11/2 Quinnipiac

[BearLover]

Did Section D not sell out?  The students don't stand up anymore.

[CowbellGuy]

I heard the people in D were told they had to sit. Not sure if that came from people in C or E complaining, but there it is.

[andyw2100]

I heard the people in D were told they had to sit. Not sure if that came from people in C or E complaining, but there it is.

If that's true it would be completely inconsistent with an e-mail sent to student ticket holders before this weekend's games. Here's the relevant excerpt:

--Ticket holders who want to upgrade to reserved seats may bring back section E tickets and exchange them (some good locations are available in section A & B)! Note: students with Section E tickets will be asked to move over to section D during certain games to accommodate parents and other adults who cannot stand during the games and need to sit down in section E!
--

My daughter is now a student ticket holder and I guess we used my e-mail address when we bought her season ticket, so I received a copy of this e-mail intended for the student ticket holders.

But on this topic, she sat in Section E for the York game, but was so disappointed by the  student "fans" in the section, she jumped at the opportunity to upgrade to B, as offered in the e-mail above. She said no one else in E was really cheering at all during the York game, and that she was the only person around her who even stood for the alma mater at first. (She said eventually a few other people stood.)

I actually noticed this sitting through the alma mater this weekend as well. From my seats in C it looked like more people in D were sitting than standing during the alma mater, and there were people who looked like they were probably students sitting through it in C as well. I can kind of understand freshman not knowing hockey cheers and hockey tradition this early in the season, but standing for the alma mater isn't a hockey thing, it's a Cornell thing. I attended a President's reception for new students on move-in day as well as the new student convocation this year. At both events the alma mater was sung and we all stood. In fact since the President's reception was almost entirely brand new students and their parents, President Skorton actually instructed those present to stand, saying something about it being tradition, etc.

I really don't get it.

[Swampy]

I heard the people in D were told they had to sit. Not sure if that came from people in C or E complaining, but there it is.

If that's true it would be completely inconsistent with an e-mail sent to student ticket holders before this weekend's games. Here's the relevant excerpt:

--Ticket holders who want to upgrade to reserved seats may bring back section E tickets and exchange them (some good locations are available in section A & B)! Note: students with Section E tickets will be asked to move over to section D during certain games to accommodate parents and other adults who cannot stand during the games and need to sit down in section E!
--

My daughter is now a student ticket holder and I guess we used my e-mail address when we bought her season ticket, so I received a copy of this e-mail intended for the student ticket holders.

But on this topic, she sat in Section E for the York game, but was so disappointed by the  student "fans" in the section, she jumped at the opportunity to upgrade to B, as offered in the e-mail above. She said no one else in E was really cheering at all during the York game, and that she was the only person around her who even stood for the alma mater at first. (She said eventually a few other people stood.)

I actually noticed this sitting through the alma mater this weekend as well. From my seats in C it looked like more people in D were sitting than standing during the alma mater, and there were people who looked like they were probably students sitting through it in C as well. I can kind of understand freshman not knowing hockey cheers and hockey tradition this early in the season, but standing for the alma mater isn't a hockey thing, it's a Cornell thing. I attended a President's reception for new students on move-in day as well as the new student convocation this year. At both events the alma mater was sung and we all stood. In fact since the President's reception was almost entirely brand new students and their parents, President Skorton actually instructed those present to stand, saying something about it being tradition, etc.

I really don't get it.

Harvard transfers?

[Towerroad]

I heard the people in D were told they had to sit. Not sure if that came from people in C or E complaining, but there it is.

If that's true it would be completely inconsistent with an e-mail sent to student ticket holders before this weekend's games. Here's the relevant excerpt:

--Ticket holders who want to upgrade to reserved seats may bring back section E tickets and exchange them (some good locations are available in section A & B)! Note: students with Section E tickets will be asked to move over to section D during certain games to accommodate parents and other adults who cannot stand during the games and need to sit down in section E!
--

My daughter is now a student ticket holder and I guess we used my e-mail address when we bought her season ticket, so I received a copy of this e-mail intended for the student ticket holders.

