Cornell @ Aints

[Al DeFlorio]

If I were the type that likes a good conspiracy theory (and I am,) I would say that perhaps coach knows his time is up and this is how he's choosing to go out.  Maybe he doesn't like the general direction the game is taking and this is his final screw you?   It would explain a lot of the brutally ugly stuff.  I don't think it's that hard to believe.  Certainly in the same realm of believe-ability as the refs are out to get us.

The smoking gun for me would be Ferlin's stick to the groin "cup check" in the Yale game.  It was right on the faceoff, near Section A, in a nationally televised game (I think was still a close game at that point, and as I recall it was mid 3rd period.)  For a player to do that and play the next night, you know the coach is OK with it.   You can't even make the excuse that it was "in the heat of the moment" because it happens every goddamn game.  Lowry gave a guy a good nut shot.  There's just no way that it can happen this often without the coach's consent.

You been drinking?::screwy::

[cbuckser]

The smoking gun for me would be Ferlin's Lowry's stick to the groin "cup check" in the Yale game.  It was right on the faceoff, near Section A, in a nationally televised game (I think was still a close game at that point, and as I recall it was mid 3rd period.)  For a player to do that and play the next night, you know the coach is OK with it.   You can't even make the excuse that it was "in the heat of the moment" because it happens every goddamn game.  Lowry gave a guy a good nut shot.  There's just no way that it can happen this often without the coach's consent.

Joel Lowry did get scratched the following night, and I see no evidence Mike Schafer has condoned the after-the-whistle infractions. I can't imagine that the coaching staff is any less frustrated than the fan base.

[marty]

we are Jack the Ripper.

Good one, Greg.  But I think we're more these guys:

If I were the type that likes a good conspiracy theory (and I am,) I would say that perhaps coach knows his time is up and this is how he's choosing to go out.  Maybe he doesn't like the general direction the game is taking and this is his final screw you?   It would explain a lot of the brutally ugly stuff.  I don't think it's that hard to believe.  Certainly in the same realm of believe-ability as the refs are out to get us.

The smoking gun for me would be Ferlin's stick to the groin "cup check" in the Yale game.  It was right on the faceoff, near Section A, in a nationally televised game (I think was still a close game at that point, and as I recall it was mid 3rd period.)  For a player to do that and play the next night, you know the coach is OK with it.   You can't even make the excuse that it was "in the heat of the moment" because it happens every goddamn game.  Lowry gave a guy a good nut shot.  There's just no way that it can happen this often without the coach's consent.

You believe in this too?  (There is likely a better version of this goon's image available later this week.)

[ScrewBU]

we are Jack the Ripper.

Good one, Greg.  But I think we're more these guys:

If I were the type that likes a good conspiracy theory (and I am,) I would say that perhaps coach knows his time is up and this is how he's choosing to go out.  Maybe he doesn't like the general direction the game is taking and this is his final screw you?   It would explain a lot of the brutally ugly stuff.  I don't think it's that hard to believe.  Certainly in the same realm of believe-ability as the refs are out to get us.

The smoking gun for me would be Ferlin's stick to the groin "cup check" in the Yale game.  It was right on the faceoff, near Section A, in a nationally televised game (I think was still a close game at that point, and as I recall it was mid 3rd period.)  For a player to do that and play the next night, you know the coach is OK with it.   You can't even make the excuse that it was "in the heat of the moment" because it happens every goddamn game.  Lowry gave a guy a good nut shot.  There's just no way that it can happen this often without the coach's consent.

You believe in this too?  (There is likely a better version of this goon's image available later this week.)

Nah, more like this:


@Al - I probably should be drinking.  Not a serious theory, although I do think the people that still believe "we're fine, it's the refs that are the problem" are entering tinfoil hat territory.

[Jim Hyla]

If I were the type that likes a good conspiracy theory (and I am,) I would say that perhaps coach knows his time is up and this is how he's choosing to go out.  Maybe he doesn't like the general direction the game is taking and this is his final screw you?   It would explain a lot of the brutally ugly stuff.  I don't think it's that hard to believe.  Certainly in the same realm of believe-ability as the refs are out to get us.

The smoking gun for me would be Ferlin's stick to the groin "cup check" in the Yale game.  It was right on the faceoff, near Section A, in a nationally televised game (I think was still a close game at that point, and as I recall it was mid 3rd period.)  For a player to do that and play the next night, you know the coach is OK with it.   You can't even make the excuse that it was "in the heat of the moment" because it happens every goddamn game.  Lowry gave a guy a good nut shot.  There's just no way that it can happen this often without the coach's consent.

@Al - I probably should be drinking.  Not a serious theory, although I do think the people that still believe "we're fine, it's the refs that are the problem" are entering tinfoil hat territory.

Agree, but I don't see that being posted around here. I think that we, like coach, think that the players are screwing themselves. As for the coach sending meessages that it's OK, then why would he bench 3 guys for Brown? As was posted before, he has also made verbal comments about how much he hates it.

