Before I am accused of overkill in my comments to the OSU SID I will post
the following and make myself very clear.
 
"Date: Sat, 13 Jan 1996 22:24:26 -0500 (EST)
From: [log in to unmask]
To: Hockey Info <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: BGSU-6,OSU-4. Section E-1, OSU coach-0.
 
The Bowling Green State University Falcons beat the Ohio State buckeyes
6-4 at the BGSU Ice Arena tonight.
 
And let me say that I have seen players become emotional over a loss, and
I have seen this people say things, and make hand gestures that I am sure
their mothers would not approve of.  And I have seen Section Es for-most
heckler get a rise out of a number of coaches.  But I have never heard
such dirty language out of the mouth of a coach, as I heard from Ohio
State's head coach tonight.  Any coach that can not keep his mouth shut,
or be professional enough to walk away after a game and go on to say some
of the things this guy did is indeed a sad sight.  I am sure he will
reflect on that during the long trip back to Ohio State.
 
 
Date: Sun, 14 Jan 1996 00:52:27 -0500
From: "Dean A. Bell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list INFO-HOCKEY-L
     <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: BGSU / OSU Re-Cap
 
 
One OSU note:  I don't know what Todd Compeau said to Piotrowski
tonight, but it earned him a 10 minute misconduct and a game DQ.
I can't think of the last time someone got the DQ for just their mouth
(must have been a good one).  Apparently, he learns it from Coach
Markell, though, he was verbally abusing one of the fans, and darn
near came after him at the end of the game - just goes to show the
apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
 
_________
These are the comments posted following the game.  I will now break John
Patterson's post down piece by piece.
__________
 
"Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 00:14:55 -0500
From: John Patterson <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list HOCKEY-L <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Ohio State/BGSU game
 
At this weekend's Ohio State/BGSU game, Ohio State's head coach John
Markell exchanged words with a BGSU fan at the end of the game. This was
reported on in several posts to this discussion group.
 
To set the record straight, the "fan" was extremely vocal and degrading
every time the team went by his area (before and after every period).'
___
Is their an arena in the sport of hockey, where fans do not heckle the
opposing team as it enters and leaves the ice?  As for degrading, I can
say that the comment was very sarcastic, and definitely caught Markell's
attention as he went onto the ice for the third period.  But it did not
involve a personal attack, or foul language, or anything that might
warrant his reaction at the end of the game.
___
 
"For anyone who was there, this was a very close game that could have
gone either way. The last-second empty net goal makes the score seem a
little further apart, but I don't think there wasn't a BG fan that wasn't
sweating the last five minutes.'
 
___
I won't bother to nit pick.  I am sure the OSU perspective is much
different than ours.
___
 
"Anyway, here's what happened at the end of the game:  as Ohio State was
leaving the ice, the heckler leaned over the glass and started yelling at
Coach Markell. '
 
___
By using the word "yelling" you seem to imply that the fan in question
was constantly casting remarks at Markell.  This was not the case.  The
individual in question made a comment relating to the one made as Markell
stepped onto the ice at the beginning of the third period.  It amounted
to "I told you so."  This began Markell's reaction which continued for
nearly a minute.
___
 
"Some of the choice comments included "You guys are a bunch of f***ing
lowlifes," etc. This person was also spitting in the coach's direction.'
 
___
I don't know who told you this, but it was not true.  The Fan in question
is a respected member of the BGSU hockey and university community, as is
his family.  Never, and I mean without exception, has he ever once used
profanity of any kind in his comments.  His strength and one of the
reasons the younger fans and students respect him as we do, is the fact
that he can disarm somebody with a simple comment, without resorting to
vulgarities.  And spitting?  We are loud, and we are passionate about our
hockey here, but we pride ourselves on NOT resorting to such child like
acts.  We told everybody along the rails, and on the staircase
overlooking the exit to the dressing rooms NOT to throw anything or
spit.  However much we may heckle and yell, we still respect our
opponents enough not to do anything like that.
___
 
"Having taken three periods of this, Coach Markell felt the heckler had
crossed the line and yelled back at him (he made a comment about the
heckler's weight). At no point did Coach Markell use profanity, and at no
point did Coach Markell act like he was "about to go into the stands," as
was reported on this discussion group.'
 
