OK, I was going to let the Harvard Men's season rest in peace ... Last year Sean McCann was a tremendous captain. He picked the team up and carried it all year. A tough defender, McCann had the wheels and desire to press the attack. I believe his wonderful example lifted the other players. Another senior, Lou Body, I understand was very good in the locker room with the practical jokes. That helped to keep the team loose. I keep hearing all this nonsense from the coaches ... that you just have to work hard. It is a game. It should be fun. I think Body filled that role, the importance of which is larger than many would give credit. Basically, the senior leadership came through big. This year's team took a major hit last spring when A. Israel decided to turn pro. It only meant one thing: the coach was going to worry more about defense than he already does. The result is that the team played with even more restrictions. The team defense had to be there to replace what was "missing". In addition the senior class this year did not come through with outstanding seasons. They all seemed tight for most of the season. I could rattle off a critic about what each of them did and didn't do, but the summation is the same: no one stepped forward and provided the needed leadership. To be fair, many of them were not given that chance as periodically one or more of them were in the coach's doghouse. It is a horrific cycle that starts when the system doesn't produce the goals. The coach starts blaming the players and not trusting individuals, and players start not believing in themselves, or their mates, or the coaches. All of that occurred this last season. I saw too many shifts end for extremely talented players with their head's shaking, or just down. What is at fault here, to me, is the system. The current Harvard coaching staff buys into the work ethic, something good has to happen philosophy. It clearly has not worked as well as the Bill Cleary fire-wagon-let's get at 'em "system". Cleary's teams played as teams. They skated and passed so well, because they were all on the same page. When I see alumni men's games, you can tell the Cleary players: they all turn as one (it's incredible stuff!!!). The current coaches are just so into team defense and working that nothing comes off. I for one was surprised that last year's team did as well as it did. All credit to McCann and Company, they did a tremendous job. The results this year is more what I would expect, given the system. The other argument I hear, that Harvard doesn't have the skilled players it once did, I do not buy. This year's team had tons of talent. They just didn't use it. Next year the team will be lead by the gopher duo of Konik and Nielsen. Depending on the talent of the first-year players, they should again have enough skill to do very well in the league. However, with the type of leadership the coaches are supplying, I am left with many doubts. _____________ / good shooting rhun-hungerf _____________/