Senior letdown

[billhoward]

Notice how Ari's so pessimistic and often critical in his recent posts and columns? And this from the guy who has more insightful things to say than just about anybody else. Welcome to the club, Ari: Like someone from the class of '96, or '85, or '74, it now dawns on you that you'll most likely be leaving Ithaca the same way you entered -- without a T-shirt that reads, "Cornell Hockey - NCAA Champs."

I thought for sure 2002-03 was going to be our year, and then last year. Nope, not to be. And this year looks as if we're going to have to fight to make round one of the NCAAs. Heck, even Albany looks kind of hazy. Tough way to go out.

It's pretty small consolation that Sox fans waited even longer for that follow-on championship.

[RichH]

[quote billhoward]Welcome to the club, Ari: Like someone from the class of '96, or '85, or '74, it now dawns on you that you'll most likely be leaving Ithaca the same way you entered -- without a T-shirt that reads, "Cornell Hockey - NCAA Champs."[/quote]

Given the way my freshman year kicked things off, I'm still quite satisfied with all the "ECAC Champs" shirts I wound up buying my senior year.  :-D

--RichH '96

[nyc94]

In 1994 I think those of us that actually went to the games were just relieved to make the ECAC playoffs. ::uhoh::

[ebilmes]

It might be a stretch to say that the disappointment is due to a realization that Cornell will not win the NCAAs this year. From the season preview:

Regardless of how this season goes, the über-talented freshmen class should indicate that if the Big Red cannot get back to the NCAA Tournament this year, they will be back sooner rather than later.

Doesn't exactly sound like he's predicting an NCAA title run. Yes, we're all disappointed at how this season is turning out, but an '07's disappointment would be that we might not make Albany this year, or make Lynah loud, not that we won't win NCAAs. The better chance for that would be in '05 or '06. It's completely understandable to be pessimistic and critical after this horrid stretch of hockey.

[Beeeej]

[quote ebilmes]It's completely understandable to be pessimistic and critical after this horrid stretch of hockey.[/quote]

Honestly, I think we'd all have an easier time dealing with this horrid stretch of hockey if we hadn't actually had some pretty good runs this season.  Most of us expected a tough year; we're getting a tough early second half after a surprisingly good first half, and it's harder to take that way.

[calgARI '07]

A lot of this is in the column but I might as well bring it in now considering it is pertinent to the subject.  Final sentence of this week's column:

"Cornell will finish the regular season 7-2-1 and finish in the top four of the conference."

This season is very very similar to 03-04.  That year at exactly this time, Cornell won just once in a seven game stretch and looked just as horrible as they have recently, even on home ice.  That team went on to win 7 of the final 8 regular season games and was certainly capable of winning in Albany.  Obviously they didn't even make it, but the point is that I think this team is still capable of doing it.  The ECACHL is about as weak this year as it was that year and anyone can do it.  With that, I still think Cornell will win the ECACHL Tournament and make it to the NCAA's.  This team has shown they can perform at a very high level.  It's in there somewhere.

[Beeeej]

[quote calgARI '07]With that, I still think Cornell will win the ECACHL Tournament and make it to the NCAA's.[/quote]

I think you're dreaming.  But God knows I'd love to see you turn out right.

[French Rage]

[quote calgARI '07]
This season is very very similar to 03-04.[/quote]

Neeeever happened.

[Dpperk29]

[quote French Rage][quote calgARI '07]
This season is very very similar to 03-04.[/quote]

Neeeever happened.[/quote]

my memory has been restored, it most certainly happened!

[mrc]

2003-2004 received phone call from my son . no goalie. one had torn ham string so bad couldn't go on ice. the other was on crutches . as a parent listening to all the negative comments about the team was really dis hearting. especially when our goalie couldn't practice and the goals that were scored had a lot to do with lack of mobility. injuries to ryan at the end also contributed to team failure to reach playoffs. my son played final series with a grade 1 shoulder separation to rt shoulder and a grade 2 to left and was only able to play with being shot up. comparing the effort of the 2003-2004 team to the whatever is happening to this years team as ari's comment state 'just didn't happen " seems to be closer to the truth

[KeithK]

[quote Beeeej][quote ebilmes]It's completely understandable to be pessimistic and critical after this horrid stretch of hockey.[/quote]

Honestly, I think we'd all have an easier time dealing with this horrid stretch of hockey if we hadn't actually had some pretty good runs this season.  Most of us expected a tough year; we're getting a tough early second half after a surprisingly good first half, and it's harder to take that way.[/quote]Exactly Beeeej.  If we were 9-7-3 and 5-4-3 at this point in the season after three months of split weekends, peopel would be unhappy but relatively understanding.  Stepping back and looking at the big picture, the team is pretty much where we should have expected it to be at this point in the season.  Not that we should be unconcerned about the current situation.

[ugarte]

[quote KeithK][quote Beeeej][quote ebilmes]It's completely understandable to be pessimistic and critical after this horrid stretch of hockey.[/quote]

Honestly, I think we'd all have an easier time dealing with this horrid stretch of hockey if we hadn't actually had some pretty good runs this season.  Most of us expected a tough year; we're getting a tough early second half after a surprisingly good first half, and it's harder to take that way.[/quote]Exactly Beeeej.  If we were 9-7-3 and 5-4-3 at this point in the season after three months of split weekends, peopel would be unhappy but relatively understanding.  Stepping back and looking at the big picture, the team is pretty much where we should have expected it to be at this point in the season.  Not that we should be unconcerned about the current situation.[/quote]

How you feel about where we are depends on what you think the true baseline ability of the team is. If you think we are a good team going through a rough stretch, that is one thing. If you think that the team is playing at its real level after a surpising good (and possibly lucky) start, that is another thing altogether.

I've only seen the team nearly blow a lead against a mediocre Princeton squad so I'm a bit worried that we are in for a long painful homestretch. I wouldn't mind at all if people who see them every weekend try to cheer me up.

[Drew]

[quote ugarte][quote KeithK][quote Beeeej][quote ebilmes]It's completely understandable to be pessimistic and critical after this horrid stretch of hockey.[/quote]

Honestly, I think we'd all have an easier time dealing with this horrid stretch of hockey if we hadn't actually had some pretty good runs this season.  Most of us expected a tough year; we're getting a tough early second half after a surprisingly good first half, and it's harder to take that way.[/quote]Exactly Beeeej.  If we were 9-7-3 and 5-4-3 at this point in the season after three months of split weekends, peopel would be unhappy but relatively understanding.  Stepping back and looking at the big picture, the team is pretty much where we should have expected it to be at this point in the season.  Not that we should be unconcerned about the current situation.[/quote]

How you feel about where we are depends on what you think the true baseline ability of the team is. If you think we are a good team going through a rough stretch, that is one thing. If you think that the team is playing at its real level after a surpising good (and possibly lucky) start, that is another thing altogether.

I've only seen the team nearly blow a lead against a mediocre Princeton squad so I'm a bit worried that we are in for a long painful homestretch. I wouldn't mind at all if people who see them every weekend try to cheer me up.[/quote]

I don't think Princeton is that bad this year. I saw them earlier this year and remember they were pretty tight defensively. Then again, a mediocre Princeton team is a good year for them::nut::

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

I don't have a problem with us losing to Maine, or even to SLU and Clarkson on the road this year.  But we should have beaten Yale and Brown.  Full stop.  

And SHU never happened.  ::nut::

[DeltaOne81]

[quote Jeff Hopkins '82]And SHU never happened.  ::nut::[/quote]

... again ...