Once upon a time, Harvard students had this fervor. Cornell's really disgusting tradition of throwing fish on to the ice began as a response to Crimson fans tying a chicken to the Big Red goal (making fun of their agricultural school).

I myself had attempted to revive some of this spirit myself with a column last Thursday lampooning the Cornell fans and the way they support their team.

[By the way, thanks to those kind Cornellians who responded with the chicken story. Extra gratitude to those who subscribed me to every pornographic email mailing list on the web.]

Mazzoleni will know his job is done in turning the program around when the students feel some Crimson pride again. He'll know he's achieved success at Harvard when Bright sells out with its own fans and that a Cornell fan would fear using body paint because he would be surrounded by a host of Crimson crazies.

This is a gradual process that is going to take a couple of years. It starts with the product on the ice. Students that come to games have to want to return. Though they were vastly outnumbered by the Big Red cadre, there were more Harvard students than at most home games.

The second period had to have left a sick taste in their mouths. It certainly did in mine after I kept recalling all the complimentary things I said about the Ivy in Ithaca.

The real transformation will happen after Mazzoleni has the opportunity to bring in recruiting classes of his own. Though nothing is official, next year's group appears to be extremely good. Mazzoleni has the track record and the vision to return Harvard to national prominence.