A few points about some recent postings:
 
Walt Olson wrote:
 
>Some would also suggest that in the MSU-MTU game, Buzak wasn't tested: MTU
>doesn't play much of an offensive game.  80% of the play was in the MTU
>zone.
 
Beleive me when I tell you that that was a shocker to most Spartan fans, who
have watched their team score a total of SIX goals in the last FOUR games
(which includes two against U-M when the game was out of reach).  If you
haven't noticed unless you look at the Offensive/Defensive Ratings, we don't
play much of an offensive style either (and what offense we do have isn't
that hot).
 
He also wrote:
 
>I might suggest three or four other players for honorable mention (UM's
>Wiseman, MTU Peterson, and MSU's Suk for acting during the MSU-MTU OT,
>:-), as well as the game-winning goal.)
 
Considering that probably half of the penalties called in hockey involve
some kind of acting, this isn't too bad of a statement.  We're just amazed
that Suk got the game-winner, since he is notoriously reluctant to shoot on
the power play (not a great characteristic for someone who plays the point).
 
John Haeussler wrote:
 
>Maybe someone should call Bob Mancini at Michigan Tech and tell him not to
>worry about MTU's 3-2 OT loss to the Spartans because it didn't mean any-
>thing.  And since the GLI is Tech's tourney (with Michigan the current co-
>host), why bother even inviting MSU if Mason doesn't give a damn?  Attendance
>will still be high with MTU and UM.  Add two of the following: Bowling Green,
>Lake Superior, Northern Michigan, Notre Dame--- it'll still be a great
>tournament.
 
Not quite.  While the teams John mentions (esp. the two UP schools) have
great hockey traditions and are usually among the top 10 in the country,
(except for Notre Dame) they are NOT Michigan State.  Will is still be a
good tournament without MSU? Probably.  A great tournament? No.  While
John's definition of a great tournament (2 UM blowouts, I would presume)
is a little different from mine, most people from other schools are going
to travel to the Joe to see their teams get flambeed?  Not!!!  Will attend-
ance be good without MSU? Probably.  As high as it is now? No.  MSU is a
drawing card, win, lose, or draw.  If you can find another school that has
over 40,000 students within 100 miles of Detroit that has as many alumni in
the Detroit area as MSU does, go ahead and invite them.  The bottom line is,
as usual when the NC$$ or any of its member schools are involved is $$$$$$.
And MSU puts butts in the seats.  Maybe one of the reasons that the West
Regionals are in East Lansing this year.
 
As to Ron Mason's comments about the GLI, the reason is simple:  At the current
time, MSU doesn't play well at the Joe.  They haven't won a big game there
since the CCHA playoffs in 1990.  It might be getting slightly better since
we only play three regular-season games there a year (2 GLI plus the third
game against UM) but we still play like crap in Detroit (re that little 11-1
blowout at the hands of UM last year).  There are many (myself included) who
would prefer that when MSU has the home-ice advantage against UM (every other
year) that the second game should be in East Lansing instead of Detroit.  We'd
love an extra home game.  What UM does when they have the home ice is their
business.  But that's not gonig to happen any time soon because of $$$$$$.
 
But this is the first year in quite a while that MSU hasn't played another
tournament before the GLI over Christmas (thanks to the WCHA-CCHA Challenge).
According to Mason (pre-GLI), the team was pointing to this tournament as
a chance to show the country what we had.  Obviously, it wasn't enough.  But
we will be there next year, and the year after that, and the year after that,
etc.
 
John also wrote:
 
>While we're at it, someone should call Mason, who complained vehemently about
>being snubbed for the NC$$ tourney last season and remind him that the reason
>MSU didn't get in was their 0-1-0 head-to-head record versus Northern
>Michigan.  The Wildcats beat the Spartans at the GLI.
 
It would be nice if your season was judged on one game, but it isn't.  While
the loss to Northern was a key factor, it wasn't the only reason that MSU
wasn't invited last year.  12 losses, being swept by Miami, losing 2 of 3
to UM and Western, and losing to Ferris State in the CCHA quarterfinals didn't
help the Spartan'
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
help the Spartans' chances at an NC$$ bid.  They were playing flat at the end
of the season while others (Brown, Northern) made it to the finals of their
respective conference playoffs.  Plus, it would have been difficult for the
NC$$ to give four bids to the CCHA.
 
G. M. Finniss
Michigan State University
 
P. S. Don't read this as an "anti-UM" post.  I'm saving those for later in
      the month, after the home-and-home series.