Harvard 4, Cornell 3, Final

[RobertSchur]

I was sitting right behind the perpetrator.  The penalty actually wasn't called for a fish but rather the plastic bottle that followed the fish.  The ushers converged, my buddies and I pointed him out, and they did absolutely nothing.  One usher talked to the frat boy who threw the bottle but did nothing else.  After the final whistle, another usher scolded the offender. He just stood there, three sheets to the wind drunk, with no conception of what he'd done as the fans around him berated him, even starting a "that guy sucks" chant after the fourth Harvard goal, yet the ushers still let him remain in the stands.  A total disgrace for the team, the University, and the dedicated and civil fans, townies and students alike.

[Andy Dodd]

That shocks me - I know after the penalty the ushers were lined up and ready to go for the next offense across the rink in the aisle between A and B, I'm surprised they didn't boot the guy.

I'm pretty surprised that with fish being a lot harder to smuggle in that anyone would save them beyond the traditional beginning throw.

How could you tell which item of FOD was the cause of the penalty?  Bottle or no bottle, we probably would have gotten the penalty for the fish alone.  Still, someone who threw a plastic bottle onto the ice should not only have been booted from the game but their season tickets revoked.

[RobertSchur]

The refs didn't actually blow a whistle and signal for a penalty until the bottle came out.  The fish was immediately after the goal.  The bottle was as the players skated to the bench and that's when the ref called the penalty.  There had at least two or three other fish instances previously that the refs let slide. The bottle was a direct shot at the goalie, too.  Not 100% sure but that's what the evidence suggests as I saw it.

[ScrewBU]

I was sitting right behind the perpetrator.  The penalty actually wasn't called for a fish but rather the plastic bottle that followed the fish.  The ushers converged, my buddies and I pointed him out, and they did absolutely nothing.  One usher talked to the frat boy who threw the bottle but did nothing else.  After the final whistle, another usher scolded the offender. He just stood there, three sheets to the wind drunk, with no conception of what he'd done as the fans around him berated him, even starting a "that guy sucks" chant after the fourth Harvard goal, yet the ushers still let him remain in the stands.  A total disgrace for the team, the University, and the dedicated and civil fans, townies and students alike.

The real disgrace is anyone who claims that that penalty is what "cost us a win."

What did they do when they got they early goal?   They gave it right back.  

What did they do on the 5 minute major?  They gave up a goal on the ensuing 4 on 4, then didn't even get a shot on an unlimited 3 min PP.

This team has major issues.  They are not honest, hardworking players.  They are sloppy. They don't win battles for the puck.  They take cheap shots.  They dive.   They can't hold a lead.  They can't win at Lynah.  They're a sham, and blaming it on a drunken frat boy is just dancing around the real, serious problems.

[gatefan]

Please win tomorrow. We don't want to take a trip to Lynah if it can be avoided.

[Jim Hyla]

Thank you for not feeding the Trolls.

[BigRedHockeyFan]

If 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

[Facetimer]

If 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.

[redice]

If Schafer's reaction as he left the bench for the locker room was any indication, he certainly wasn't happy with the fans or the fish tonight.

Good observation...Schafer has gone on record as approving of the fish tradition...So, IMHO, he no right to bitch about it now...He needs to take a stand to stop it!!

I think it's pretty clear that the current crop of children cannot handle the responsibility of know when to throw the fish....Given that, it has to be just stopped!!

The chicken tradition was brought to a halt....There's no reason the fish tradition can't be stopped, as well.

[Tom Tone]

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

I find this kind of action and calls for the end of the fish quite short-sighted. If you want Lynah to not be forgotten on lists by the WSJ about the atmosphere, you can't start attacking what makes our barn unique.

The last time the team got a team/bench penalty for delay of game at a home against Harvard was February 1, 2002. So for 9 years the fans weren't "children" and Cornell wasn't adversely affected.

I assume all of you with the holier-than-thou attitude never threw a fish at Lynah. What if it had been newspaper? Should we stop throwing that on the ice as well?

[redice]

I was sitting right behind the perpetrator.  The penalty actually wasn't called for a fish but rather the plastic bottle that followed the fish.  The ushers converged, my buddies and I pointed him out, and they did absolutely nothing.  One usher talked to the frat boy who threw the bottle but did nothing else.  After the final whistle, another usher scolded the offender. He just stood there, three sheets to the wind drunk, with no conception of what he'd done as the fans around him berated him, even starting a "that guy sucks" chant after the fourth Harvard goal, yet the ushers still let him remain in the stands.  A total disgrace for the team, the University, and the dedicated and civil fans, townies and students alike.

