I have been reading everyone's response to Paul Thalacker's posting of the infamous article, and it seems that everyone has good points. But it also seems that for every good point, there is a bad point to follow it up. In my opinion, the students at the U of M have every right to be proud of the team that is put on the ice every year. Being a die-hard Wisconsin fan, I would love it if Sauer could put an "all-Wisconsin" team on the ice. I am still a little confused about the U of Mer's thinking though. Throughout the season, they ridicule other teams for having to go north, or even overseas, to put a competitive team on the ice. Usually UMD and St. Cloud State get the brunt of this. Then the post-season comes and the Gophers make it to the Final Four. Then, as is tradition, they lose in the semis. Now all the U of M fans are making excuses as to why the other team won. The biggest one is the use of Canadian players. Now I know all the U of M fans are saying "I never think that!", and, well, maybe you're not. But contrary to what you think, you are not in the majority. I even remember after U of M's loss to BU in '94, when the newspapers were trying to tell Woog to change his recruiting practices. I am not trying to anger any Gopher fans by saying any of this. This is just what the UMD fans see our southern cousins as every year. Personally, I think it is great that a team can recruit in such a small area and still be in the top ten percent of all Div. I teams each year. When I say small area I mean in comparison to all the places that other teams pick up players. What I don't agree with though is the harrassing that goes on every year that is directed at the foriegn players. Granted, there is always a certain amount of harrassment, but it is usually in the form of "hack", "thug", or "seive". I am guilty of all three. In my mind, making fun of the Canadians for where they are from is almost like harassing two of the best players in college hockey for being black - Michael Grier and Anson Carter. I can't imagine their fans liking to hear racial slurs being blurted out by opposing fans. This is all I have for now. I am sure this Reusse article will be a hot topic for a while. Greg Utley Go Badgers!!! Go Bulldogs!!! HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.