Subject:  Re: Maine vs. Michigan

Sorry Wayne, Ryan is about the last guy I'd put a C on.  He can't control himself, never mind the team.  I think that was part of this years problem, no control of the team by the team.  I don't think I'd have put it on Heisten, nothing against him, I like him and all, but when you get suspended from the beginning of the season as the C, your not exactly leading by example.  And as the messages go, you can see most people felt that leadership was a major problem this year.  Marty would have been a higher choice.  All this of course is IMHO.

As far as Deron's comment goes, I'd like to forget it in a lot of ways too.  It had a great begining, but had an all new attitude.  Something was very different about it, something missing?  Something, just not right.  A good year in some ways and not so good in others.  I don't know.  I guess we all knew deep down inside that this was'nt going to be it, but we all held our hopes up. Too bad for Marty, would have liked to see him get more from his four years.  Class family in a class program.  They will be missed.

>>> [log in to unmask] 03/31/03 10:48AM >>>
...
>not think that the turnover is bad, because this year was an atypical
>year for the program and I'd just as soon have it be forgotten.

Ouch!

24-10-5, and you'd "just as soon have it be forgotten"?!  Are you from
Minnesota or something?  ;-)

We just had a terrific season - one that may not be matched for some
years.

Maybe we should look back at pre-season and the expectations we had,
rather than the mid-season expectations?

As to this year's team, I wonder if here wasn't significant burnout.
Last year we had the memory of Coach Walsh and a few terrific senior
leaders.  Both were missing, so what took their place?  As typical fans,
we don't get to see the inner workings of the team;  I don't know how it
worked, but we saw a huge difference in confidence, in game results and
how many just "held themselves", in 2003.

Even without a loss to the pros, next season may have 50% new players.
(Hopefully the returning players will have shed the 50% that was up
tight or not confident).  :-)

A good questions is "Who will be captain next year?" I'm hoping for
Prestin Ryan, but then he would have been my captain this year.

Finally, thanks Jon for your tribute to Marty and the other Kariya's.
What a family;  what great student athletes;  how lucky we were to have
them attend and play for Maine!

cheers, wayne

Wayne T. Smith
[log in to unmask]                          Old Town Landing
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