\ /
BGSU \ /
Falcon Hockey \ / Forward Falcons
\/
Demand Respect, /\ Terry '92
Earn Fear, / \
Return to Prominence! / \
_____ / \______
\____/ \____/
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 17:15:57 -0500 (EST)
From: Terry L. Burton <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: An Open Response: Ohio State/BGSU game
As an avid reader of the Hockey-L, I am always eager to get to my place
of work and check my E-mail for the daily postings. Although I always enjoy the inside info and
the interesting discussions, I have never felt it necessary to comment
until now.
In the morning issue of the January 16 Hockey-L, Mr. John Patterson, Hockey
Sports Information Director-Ohio State University, wrote an article pertaining
to the events at this past Saturday's Ohio State-BGSU game. As I appear
to be the subject of his posting, I feel obligated to set the record straight.
Mr. Patterson was certainly correct that I, as the elder statesman of the
BGSU Section-E hecklers, did make disparging remarks to OSU team on both
entering and exiting the ice throughout the evening. Unlike most of my
contemporaries in Section-E, I take pride in the fact I do not need to
use profanities to annoy the other team. It seems to me from most of the
players and coaches I have spoken with that there would be few swear words
I could use that they have not heard and used a million times themselves.
I feel it is much more effective to be creative in your comments using
things from their own news clippings such as the coming Value City Arena
(for those that don't know Value City is very low-end discount store,
almost to easy a target for the experienced heckler). Though I do not
doubt Coach Markell heard swearing it would not have been from myself.
OSU players and coaches should not feel singled-out as I would and have
used this same sort of mental abuse with every team (and coach) in the
league. This attempt by me and my section-mates to throw the opposing
players and coaches mentally off-balance is nothing more than that
intangible factor, "home ice" advantage.
In regards to his accusation of spitting, I unquestionably deny that I
would have any part in such an action. Although I too may get very
caught up in the moment, I have enough respect for the game, its players,
and the coaches to know where the line is to be drawn. No fan has the
right to physically act towards anyone associated with the team and I
would be the first to stop any fan I saw doing such a thing. Although I
can accept that Ohio State might not care much for my comments, I will
not stand by and be falsely accused of such actions. At the end of the
game there was a police officer, as well as an usher, standing between
Coach Markell and myself while he exited that would intervene at the first
instance of such action. There are numerous eye witnesses to the
exchange including the above-mentioned officer that could substantiate my
innocence in this matter.
As far as Markell's comments toward me after the game, I believe they were
understandable. Coach Markell has his first opportunity to coach in
Division I and the circumstances of this opportunity are far from
favorable. Ohio State has not had a contending hockey team in any regard
in at least 10 years. It must be frustrating for a rookie coach to have
to try to turn around a program so deep in disrepair. These many
problems however must not be allowed to cloud his professional judgment.
Coach Markell served under Jerry Welsh who was a perfect example of
professionalism even in losing years. I recall an Ohio State game in
1991 where I was using my usual routine of smart comments and sarcasm to
annoy then Coach Welsh and the OSU team. Although BG led the entire
game, Ohio State won the game with a great third period. When Coach
Welsh left the ice he calmly walk over to where I was standing and shook
my hand. He had turn my attempt to heckle his team, into a motivating
factor that helped them win the game. After losses in the BG arena
Coach Welsh would just give me a wink and walk away from my comments.
Coach Markell proved Saturday he has a long way to go in attaining that
level of skill and professionalism.
I have traveled to over 16 of the Division I Hockey schools while
following Bowling Green Hockey and I have seen and heard fans around the
country. Although I like to fancy myself an above average heckler, I
still stand in awe of the fans from Maine, Boston(College or U), and
Wisconsin. These fans understand ,like I, that the role of the fans is to
give the home team as much advantage as possible through distracting the
opposing team from the job at hand. Obviously, Ohio State's coach was
distracted and if this kept him from thinking even for a moment about
hockey I did my JOB. I hope in the future that the OSU hockey staff
(SID included) will do theirs and refrain from unsubstantiated personal
attacks.
\ /
BGSU \ /
Falcon Hockey \ / Forward Falcons
\/
Demand Respect, /\ Terry '92
Earn Fear, / \
Return to Prominence! / \
_____ / \______
\____/ \____/
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