>Date:    Wed, 20 Nov 1996 09:56:35 CST
>From:    Ken Pavelle <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Harvard Men 2 - Brown 1
>
>As a Cornell fan, this scenario makes me think of one name:  Brian
>McCutcheon.  He recruited some great talent, but nonetheless almost
>killed the Cornell hockey tradition.  A new coach comes in, and POOF -
>the players are playing at, if not beyond their abilities.
 
I don't necessarily think there was anything magical about Cornell's
success last year, nor do I think that it can be solely attributed to new
coaches.  I think that the players' maturity, experience, dedication and
motivation, along with the talent, had much to do with their success (yes,
obviously the coaches do play a role in this).  In speaking with some of
the upperclassmen, they themselves understood that there might be a couple
of rocky years at first and it would take some fortitude to get through it,
but that they could expect better things during their junior/senior years
(this would have been last year).  This was discussed BEFORE McCutcheon
ever left and Schafer started.  I'm not defending McCutcheon, nor am I
discounting what Schafer has done (I don't know either of them); I'm just
saying that I think there's a lot more to a team's success than just a
change in coaches.
 
Just my two cents...
Kim
 
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