I was at DU Arena for the 1976 FF [following the Brown Bears who lost
the semi in 2OT to Michigan Tech (6-7) and then nipped BU, 8-7, in the
conso].  I can verify the accuracy of everything that Ed has written below
about the events which took place early in the first period of the semi
between Minny and BU.  I have never had any respect for Herb Brooks (God
rest his soul) since that day as the entire fracas seemed transparently
premeditated to deprive the Terriers of their captain/best player.  The
Gophers' gameplan succeeded and they went on to claim the national
championship, however tainted it was and still is.

You asked for it, Carl.


Bill Corrigan

LET'S GO BRUNO!
2003-04 Ivy Hockey Champions
2004 UConn Hockey Classic Champions
2005 Mayor's Cup Game Champions



on 2/15/05 4:22 PM, Moller Edward N at [log in to unmask] wrote:

> Prior to the opening faceoff of the semifinal game between BU and UMTC,
> Herb Brooks instructed his top goon, Russ Anderson, to remove BU's top
> player from the game, captain Terry Meagher (now the head coach at
> Bowdoin).  Anderson complied, by engaging Meagher in a slashing duel.
> The two skated to their respective penalty boxes, which were beside the
> Minnesota bench.  The officials had to escort the players, but that did
> not stop Brooks from bombarding Meagher with obscenities, while the UMTC
> trainer called Meagher a frog and spat towards him.  [Meagher is
> Canadian but he is not French.  Frog is equivalent to the N word in
> Canada.]  This caused fisticuffs to ensue, and both Meagher and Anderson
> were ejected.  Nothing happened to Brooks and I can't recall whether any
> penalties were assessed to the trainer.  Not a bad deal from Minnesota's
> perspective:  a goon for a key player.  All the while the Minnesota band
> played the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
>
> The 1976 Frozen Four title should not be a source of pride for the
> Gopher faithful.  There is no honor in that banner.  It demonstrated
> team and fan behavior at their worst, ranging from poor sportsmanship to
> out and out bigotry.  29 years later it is largely forgotten, in no
> small part because it wasn't televised.  Imagine the reation if
> something like that happened today.  I am confident however that it
> won't.



> In the interest of full disclosure, I was born & raised in MN, went to
> BU, and was 6 in 1976.  I just see an interesting story coming up...

> Carl Ford
> [log in to unmask]