Time to "forgive" McGraw?

[maddoggy]

It has been apparent in the run-up to tonight's game that Muffet and Geno have been playing nicely with one another, but there's an interesting explanation in a Sports Illustrated piece called 5 Questions Before UConn-Notre Dame.

McGraw admitted to SI.com on Monday that the combination of being undefeated, the desire to get her seniors a victory in the title game, and losing star center Natalie Achonwa to a season-ending ACL injury against Baylor in the Elite Eight dialed up the tension last year. “I remember talking to Geno after the game for a couple of minutes and him being very complementary,” she said. “I saw him a couple of weeks later recruiting and everything was fine. I think it was all me. Losing Natalie Achonwa, the pressures of being undefeated, all the press attention, I think I had a lapse in judgment and I really regret that.”

Notre Dame's players have noticed the difference.

“Last year was like Gladiators,” Loyd said. “It was heated. It was like you would walk down the hallway and kind of turn your head [when you saw a UConn member]. This year everyone is friendly in the sense that everyone is laughing and smiling. It might be the weather, I don’t know. But it is not as hostile, which is good. Geno is a great guy and Coach [McGraw] of course is great. When you have two competitors like that, it is going to be heated at times.”

I hate to give up a good head of hate too early, but maybe it is time to put this issue behind us.

(FWIW, the rest of the article has some good stuff, too.)

 

[CCinCT]

After the game !

 

[DobbsRover2]

Yeah, only if she's a gracious loser tonight. If she's a gracious winner like in 2001, I'll never forgive her.

 

[Wally East]

“I remember talking to Geno after the game for a couple of minutes and him being very complementary"

Ugh. Seriously, SI? "Complimentary." They are different words that mean different things.

 

[meyers7]

Ugh. Seriously, SI? "Complimentary." They are different words that mean different things.

e..i..e..i.....Oh

 

[jcoton56]

Sure, but don't tell her. ;-)

 

[RockyMTblue2]

There are so few things to dislike in modern society I am reluctant to give up this one. It was all her and the words uttered were thought out before delivered... calculated. Her "lapse" was the uttering of words she genuinely felt and probably still does, wanting to inherent the mantle of Pat S as the dowager empress of WCBB. So were the Geno is afraid of us words uttered earlier in the season. So was the sitting on her hands at Stewie's award presentation ceremony. This real shrewish Muffet is simply stewing, bubbling beneath the surface. So, NO I do not forgive you Muffet.

 

[Beemer]

Hey if she's big enough to admit it was on her, I'm big enough to let it go.

 

[j66kicker]

She needs one more beat-down, while her team is at full strength - no excuses. Then we can talk.

 

[meyers7]

She and ND (WBB) never really bothered me. I like a little animosity between rivals.

 

[SWHuskyFan]

Last years beef seemed a little contrived to me. I hadn't heard there was any friction before and Geno didn't seem to be making any of his cracks in there direction. I think it was Muffet's way of pumping up her team.

 

[fanatichusky]

ND used to be our door mat. Now they are our floor mat. They need to learn their place in the house.

 

[arty155]

... “I remember talking to Geno after the game for a couple of minutes and him being very complementary,” ...

Ugh. Seriously, SI? "Complimentary." They are different words that mean different things.

- Coach McGraw's using the code-word complementary intentionally! Basically, 'Geno was peppering me again, and I felt shaken.'
- Enough! Let's finish off those leprechaun-lovers tonight, once and for all! Get'em Huskies!!!!

 

[huskyblooz]

Muffett's an excellent coach and has done a remarkable job at ND. They're also a very, very talented team.
And they're going to be good for awhile.

ESPN, I'm sure, wants a little controversy. But I hope they all take the high road.

 

[boontonbomber]

We are fortunate to have a coach who has never made any obnoxious or inappropriate comments.

 

[Sonny44]

It has been apparent in the run-up to tonight's game that Muffet and Geno have been playing nicely with one another, but there's an interesting explanation in a Sports Illustrated piece called 5 Questions Before UConn-Notre Dame.

McGraw admitted to SI.com on Monday that the combination of being undefeated, the desire to get her seniors a victory in the title game, and losing star center Natalie Achonwa to a season-ending ACL injury against Baylor in the Elite Eight dialed up the tension last year. “I remember talking to Geno after the game for a couple of minutes and him being very complementary,” she said. “I saw him a couple of weeks later recruiting and everything was fine. I think it was all me. Losing Natalie Achonwa, the pressures of being undefeated, all the press attention, I think I had a lapse in judgment and I really regret that.”

Notre Dame's players have noticed the difference.

