John and Dave have both brought differing views on the OSU-UM series this past weekend, especially involving the 'cheap' shot(s) that were taken. To add, yet , another perspective, I'll comment alittle on what has become tradition in the CCHA playoffs, especially in the first round. This may help explanin(not excuse) some of the activities that took place at Yost. In best of three series of the first round, over the years CCHA fans have come to see this type of cheap play, usually in the second game of the series, from the team that is about to be eliminated. Over the years I have seen Miami, OSU, and Ferris State exhibit this type of cheap shot play when the score in the second game gets out of reach. The players on the soon-to-be-sitting-home team take cheap shots and usually start fights. They seem to take the attitute that it's their last game, so why not take out season long frustrations on opposing players(I'm sure that some of the frustration comes from taunting by players about to advance in the playoffs). Anyway, usually you see someone from the losing team start a fight so that the player from the winning team gets to sit out the first game at Joe Louis Arena. The CCHA bans a player from playing in their next game when ejected for fighting. Over the years, Ferris State has become quite good at this. I'm not implying that they performed this way against MSU this year or that they are the only ones who do this. But, they just stand out in my mind. So, tying this back to the OSU-UM series. It's possible that the number of OSU penalties and 'cheap' shots in the game were a result of this sad CCHA 'tradition' combined I'm sure with a little UM taunting. ___________________________________________________________________________ Paul Marchant | The other FINAL FOUR! | (513) 865 - 1637 Mead Data Central | April 2-4 Albany, NY | Data Technology P.O. Box 933 | The BEST OF THE BEST in | [log in to unmask] Dayton, OH 45401 | NCAA Hockey | ...!uunet!meaddata!paulm