Are any players going to step up?

[dannyk]

Forget the coach, forget the standings. In most cases you would think that an athelete would have some pride in himself to not get tossed around each and every weekend.

For the last 2 years we have not had a player step up and lead by example. Last years seniors did not have the fire that seniors at top programs have. This year it seems to be the same case. Im tired of lazy backchecking and players not finishing their checks. If this is our best effort that is too bad, then most of our players should not be playing at this level.

Im not going to say this is a turning point weekend etc, because it really isnt. We are just looking for a solid no excuse effort and maybe a goal off a shin pad.

[hockey fan]

You would assume that the players have some pride, but at this point I'm not so sure. We've seen some lousy hockey here for awhile, but this kind of game-in game-out roll over has never happened (at least that I'm aware of).

Calling it a mutiny might be a stretch, but I think some guys are bagging it. They can't really be that bad can they? I remember some of Buddy's teams and they never had such an awful stretch of games as what we've seen since the Notre Dame weekend. The team would always compete to the best of their abilities (limited as they may be). This stuff looks like a tank job.

I know its a terrible thing to say. Maybe I'm just frustrated.

[bgbill]

I wouldn't paint the whole team with the broad brush of "bagging it"; I see some players working hard, but they're alone on the ice, and it takes more than one to win.
The team looked promising early in the season, when there was an all freshman line, and the best returning performers from last year were together.
If something bad like this were happening where I work, we would have had a formal problem solving intervention by now.

[FalconBlue]

Five Captains and Three Coaches and so far not a leader among them. This is not NORMAL. Someone has to step up and give some leadership, by example if possible.

[bigdog]

But I thought that the coaching staff learned from their mistakes and that becuase there were so many captains that there would be unbelievable leadership on the team?

[BGFan]

But I thought that the coaching staff learned from their mistakes and that becuase there were so many captains that there would be unbelievable leadership on the team?

That certainly contributed to the conversation. We know how you feel, bigdog, and you're finally getting what you wanted here. People are frustrated and we're discussing it. A "told you so" comment like that does nothing for the conversation. Neither does starting more unneeded "fire the coach" threads. Contribute constructively and use the threads already available, or start meaningful threads because this type of crap endears you to no one.

[hockey fan]

The thing that's the most frustrating about this is that I thought things were beginning to turn around.

For what it was worth, Inside College Hockey rated two of our past three recruiting classes in the top 15. I know stuff like that can be flawed, but I wasn't expecting this kind of ineptitude. Either the talent has been tremendously overrated or there is something else going on here.

Most of you guys have had more opportunity to see them than I have. Do we have the talent to compete? Do you see flashes or should these guys be playing Division 3?

Point is, if we can eliminate lack of talent as a reason for our futility then we can look at other reasons.

[bigdog]

listen, i post the "i told you so" comments becuase even in this time where a goal can't be bought no one wants to blame the coach. Seriously, is this man part of all of your families becuase that is the only reason for the on going support for such a coach with such losing record.

[Bleeding Orange]

Seriously, is this man part of all of your families becuase that is the only reason for the on going support for such a coach with such losing record.

Yes, bigdog, Coach Paluch is a part of our families. He is an alumnus of BGSU, and he is, therefore, our brother for all intents and purposes. And yes, we do want to see our brother succeed. Unfortunately, this is a notion that you do not seem to get, and for that I am sorry. Yes, what we are seeing on the ice right now is very, very hard to watch/listen to, but those of us who have embraced the familial atmosphere that the BGSU community promotes are not going to disgrace one of our own by calling him all kinds of names and question his abilities and intelligence in a public forum. We are going to pull for him until the day that he is no longer the coach of the Falcon Hockey team, and even if and when he does depart we will pull for him then, too, no matter what the circumstances of his departure may be.

I certainly can't speak for eveyone that posts regularly in this forum or on these message boards, but this is how myself and a lot of people I know feel about our fellow alums - even you, bigdog. Speaking on my own behalf, this a big part of the reason that I was so defensive when you started posting all of this stuff. What you say may have merit, but in my mind, there are much more constructive and respectful ways of dealing with this situation. Admittedly, I have not been in the locker room, but given the attitude of many of those who claim to be former players, it does not seem to me that the effort was made to work with and adapt to the coaching situation. It seems to me that they probably spent most of their careers fighting the coaching staff, and part of me fears that what we are seeing now is a result of current players seeing this take place for several years, which is why I have used the word "sabotage" in the past. I honestly can't say, based on everything that I have read thus far, that Paluch was ever given a chance.

Now please don't interperet any of this as having been intended as a slight or an insult. I just wanted to give you some sort of idea of the type of thinking that you are encountering from myself and possibly others. My attitude may seem like indifference to you, but that could not be any further from the truth, I assure you.

[bigdog]

I respect that, I really do. Maybe you are a bigger man than me but personally when I see something that is clearly not working I would like it changed. There has to be a point where someone says this isn't good for the team anymore.
I agree that the past players did fight with the coaches in differing views. But it did not start like that. He was given a fair chance and when he began making ridiclious moves and coaching tactics, then people began to raise questions. He was given a fair chance and at one point I can honestly say that he used to be a coach that I liked and respected. That was until I spent enough time around him to realize that he isn't a smart man and he is very fake. That is one thing that really turned him against me is how fake he is, that is one characteristic that I can't handle with people.

[ShaneFalco]

Bleeding Orange:

That is a very respectable post, and very well written.

It is just very difficult to watch my teammates, best friends, brothers, be put through the same non-sense in that sacred lockerroom. We all want to see the team succeed. I also want to see my friends enjoy the game that they grew up loving. I never thought that I would see the day that hockey was not fun. It happened, and it was extremely eye-opening.