____
Once again I will state as I did that night, that I think it is an
demonstration of highly unprofessional behavior and lack of discipline
for a coach to display such lack of control.  And I along with about 30
other people within earshot of the incident can tell you that he most
assuredly used profanity.  Nearly every other word was a colorful
metaphor being used to describe a persons weight.  He did in fact turn
around and take step towards the gate to the seats at one point.  He
stopped.  But it was enough to draw the reaction of the BGSU police
officer standing at the exit to the ice.
____
 
 
"It was only after extreme provocation that the coach said anything at
all, and in fact, if it were not for the spitting, he probably wouldn't
have said anything at all.'
 
____
I think that he understandably was emotional after a hard fought effort
by his team, and slipped.  His team is giving a harder effort than in
years gone by, which no doubt makes it all the harder to lose a game.
____
 
"Coach Markell regrets that he got caught up in the heat of the moment,
and he apologizes to the other fans in the area who supported their team
with dignity. As most of you probably know, John is a graduate of BGSU
and is one of the best players to ever come out of that school. He enjoys
going back there to play and has fond memories of his days there as a
player.'
 
____
I am sure he does, as I stated that night.  Though he did not apologize
to those of us in that area, he may well have done so to those near the
dressing room.
 
Markell is indeed an alum of the BGSU and it's hockey program.  I think
that fact made it all the more difficult for him that night.  It can not
feel good to be heckled playing at his alma mater.  We are proud that he
has gone on to become a head coach of a Div. 1 team.  Anytime a school
wants to upgrade it's personnel, we are happy to help.
____
 
"At the same time, Coach Markell feels that there is a difference between
supporting your team, joking about the opposition, and degrading and
spitting on the opposition.
 
Obviously the last item crosses the line of appropriate conduct. The
coach has taken steps to ensure that this will not happen at future
games, including bringing the team through a different gate.'
 
____
Indeed you will find no disagreement at BGSU with that sentiment.  And it
is exactly that which upsets me the most about your post on Hockey-L.
Taken at face value it degrades BGSU, its hockey program, and that
programs fans.  It misleads people on the forum, who have debated and
discussed such conduct at length before, and generally looked down on it,
into thinking that such type of thing happens, or is a standard fixture
of Falcon Hockey.  This is not the case at BGSU.
 
The BGSU Hockey program had humble beginnings, and has developed a strong
history of excellence on and off the ice.  It's fans are loyal, informed,
and I believe to be among the friendliest, and respectful of those the
Falcons play.
 
John Markell is a fine coach, which as I have noted before.  He has done
a good job of restoring some pride in the step of OSU players, and made
the bucks a more competitive team.  He is also a young coach, so I am
sure that in time, like the more experienced coaches throughout the
league, he will shrug comments and hecklers off without reaction.  Ask
Ron Mason, he is a former BGSU head coach, and the MSU Spartans draw far
more heated reaction from the fans than OSU warrants.
____
 
"Finally, let me say that this way really a minor incident in an
otherwise exciting game (that could have been a boring game - Ohio State
came back from a 5-1 deficit to make it 5-4 before the empty netter).
Let's not let it mar an otherwise enjoyable evening.'
 
____
Agreed.  It was a minor incident to most of us, though I can not comment
on what the fan Markell insulted might feel.  We have seen coaches and
players react before following a game.  The evening was fun, and it was
good to see a large crowd on a night when no students were in town.
Likewise the post game Falcon Club party was enjoyable.  I had the
opportunity to talk to several OSU officials that traveled to the game.
The Markell incident was mentioned briefly but did not stand as major
issue to anyone.  We got a laugh out of it, and talked of the one fans
ability to "hit the nail on the head."  Though I didn't pick up a name
from the one person, I may well have spoken to Mr. Patterson that night,
but I don't know if he was present.  These things come and go, and after
this I am content to let it drop, as I was that night as well.
____
 
 
"OTHER GAME NOTES -- Ohio State's first goal was announced as being
scored by Tyler McMillan. It was later changed to Pierre Dufour (his 5th)
with assists from McMillan and Al DiPasquo.
 
Also, OSU winger Todd Compeau was assessed a game misconduct, not a game
DQ. The scorekeeper wrote it down wrong, and the ref corrected it after
the game. It was just your everyday
yapping-a-little-too-much-at-a-ref-that-didn't-want-to-hear-it kind of
thing. It wasn't any big deal, like some others have made it out to be.
 
John Patterson
Ohio State University
Hockey Sports Information Director
(614) 292-6861
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.'
_______
 
My only other comment is that I think that Mr. Patterson is posting based
on second hand information.   Information that I am sure is several hour
old, and unintentionally, and even understandably a little bit biased.  I
have no desire to make this a flame, or to degrade anyone, but I fell I
do have to comment on what was said.
 
 
Nathan W.L. Boyle
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.