I have to agree with Lindsay that you cannot beat UNH by enough goals (read:
2002 NCAA Semifinals).
Here's my story:
Growing up during the late eighties and early 90s BU was clearly the chief
rival to Maine, most hated and everything. The water bottle incident has
already been mentioned, not to mention all the NCAA sanctions that it is
*rumored* Jack Parker was involved in this, which only added fuel to an
already raging fire. Let us not forget about the rivarly between Parker and
Coach Walsh either. I was there and I was into it. Hated BU like everyone
else.
But Maine served their penalty, Walsh served a suspension, Maine hockey came
back strong and the BU faithful (their fans, etc.) eventually got over
things. Let's also not forget BC was down during some of these years with
their whole Mike Milbury/schoarship issues too, so competively Maine was the
rival of BU too, despite their hatred for BC.
But the UNH faithful never let up on Walsh and Maine. They've had a hockey
program for a long time, but had never achieved the same success Maine had
in a significant shorter period of time. Even when everyone else in the
college hockey world had moved on, the UNH faithful lagged behind.
The rivarly was cemented in Anaheim in 1999 when Maine (and Walsh) with only
16 scholarships (that's two less than UNH) out coached and beat the Wildcats
for the national title. Again, many of the UNH faithful still could not do
anything but show contempt and disrespect for the Maine program. They never
expected to lose that game because they never respected their opponent.
Now, I agree that our opinions are colored by the circles we run in and
people we deal with. If you only know the "good" UNH fans (which there are
many of I am sure) then you will not be as fired up about beating them. I
for one would rather lose to any other college hockey team in the world
before I'd want to lose to UNH, especially in the NCAA Tournament. When UNH
plays BU for any reason, I am all about the scarlet and white.
-dt
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lindsay Huntoon" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 6:29 PM
Subject: Re: Rivals
> I'm the exact opposite (perhaps since I got my Masters' there) - I want
the
> boys to pound UNH into submission and will root for BU when they go
further
> in the tournament than Maine.
>
>
> -------
> Lindsay A. Huntoon
> Let's Go Maine Black Bears
>
>
>
> > From: "Chesley, Clair" <[log in to unmask]>
> > Reply-To: The Maine Hockey Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
> > Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 11:24:41 -0500
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Rivals
> >
> > I agree with Jeff about BU being Maine's biggest rival. UNH is too nice
a
> > team to dislike as much as BU can be disliked! I really don't like the
way
> > BU plays. I've seen too many Maine/BU games not to really want Maine
to
> > bury them every time we play them! And I don't even care if BU is
> > struggling that year I still want them buried! I especially remember
one
> > game at Orono when Maine killed off a 5 minute 5 on 3 BU power play!
The
> > whole arena was electrified from the time I walked in until the end of
the
> > game. It was the most intense and exciting hockey game that I have ever
> > seen in person! Does anyone else remember that game? I don't even
> > remember now what year that was....
> >
> > It's true that UNH is the state right next door but I like UNH. I like
> > their coach. I like Maine a lot better but if Maine doesn't make it as
far
> > in the playoffs I pull for UNH!
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jeffrey Hill [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 7:06 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Concealed
> >
> > Subject: Re: Rivals
> >
> > Agreed, but to us Boston folk, there's nothing better (including sinking
an
> > Eagle) than seeing a Terrier bloodied by a Bear. And on one more note,
I
> > remember Jimmy Montgomery saying with a smile broader than the grand
canyon,
> > "there's no secret that we don't like them, and they don't like us"
talking
> > about the Terrier matches of the 92-93 season.
> >
> >>>> [log in to unmask] 11/18/02 10:07PM >>>
> > Interesting. Self-serving to say the least by the BU guy because for
years
> > I think Maine's rival has become (as it should be) UNH. I think those
two
> > should play a game soon, like maybe Friday in Orono? Sound ok to
everyone?
> > Anyone remember the last time they played?
> >
> > Wasn't Howard recruited by BU, yet chose Maine? Paul Kariya was another
one
> > recruited by BU who ultimately decided on Maine -- and they tried HARD
to
> > land Paul. There are many players recruited by both schools who had to
> > choose between one or the other.
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Bob Fitta" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 9:54 AM
> > Subject: Re: Weekend comment from Boston
> >
> >
> >> Great Weekend in Boston. First chance to see this years team in
> >> action and boy was I impressed. However, still early and next 3
> >> games in HE are vs. UNH and BC, we'll see how things are after
> >> December 7th, but I'm very optimistic.
> >>
> >> Had to share this comment I heard after the game from the BU hockey
> >> announcing team, Bernie Corbett handles the play-by-play, and has
> >> done so for years. His rationale for the BU loss, "BU was flat
> >> coming off emotional loss to BC, and Maine views BU as their rival
> >> and thus was really up for the game" he then added " Also many of
> >> the Maine players feel they have something to proof against BU, since
> >> BU passed them up in the recruiting wars" .
> >>
> >> I guess we get all the BU rejects and that's why Maine's won the last
> >> 3 games! Nice of them to leave us a few morsels!
> >>
> >> Great Weekend, looking forward to more of same in the weeks and months
to
> > come.
> >>
> >> Bob Fitta '83
> >> --
> >> Bob Fitta
> >> Director of Advertising
> >> Harvard Magazine
> >> http://www.harvard-magazine.com
> >> ph (617) 496-6631 fax (617) 495-0324
|
