2008 Woodie Awards
The Daily OrangeMLAX | Rookie Miller earns spot on 2nd line
By Andy McCullough
Posted: 3/20/08, 12:32 AM EST Section: Sports
So Miller's nerves jangled when he got on the field. He would freeze up when coaches sent him into scrimmages, anxious, his heart racing.
"My first few games I just didn't want to do anything that would draw attention to myself by the coaches," Miller said. "Like, I just didn't want to get screamed at or anything."
Still, Desko and the staff saw the flickers of something, a player agile enough to smother people on defense and quick enough to slip open on offense. He liked the idea of fixing up Miller with the tandem of Hardy and Perritt, roommates who've played together for three seasons.
"Offensively he's got that speed and quickness so he can separate himself," Desko said.
The Orange coaching staff shook up the midfield lines the week after scoring only nine goals despite 57 shots in a 9-8 overtime win against Georgetown.
Hardy and Abbott swapped spots on the first and second lines. Miller replaced sophomore Max Bartig. The changes breathed life into the offense.
"He brings a lot of energy," Hardy said of Miller. "He and Pat are both big energy guys. I mean, he's really starting to figure it out."
Confidence is high now. The team is off to its best start since 2004, the year of its last national championship.
And Miller is starting to make the influence he wanted to.
"It feels great," he said. "It's something I wasn't expecting right away - just getting on the field was an honor in the first place. But when you can contribute and feel like you can help the team out, it feels that much better."
ramccull@syr.edu
"My first few games I just didn't want to do anything that would draw attention to myself by the coaches," Miller said. "Like, I just didn't want to get screamed at or anything."
Still, Desko and the staff saw the flickers of something, a player agile enough to smother people on defense and quick enough to slip open on offense. He liked the idea of fixing up Miller with the tandem of Hardy and Perritt, roommates who've played together for three seasons.
"Offensively he's got that speed and quickness so he can separate himself," Desko said.
The Orange coaching staff shook up the midfield lines the week after scoring only nine goals despite 57 shots in a 9-8 overtime win against Georgetown.
Hardy and Abbott swapped spots on the first and second lines. Miller replaced sophomore Max Bartig. The changes breathed life into the offense.
"He brings a lot of energy," Hardy said of Miller. "He and Pat are both big energy guys. I mean, he's really starting to figure it out."
Confidence is high now. The team is off to its best start since 2004, the year of its last national championship.
And Miller is starting to make the influence he wanted to.
"It feels great," he said. "It's something I wasn't expecting right away - just getting on the field was an honor in the first place. But when you can contribute and feel like you can help the team out, it feels that much better."
ramccull@syr.edu
Be the first to comment on this story