“Last year was like Gladiators,” Loyd said. “It was heated. It was like you would walk down the hallway and kind of turn your head [when you saw a UConn member]. This year everyone is friendly in the sense that everyone is laughing and smiling. It might be the weather, I don’t know. But it is not as hostile, which is good. Geno is a great guy and Coach [McGraw] of course is great. When you have two competitors like that, it is going to be heated at times.”

I hate to give up a good head of hate too early, but maybe it is time to put this issue behind us.

(FWIW, the rest of the article has some good stuff, too.)

When you don't hate you don't have to forgive.

 

[Jim]

We are fortunate to have a coach who has never made any obnoxious or inappropriate comments.

I agree. CD is the best!

 

[bellairehusky]

I think this speaks volumes about Muffet. It's an apology for her comments. Very big of her to do so and I respect her more. Everyone says/does things they regret sometimes but admitting it is the best way to move on.

 

[wvhuskyfan]

We are fortunate to have a coach who has never made any obnoxious or inappropriate comments.

Has Geno ever made a snarky comment like "We've gotten pretty good at beating Tennessee" or ND or anyone else? Has he refused to clap when another team's player won Player of the Year award? Has he ever said that the game lost some class at the top when Pat Summitt left? If McGraw is worried about the lack of class in the coaching ranks in WCBB, she needs to take a good long look in the mirror.

I never want to play them in the NC game because I hate it when they get that far. I'd like to see them miss the tournament altogether.

 

[ctfjr]

Only if I get to choke that leprechaun first

 

[EricLA]

Meh. I have no issue with McGraw - never did. Wasn't thrilled with her reaction to Stewie winning NPOY, but other than that - she's a fierce competitor and wants to win a NC. She's never been where Geno is - sure she won a NC and has been to the finals 4 or 5 times, but Geno is 9-0 in NC games and has had way more success in total than she has. For those reasons, I give her, and other coaches, a pass if they aren't as "perfectly eloquent" as UCONN fans feel they should be.

 

[GoUconn7961]

Has Geno ever made a snarky comment like "We've gotten pretty good at beating Tennessee" or ND or anyone else? Has he refused to clap when another team's player won Player of the Year award? Has he ever said that the game lost some class at the top when Pat Summitt left? If McGraw is worried about the lack of class in the coaching ranks in WCBB, she needs to take a good long look in the mirror.

I never want to play them in the NC game because I hate it when they get that far. I'd like to see them miss the tournament altogether.

Ditto

 

[hussybulldog]

There are so few things to dislike in modern society I am reluctant to give up this one. It was all her and the words uttered were thought out before delivered... calculated. Her "lapse" was the uttering of words she genuinely felt and probably still does, wanting to inherent the mantle of Pat S as the dowager empress of WCBB. So were the Geno is afraid of us words uttered earlier in the season. So was the sitting on her hands at Stewie's award presentation ceremony. This real shrewish Muffet is simply stewing, bubbling beneath the surface. So, NO I do not forgive you Muffet.

come on, if Geno is forgiving her, why could not you?

 

[HuskyNan]

There are so few things to dislike in modern society I am reluctant to give up this one. It was all her and the words uttered were thought out before delivered... calculated. Her "lapse" was the uttering of words she genuinely felt and probably still does, wanting to inherent the mantle of Pat S as the dowager empress of WCBB. So were the Geno is afraid of us words uttered earlier in the season. So was the sitting on her hands at Stewie's award presentation ceremony. This real shrewish Muffet is simply stewing, bubbling beneath the surface. So, NO I do not forgive you Muffet.

Pure speculation on your part. I don't know how you can know any of this unless you've personally spoken to Muffet.

She's been a great lady and competitor for years and years and lost her mind for a few months last season. It's not like Geno hasn't put his foot in his mouth a couple of times.

 

[HuskyNan]

Has Geno ever made a snarky comment like "We've gotten pretty good at beating Tennessee" or ND or anyone else? Has he refused to clap when another team's player won Player of the Year award? Has he ever said that the game lost some class at the top when Pat Summitt left? If McGraw is worried about the lack of class in the coaching ranks in WCBB, she needs to take a good long look in the mirror.

No, Geno wouldn't say anything like that

Fast-forwarding to tonight at Gampel Pavilion, LSU coach Van Chancellor said he would like to again open a series with UConn. Auriemma was asked about a potential series with the Lady Tigers and ran with it.

“We’re not playing any SEC schools this year except them,’’ Auriemma said. “So, yeah, I could see us getting that series back with Van. He does things the right way. So I wouldn’t be opposed to playing Van going forward.’’
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