NCAA QF - Denver

[BearLover]

"Can't we pull one damn upset" just doesn't rock my world the way "Clemsoning" became a synonym for choking until they finally won one. Yes, I want to win a championship but there have been two teams in my life that I thought were actually reasonably capable of it. One lost in the semifinals and one was taken away BY THE GLOBALISTS.

This is pretty much where I land too - with the exception that, maybe just because of how exactly it fell out, 2006 feels to me like the third great lost opportunity. Could we actually have beaten Maine and BC in Milwaukee?

One thing about 2005 and 2006 is that, even though we had really good teams those years, we were outmatched in the quarterfinals against Minn/Wisco. (At least, that's what the box scores say—I wasn't following Cornell hockey yet.) How many times have we been in the NCAA quarters and played well enough that we deserved to win (or at least been 50/50)? At least since I've been a fan, for Bemidji, Ferris State, and yesterday that was the case. To come away with zero frozen four appearances even just with respect to these three games is heartbreaking.

[Beeeej]

"Can't we pull one damn upset" just doesn't rock my world the way "Clemsoning" became a synonym for choking until they finally won one. Yes, I want to win a championship but there have been two teams in my life that I thought were actually reasonably capable of it. One lost in the semifinals and one was taken away BY THE GLOBALISTS.

This is pretty much where I land too - with the exception that, maybe just because of how exactly it fell out, 2006 feels to me like the third great lost opportunity. Could we actually have beaten Maine and BC in Milwaukee?

All the Wisconsin fans to RichH and me in Milwaukee: "That was the real championship. Here, let me buy you a beer."

Same - every Wisconsin fan who saw my Cornell sweater said either that, or something like "That was the best game I've ever seen and it's a shame anybody had to lose it."

[Scersk '97]

One thing about 2005 and 2006 is that, even though we had really good teams those years, we were outmatched in the quarterfinals against Minn/Wisco. (At least, that's what the box scores say—I wasn't following Cornell hockey yet.) How many times have we been in the NCAA quarters and played well enough that we deserved to win (or at least been 50/50)? At least since I've been a fan, for Bemidji, Ferris State, and yesterday that was the case. To come away with zero frozen four appearances even just with respect to these three games is heartbreaking.

Wisconsin was a great team. Regarding Minnesota in 2005, I have anger. The last great home ice screw job. ::cuss::

[Beeeej]

"Can't we pull one damn upset" just doesn't rock my world the way "Clemsoning" became a synonym for choking until they finally won one. Yes, I want to win a championship but there have been two teams in my life that I thought were actually reasonably capable of it. One lost in the semifinals and one was taken away BY THE GLOBALISTS.

This is pretty much where I land too - with the exception that, maybe just because of how exactly it fell out, 2006 feels to me like the third great lost opportunity. Could we actually have beaten Maine and BC in Milwaukee?

One thing about 2005 and 2006 is that, even though we had really good teams those years, we were outmatched in the quarterfinals against Minn/Wisco. (At least, that's what the box scores say—I wasn't following Cornell hockey yet.) How many times have we been in the NCAA quarters and played well enough that we deserved to win (or at least been 50/50)? At least since I've been a fan, for Bemidji, Ferris State, and yesterday that was the case. To come away with zero frozen four appearances even just with respect to these three games is heartbreaking.

If you can find video somewhere, watch the 2006 Wisconsin game. I don't care what it looked like on paper.

[arugula]

"Can't we pull one damn upset" just doesn't rock my world the way "Clemsoning" became a synonym for choking until they finally won one. Yes, I want to win a championship but there have been two teams in my life that I thought were actually reasonably capable of it. One lost in the semifinals and one was taken away BY THE GLOBALISTS.

This is pretty much where I land too - with the exception that, maybe just because of how exactly it fell out, 2006 feels to me like the third great lost opportunity. Could we actually have beaten Maine and BC in Milwaukee?

One thing about 2005 and 2006 is that, even though we had really good teams those years, we were outmatched in the quarterfinals against Minn/Wisco. (At least, that's what the box scores say—I wasn't following Cornell hockey yet.) How many times have we been in the NCAA quarters and played well enough that we deserved to win (or at least been 50/50)? At least since I've been a fan, for Bemidji, Ferris State, and yesterday that was the case. To come away with zero frozen four appearances even just with respect to these three games is heartbreaking.

