Sharing some thoughts…..

So what did we learn from Florida’s 41-14 dismantling of Ohio State Monday night in the national championship game?

First of all, there is no substitute for speed. Florida was simply much faster than Ohio State.

This applies to all sports and is something every coach should address.

Seek out a track coach or, in the case of hockey, a power skating instructor and have them work with your athletes. Gaining just a half-step can make a significant difference.

You might be able to get down the baseline a step quicker and beat out a few infield hits; pull away from a defender to produce a scoring opportunity or make an effective backcheck and break up a potential odd-man rush.

The game also showed the benefits of being creative and unpredictable.

Florida’s offensive diversity created uncertainty and confusion on behalf of the Ohio State defense.

When you aren’t sure what the opponent is going to do, you become tentative. Once you become tentative, you become passive.

I’ve always loved gadget plays because they cause confusion, even if they don’t all work. They also make your team entertaining to watch.

If you pick up three yards in a third-and-four situation, line up immediately without a huddle and run a play or try to draw the opponent off-sides by hurrying your cadence while they’re still trying to scramble into position.

Another thing we learned about from the game is that any system that forces a team to go 51 days between games, like Ohio State did, is grossly flawed.

The entire off-season for Stanley Cup finalists isn’t much longer than that.

That’s not to offer that as an excuse for the Buckeyes.

After all, the Big Ten went 2-5 in bowl games.

Michigan, a team many thought (including me) should have been playing Ohio State in the BCS championship game instead of Florida, was soundly beaten by USC 32-18 in the Rose Bowl.

The NCAA has to take a look at the system.

The Big Ten doesn’t have a championship game, like the Southeastern Conference. Florida won the SEC title game so it didn’t have as long a layoff.

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This may be the final season of varsity hockey at Stearns High School of Millinocket and Foxcroft Academy.

Stearns began its program in the 1984-85 season and Foxcroft started its team the next year.

It’ll be too bad if they lose their programs but it certainly makes sense.

Both teams began the season with 14 players, seven of them being seniors.

The two communities don’t have their own youth hockey programs any more so the interest has dwindled and the high schools teams have to commute to Houlton (Stearns) and Bangor (Foxcroft) to practice until their outdoor rinks are ready.

And we all know what kind of non-winter we’ve been having.

Hockey is an expensive sport and it can also be dangerous if you have a limited roster and players are overused and exhausted.

The fact they have been able to sustain a program this long is a credit to both communities, their athletic departments and the dedication of the players.

The odds have been stacked against them but the players have persevered and competed to the best of their abilities.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.