But on this topic, she sat in Section E for the York game, but was so disappointed by the  student "fans" in the section, she jumped at the opportunity to upgrade to B, as offered in the e-mail above. She said no one else in E was really cheering at all during the York game, and that she was the only person around her who even stood for the alma mater at first. (She said eventually a few other people stood.)

I actually noticed this sitting through the alma mater this weekend as well. From my seats in C it looked like more people in D were sitting than standing during the alma mater, and there were people who looked like they were probably students sitting through it in C as well. I can kind of understand freshman not knowing hockey cheers and hockey tradition this early in the season, but standing for the alma mater isn't a hockey thing, it's a Cornell thing. I attended a President's reception for new students on move-in day as well as the new student convocation this year. At both events the alma mater was sung and we all stood. In fact since the President's reception was almost entirely brand new students and their parents, President Skorton actually instructed those present to stand, saying something about it being tradition, etc.

I really don't get it.

Harvard transfers?

I am shocked that we would sink so low.

[BearLover]

I heard the people in D were told they had to sit. Not sure if that came from people in C or E complaining, but there it is.

If that's true it would be completely inconsistent with an e-mail sent to student ticket holders before this weekend's games. Here's the relevant excerpt:

--Ticket holders who want to upgrade to reserved seats may bring back section E tickets and exchange them (some good locations are available in section A & B)! Note: students with Section E tickets will be asked to move over to section D during certain games to accommodate parents and other adults who cannot stand during the games and need to sit down in section E!
--

My daughter is now a student ticket holder and I guess we used my e-mail address when we bought her season ticket, so I received a copy of this e-mail intended for the student ticket holders.

But on this topic, she sat in Section E for the York game, but was so disappointed by the  student "fans" in the section, she jumped at the opportunity to upgrade to B, as offered in the e-mail above. She said no one else in E was really cheering at all during the York game, and that she was the only person around her who even stood for the alma mater at first. (She said eventually a few other people stood.)

I actually noticed this sitting through the alma mater this weekend as well. From my seats in C it looked like more people in D were sitting than standing during the alma mater, and there were people who looked like they were probably students sitting through it in C as well. I can kind of understand freshman not knowing hockey cheers and hockey tradition this early in the season, but standing for the alma mater isn't a hockey thing, it's a Cornell thing. I attended a President's reception for new students on move-in day as well as the new student convocation this year. At both events the alma mater was sung and we all stood. In fact since the President's reception was almost entirely brand new students and their parents, President Skorton actually instructed those present to stand, saying something about it being tradition, etc.

I really don't get it.

I've been watching Cornell hockey for a long time and I cannot ever recall section D not standing.  A few people at the top of the section stood; the people closer to the ice sat and didn't make any noise.

[Josh '99]

On a very serious question, how can Schafer watch a PP like Q has (or anyone that is decent) then watch CU's PP and not make some kind of changes? Is it possible to have slower passing between the three men who are up high? Q's passing was crisp and quick, while CU's was slow and hesitant. Something has got to change.

But, I mean...  how much of that do you put on the coaches and how much on the players?  It's not like when the players are coached on power play strategy, they're instructed to pass the puck slowly and hesitantly.  If anything, tinkering with the guys on the different power play units will just make this problem worse.

[Trotsky]

I heard the people in D were told they had to sit. Not sure if that came from people in C or E complaining, but there it is.

When one person in a row is standing then that person's a jerk who you can yell at to sit.  If an entire row is standing if you yell at them to sit then you're the jerk.

Peer pressure.  Use it or be used by it.

Section B should send out colonies.

[Rosey]

I heard the people in D were told they had to sit. Not sure if that came from people in C or E complaining, but there it is.

When one person in a row is standing then that person's a jerk who you can yell at to sit.  If an entire row is standing if you yell at them to sit then you're the jerk.

Peer pressure.  Use it or be used by it.

Section B should send out colonies.

If not enough students are going to the games that the townies are able to invade D, blame student apathy and (potentially) an oppressive atmosphere if the ushers are still being colossal douchebags. If old people want to sit, they have that right. (The smart thing to do given the reality of the situation is to rearrange things so the sitters are in the lower rows, so those who want to stand can do so without blocking anyone's view. The best thing to do, I'd argue, is go back to general-admission-by-game, and let people who want the best seats get there early. But it's not like that hasn't been said a thousand times here.)

