Caveat emptor ... I am an avid, extremely proud, and slightly disappointed LJ fan. Like all LJ fans, we hoped for a second title in two years and the third for Hixon. Everyone who watched the Friday game was surprised at the magnitude of the loss to a perfect game played by Williams, although not so much surprised at losing. Williams had a talented team this year and it is neigh impossible to beat a team four times in a season, especially the way Williams had been playing in the playoffs. Kudos to the Williams coach for realizing that his team was not quick enough afoot to play man against Amherst and switching to a highly effective 2-3 zone. But even more kudos to the Ephs for their amazing shooting in the sem--finals. Zone or man on defense, shooting the way they did was going to win that game for Williams on Friday night.
I question, however, the comment that the Williams president made – if in fact he did make it – that the team will be remembered more for a first win over Amherst in nine games – even a blowout – rather than a last second loss for the national championship. My guess is that Maker and the players know that the win over Amherst only gets truly "locked in" with historical significance if they win the final game and bring home a title. As it turns out, they made the finals, lost a historically close game, stopped Amherst from winning a third title, all good things ... but didn't bring home the trophy. While it is likely one of the best senior classes in Williams history, one that I have great respect for, the LJ senior class boost three straight NESCAC titles (first time ever in NESCAC history) – a national title (their second) – a two time (first ever in the history of D3, I think) national player of the year - and eight of nine wins against their rivals from up north. Just saying ...
I respect the fact that this site is a "feel good" site that is less about competition than others, which is just fine. I also think that anyone from the NESCAC knows what D3 is and what it isn't. We all get that. But I think that Falk likely did not remotely speak for his team or coach with that comment – they know that they did not bring home the prize that they came to Salem for. This is not, of course, the first time that an out-of-touch statement has been made by a school president!
Lastly, regarding Hixon's substitutes this year, one can only assume that he had decided a long time ago to use a seven man rotation (last year he used an eight man rotation) and by the time Pollack went down, it was too late to develop a new seventh guy. Should he have developed younger talent earlier? Maybe, but his seniors other than Toomey paid their bench dues for a few years and that worked out for them and the program. They were a bit gassed at the end but the way the Ephs played in the semi-finals, the difference between a seven or eight man rotation was irrelevant. Williams was just too good on Friday night.
Last word ... Hixon has a guy coming in who he thinks is the next Olsen or Tommey. Stay tuned!
I question, however, the comment that the Williams president made – if in fact he did make it – that the team will be remembered more for a first win over Amherst in nine games – even a blowout – rather than a last second loss for the national championship. My guess is that Maker and the players know that the win over Amherst only gets truly "locked in" with historical significance if they win the final game and bring home a title. As it turns out, they made the finals, lost a historically close game, stopped Amherst from winning a third title, all good things ... but didn't bring home the trophy. While it is likely one of the best senior classes in Williams history, one that I have great respect for, the LJ senior class boost three straight NESCAC titles (first time ever in NESCAC history) – a national title (their second) – a two time (first ever in the history of D3, I think) national player of the year - and eight of nine wins against their rivals from up north. Just saying ...
I respect the fact that this site is a "feel good" site that is less about competition than others, which is just fine. I also think that anyone from the NESCAC knows what D3 is and what it isn't. We all get that. But I think that Falk likely did not remotely speak for his team or coach with that comment – they know that they did not bring home the prize that they came to Salem for. This is not, of course, the first time that an out-of-touch statement has been made by a school president!
Lastly, regarding Hixon's substitutes this year, one can only assume that he had decided a long time ago to use a seven man rotation (last year he used an eight man rotation) and by the time Pollack went down, it was too late to develop a new seventh guy. Should he have developed younger talent earlier? Maybe, but his seniors other than Toomey paid their bench dues for a few years and that worked out for them and the program. They were a bit gassed at the end but the way the Ephs played in the semi-finals, the difference between a seven or eight man rotation was irrelevant. Williams was just too good on Friday night.
Last word ... Hixon has a guy coming in who he thinks is the next Olsen or Tommey. Stay tuned!