OK, its time for me to discuss our final CCHA game ever, fitting that it was the CCHA final.
Few things will draw me into a major city on St. Patrick's Day. Michigan Hockey is one of them. No one wanted to come with me so I purchased my seat the day of and drove to my favorite free parking spot in Detroit. (I am obsessed with free parking. Oddly it is also one of the safest places in the city to leave a car.)
Anyway, I head into the Joe Louis arena and take my second row seat. You know you have a good seat when the players obstruct your view. The atmosphere was odd because I honestly beleive there were more Western Michigan Fans than Michigan fans there, and they got loud. Our students still came out in what the media refereed to as "The lunatic section." Honestly, I liked the atmosphere and it was wonderful to get the Blues Brothers Intro going just one more time.
That being said, some times I just can't stand our team. We were so on-point during the first ten minutes. Then we just messed up once and lost our touch. We couldn't connect, and we couldn't disrupt. We didn't get it back until we were down two men and three goals with about ten minutes to go. Then, we lit a fire under our butts and pulled out a short-handed goal followed by a power play-goal on a major penalty. Then we threatened to score until the end of the game. We still lost, but I was hoping that the fire was reignited for the NCAA tournament. It was not.
I just don't know about this team. I honestly beleive that the players rely a little too much on their talent and don't actually start playing as a team until they are backed against the wall. I am kind of sick of it. I suppose I could rant quite a bit about this but a lot of people have.
What I will say is that I will be back next year. There is nothing like Michigan Hockey at Yost. I love that classic feeling of the old hockey barn. I love the band and the mandatory dancing. I love that win or lose we back our team. I love that we still create taunts on the fly. I love that there are people passionate about a sport that is not football. Honestly, there were few things better than leaving work on a Friday night and biking across town to catch a hockey game to start the weekend. An I love that I can skate on that ice every week. Hockey has been a wild ride with our crazy wins, losses and climbing back. I'm not sure if I can handle another year of heart wrenching disappointment. However, I know that we are already a contender for next year. I think it would be slightly easier if we weren't expected to go deep every year, but that is the price that we pay.
This weekend I will be heading down to Columbus early Saturday morning to cheer on our women's rowing team. I'd invite you to come with me, but I will be probably heading to a wedding on the way back.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Michigan Hockey CCHA playoffs
I was a bit late for Friday's game against Notre Dame. I missed our first goal. I had to wait 72 minutes of game-time to see another goal sored by us. That's right, we went into double overtime. I can honestly say this was the best hockey game played by Michigan in i have ever seen. Both teams were amazing on the breakaway, and given the incredible shots that were taken its hard to believe that the score was only 2-1 after over 83 minutes of play. Both goalies were on fire.
To add incredibility they announced the overtime basketball score during the game. Needless to say, (but I will say it anyway) the crowd went nuts. Double overtime was intense, but the most amazing thing happened. No, I do not mean that the band ran out of music to play, although they did. Michigan started playing offense. We actually had organized plays and ran the cycle. It was crazy. We stepped it up and we won.
What I was worried about was that the next day we would revert back to our old ways. Boy was I relieved.We played as a team all 60 minutes. That's right, we were able to win this one in regulation. We set up the cycle, passed very well, and owned the neutral zone using team tactics. Part of this I think was that the double overtime along with coming off a tough series against Ohio State just took to much out of Notre Dame. They just didn't have the fire or the speed. I am pretty sure that the linesman who kept getting in the way was their best defender To be fair we were a bit sluggish too, and there were several times when the puck just kind of bounced around and everyone watched it. Both teams fell over themselves too. I joked that we needed to keep two sets of stats for players. Icetime and time on the ice. Anyway, we were tired but we kept on the attack, and were rewarded with a 3-1 victory. The one goal is were Notre Dame caught us asleep (or just a bit too cocky) after our third goal. The game ended with us killing a penalty with a 6-4 disadvantage. We killed it beautifully.