[Dafatone]

I heard the people in D were told they had to sit. Not sure if that came from people in C or E complaining, but there it is.

I believe that.  Six years ago, I had seats in D, and a friend really got on the opposing goalie at the start of the 2nd.  Kind of a quiet time before the period started, and my friend just was going on and on about how much the goalie sucked.  No swearing, nothing offensive, but a lot of loud, insistent insults.  An usher came over and told him to stop, and we were pretty shocked.

I posted about it here, and people were generally skeptical, thinking my friend must've been saying something off color.  I'd guess there are a few factors here, but the biggest is probably a push to a more "family friendly" (or, lacking in energy) atmosphere.

[MattS]

On a very serious question, how can Schafer watch a PP like Q has (or anyone that is decent) then watch CU's PP and not make some kind of changes? Is it possible to have slower passing between the three men who are up high? Q's passing was crisp and quick, while CU's was slow and hesitant. Something has got to change.

But, I mean...  how much of that do you put on the coaches and how much on the players?  It's not like when the players are coached on power play strategy, they're instructed to pass the puck slowly and hesitantly.  If anything, tinkering with the guys on the different power play units will just make this problem worse.

So you're answer is to do nothing and hope it gets better? It's not like this is a new problem. CU hasn't had a decent PP in about 4 years. Yes, I know it's early and call me reactionary or whatever, but I am tired of watching the same old PP that basically stinks. I think it's a mess and there is plenty of blame to go around to both the coaches and players. However, ultimately it's up to Schafer to devise a scheme that uses the talents of the players in such a way that puts them in the best position to succeed. I obviously have some thoughts on it, but ultimately it's Schafer's problem to fix and so far he has not done it.

[Rosey]

I heard the people in D were told they had to sit. Not sure if that came from people in C or E complaining, but there it is.

I believe that.  Six years ago, I had seats in D, and a friend really got on the opposing goalie at the start of the 2nd.  Kind of a quiet time before the period started, and my friend just was going on and on about how much the goalie sucked.  No swearing, nothing offensive, but a lot of loud, insistent insults.  An usher came over and told him to stop, and we were pretty shocked.

The last time I was at Lynah a few years ago, one of the colossal douchebags threatened to throw my friend out if he didn't remove his hat during the national anthem. Now, your opinion on removing one's hat during the national anthem aside, what this situation really pointed out to me is that there are too many ushers with not enough actual work to do that they feel a need to micromanage individual behavior that isn't a danger to anyone else or physically disruptive of the game (e.g., throwing objects onto the ice), the only things they really should be involved in. IMO, they really need to go fuck themselves, and next time one of them accosts me I will seek Phil out and tell him so myself even if I get banned from the rink forever.

15 years of family friendly policies have almost certainly contributed to the decline of the Lynah atmosphere: forgive me for sounding like the old man I am, but the atmosphere in the rink really was a lot better objectively when I was a student. Students got there earlier; there were a lot more of them; and they were louder (and mostly in sync). Unlike (say) opinions of whether our chants were better than those of the kids today, these things are measurable and in decline.

[Dafatone]

I heard the people in D were told they had to sit. Not sure if that came from people in C or E complaining, but there it is.

I believe that.  Six years ago, I had seats in D, and a friend really got on the opposing goalie at the start of the 2nd.  Kind of a quiet time before the period started, and my friend just was going on and on about how much the goalie sucked.  No swearing, nothing offensive, but a lot of loud, insistent insults.  An usher came over and told him to stop, and we were pretty shocked.

The last time I was at Lynah a few years ago, one of the colossal douchebags threatened to throw my friend out if he didn't remove his hat during the national anthem. Now, your opinion on removing one's hat during the national anthem aside, what this situation really pointed out to me is that there are too many ushers with not enough actual work to do that they feel a need to micromanage individual behavior that isn't a danger to anyone else or physically disruptive of the game (e.g., throwing objects onto the ice), the only things they really should be involved in. IMO, they really need to go fuck themselves, and next time one of them accosts me I will seek Phil out and tell him so myself even if I get banned from the rink forever.