Exactly.

[arugula]

So for whom to root today?  Jack or Zach?

[BearLover]

So for whom to root today?  Jack or Zach?

This is why we needed Wisconsin to win last round.

[ugarte]

"Can't we pull one damn upset" just doesn't rock my world the way "Clemsoning" became a synonym for choking until they finally won one. Yes, I want to win a championship but there have been two teams in my life that I thought were actually reasonably capable of it. One lost in the semifinals and one was taken away BY THE GLOBALISTS.

This is pretty much where I land too - with the exception that, maybe just because of how exactly it fell out, 2006 feels to me like the third great lost opportunity. Could we actually have beaten Maine and BC in Milwaukee?

One thing about 2005 and 2006 is that, even though we had really good teams those years, we were outmatched in the quarterfinals against Minn/Wisco. (At least, that's what the box scores say—I wasn't following Cornell hockey yet.) How many times have we been in the NCAA quarters and played well enough that we deserved to win (or at least been 50/50)? At least since I've been a fan, for Bemidji, Ferris State, and yesterday that was the case. To come away with zero frozen four appearances even just with respect to these three games is heartbreaking.

Exactly.

It is, it is. But I don't feel the pain cumulatively. It's disappointing every time but not devastating beyond the immediate aftermath. 2003 still hurts. I feel Baby's shot hitting that mask deep in my soul. 2006 too, tbh, but I didn't go into that one expecting to win. So it hurts too, but it isn't the same.

[arugula]

So for whom to root today?  Jack or Zach?

This is why we needed Wisconsin to win last round.

I'm going Jack. Several reasons.  I hate Q,I don't hate BC, a good client and friend is a loyal BC guy, two of my all time favorites-Leetch and Krieder went to BC, and when my daughter, CAS '25, was looking at colleges, she and we all loved BC.

[Trotsky]

Q students are fine, Q as an institution of higher learning sucks.

BC students suck, BC as an institution of higher learning is fine.

[Chris '03]

"Can't we pull one damn upset" just doesn't rock my world the way "Clemsoning" became a synonym for choking until they finally won one. Yes, I want to win a championship but there have been two teams in my life that I thought were actually reasonably capable of it. One lost in the semifinals and one was taken away BY THE GLOBALISTS.

This is pretty much where I land too - with the exception that, maybe just because of how exactly it fell out, 2006 feels to me like the third great lost opportunity. Could we actually have beaten Maine and BC in Milwaukee?

One thing about 2005 and 2006 is that, even though we had really good teams those years, we were outmatched in the quarterfinals against Minn/Wisco. (At least, that's what the box scores say—I wasn't following Cornell hockey yet.) How many times have we been in the NCAA quarters and played well enough that we deserved to win (or at least been 50/50)? At least since I've been a fan, for Bemidji, Ferris State, and yesterday that was the case. To come away with zero frozen four appearances even just with respect to these three games is heartbreaking.

Exactly.

It is, it is. But I don't feel the pain cumulatively. It's disappointing every time but not devastating beyond the immediate aftermath. 2003 still hurts. I feel Baby's shot hitting that mask deep in my soul. 2006 too, tbh, but I didn't go into that one expecting to win. So it hurts too, but it isn't the same.

Agree. The flurry at the end yesterday gave me flashbacks to Mike Ayers' facemask.

I think the extent to the gut punch is a combination of expectations going in, opportunity at the time, and gravity of the situation. For me, I was happy to pull hard for Cornell and believe they could win while knowing that they were not favored and certainly wouldn't be favored to win either of the next two. It was less of a gut punch than:

2003 UNH (facemask and not a high stick)
2002 Harvard (Tyler kolarik)
2006 Wisco (jack skille)
2005 Minnesota (tallackson)

Each of those denied a bona fide championship opportunity.

 I'd put 2009 Syracuse and 2007 Duke lax games on that list too.  Both were worse to me than the Maryland game.

