Harvard fans' (yes, there was more than 1) faces.  From what someone told me, Section O did a "scoreboard" chant pretty much immediately after getting a 1-0 lead in the 1st period.  It was more of a "no...THIS is when you do that chant" demonstration and a twisting of the knife.

Well, if that's the case, I'm somewhat more okay with it; I missed the context.  But I don't understand why someone would think keys taunt the woofing gods and "Scoreboard" doesn't.  And I can honestly count the number of times in my twenty-three years of following Cornell hockey that I've heard the Lynah Faithful chant "Scoreboard" on one hand.  I'm not telling people how to cheer, but I certainly have a right not to care for it.

[BMac]

There certainly is a way of preventing people from throwing fish onto the ice after the intros.

We did it two years ago- simply bring a humorous slide show, get your section's attention before the intros, specifically direct the crowd to throw fish at the right time, and presto. The crowd got into it, the band too, it was perfect.

[RichH]

There certainly is a way of preventing people from throwing fish onto the ice after the intros.

We did it two years ago- simply bring a humorous slide show, get your section's attention before the intros, specifically direct the crowd to throw fish at the right time, and presto. The crowd got into it, the band too, it was perfect.

Bravo.

Yeah, and at the risk of making this forum sound too self-important, I feel that we didn't do our job here.  There was zero fish talk in the lead-up to the game here.  I like to think that our tired old stories of penalties and the yearly rehashing of the fish tradition does something to educate the new fans that may casually check into this site.  Of course, I'm probably wrong and it's the same 50 people here, but still.

[ebilmes]

Yeah, and at the risk of making this forum sound too self-important, I feel that we didn't do our job here.  There was zero fish talk in the lead-up to the game here.  I like to think that our tired old stories of penalties and the yearly rehashing of the fish tradition does something to educate the new fans that may casually check into this site.  Of course, I'm probably wrong and it's the same 50 people here, but still.

Yeah, the people who threw fish at the wrong times probably don't read eLynah. But I agree with you. I didn't think of it, but I'm sure Mitch and I, or someone else, would have been able to make a couple of announcements before the game about the fish tossing. Maybe some people will be able to do this next year. (I actually don't know of any underclassmen who post here...)

[mnagowski]

(I actually don't know of any underclassmen who post here...)

But I suspect a lot of them still lurk. I didn't post until I was an alum three years out.

[statenaurora]

I think you would have to use The Lynah Faithful group on Facebook to connect with undergraduates or the more casual fan. Perhaps a public service announcement posted to that group prior to the Harvard game on when to throw the fish would help create a more informed fan base and a more enjoyable game.

I would appreciate expanding and combining the information found on this into one document, working title, "Cornell Hockey for Dummies."

[TimV]

I would appreciate expanding and combining the information found on this into one document, working title, "Cornell Hockey for Dummies."

Hell no.  Cornell Hockey is for smart people.  That would be "BU hockey for Dummies."**]

[billhoward]

I would appreciate expanding and combining the information found on this into one document, working title, "Cornell Hockey for Dummies."

Hell no.  Cornell Hockey is for smart people.  That would be "BU hockey for Dummies."**]

Lot of us who scoffed at applying to BU even as a safety school way back would not get in now. John Silber, widely regarded as an SOB and jerk by the faculty (accuse your faculty of being mediocre and see what happens) and anyone else he crossed sword with in his tenture 1971-95, did raise it far from mediocrity. It remains, as Silber himself was quoted as saying in his recruitment interview, "the ugliest damn placed I've ever seen."

I'd like to see a Lynah 101 here for fans who aren't as knowledgeable.

[mnagowski]

I would appreciate expanding and combining the information found on this into one document, working title, "Cornell Hockey for Dummies."

I'd like to see a Lynah 101 here for fans who aren't as knowledgeable.

You mean something like this?

http://www.elynah.com/?cheers

Perhaps Age could just add a direct link over on the right?

[Robb]

I would appreciate expanding and combining the information found on this into one document, working title, "Cornell Hockey for Dummies."

I'd like to see a Lynah 101 here for fans who aren't as knowledgeable.

You mean something like this?

http://www.elynah.com/?cheers

Perhaps Age could just add a direct link over on the right?

Good idea - also, I think there should be a special section for "fish etiquette."  Right now, there's just a brief mention within the pregame section.  I'd volunteer to edit, but perhaps it should be done by someone who actually goes to the Harvard game occasionally.  

[Jim Hyla]

ECAC site has link to article from Boston Herald on Donato. It's not very enlightening but the only comment so far is: "Donato couldn't coach the Scituate Seahawks".