AMEN, BROTHER DERON

From Lindsay and Dan.
-------
Lindsay A. Huntoon
Let's Go Maine Black Bears



>
> From today's Portland Press Herald, Colin Shields says:
> "We were a little lackadaisical," Maine forward Colin Shields said. "When
> you play a team that is not your biggest rival, there is a letdown, and we
> let down a little bit too much. You can't expect to go out and just win."
>
> ---
>
> So let me get this straight.. in the media all week we see Tim Whitehead
> publicy guarding against a "let down" and he mentions how he's been clear
> to point that out to his players.
>
> Then we see that, apparently, leaders like Colin Shields feel it is ok to
> let down, a little, as long as you don't let down too much.  That's ok,
> you see, because UMass-Lowell isn't a big rival of Maine's.  No Colin, you
> are right, you can't just expect to go out there and win... so why does it
> happen?
>
> I'd like to point something out to Mr. Shields and the rest of his "let
> down a little" buddies... the success of this Maine team is truly based on
> their hard work, consistently for 60 minutes each game.  In case they
> haven't noticed, they are not exactly burning holes in the back of
> opposing nets.  This team cannot afford to be picking and choosing which
> games they get up for and which games they take it easy.
>
> Why am I so fired up about this?  Because March is hours away and if we
> all recall, we got a little too.. lackadasical.. at the end of last year
> that prompted a quick HE exit (at home, to one of those schools not
> considered a rival) and then a trip out west to play Michigan in their own
> building and a one-and-out NCAA Tournament experience.  This is not the
> time to be letting down at any level.
>
> It seems that we've had this discussion before, on more than one occasion,
> has the message not been clear?  What is this showing the younger players?
>
> The point is, to truly be a championship team you have to stay focused and
> take care of business.  Yes, you are going to have off nights and lose
> games.  But last night, there is absolutely NO excuse to come out flat and
> not hyped.  You still had a chance to win a championship (regular season
> title).  Not only did they not get it done, they didn't seem to really
> care (Aw shucks, we just let down.)  That's a poor excuse.
>
> Don't get me wrong, Maine has had a great year and if it ended today I'd
> call it satisfactory (despite not winning the title).  But this idea that
> we can pick and choose when we play hard is not the MAINE that I grew up
> on and is much closer to some of our underachieving brothers to the
> southwest.  I don't like how this idea is tollerated.
>
> -Deron