After the Recent Week in BU Hockey

First things first, I want to take a personal timeout to admit that yes, I opened my mouth too soon on the Corey Trivino case.  I still stand by what I said, but please don't take that as me hating Trivino himself.  I honestly have looked up to that kid and rather than shame him in his fall from grace, I wish him nothing but the best in life.  I really hope to see him turn it around.

Now, as for the Coyle news.  First of all, best of luck to him.  I understand it hurts, though.  I admit I don't fully get the stories and why a BU baby would turn his back on the place he grew up loving.

But as for the rest of us.  I know people who have sat in the stands way back in Walter Brown Arena cheering on Chris Drury on his senior night.  I know people who have spent the first semester of this year asking me how you even play hockey.  And I know everyone in between.

Especially after this week, it's really hard to be optimistic.  We lost two good guys on the ice and the players on the team have lost two of their best friends.

But that is it.  The school didn't go up in flames.  Our program didn't fold.  We've still got Parker and you know what, in Parker I still and will always trust.

To everyone that feels like they've been hurt by these departures - stop.  Go in your closet, get out whatever Scarlet and White you have, and put it on.  This is your school.  This is your team.  You can't pick a new one and you sure as hell shouldn't want to.  Get your game face on, get your fire burning, get your passion back. Come second semester, we've got some demons of our own to fend off.  Northeastern fans, UML fans, UMass fans - they're all going to try and get under our skin.

To which I say, let 'em try.

If this doesn't bring the student section together, nothing will.  We can't give up faith.  If Matt Nieto is the reason you know we've still got offensive skill, I better hear you scream when he scores.  If you just want a good ol' Massachusetts boy to get behind, don't you dare forget about Garrett Noonan.  If you want senior leadership - look at Chris Connolly and remember that despite the troubles in finding the back of the net, he always comes out with fire, pride, and passion for the sweater.

The Dog Pound is a place where we should all feel at home.  A home in which we lose our voices, meet our best friends, and hate on that hellhole that is BC.  A home where we don't know each other's names, but where each other sits.  A home where we all have different beliefs and ideas, but where we all know that Teglia sucks.  Both Milner AND Billett suck.  That Cannata sucks (yeah he does, kiss my ass Merrimack).

Whatever.  Let the circumstances take two.  We've still got 24 and they need our support more than ever.  Wear your jersey.  Get a jersey.  Get a Scarlet tshirt.  Show up to the rest of the season.  Show up to any games.  Get your Beanpot tickets.  Start a chant.  Join in on one.  Exchange high-fives as a crowd goal celly.

Do it all.  This is your school.  This is your team.  Believe it or not, those are your boys.

Once a Terrier, always a Terrier, shut up and act like one.

Harvard - MBB - 12/10/11

BU vs. Harvard Men's Basketball, 12/10/11 - Agganis Arena, Boston, MA


Bottom Line: Harvard beats BU 76-52

The Memories: BU hosts a ranked team for the first time since 2003 / Coach Jones takes the end of the game to give the rest of the bench a shot to play / Agganis Arena seems pretty full - of fairly pathetic BU fans and too much Crimson

I'm going to take the time to commend the good about this game.  First things first, I'm not going to acknowledge the quality of the crowd, but damn, was there a crowd.  I'm sure most of that can be attributed to the fact that we were playing a ranked opponent that happened to be right across the river, but I don't really care.  I was honestly convinced that things like the America East Championships and the home opener against Northeastern were never going to happen again.  But hey, I couldn't be happier to be wrong.

The men's basketball team deserves to have a crowd behind them.  If you haven't taken the time to go see those guys in person, you need to.  I don't think I've ever seen a person get more fired up than I've seen Matt Griffin get.  I don't think I've ever seen a more consistent and humble person than John Holland.  I don't care how BU ranks nationally in terms of basketball.  No, we're never going to be Kentucky.  No, we'll never have a rivalry like Duke/UNC.  But in America East, holy hell do we hold our own.  And then some.  That alone is exciting and worth going to a game to see.

Now, for the not so good.  First things first, let me take the time to say that I whole heartedly respect any student that comes out to a game.  Even if you're sitting down and falling asleep, you're showing (some) support for a group of your classmates that deserve it.  Now let me say that I obviously love the hockey Dog Pound because of its size and creativity.  But, last year's basketball Dog Pound was probably the greatest group of students I have gotten to see in action.

Last year's basketball Dog Pound was just...I don't know, probably off their rocker.  They never stopped cheering and freaking out even if the basketball team was dying on the floor.  That's what's huge about basketball.  No glass, close proximity.  Anything the student section chants is without a doubt heard.  Basketball players take that as pure fuel and absolutely thrive off of it.  Last year was absolutely on point.  I remember specifically when we were in Hartford, those kids were going crazy.  First of all, they were spitting fire for both the men's and women's team and wouldn't stop screaming until both games were over.  I also remember that in between games (not sure which two) they managed to grab a bunch of generic signs that whoever was sponsoring the games was giving out and they used the back to make some of the stupidest and most awesome BU signs.  I really can't remember what most of them said, but I do specifically remember the "BU Male Dance Team" sign that made an appearance every time the cheerleaders or the dance team of the opposite school performed.  I literally have never been more into a game (and this includes the America East Championships and any hockey game) than the BU vs. BU game at the end of Hartford weekend last year.  And it was because of that student section.

Now, yesterday.

Well, I don't really have anything positive to say.

For anyone that wasn't there, Harvard students managed to fill almost an entire section.  And as stupid and unintelligible as they were, they were louder than we were.  Much louder.

And now here's where I talk about the men's crew team.

