Schafer Suspended One Game

[jy3]

i think i should email coach and tell him i have an extra section A ticket for him for friday - maybe he can wear a mask like bobby valentine i think he just cant be on the bench. but i am not sure.

ok so this all means that we need to make a sign. any ideas? i have all day friday

[Will]

How about, "Free Schafer!"  Okay, it doesn't really make sense, but it might look cool anyway. ;-)

[RedAR]

But there are league rules and regulations, and from what I understand, anyone who is a representative for the league (including coaches) are not permitted to criticize the officiating.  The rule was in effect before Schafer spoke his mind.

Schafer knew the rules, which, for me, makes his outburst much more than simply out of frustration after a loss.

[Jeff Hopkins \'82]

Free Hat!

[Ben Doyle 03]

somehow i doubt that...:-D

[crodger1]

Dunno.

Maybe he'll watch on I2Sports.  And perhaps join us in the chat?

[ugarte]

RedAR wrote:Schafer knew the rules, which, for me, makes his outburst much more than simply out of frustration after a loss.

I agree.  I think he knew he would get suspended but thought that something had to be done to protect his players.  I respect that.

[ericho_4511]

If I have one complaint about Schafer's coaching, it's that he seems to complain and get on the refs A LOT during games.  I think it has cost the team at times when the refs seem to be determined not to make a call that would be viewed (by the other team) as a direct response to his complaints. All of a sudden the whistle seems to be stuck in the ref's pocket and only the most egregious calls are made.  (Maybe Schafer like the games played that way because he thinks/knows we have a physical advantage?)

I always wonder if there is a cumulative effect.  Does it carry over to the next Cornell game the guy officiates?  I don't know.  

Schafer proabably deserves the suspension but if it got the attention of the league then maybe that's a good thing in the long run. Hopefully, he got it out of his system and there won't be any petty retribution by the refs.

[Greg Berge]

Eric, I think it works in the opposite manner.  Look at the success Jack Parker has had over the years continually getting all over officials.  He's intimidated them to the point where if anything BU gets the benefit of the doubt.  The same was true of Cleary with Harvard and Walsh with Maine.

Granted a coach has to have a degree of gravitas and not just be a shrieker (cough Toots Cahoon).   But whining when done well can help direct the ref's attention to, um..., deficiencies.

[Josh '99]

jy3 wrote:
... maybe he can wear a mask like bobby valentine

I would pay real money to see that.   ::laugh::

[Mr. Timekeeper]

Well-said in today's Ithaca Journal:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/news/stories/20040122/opinion/271534.html

[crodger1]

Greg Berge '85 wrote:

Noel was real supportive. ::rolleyes::

Cough tool uncough...

It's like that old hockey joke...

"Your goalie [substitute "Schafer" here] should get himself a good lawyer and sue for lack of support."

It sure seems to me that Noel could have reasonably balanced his statement with something like: "blah blah blah inappropriate blah blah blah reprimand.  Nevertheless, we appreciate Coach Schafer's concern for the welfare of student athletes and have no doubt that the ECAC will continue to work to ensure that the players are appropriately protected."

[CUlater 89]

Perhaps Andy recognizes that the league prefers that such talk be done behind the scenes, rather than in the public forum.

And I'm sure that he has told Mike that he agrees with the sentiment, just not the manner and place.

[Jim Hyla]

Longer column on this in the IJ from Monday http://www.theithacajournal.com/news/stories/20040119/localsports/254061.html

[BigD]

Personally, I think it's about time someone spoke out publicly and I'm glad Schafer finally took the bull by the horns and said what had to be said. After watching ECAC hockey for almost 20 years, I believe that the quality of officiating has never been great, but has declined noticeably in recent years rather than improved. My concern has always been the safety of the athletes and I often wonder that they continue to play sometimes when it is clear the people charged with their care on the ice just don't seem to care. Thank you, Mike! I just hope the ECAC is really paying attention and does something about it.