15 years of family friendly policies have almost certainly contributed to the decline of the Lynah atmosphere: forgive me for sounding like the old man I am, but the atmosphere in the rink really was a lot better objectively when I was a student. Students got there earlier; there were a lot more of them; and they were louder (and mostly in sync). Unlike (say) opinions of whether our chants were better than those of the kids today, these things are measurable and in decline.

That's absurd (the hat thing).  I think there are some other factors as well.  Pricier tickets keep a chunk of students away, which probably doesn't result in us having the best possible fans.  General Admission would help a lot, since it would force students to be there earlier.  Even if it were just for a few sections.

And I don't want to get all "kids these days..." since I think most of the factors are administrational, but there's probably something about technology making Ithaca a bit less isolated than it used to be, and students not being as fueled by desperation to lash out at opposing players.  Oh well.

[Rosey]

And I don't want to get all "kids these days..." since I think most of the factors are administrational, but there's probably something about technology making Ithaca a bit less isolated than it used to be, and students not being as fueled by desperation to lash out at opposing players.  Oh well.

Surely there are a lot of contributing factors, but the rink staff aren't making the place any more welcoming by promoting such an oppressive atmosphere.

Let's back up for a second and examine this from the standpoint of a potential new fan. How did I get into Cornell hockey? Because I had friends tell me, "It's awesome! Here's an extra ticket: come with us and see for yourself." And it was awesome. And I was hooked. It's hard to break that kind of feedback cycle, but Cornell has been at it for 15 years and seems to have largely succeeded. Yeah, there are more distractions nowadays, but I have a hard time believing there is something intrinsically different nowadays about getting 10% of the student body to watch a 2½ hour hockey game 15 times a year. The feeling I get from Lynah when I go now is mostly "meh". The energy simply isn't there. The energy is what got me going to the games in the first place. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

[Trotsky]

I heard the people in D were told they had to sit. Not sure if that came from people in C or E complaining, but there it is.

I believe that.  Six years ago, I had seats in D, and a friend really got on the opposing goalie at the start of the 2nd.  Kind of a quiet time before the period started, and my friend just was going on and on about how much the goalie sucked.  No swearing, nothing offensive, but a lot of loud, insistent insults.  An usher came over and told him to stop, and we were pretty shocked.

The last time I was at Lynah a few years ago, one of the colossal douchebags threatened to throw my friend out if he didn't remove his hat during the national anthem. Now, your opinion on removing one's hat during the national anthem aside, what this situation really pointed out to me is that there are too many ushers with not enough actual work to do that they feel a need to micromanage individual behavior that isn't a danger to anyone else or physically disruptive of the game (e.g., throwing objects onto the ice), the only things they really should be involved in. IMO, they really need to go fuck themselves, and next time one of them accosts me I will seek Phil out and tell him so myself even if I get banned from the rink forever.

15 years of family friendly policies have almost certainly contributed to the decline of the Lynah atmosphere: forgive me for sounding like the old man I am, but the atmosphere in the rink really was a lot better objectively when I was a student. Students got there earlier; there were a lot more of them; and they were louder (and mostly in sync). Unlike (say) opinions of whether our chants were better than those of the kids today, these things are measurable and in decline.

I'm even older than you (so, hey, grave dibs!) and I'll go 50% of the way to agreement.  The ushers can overreact and that's obviously not good, and since they have to deal with hundreds of people in a section they sometimes enforce first and think later.  Still, they are not autonomous.  They have to listen to university suits who in turn have to listen to the kind of people who write into newspapers and express outrage that girls' ankles are now clearly visible and WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?!!!???!

So the relationship between the ushers and the fans has always been a negotiation.  As a rule, the ushers want absolutely nothing less than to get into confrontations with students, but they will get in a shit ton of trouble if some drunken frat boy yelling THE REF FUCKS SHEEP at the top of his lungs topples over and squashes an 8-year old.  The usher isn't setting policy, he's interpreting it, and generally speaking if you demonstrate that you're not THAT GUY, you can stand, chant, and be a good loud wonderfully obnoxious Lynah fan. The Powers That Be don't give a shit whether the rink is quiet or loud; they just don't want to be a party to a lawsuit that claims they didn't do enough to protect Little Betty Sue from being assaulted by Delta McBrofuck.