RedFrog

I think 4 Penrose Cups out of the last 5 years ('20, '21, '22, and '24) is being successful.

I'm thinking more along the lines of how does Berry know what the expectation is and when/if he is not achieving that it is clearly stated that improvement is expected. I have to imagine it goes a little like this (very high level view and for discussion purposes only): Before season meeting between AD and Head Coach. In this meeting they discuss what the expectations and goals are for the team for the year and agree upon what would constitute a successful year (minimally acceptable standard). After season meeting between AD and Head Coach. In this meeting they review the season and determine if it was a successful year. If it was a successful year, good job and we'll see you next year. If it wasn't a successful year how close was it to being successful and can it be attributed to unforeseen circumstances or just not getting the breaks? Regardless, unsuccessful has to come with a message that it is not meeting minimally acceptable standards and improvement is needed. Questions I have are: What is the minimally acceptable standard when looking at the season in its entirety? Is there much deviation from year to year on what the minimally acceptable standard is? How frequently is a failure to meet the minimally acceptable standard tolerated? I like the visual from the previous page. Is the minimally acceptable standard getting into the NCAAs (that would be the water level in this graphic)? **Credit to @Big A HG for the above graphic** Personally, I think winning a Penrose Cup is a successful season regardless of any tournament outcomes ... as frustrating as that has been. We hang banners for meaningful achievements, and when you hang a banner you have achieved something that is not easily done and exceeds minimally acceptable standards. Conversely, missing the NCAAs is a failed year and should automatically put a coach on the hot seat (PIP anyone?) ... again, in my opinion. At the beginning of the year when the Fire Berry talk started up it infuriated me. As late as being swept by Denver I was still a supporter but said that the next 6 games (RMU, BSU, Miami) would dictate our season and we did not perform well. I have since been more open to the idea of a need for change, but I also am one who believes people need to be given opportunities to improve ... corrective action > disciplinary action, however when corrective action doesn't get results, then disciplinary action needs to be used. I just wonder what those conversations consisted of after the 2018, 2019 and 2023 seasons? Ultimately, nothing will or should be decided until after the season, but if we miss the NCAAs entirely, which is a very distinct possibility, I know that I will not be satisfied and would not object to a change. I am hopeful and remain cautiously optimistic that we are making a turn for the better, getting some key players back and can make a serious run in the 2nd half.

Serious question. What does or should the corrective action process look like for a head coach? I'm only looking specifically for instances where team performance/achievement expectations are or are not met. I have my own thoughts, but want to hear what others have to say before sharing.

First, I agree that Berry's seat should be warm. The team has put him in a position where he could be staring down the guillotine if they fail to make the NCAAs. This team was ranked #5 in the preseason poll and has a ton of skill and talent. I was OK with where we were sitting after being swept by Denver at home, but the results of the RMU and BSU weekends were unacceptable in my opinion. Even with the injuries we were dealing with, those are teams our 2 deep should handle. I won't call the Miami weekend a confidence builder (not with the first 55 minutes of that Friday night game), but this past weekend gives me more optimism and the season is far from over. This fanbase demands and deserves more in the national tournament. That does not mean that Berry hasn't provided a quality product. You don't win 5 Penrose Cups without having teams that are considered contenders for the national championship. Unfortunately, you can't compete for a national championship if you don't make the tournament. I would agree that if this team misses the NCAAs, serious consideration needs to be given to replacing him. We still have half the season to go though, which is more than enough time for this team to have a strong half, possibly win another Penrose, and have that shot to compete for a national championship. Ultimately, if we win the Penrose and make the NCAAs but lose in the regionals, Berry is safe for another year but the seat stays warm. If we don't win the Penrose and we lose the first game of the NCAAs or miss the NCAAs ... Berry needs to be celebrated for his contributions to the program and let go.

Heading into the break, no reason not to leave it all out on the ice. This series should have playoff level compete level from the guys in green. To go 4-1-1 (with 1 win in OT) against RMU, BSU and Miami does not instill a lot of confidence ... but if this past weekend was as "defining" as I've read this weekend should bear acceptable results. I will remain cautiously optimistic. Demand a sweep, tolerate a split, burn the ships if we get swept.

I haven't gone through and read any of the threads from the Denver weekend as I sense that it is a lot of the same rhetoric from the same posters about firing Berry and rehashing the lack of performance in the national tournament. Not saying there isn't some validity in those comments and concerns, but to see the same crap over and over again gets pretty nauseating. Let's talk about it again in April if we aren't playing. I honestly didn't think we played that poorly over the weekend and was very impressed with how good Denver is. They appeared to me to be heads and shoulders better than anyone we have have played so far this year. I felt like the boys played hard and competed most of the weekend and I am more optimistic than pessimistic at this point, especially if we can get and stay healthy. Having said that, I told my wife on Saturday night when they showed the next 3 series for UND that I felt we needed to go 6-0. If this team is going to contend for a natty, injuries be damned, they have to sweep the next 3 weekends. Also, my wife and I always pick a player to score before each game, kind of where the Sioux Survivor came from all those years ago, and I have picked OMac every single night so far ... I won't be picking him on Friday night so he can get off the snide.

Offensively the boys look MUCH better tonight. Much more controlled with lots of puck possession. Hedquist will want that goal back for sure. I think it caught him by surprise. Can obviously tell when our 3rd D pair is out there.

We definitely have times the boys look tired and stop skating ... empty the tank and win the period. Gaber and Berg have largely been unnoticeable. Needs to change.

We need to extend the lead.

Not excited about the tinkering and game playing with the goalie situation and lines this postseason. Hope it works out.

Feel like this will end with a DU defensive gaff/turnover or a DU skill play to score.

Denver has turned the puck over a lot in their own zone ... UMass just hasn't made them pay. Nothing I love more than OT playoff hockey!!

This is me too.

Since we are not likely to be in Sioux Falls where would we prefer to be placed, Springfield or Maryland Heights? Not gonna lie, the sound of playing Friday / Sunday is more intriguing than Thursday / Saturday. I don't care about the draw ... at this point it doesn't matter. Show up, keep the pedal to the metal or go home.

Here is my complaint. Why do we insist on keeping the goal scoring line on the ice after we score a goal? Livanavage makes it 4-3 and we leave them on the ice. The line ends up hemmed in in their zone ... you can tell Livanavage is gassed and then doesn't make the play to defend the guy who scores the goal right after. He also missed a play earlier in the sequence where I could tell he was gassed. This weekend is over ... focus on next weekend and be glad we will be a 2 seed and NOT in Sioux Falls with Omaha.