As for the atmosphere, what could you want for our last CCHA home game? How about some shoe throwing? Well the kids riding the Zamboni machines wouldn't throw their shoes, but both drivers did. The Blues Brother's into lasted just a little longer and tasted just a little sweeter for the last game. Seriously, if you have not been to Yost for the second intermission, you are missing out. Also the student section went nuts when they realized Brady "The Incredible" Hoke and Al "Gorgeous" Borges were there. I think we were all astounded to see Brady Hoke wearing sleeves. Also, he hardly sat the entire game. Al Borges left a little before the end of the game to the chant of "Gorgeous Borges."
As fore defeating Notre Dame, we felt kind of bad taunting them all game, and then eliminating them, even though we didn't need the victory to get to the tournament. Some of the band taunts were pretty long. They took it pretty hard, but we had a streak to maintain. 23 straight appearances in the CCHA final rounds is something to write home about. Well that is about it. Lets see if we can't squeeze one more conference championship out of the CCHA before we extend our record setting streak for tournament appearances to 22.
To add incredibility they announced the overtime basketball score during the game. Needless to say, (but I will say it anyway) the crowd went nuts. Double overtime was intense, but the most amazing thing happened. No, I do not mean that the band ran out of music to play, although they did. Michigan started playing offense. We actually had organized plays and ran the cycle. It was crazy. We stepped it up and we won.
What I was worried about was that the next day we would revert back to our old ways. Boy was I relieved.We played as a team all 60 minutes. That's right, we were able to win this one in regulation. We set up the cycle, passed very well, and owned the neutral zone using team tactics. Part of this I think was that the double overtime along with coming off a tough series against Ohio State just took to much out of Notre Dame. They just didn't have the fire or the speed. I am pretty sure that the linesman who kept getting in the way was their best defender To be fair we were a bit sluggish too, and there were several times when the puck just kind of bounced around and everyone watched it. Both teams fell over themselves too. I joked that we needed to keep two sets of stats for players. Icetime and time on the ice. Anyway, we were tired but we kept on the attack, and were rewarded with a 3-1 victory. The one goal is were Notre Dame caught us asleep (or just a bit too cocky) after our third goal. The game ended with us killing a penalty with a 6-4 disadvantage. We killed it beautifully.
As for the atmosphere, what could you want for our last CCHA home game? How about some shoe throwing? Well the kids riding the Zamboni machines wouldn't throw their shoes, but both drivers did. The Blues Brother's into lasted just a little longer and tasted just a little sweeter for the last game. Seriously, if you have not been to Yost for the second intermission, you are missing out. Also the student section went nuts when they realized Brady "The Incredible" Hoke and Al "Gorgeous" Borges were there. I think we were all astounded to see Brady Hoke wearing sleeves. Also, he hardly sat the entire game. Al Borges left a little before the end of the game to the chant of "Gorgeous Borges."
As fore defeating Notre Dame, we felt kind of bad taunting them all game, and then eliminating them, even though we didn't need the victory to get to the tournament. Some of the band taunts were pretty long. They took it pretty hard, but we had a streak to maintain. 23 straight appearances in the CCHA final rounds is something to write home about. Well that is about it. Lets see if we can't squeeze one more conference championship out of the CCHA before we extend our record setting streak for tournament appearances to 22.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Men's Lacrosse
On Wednesday, I took a break from my other project to catch the second half of the Lacrosse game against Loyola Maryland. I came in the second half and we were trailing 3-9. When the game ended we trailed 8-15. What do you expect from what is essentially a glorified club team? I expect a core following and flashes of brilliance. In stead, I got awkward execution but dedicated Lacrosse and Michigan fans. It just wasn't the thumping of Concordia Wisconsin from last fall.
As for the attendance, the game was held at Oosterbaan field house, and it was pretty much packed, which is a testament for Michigan fans but also a testament to th size of the place. I was half expecting someone to get beaned with a stray pass since everyone was within 6 feet of the sideline. No one did, thankfully. The Loyola parents were a bit on the vicious side but not bad. Our parents were just happy to be there. Wait until actually start playing in the big house. I don't think we will start packing it, but it will start to feel like home.
On the plus side, it was the first sporting event this year to which I got to bike. It was glorious.
