I usually don't join in, the feelings of the little brother (Bri's words)...
 
>From:         "(Jon Greene)" <[log in to unmask]>
>...it), etc.  Who knows, but Clarkson (I will refrain from modifying a
>respected University's name for purposes of ridicule) has long had a
>reputation for underachieving in the playoffs.  It will be interesting
>to see whether things change now that the ECACs will be in Clarkson's
>back yard.
 
>From:         Beth Weise <[log in to unmask]>
>I will also defend a little...I've also watched Clarkson get the short
>end of the stick in many games...mostly playoffs.  Things like bad calls
>(as in Pierre), other teams taking cheap shots at star players and
>knocking them out of the game.
 
Clarkson was not helped by the fact that ECAC tournaments were held in
the Boston Garden. Clarkson fans (Potsdam is 15 miles from the Canadian border)
have the longest drive of any ECAC school to Boston, plus they often
played against local Boston schools who had tremendous fan support.
 
I remember one ECAC Final against BU in the 1976 or so (Dave Taylor's senior
year) when Clarkson had a 6-3 lead with less than 10 minutes left in the
game. Over the Boston Garden PA we heard: "Would the Clarkson skate sharpener
please report to the Clarkson locker room." Soon thereafter, a penalty was
called on Clarkson, the BU crowd noise escalated, and BU managed to tie and
eventually win 7-6.
 
I think Beth Weise's comment about not playing as a *team* is a good one.
Have there been other Div 1 teams that fared worse in the playoffs than
in the regular season because they were more individuals than a team?
 
Mike Etzel (Clarkson '73 and RPI '74)