The loss yesterday feels disappointing on par with BU last year and UNH in 2002 in the grand scheme of things. Games against better teams  we hoped were winnable, played tight to the end, and came up short. It hurts more because it was close.  It wasn't a shocking outcome and comes on the heels of an ECAC Title and with extraordinary potential going forward just three years removed from a canceled season. Not many teams make back to back QFs. Fewer do it shortly after the season is canceled while 50 other teams play on.

[scoop85]

"Can't we pull one damn upset" just doesn't rock my world the way "Clemsoning" became a synonym for choking until they finally won one. Yes, I want to win a championship but there have been two teams in my life that I thought were actually reasonably capable of it. One lost in the semifinals and one was taken away BY THE GLOBALISTS.

This is pretty much where I land too - with the exception that, maybe just because of how exactly it fell out, 2006 feels to me like the third great lost opportunity. Could we actually have beaten Maine and BC in Milwaukee?

One thing about 2005 and 2006 is that, even though we had really good teams those years, we were outmatched in the quarterfinals against Minn/Wisco. (At least, that's what the box scores say—I wasn't following Cornell hockey yet.) How many times have we been in the NCAA quarters and played well enough that we deserved to win (or at least been 50/50)? At least since I've been a fan, for Bemidji, Ferris State, and yesterday that was the case. To come away with zero frozen four appearances even just with respect to these three games is heartbreaking.

Exactly.

It is, it is. But I don't feel the pain cumulatively. It's disappointing every time but not devastating beyond the immediate aftermath. 2003 still hurts. I feel Baby's shot hitting that mask deep in my soul. 2006 too, tbh, but I didn't go into that one expecting to win. So it hurts too, but it isn't the same.

Agree. The flurry at the end yesterday gave me flashbacks to Mike Ayers' facemask.

I think the extent to the gut punch is a combination of expectations going in, opportunity at the time, and gravity of the situation. For me, I was happy to pull hard for Cornell and believe they could win while knowing that they were not favored and certainly wouldn't be favored to win either of the next two. It was less of a gut punch than:

2003 UNH (facemask and not a high stick)
2002 Harvard (Tyler kolarik)
2006 Wisco (jack skille)
2005 Minnesota (tallackson)

Each of those denied a bona fide championship opportunity.

 I'd put 2009 Syracuse and 2007 Duke lax games on that list too.  Both were worse to me than the Maryland game.

The loss yesterday feels disappointing on par with BU last year and UNH in 2002 in the grand scheme of things. Games against better teams  we hoped were winnable, played tight to the end, and came up short. It hurts more because it was close.  It wasn't a shocking outcome and comes on the heels of an ECAC Title and with extraordinary potential going forward just three years removed from a canceled season. Not many teams make back to back QFs. Fewer do it shortly after the season is canceled while 50 other teams play on.

What adds to the frustration of a QF loss is that we miss out on the 2 full weeks of relishing the two wins in the Regionals and anticipating our next game against what is usually a blue blood opponent in the FF. As great as the Maine win was, now it seems almost like a distant memory.

[imafrshmn]

I thought we acquitted ourselves well, but from my view in the stands, it certainly felt like Denver was the better and faster team. Their forecheck was awesome, and it seemed we never had any time or space. I'd be curious what the possession numbers looked like for the game. Good season though, and looking forward to the future.l

This. They were able to say, especially after they got up, "we'll let you take your time on your breakouts, because you're not going to generate any speed in the neutral zone and have effective rushes." Their team speed hampered our ability to play our game.

[RichH]

"Can't we pull one damn upset" just doesn't rock my world the way "Clemsoning" became a synonym for choking until they finally won one. Yes, I want to win a championship but there have been two teams in my life that I thought were actually reasonably capable of it. One lost in the semifinals and one was taken away BY THE GLOBALISTS.

This is pretty much where I land too - with the exception that, maybe just because of how exactly it fell out, 2006 feels to me like the third great lost opportunity. Could we actually have beaten Maine and BC in Milwaukee?

All the Wisconsin fans to RichH and me in Milwaukee: "That was the real championship. Here, let me buy you a beer."

Every damn one of them. Wearing a CU sweater was a ticket to drinking for free all week. Probably the best true consolation prize ever.

[arugula]

Q students are fine, Q as an institution of higher learning sucks.

BC students suck, BC as an institution of higher learning is fine.

Why do the BC students suck?  The few alumni I know are fantastic.