OK, now I will jump ahead to Selection Sunday! Do I think Michigan got a fair shake in seeding? Yes. How will we do? I haven't a clue. We are small, but tough. If we get how we can knock off any team in the bracket. If we aren't, then it is going to be a short run. We are less of an all or nothing team than we were last year, but we still have a bit of that when we play tougher opponents. I'm just glad the team is back to prominence. I think we could win it all next year.
I probably won't talk much about Basketball for the rest of the year. I will ramble about Hockey in my next post.
As for the attendance, the game was held at Oosterbaan field house, and it was pretty much packed, which is a testament for Michigan fans but also a testament to th size of the place. I was half expecting someone to get beaned with a stray pass since everyone was within 6 feet of the sideline. No one did, thankfully. The Loyola parents were a bit on the vicious side but not bad. Our parents were just happy to be there. Wait until actually start playing in the big house. I don't think we will start packing it, but it will start to feel like home.
On the plus side, it was the first sporting event this year to which I got to bike. It was glorious.
OK, now I will jump ahead to Selection Sunday! Do I think Michigan got a fair shake in seeding? Yes. How will we do? I haven't a clue. We are small, but tough. If we get how we can knock off any team in the bracket. If we aren't, then it is going to be a short run. We are less of an all or nothing team than we were last year, but we still have a bit of that when we play tougher opponents. I'm just glad the team is back to prominence. I think we could win it all next year.
I probably won't talk much about Basketball for the rest of the year. I will ramble about Hockey in my next post.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Men's gymnastics
So, I got to the Gymnastics meet a little bit late. Overtime on senior night can do that to you. Walking in, I was expecting to have to tell someone the final score, and I was not disappointed.
So, it appears that men have more events than women in gymnastics: vault, rings, high bar, parallel bars, floor exercises, and Pommel horse. I will never think of the Pommel horse the same way after that The Blanks concert, something about a grown man trying to eat a toupee. You had to be there.
Anyway Michigan had two men who were chosen to compete for the national team. It was pretty obvious who they were. Actually, the whole event was pretty well striated. For some reason the teams were Michigan, Ohio State, and SUNY Brockport. Talk about being a third wheel. No really, stop reading this, go and find someone, and discuss being the odd man out in awkward situations. Come back when you are done. OK, welcome back. Anyway, it was easy to tell that the men of Brockport were not going to win any championships. Their routines were pretty rudimentary. That being said, just being able to to that much is more than I would venture. Ohio state woudl follow them and put together a pretty impressive performance. I think the OSU guy was reading my mind on the parallel bars because he did whatever I was thinking. Maybe I was reading his mind, and I just heard what he was planning. That doesn't make sense. It was too calm in my head. It must have been the coach's mind. After OSU was done. The Michigan guys would come and give some performances that were roughly better than the OSU performances, and some that took it to the next level. It was a fun event, but I don't have the greatest desire to watch dudes in spandex swinging around. that being said, they are very good at it.
My next event is tomorrow night. Field Hockey at the Oosterbaan field house at 7. After that there are the CCHA playoff games on Friday and Saturday. These are special because they will be the last CCHA games to be hosted by Michigan. Next year the Big Ten forms its own hockey conference.
So, it appears that men have more events than women in gymnastics: vault, rings, high bar, parallel bars, floor exercises, and Pommel horse. I will never think of the Pommel horse the same way after that The Blanks concert, something about a grown man trying to eat a toupee. You had to be there.
Anyway Michigan had two men who were chosen to compete for the national team. It was pretty obvious who they were. Actually, the whole event was pretty well striated. For some reason the teams were Michigan, Ohio State, and SUNY Brockport. Talk about being a third wheel. No really, stop reading this, go and find someone, and discuss being the odd man out in awkward situations. Come back when you are done. OK, welcome back. Anyway, it was easy to tell that the men of Brockport were not going to win any championships. Their routines were pretty rudimentary. That being said, just being able to to that much is more than I would venture. Ohio state woudl follow them and put together a pretty impressive performance. I think the OSU guy was reading my mind on the parallel bars because he did whatever I was thinking. Maybe I was reading his mind, and I just heard what he was planning. That doesn't make sense. It was too calm in my head. It must have been the coach's mind. After OSU was done. The Michigan guys would come and give some performances that were roughly better than the OSU performances, and some that took it to the next level. It was a fun event, but I don't have the greatest desire to watch dudes in spandex swinging around. that being said, they are very good at it.
