I tend to agree with this, even though Jackson is clearly a
by wearendhockey (2023-03-06 23:19:54)

In reply to: If Jackson was going to fix this he would have by now...... *  posted by Wolfetone


coach who would deserve the benefit of doubt. But for those who think he deserves a whole lot more benefit of a doubt, I would remind them this mediocrity has been going on a long time.

After starting our Big Ten life with a huge splash, going 13-0 in our first 13 Big Ten starts and cruising to an easy title, we've basically been .500 since in 5 1/2 seasons (55-50-26). We won those first two Big Ten playoff titles, going 6-0 in the process, but since then, we've stumbled along to just a 4-7 record in Big Ten playoff games, losing in the first round 3 times. 2 of those three first round losses and 7 of those 11 games have been at home in the CFIA.

This is also coming off 4 rather mediocre regular seasons in Hockey East, with finishes of 8th, 5th, 3rd and 4th, an 8-8 record in Hockey East playoff games including two blowout losses in the Hockey East Semi finals.

I think those who note that for 40 years this program was basically nowhere before the arrival of Jackson and that somehow means Jackson deserves way more of a benefit of the doubt than others are willing to give are mistaken in that sentiment too. Those 40 years sure didn't seem to prevent him from doing great things, basically right away. Then the CFIA was supposed to be the final piece of the puzzle. 6 seasons in the JACC had 4 combined regular season and playoff titles, 2 FFs and a 6-4 NCAA record. But 12 years in the CFIA has brought the same 4 combined regular season and playoff titles title, a .500 NCAA record (7-7) and just 2 more FFs. And we are in a 5 year downward trend with less and less success. All of that means a whole lot more than for 40 years the program was an afterthought. It isn't, or at least shouldn't be, an afterthought anymore.