[Towerroad]

If I were the type that likes a good conspiracy theory (and I am,) I would say that perhaps coach knows his time is up and this is how he's choosing to go out.  Maybe he doesn't like the general direction the game is taking and this is his final screw you?   It would explain a lot of the brutally ugly stuff.  I don't think it's that hard to believe.  Certainly in the same realm of believe-ability as the refs are out to get us.

The smoking gun for me would be Ferlin's stick to the groin "cup check" in the Yale game.  It was right on the faceoff, near Section A, in a nationally televised game (I think was still a close game at that point, and as I recall it was mid 3rd period.)  For a player to do that and play the next night, you know the coach is OK with it.   You can't even make the excuse that it was "in the heat of the moment" because it happens every goddamn game.  Lowry gave a guy a good nut shot.  There's just no way that it can happen this often without the coach's consent.

@Al - I probably should be drinking.  Not a serious theory, although I do think the people that still believe "we're fine, it's the refs that are the problem" are entering tinfoil hat territory.

Agree, but I don't see that being posted around here. I think that we, like coach, think that the players are screwing themselves. As for the coach sending meessages that it's OK, then why would he bench 3 guys for Brown? As was posted before, he has also made verbal comments about how much he hates it.

There seems to be 2 alternative explanations. The stupid behavior is being done with a wink and a nod from the coach. The stupid behavior is being done in spite of the coach's best efforts to change it. In the first case the coach's behavior is inexcusable and I for one prefer not to believe it. The second is that the the coach is not able to inpose his will on the team and the players. That is also a problem.

[ScrewBU]

If I were the type that likes a good conspiracy theory (and I am,) I would say that perhaps coach knows his time is up and this is how he's choosing to go out.  Maybe he doesn't like the general direction the game is taking and this is his final screw you?   It would explain a lot of the brutally ugly stuff.  I don't think it's that hard to believe.  Certainly in the same realm of believe-ability as the refs are out to get us.

The smoking gun for me would be Ferlin's stick to the groin "cup check" in the Yale game.  It was right on the faceoff, near Section A, in a nationally televised game (I think was still a close game at that point, and as I recall it was mid 3rd period.)  For a player to do that and play the next night, you know the coach is OK with it.   You can't even make the excuse that it was "in the heat of the moment" because it happens every goddamn game.  Lowry gave a guy a good nut shot.  There's just no way that it can happen this often without the coach's consent.

@Al - I probably should be drinking.  Not a serious theory, although I do think the people that still believe "we're fine, it's the refs that are the problem" are entering tinfoil hat territory.

Agree, but I don't see that being posted around here. I think that we, like coach, think that the players are screwing themselves. As for the coach sending meessages that it's OK, then why would he bench 3 guys for Brown? As was posted before, he has also made verbal comments about how much he hates it.

You're probably right, but if he wanted to send a message then shouldn't he have benched Ferlin that night?  I thought it sent a mixed message: "As long as you score, you can do whatever the hell you want, but if you don't score, you can't do that crap or you sit."  

And he has also made verbal comments (I believe after the Denver games) to the effect of "I review all of these plays after the game and if I see something dirty I will hold the player accountable." I just don't see that happening.

Well, may cooler heads prevail.

[ScrewBU]

If I were the type that likes a good conspiracy theory (and I am,) I would say that perhaps coach knows his time is up and this is how he's choosing to go out.  Maybe he doesn't like the general direction the game is taking and this is his final screw you?   It would explain a lot of the brutally ugly stuff.  I don't think it's that hard to believe.  Certainly in the same realm of believe-ability as the refs are out to get us.

The smoking gun for me would be Ferlin's stick to the groin "cup check" in the Yale game.  It was right on the faceoff, near Section A, in a nationally televised game (I think was still a close game at that point, and as I recall it was mid 3rd period.)  For a player to do that and play the next night, you know the coach is OK with it.   You can't even make the excuse that it was "in the heat of the moment" because it happens every goddamn game.  Lowry gave a guy a good nut shot.  There's just no way that it can happen this often without the coach's consent.

@Al - I probably should be drinking.  Not a serious theory, although I do think the people that still believe "we're fine, it's the refs that are the problem" are entering tinfoil hat territory.

Agree, but I don't see that being posted around here. I think that we, like coach, think that the players are screwing themselves. As for the coach sending meessages that it's OK, then why would he bench 3 guys for Brown? As was posted before, he has also made verbal comments about how much he hates it.

There seems to be 2 alternative explanations. The stupid behavior is being done with a wink and a nod from the coach. The stupid behavior is being done in spite of the coach's best efforts to change it. In the first case the coach's behavior is inexcusable and I for one prefer not to believe it. The second is that the the coach is not able to inpose his will on the team and the players. That is also a problem.