My next event is tomorrow night. Field Hockey at the Oosterbaan field house at 7. After that there are the CCHA playoff games on Friday and Saturday. These are special because they will be the last CCHA games to be hosted by Michigan. Next year the Big Ten forms its own hockey conference.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Northern Michigan Hockey Part 2
OK, this is why I should not wait two weeks to do the update. If you want to know what is distracting me, see my other blogger site.
So it was senior night and my entire seating group was absent, seriously, people. Those seats made up a good portion of the empty spots that night. The reason why I am most disappointed is because I could have found takers for those seats. Blargus!
Anyway, the game was far more intense than the last one. Part of it was that Northern was no longer tripping all over themselves. I've come tot he conclusion that their main strategy was to knock the puck around and beat their opponents to it. It's not bad if you can trust yourself to get most errant passes and long rebounds. Of course, we had a simple counter to that. We could skate and move with them. I've also decided that I kind of like Michigan's offensive strategy: turn everything into a breakaway. It give a good scoring opportunity, and if it fails it allows for a line change.
Anyway, we went up before Northern tied it at two. Even though there were six minutes left in the game I was pretty sure that we would not see any overtime because of the intensity both teams with which both teams were playing. I was wrong. It took us 80 seconds of overtime for us to win the game.
Ah, what a glorious end to a glorious season. While we still have a couple of playoff games at Yost. It is over. We only graduated four seniors. When Hunkick came up , the students started chanting, "Hobby Baker." I doubt he will get it. Even though, he has been a rock since that fateful night he stepped in against Notre Dame (I was taking my mom to her first Michigan game that night), and he is an all-time program leader they say the award is given to goal scorers. (Well, there was that kick-in against Miami) It's going to be strange to see someone else in goal next year mainly because we never pulled Hunwick in a game that I watched. He played all three periods of ever game. I really appreciate that. A lot of programs would pull their goalies against us, probably because we embarrassed them. We never pulled ours.
Anyway, what have I learned? I don't think I learned triumph through adversity. That is a lesson the Football team has taught me over the past four years. I learned to harness the past and tradition in a sport as well as looking forward to what we are doing. There is something so classic about a hockey game at Yost that you you are motivated as much my tradition as you are about the current season. Other sports, football included, are a bit more of a live in the moment kind of atmosphere (although no one would argue that Michigan does not have a rich football history) Also, I learned to shrug off losses, because I know there will be another fight. Finally, I learned to understand our weaknesses, and I can see how we have improved them over the year. This is important to me, at least, because in other sports people are telling me what we should and should not be doing. In Hockey, I am starting to understand that for myself. It is a simple game, a simple chaotic, physical game, but you need to play it intelligently. I love it.
So it was senior night and my entire seating group was absent, seriously, people. Those seats made up a good portion of the empty spots that night. The reason why I am most disappointed is because I could have found takers for those seats. Blargus!
Anyway, the game was far more intense than the last one. Part of it was that Northern was no longer tripping all over themselves. I've come tot he conclusion that their main strategy was to knock the puck around and beat their opponents to it. It's not bad if you can trust yourself to get most errant passes and long rebounds. Of course, we had a simple counter to that. We could skate and move with them. I've also decided that I kind of like Michigan's offensive strategy: turn everything into a breakaway. It give a good scoring opportunity, and if it fails it allows for a line change.
Anyway, we went up before Northern tied it at two. Even though there were six minutes left in the game I was pretty sure that we would not see any overtime because of the intensity both teams with which both teams were playing. I was wrong. It took us 80 seconds of overtime for us to win the game.
