I was wondering if John H or anyone else in Ann Arbor listened to the
Tuesday radio talk show with Red Berenson. I didn't but would like to
find out what sparked Red to 'blast' (according to the Ann Arbor News
report) the Wisconsin hockey program. I can't believe Red would be this
vocal over the game loss, or could it be that he is so upset that one of
his top penalty killers and enforcers, Rick Willis, can't play in tonights
game against W Mich because of a fight that happened in the Wisconsin game?-)
 
Maybe an explanation for Red's outburst could be found by examining
back when he played for the Wolverines from 1959-62. But, I believe
Wisconsin didn't have a hockey program back then. Perhaps we need to
look at when Red first started coaching for the Wolverines in 1984?
Well, Michigan had left the WCHA in 1980 to join the CCHA, and whatever
intense and colorful rivalry existed between the two schools may have
already died down by then.
 
I remember attending the last two games when Michigan and Wisconsin met
which the article mentioned. One was at Albany, the other at Joe Louis.
Talk about great heart-wrentching/pounding games. But, according to my
father-in-law, who is an old army buddy of Bill Beagan (CCHA commissioner)
BTW, the most dramatic of the Michigan/Wisconsin rivaly would have to be
in 1977 at the Olympia Stadium in Detroit. It was for the NCAA championship!
Michigan sent the game into over-time with a three goal rally in the
third period only to have the Badgers to turn the tide back and quickly
win it all with just a half minute played in the extra period...
 
To me it sounds like Red is just trying to find a way to revive the old
Badger/Wolverine rivalry, and the News reporter misquoted Red or blew it
out of proportion. I don't know...but the whole purpose of the College
Hockey Showcase for the next four years is to renew the rivalries between
the four "Big Ten" schools. It's a good chance that Michigan and Wisconsin
could meet up again this season in the tournament, if not then Red and
his boys will have to wait 'til next Thanksgiving weekend where the stage
will be set in Gopherland, at the St. Paul Civic Centre. Could be a long wait...
 
MC
--                |"Men loud against all forms of power --    |  The
Mike Collingridge |   Unfurnish'd brows, tempestuous tongues, | Coach
Disclaimer: Any   | Expecting all things in an hour --        |  and
views expressed   |   Brass mouths and iron lungs!"           |Referee
are only my own.  |  -- Alfred, Lord Tennyson's _Freedom_     |Conflict