>During the weekend trip to Kalamazoo and Chicago I noticed fans from both
>Western and UIC that were criticizing (to put it very nicely) Michigan State's
>head coach Ron Mason.
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>                            I have heard people have grudges about schools or
>teams, but never about a head coach really.
    Been reading the Shawn Walsh stories lately??  To hear some tell it, Walsh
is the next thing to the Anti-Christ.  He's been blamed for everything from
violations that were not even vaguely his fault, or responsibility, to ordering
an extra man on the ice at a second's notice to break up a rush.  It got a bit
ridiculous for awhile.  Now, there's a coach that people hold a grudge against.
 
>                                                   Is it jealousy or
>something?
   Possibly.  MSU is good nearly every year, (There was 91-92) and it can be
frustrating for those teams in the league who, like Western, are pretty
good every year but can't seem to quite catch the big boys.  There isn't a lot
of anti-Mason sentiment in Sault Ste. Marie, for example.  This is partly
because he used to coach there, but a big part of it is because they have a
successful program.(michigan has one, too, but they just hate anything about
MSU)  I can't explain why he would be unpopular in Chicago.  If it were merely
jealousy of a more successful program, then they'd have to spread it around
more.  Who knows?  As long as he keeps winning, I'm happy.
                                                          --Steve Moerland
                                                            MSU '92, UK '95