That supports what I've been saying for decades...The administration gives lip service to the 'stop the fish' idea..But, they don't truly want to stop it..I used to work there as an usher....I've watched this as an employee & a long-time fan......Given that and Mike Schafer's preference to continue the fish tradition, I would say that Cornell University got exactly what they asked for...Im not sorry for them...I'm mad as hell for me!!!  F*cking stupdity!!!

[redice]

The refs didn't actually blow a whistle and signal for a penalty until the bottle came out.  The fish was immediately after the goal.  The bottle was as the players skated to the bench and that's when the ref called the penalty.  There had at least two or three other fish instances previously that the refs let slide. The bottle was a direct shot at the goalie, too.  Not 100% sure but that's what the evidence suggests as I saw it.

Actually, I have to credit the on-ice officials for their patience...I assume they understand that this is a big rivalry game and granted a little extra leniency for objects being thrown on the ice...

I believe there were 2-3 instances of objects being thrown on the ice (after the initial fish-throw), before the ref called a penalty...I certainly cannot fault the crew on this one.

[redice]

The real disgrace is anyone who claims that that penalty is what "cost us a win."

What did they do when they got they early goal?   They gave it right back.  

What did they do on the 5 minute major?  They gave up a goal on the ensuing 4 on 4, then didn't even get a shot on an unlimited 3 min PP.

This team has major issues.  They are not honest, hardworking players.  They are sloppy. They don't win battles for the puck.  They take cheap shots.  They dive.   They can't hold a lead.  They can't win at Lynah.  They're a sham, and blaming it on a drunken frat boy is just dancing around the real, serious problems.

It's no secret where I stand on this fish issue. I've been very consistent on that...There's two disgraceful things here:
1)     Throwing objects on the ice!!  Period!!
2)     Accusing these college athletes of NOT BEING HONEST!!   What the hell is that all about?  Do you know
       any of these fine young men?  Even if you do, what makes you believe that their honesty is part of this
       discussion?   Now, that's a disgrace!!!

[redice]

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

I find this kind of action and calls for the end of the fish quite short-sighted. If you want Lynah to not be forgotten on lists by the WSJ about the atmosphere, you can't start attacking what makes our barn unique.

The last time the team got a team/bench penalty for delay of game at a home against Harvard was February 1, 2002. So for 9 years the fans weren't "children" and Cornell wasn't adversely affected.

I assume all of you with the holier-than-thou attitude never threw a fish at Lynah. What if it had been newspaper? Should we stop throwing that on the ice as well?

For me, I'd rather win hockey games than be on some WSJ list.   But, that's just me....

I think that loud fans & home invincibility will put Lynah on far more lists than and fish throwing tradition...Remember, that just one game....They pay 15+ other games at Lynah each year.  I would say that fish-throwing doesn't do much for the Lynah image.

If you want "unique", I guess having your fans do things that hurt the home team is pretty unique....

I don't read the USCHO forums any more...But, I'll be we're a laughing stock there this morning...

[Andy Dodd]

In terms of the fish - At the very beginning of the game, when Harvard is entering the ice and it is a long time before play starts, a barrage of fish demoralizes them and isn't going to impact the game significantly in terms of delay - there is plenty of time to clean the fish up before play starts.  Have the refs ever called a penalty for initial fish throwing?  It seems like the refs are prepared to let it slide at the beginning, but it was clear that they were sick of it repeating over and over throughout the game, including in cases where they wanted play to immediately resume.

The problem is that ove the past decade or so the fans at Lynah seem to have developed this "This is awesome!  Let's extend it and add more aweseomeness!" attitude with some traditions - The result being that the initial "awesomeness" is greatly reduced in impact (fish-saving) and usually the "extended attempt at awesomeness" is just lame and hurts us (such as puny 3-4 fish throws after goals).  Just like the beginning of the death of the Black Hole cheer.  When I started as an undergrad (1998), Black Hole ended with a single "You just suck!" punctuated by deafening, unnerving silence.  It had IMPACT then.  At some point shortly thereafter someone decided to extend it by repeating "You just suck!" over and over again, with no real defined end so it just kind of trailed off.  Black Hole lost its impact after that - I don't think I even hear it any more, it seems to have been replaced with the even less effective "mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble You Suck!" cheer coming out of somewhere in B.  (If someone sitting almost directly across from you in Section M can't hear you, probably a sieve who has his ears covered with a helmet can't hear you either.)