It's hard to know without having seen the game (thanks, WNDS), but I
can certainly see how Bullock might be frustrated because 1) Lowell
was getting pounded, 2) Lowell has been getting pounded lately,
3) points have not come easy for him in recent weeks.
 
I will say that in hearing from different people who follow the league
on a regular basis, there is a consensus that Bullock has trouble
keeping his emotions in check and often hurts the team more than he
helps it.
 
There is no doubt that as a result of his unexpected success last
season and early this season, he has been paid more attention by
opponents.  And when opponents have seen how he responds to this
attention, they are only too happy to keep pushing him.
 
Bullock is only a sophomore, but he is also almost 22.  It would not
be wrong to expect more maturity from him, especially since he is in a
position to provide leadership as the most visible player Lowell has.
I have to wonder if the pressures of sudden success and being counted
on to lead the team this year are too much for him to handle right
now.  He could use having some of the players from last year around
like Henry, Roloson, and Hebert to set him straight.  But they're gone.
 
However, if there is a coach who can rein him in and re-focus him for
the stretch drive, it is Crowder.  Some coaches would leave him alone
as long as he's putting up the numbers.  Crowder is very aware of how
important it is to play within the team concept and put the good of
the team ahead of your own.  It may be a process that takes some time,
because often kids (and Bullock still is one) have a thick skull and
do not immediately take to what you're trying to tell them.  I know I
was like that at that age and younger.  No matter what Crowder does and
says, it is still up to Bullock to take it to heart.
 
I hope he gets on the right path because when he's playing at his
best, he's certainly one of the more exciting players in the game.
Lately, he has drawn more penalty minutes than scored points.  The
problem is not everyone else...it is him.  He needs to realize that he
will be followed, he will be taunted, and if the team is going to win
and he is going to be successful, he has to develop a thick skin and
avoid doing things that hurt the team more than they help it.
 
If he does this, Lowell can certainly rebound from the last few tough
weeks and be a team to contend with the rest of this year and next.
 
If he doesn't, then Lowell might be better off if he did turn pro.
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Mike Machnik                                            [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc.                                    *HMM* 11/13/93