Tim Whitehead in Maine

I have defended Tim Whitehead for years and will continue to do so. He is a good man, a great family man, a respected member of the community and should in no way be judged as a person for the success or failure of the hockey team under his direction.

I think these folks who criticize him and call him terrible names and disparage him in a personal way are morons and that they should be ashamed of themselves. I would ask the question would you rather have someone like John Calipari or even Jack Parker running this program. Take a look at the news articles about the Boston University hockey teams off ice exploits in recent years if you want to feel better about what is going on here at Maine. The sad answer is that for many of these fans the answer would be yes, yes we would much rather have a winning program and if there are a few assaults, players ineligible, tainted victories, misogynistic treatment of women by our players, well that is the price to pay.

That might well illustrate why more and more sports and the enjoyment of it has been clouded for me.

Still at this time I think that it is time for Tim Whitehead to go. He certainly should not be fired midseason. That is not what is done in college sports and certainly not to a man of Whitehead's character but for both sides it might be time to part. Tim needs a fresh start where he will not have the shadow of his predecessor hanging over him still, eight years later and Shawn Walsh still hangs over the program like a not always benevolent ghost, and Maine needs a coach who will have a fresh start and quiet the Hallelujah chorus that has made the Coach their whipping boy for factors that perhaps any coach will have a hard time overcoming.

I will admit it will be interesting to see a new coach. The fans want someone who will wave his arms, and put his foot up on the dasher screaming at the refs. They want someone who will motivate players who have different career paths and motivations than those that were here twenty years ago. Shawn Walsh will not be among the applicants to replace Tim Whitehead, and that will be a disappointment. Here is hoping however that a new coach will be given a couple of years to rebuild the program before the vultures suck the life out of him.

As for me I will be rooting for Maine to rebound and for Tim Whitehead to land on his feet as well. It will be sweet retribution for Tim if he in landing someplace with no shadow on his shoulder he can show what he can do and has done in the past.

For all concerned however the time for parting is this spring. Let us hope it is handled in as classy a way as is possible.