This is really the crux of the problem.  Either he is letting them do it (which admittedly is very unlikely) or he doesn't have enough control of the team enough to stop it.  Is that any better?

[Al DeFlorio]

You're probably right, but if he wanted to send a message then shouldn't he have benched Ferlin that night?  

Why would he have benched Ferlin when it was Lowry who stuck his stick in the other guy's groin?

[Towerroad]

If I were the type that likes a good conspiracy theory (and I am,) I would say that perhaps coach knows his time is up and this is how he's choosing to go out.  Maybe he doesn't like the general direction the game is taking and this is his final screw you?   It would explain a lot of the brutally ugly stuff.  I don't think it's that hard to believe.  Certainly in the same realm of believe-ability as the refs are out to get us.

The smoking gun for me would be Ferlin's stick to the groin "cup check" in the Yale game.  It was right on the faceoff, near Section A, in a nationally televised game (I think was still a close game at that point, and as I recall it was mid 3rd period.)  For a player to do that and play the next night, you know the coach is OK with it.   You can't even make the excuse that it was "in the heat of the moment" because it happens every goddamn game.  Lowry gave a guy a good nut shot.  There's just no way that it can happen this often without the coach's consent.

@Al - I probably should be drinking.  Not a serious theory, although I do think the people that still believe "we're fine, it's the refs that are the problem" are entering tinfoil hat territory.

Agree, but I don't see that being posted around here. I think that we, like coach, think that the players are screwing themselves. As for the coach sending meessages that it's OK, then why would he bench 3 guys for Brown? As was posted before, he has also made verbal comments about how much he hates it.

There seems to be 2 alternative explanations. The stupid behavior is being done with a wink and a nod from the coach. The stupid behavior is being done in spite of the coach's best efforts to change it. In the first case the coach's behavior is inexcusable and I for one prefer not to believe it. The second is that the the coach is not able to inpose his will on the team and the players. That is also a problem.

This is really the crux of the problem.  Either he is letting them do it (which admittedly is very unlikely) or he doesn't have enough control of the team enough to stop it.  Is that any better?

It is far better to not have control. The other option is venal and unworthy of our Alma Mater. That being said, it is still a big problem.

No coach is sacred. Ask Terry Francona.

[marty]

we are Jack the Ripper.

Good one, Greg.  But I think we're more these guys:

If I were the type that likes a good conspiracy theory (and I am,) I would say that perhaps coach knows his time is up and this is how he's choosing to go out.  Maybe he doesn't like the general direction the game is taking and this is his final screw you?   It would explain a lot of the brutally ugly stuff.  I don't think it's that hard to believe.  Certainly in the same realm of believe-ability as the refs are out to get us.

The smoking gun for me would be Ferlin's stick to the groin "cup check" in the Yale game.  It was right on the faceoff, near Section A, in a nationally televised game (I think was still a close game at that point, and as I recall it was mid 3rd period.)  For a player to do that and play the next night, you know the coach is OK with it.   You can't even make the excuse that it was "in the heat of the moment" because it happens every goddamn game.  Lowry gave a guy a good nut shot.  There's just no way that it can happen this often without the coach's consent.

You believe in this too?  (There is likely a better version of this goon's image available later this week.)

Here is what I wanted to post. (Wondering if Piraro will check the link to eLynah and apologizing for adding levity to a decidely dismal weekend)

[Jim Hyla]

You're probably right, but if he wanted to send a message then shouldn't he have benched Ferlin that night?  I thought it sent a mixed message: "As long as you score, you can do whatever the hell you want, but if you don't score, you can't do that crap or you sit."  

I think the fact that he benched Miller and Lowry, both of whom are higher scorers than Ferlin, don't just shoot holes in your theory, but blow it away. It's amazing what a few facts can do.

[CowbellGuy]

Here's more data. The year listed is the spring of the hockey year (2012 = 2011-2012 season).

5 min by Cornell by season
2012: 4
2011: 6
2010: 3
2009: 3
2008: 6
2007: 4
2006: 5
2005: 3
2004: 5
2003: 4
2002: 2
2001: 5
2000: 4

10 min by Cornell by season:
2012: 9
2011: 14
2010: 3
2009: 4
2008: 11
2007: 5
2006: 13
2005: 3
2004: 6
2003: 11
2002: 8
2001: 6
2000: 10

[Trotsky]

No coach is sacred. Ask Terry Francona.

Francona's fate said nothing about coaches and everything about the hub arm pit of the universe.

[ftyuv]

No coach is sacred. Ask Terry Francona.

Francona's fate said nothing about coaches and everything about the hub arm pit of the universe.

Your whining about Boston fans is getting to be about as predicable, novel and fun as a penalty against CU. I don't know which one of us ran over your puppy, but I'm sure they're sorry about it. We love dogs!

For what it's worth, my facebook feed shows me zero "shoulda been us" posts from friends.