Okay, so, I'm convinced these kids know close to nothing about sports.  But as I said, I have so much respect for anyone that even shows up to a game.  So despite the fact that they chant literally the dumbest things I've ever heard, good for them for making noise.  Even if you yourself think they chant the dumbest things, you should still pay attention because once in a while they actually say something normal.  Yesterday they chanted players names after they scored.  No reason for anyone not to join in on that chant.

That's just the thing.  There are a few brave souls who decide, "hey, I'm going to start a chant."  Then everyone else should, completely should, join in.  The people that start chants, for the most part, start chants that make sense and work.  Every chant should erupt after that one kid starts it.  I'm sick of lackadaisical fans that sit there with their arms crossed and don't really say anything.  You've got a mouth, you've got hands, you bought a sports pass to be here, put all that stuff to good use.  Oh, unless a kid starts a scoreboard chant before it's appropriate.  Then by all means punch the kid in the face.

Basketball, especially when it's played at Agganis, gives the fans the opportunity to literally be on top of the players.  Everything you say they hear and you can see that all over their faces.  So in a game when they really needed fire and they really needed something to play for, most of Agganis was quiet.

BC - MIH - 12/2/11 & 12/3/11

BU vs. BC Men’s Ice Hockey, 12/2/11 - Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, MA and 12/3/11 - Agganis Arena, Boston, MA

Bottom Line:  BU beats BC 5-3 / BC beats BU 6-1

The Memories:  In Friday night's game, BU's goaltending was the only reason for a win / In Saturday night's game, Millan gets pulled in favor of Rollheiser in the third / The Dog Pound basically makes Conte Forum our house, just to lose Agganis the next night

Although this should really be two separate posts, I decided to combine them considering the games were pretty much in stark contrast of each other.  But first, for the good.

Obviously Friday night's game was huge.  After the Terriers came in and took the win a mere two weeks ago, they were hungry for some more eagle in the second of three regular season meetings for the two.  But who was even hungrier?  The BU Dog Pound.

First things first, the DOS office is literally going up high on my list.  Finally we were all able to be a part of something as ridiculous as four Peter Pan fan buses bussing up us to Newton after a pep rally at T's.  Just made BC week that much sweeter.

Rushing into BC's campus with 200+ of your not closest friends is something you can't comprehend until you do it.  That's 200+ people who don't know your name, but know the words to your favorite chant.  200+ people who have no idea what your major is or how fat your scholarships are, but are still going to high five you and scream in your face after BU takes care of business.

The game itself, hockey wise, was strange, stupid, ridiculous, and whatever else you want to call it.  If you look at the box score, you'll see BU had a little trouble staying out of the penalty box (while BC had trouble coping with the fact that they didn't make the cut of the BC swimming and diving team) and didn't get enough shots on goal.  But we still walked away with a win.

I have to attribute some of that win to the fan base.

The players, coaches, and fans alike have been ranting and raving about the fan support of this team lately, especially for this upcoming weekend.  And if we can limit BC to scoring on only 2 out of 11 power play opportunities, you know what, some of it's gotta come from the stands. As much as we dread having to continually "Ole", maybe it's just what the Terrier PK needed.

Anyways, from the absolute beginning we took over anything the Boston College Superfrauds even attempted.  Did they even cheer?  I swear, ask anybody in the Dog Pound and I guarantee you they'll tell you we were the only people in the place.  From the beginning when we had the lead and even when we fell within 2 goals, the Dog Pound was literally never fazed.  The chant of the night "This is our House", basically became fact as BC fans starting spilling out of Conte as early as a few plays into the third period.  The Terrier fans?  There to the end, even when the game got a little scary.

Fast forward just about 24 hours later and you have the second match up against the two teams, this time with the Terriers wearing white and and with the Eagles walking away with two points.

Yes, Agganis was packed.  And yes, I know it's hard to keep up cheering momentum when your team starts down from the beginning and doesn't have a lead all game.  But coming off a huge Friday night win, added on to the win from earlier that day in basketball, and in addition to the win from back in November, the fans should've been rabid.  There were close to no Superfans in sight.  We basically could've had open season on BC.  Yet we failed to make Agganis arena an intimidating place to play.

Here's the thing.  Players should absolutely fear coming here.  Our fans, when on, are on.  They're creative, witty, and are true fans of the sport.  Agganis Arena, although it might not be old time hockey, is still a gorgeous place to play.  And our team, despite some inconsistencies, is still continually making a name for themselves.

But we can't really capitalize on that and make the Greek hell for opposing teams.  The only time players hate playing at Agganis is when our team is laying into them and the chants are coming easy to the Dog Pound.  But for the most part, the atmosphere at Agganis is sometimes laughable.

With the strength and tradition of our team, I should never go to a game and hear the players yelling on the ice.  If they're louder than the 2,000-6,000 in attendance, we've got some serious problems.  Everyone who has been a long-term fan of BU hockey wants Walter Brown and the feelings it brought to our team back.  We want to be on top of the plays and feel the hits.  But I'm so sick and tired of buying into the bull that comes along with new and flashy Agganis.  It's the fans that have changed.  Who honestly cares where the team's playing?  It's hockey.  Thrown some god damn ice down and we should be all set.

So, in short, we need to bring the venom from away games to the home arena.  We need to feel like we're in constant competition with our rival fans, even if we're outnumbering them by some ridiculous amount.  I have to admit, what I was seeing from 108 at the end of the game was a step in the right direction.  There were only a few minutes left in the game, but when some Superfans tried to mess with the 108, they didn't care what the scoreboard said, they were still going to let those t-shirt clad tools know who was boss.  THAT is what I like to see.  THAT is what Agganis should be all night, every night.

One day, Agganis might prove a scary place to skate.  But for now, what we've got going on in enemy territory is quite a start.