Don't worry, Harvard still...

[KeithK]

[quote French Rage][quote DeltaOne81][quote KeithK]But we didn't win anythign. :-/[/quote]

How about respect... on a national scale. Personally I think that's what the program needs most right now, and probably what I want most. They won a ton of that this weekend.[/quote]

I agree.  Go to the USCHO boards and look at what the Western fans think now compared to a week ago.  This year showed even a Cornell team having trouble playing at its best throughout the year can still go West and play just as well.[/quote]Certainly.  I'm not trying to downplay what we did accomplish.  I'm just saying that I'm disappointed that we didn't win titles in addition to respect.  And jealous that Harvard, for all their NCAA suckiness, did.

[DeltaOne81]

[quote KeithK]Certainly.  I'm not trying to downplay what we did accomplish.  I'm just saying that I'm disappointed that we didn't win titles in addition to respect.  And jealous that Harvard, for all their NCAA suckiness, did.[/quote]

Fair enough. But I'd still rather have our season. In a heartbeat.

[Trotsky]

[quote French Rage]I agree.  Go to the USCHO boards and look at what the Western fans think now compared to a week ago.[/quote]

Note also how different it is from last year.  When we lost to Minnesota, we came off as little cry-babies.  "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you Bluto, we might get in trouble on the large ice surface!"  This year, we were respectful and businesslike and most un-whiney, and the reaction is that this is a team which played its heart out and doesn't make excuses.  Ding, ding.  That's how respect is won.

[ebilmes]

[quote KeithK]they won something (two titles) and we didn't win anything.[/quote]

Ned Harkness Cup

Edit: Also Niagara Cup :-D

[KeithK]

[quote ebilmes][quote KeithK]they won something (two titles) and we didn't win anything.[/quote]

Ned Harkness Cup[/quote]OK, good point.  But a mid-season tournament title is a little less important in my mind.

[Steve M]

[quote Trotsky][quote French Rage]I agree.  Go to the USCHO boards and look at what the Western fans think now compared to a week ago.[/quote]

Note also how different it is from last year.  When we lost to Minnesota, we came off as little cry-babies.  "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you Bluto, we might get in trouble on the large ice surface!"  This year, we were respectful and businesslike and most un-whiney, and the reaction is that this is a team which played its heart out and doesn't make excuses.  Ding, ding.  That's how respect is won.[/quote]

I agree, but the respect was primarily won by the Cornell players this weekend.  Although the Red came a bounce away from beating the Gophers last year, I think most fans not wearing Carnelian tinted glasses would say that we were clearly outskated and dominated in puck possesion most of the game.

This year the Red skated with and defeated Colorado College, one of the fastest skating teams in the fastest league.  Wisconsin, unlike Minnesota last year, is the overall #1 seed in the tourney.  And even though the Badgers had the majority of the good scoring chances, their edge wasn't nearly as large as the Gophers had last year.  We skated very well with Wisconsin as well.  I haven't seen a single "Red pylon" comment on USCHO this year.

[Trotsky]

[quote Steve M]I agree, but the respect was primarily won by the Cornell players this weekend.  Although the Red came a bounce away from beating the Gophers last year, I think most fans not wearing Carnelian tinted glasses would say that we were clearly outskated and dominated in puck possesion most of the game.

This year the Red skated with and defeated Colorado College, one of the fastest skating teams in the fastest league.  Wisconsin, unlike Minnesota last year, is the overall #1 seed in the tourney.  And even though the Badgers had the majority of the good scoring chances, their edge wasn't nearly as large as the Gophers had last year.  We skated very well with Wisconsin as well.  I haven't seen a single "Red pylon" comment on USCHO this year.[/quote]

There are plenty of negative comments from the usual suspects, but none from people who were actually there.  Also, the comments about the Minny ice weren't limited to the fans last year... B-]

[Jim Hyla]

[quote KeithK][quote ebilmes][quote KeithK]they won something (two titles) and we didn't win anything.[/quote]

Ned Harkness Cup[/quote]OK, good point.  But a mid-season tournament title is a little less important in my mind.[/quote]Yeah, but so is an Ivy title. In fact when I first read your post I had to think what was their second title. Who cares! The buzz on the internet shows what impact our NCAA games had. I agree that our sights are set higher now. It reminds me of the statement, attributed to Coach Harkness when he found out that Princeton told Dryden, while recruiting him, they were working for an Ivy and ?ECAC title. He told him he was going for an NCAA title. Our goals are higher now.:-)

[Rita]

http://www.bangornews.com/news/templates/?a=131198&z=225%20class=  ::laugh::

[KeithK]

[quote Jim Hyla]Yeah, but so is an Ivy title. In fact when I first read your post I had to think what was their second title. Who cares! The buzz on the internet shows what impact our NCAA games had. I agree that our sights are set higher now. It reminds me of the statement, attributed to Coach Harkness when he found out that Princeton told Dryden, while recruiting him, they were working for an Ivy and ?ECAC title. He told him he was going for an NCAA title. Our goals are higher now.:-)[/quote]Again, agreed that the Ivy title doesn't mean much.  More than an in-season tournament title in my mind, but still not too much.

I'll say this once at the risk of being banned from this forum.  Having not won anything leading up to the tournament, we really hadn't earned the right to play for the national championship in my mind.  That doesn't reduce the emotional impact of Sunday's game - anyone who saw my expression after Skille's goal or me kicking my car repeatedly a few minutes later knows how I feel.  I hope that when we do finally win the big one that we have raised the smaller banners first.

Feel free to flame away. But I have stated here many times that I think you should have to have won something - league championship - to play for the national title. You won't change my mind and I won't change yours.

[Rosey]

[quote KeithK]I hope that when we do finally win the big one that we have raised the smaller banners first.

Feel free to flame away. But I have stated here many times that I think you should have to have won something - league championship - to play for the national title. You won't change my mind and I won't change yours.[/quote]
But that wouldn't stop you from celebrating it if it happens the other way.

The way Cornell played on Sunday was almost good enough to get them a national championship: if they had been able to beat Wisconsin and continued to play like that for another two games, I strongly suspect we would have been raising a third banner at the reopening of Lynah.  Big "if"'s, and a few could-a/would-a's: we'll never know.  But I would have been dancing in the street in that alternate universe... and so would you. ::banana::

Kyle

[nyc94]

[quote KeithK]Having not won anything leading up to the tournament, we really hadn't earned the right to play for the national championship in my mind.[/quote]

Neither have Wisconsin or BC or Maine.

[KeithK]

[quote nyc94][quote KeithK]Having not won anything leading up to the tournament, we really hadn't earned the right to play for the national championship in my mind.[/quote]

Neither have Wisconsin or BC or Maine.[/quote]Yep.

[Trotsky]

I'd be perfectly happy winning ECAC titles in even years and NCAA titles in odd years.  The big banner is it's own validation.

[Rosey]

[quote Trotsky]I'd be perfectly happy winning ECAC titles in even years and NCAA titles in odd years.  The big banner is it's own validation.[/quote]
Agreed.

Kyle