It’s no question the biggest news surrounding Northeastern sports in the past year was the elimination of the football program in November. Now that the program is done, the Athletic Department needs to make some changes to programs that still exist.
Last fall in the press release, Athletic Director Peter Roby called for “excellence in all areas.” There’s no better time than the present to make that statement a reality.
In my opinion, excellence isn’t settling for the mediocrity that this department so often does. In the past year, Northeastern has taken many strides toward bettering its athletic performance, but none of them have been “excellent.”
The men’s basketball team now has a fan section, was selected for the National Invitational Tournament, showcased its talents on the family of ESPN networks multiple times, and even made some noise in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. While the season was certainly not a total loss, the team failed to live up to attainable expectations. I’m sure the senior class will remember all the great times they as Huskies, but the absence of an NCAA Tournament appearance will surely haunt them.
On the ice, the Huskies knocked off both their intra-city rivals at home, giving their fans plenty to cheer about. Sophomore goaltender Chris Rawlings came in and showed he has the talent to make this team a contender every year. But excellence was again not achieved as the team not only failed in the Beanpot, but missed its conference playoffs by going 1-4-1 in the last three weeks of the season. Don’t get me wrong, the competitors in the Beanpot and Hockey East are tough, but excellence isn’t third out of four or ninth out of 10.
Even the women’s hockey team, which had a season where it was consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally, failed to achieve excellence. On their biggest stage of the season, in an important Hockey East game with the University of New Hampshire outside at Fenway Park on national television, the Huskies folded under the pressure, giving away a third period lead. One of the best goaltenders in the world, who even played for her country in the Olympics this year, couldn’t save this team from a late-season collapse in which they went from possible national tournament contenders to a first round Hockey East exit.
Yes, the new GoNU.com looks nice and with new basketball recruits, men’s hockey forward Steve Qualier on the return, and a new season around the corner, there are reasons for optimism. But for Joe Huskyfan out there, the past year has produced a host of failures and disappointments.
I feel I speak for all the fans out there when I say I want to see some results.
But it’s a two way street. Results not only show the hard work of the athletic department, but the dedication of the student body. At a time when athletics have so much potential at this university, I hope the department gives the athletes their best chance at success and the students go to support the teams. No matter the record, let’s support our athletes through thick and thin, something that other schools around us can’t always say they’ve done.
Jared Shafran is a Huntington News columnist.