Ah, what a glorious end to a glorious season. While we still have a couple of playoff games at Yost. It is over. We only graduated four seniors. When Hunkick came up , the students started chanting, "Hobby Baker." I doubt he will get it. Even though, he has been a rock since that fateful night he stepped in against Notre Dame (I was taking my mom to her first Michigan game that night), and he is an all-time program leader they say the award is given to goal scorers. (Well, there was that kick-in against Miami) It's going to be strange to see someone else in goal next year mainly because we never pulled Hunwick in a game that I watched. He played all three periods of ever game. I really appreciate that. A lot of programs would pull their goalies against us, probably because we embarrassed them. We never pulled ours.
Anyway, what have I learned? I don't think I learned triumph through adversity. That is a lesson the Football team has taught me over the past four years. I learned to harness the past and tradition in a sport as well as looking forward to what we are doing. There is something so classic about a hockey game at Yost that you you are motivated as much my tradition as you are about the current season. Other sports, football included, are a bit more of a live in the moment kind of atmosphere (although no one would argue that Michigan does not have a rich football history) Also, I learned to shrug off losses, because I know there will be another fight. Finally, I learned to understand our weaknesses, and I can see how we have improved them over the year. This is important to me, at least, because in other sports people are telling me what we should and should not be doing. In Hockey, I am starting to understand that for myself. It is a simple game, a simple chaotic, physical game, but you need to play it intelligently. I love it.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Men's tennis vs. Notre Dame
I'm starting to learn my lesson about tennis. Don't sit. Seriously, that place fills up fast, and usually with people who are a little less mobile. I usually go there after running so the last thing I want to do is get trapped in a seat holding a position. My legs will cramp
I have to admit that the main reason I went to the tennis meet was for the chance at winning the Ohio State basketball tickets. I didn't win. I did win a prize pack for correctly guessing the number of Big Ten titles the tennis team had, 36. OK, it wasn't that much of a guess since the banners were on the wall. Yeah, now I have another Michigan drawstring bag, another Michigan water bottle, and another Michigan t-shirt. I drank the Michigan Gatorade immediately because I was quite parched. Apparently, prize packs are more desirable than 5 topping large pizzas from Papa John's. The guy who won the large pizza actually traded it for a prize pack. I was half tempted to trade him my pack for a pizza, but I had already drunk the Gatorade. Let's face it. I am reaching a Michigan swag overload.
Once again, I stayed only for the doubles matches. We actually won all three of them with two dominant performances and one comeback win. These matches were a little more controlled than the LSU matches. I think the LSU players had some strong but erratic serve which Michigan tried to copy. Notre Dame was bit more tame, and resulted in tamer machtes.
Anyway, I find it odd to play a singles match after a doubles match. Is it a major psychological boost to know that you are facing a player that you just smoked, or is it a challenge the other way around? I'm guessing so.
Anyway, I left early so I could go to Hockey senior night which I will be discussing tomorrow. (Two weeks late, ug)
I have to admit that the main reason I went to the tennis meet was for the chance at winning the Ohio State basketball tickets. I didn't win. I did win a prize pack for correctly guessing the number of Big Ten titles the tennis team had, 36. OK, it wasn't that much of a guess since the banners were on the wall. Yeah, now I have another Michigan drawstring bag, another Michigan water bottle, and another Michigan t-shirt. I drank the Michigan Gatorade immediately because I was quite parched. Apparently, prize packs are more desirable than 5 topping large pizzas from Papa John's. The guy who won the large pizza actually traded it for a prize pack. I was half tempted to trade him my pack for a pizza, but I had already drunk the Gatorade. Let's face it. I am reaching a Michigan swag overload.
Once again, I stayed only for the doubles matches. We actually won all three of them with two dominant performances and one comeback win. These matches were a little more controlled than the LSU matches. I think the LSU players had some strong but erratic serve which Michigan tried to copy. Notre Dame was bit more tame, and resulted in tamer machtes.
Anyway, I find it odd to play a singles match after a doubles match. Is it a major psychological boost to know that you are facing a player that you just smoked, or is it a challenge the other way around? I'm guessing so.
Anyway, I left early so I could go to Hockey senior night which I will be discussing tomorrow. (Two weeks late, ug)
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