Joe Battista falls into a chair and smiles wearily. It's been a long week, and the travel schedule won't do the coach any favors any time soon.
Battista, the Penn State ACHA Div. I Icers coach, will serve as the head coach of the United States University Select Team when the team competes in the 2003 World University Games in Tarvisio, Italy, over the next two weeks. The post has been his since early June, however, along with the immense amount of work that it entails.
That appointment both honored the Penn State coach and took away any semblance of free time he might have enjoyed.
While many other coaches were preparing for the upcoming ACHA season, drafting rosters, getting in touch with their players, concocting game plans and the like, Battista was supervising an 88-player tryout in Ames, Iowa.
During the Christmas holiday, as many of his peers were taking breaks to enjoy a holiday meal and relax a bit, Battista was watching his 22-man roster practice for three days in Illinois.
"It's been a lot of work," Battista said with a smile.
That may be an understatement, considering the task confronting the veteran in his 16th season at the helm of the Penn State ship. He is the top man responsible for righting the U.S. course in the World University Games, one that took a turn for the worse at the 2001 games in Poland. In that tournament, the team finished a dismal 1-3, perhaps a result of the squad's quick assembly. Thus, the reason for the tryout, the training camps, the big workload.
"Everything has been so hectic and crazy that it probably won't hit us until we arrive in Italy," Battista said.
However, Battista maintained his air of cool confidence. The ever-optimistic coach said that the coaching staff -- which includes former Icer and Battista disciple Josh Brandwene of Delaware -- and the players are more than ready for the challenge.
It may be a good thing that the team is confident, because the fan support has been less than overwhelming.
"People don't give us much of a chance," Battista said. "Our attitude is that we've got nothing to lose. All I ask is that the players leave it all on the ice and play with heart."
The veteran coach will have help from one of his Penn State senior captains and three-time ACHA All-American, Josh Mandel, a veteran of the 2001 team and captain of the 2003 edition.
Mandel said he was excited to have Battista along for this trip, and added that a familiar face would make the transition this time infinitely easier.
"The first time I went to Poland, I didn't really know what to expect and it was kind of hard to adjust," Mandel said. "Now, with Coach there, I know the systems. I know if coach yells out a drill in practice I can go right to the front of the line and know exactly what we're going to do."
Along with Mandel will be a contingent of three other Icers -- senior center Neal Price, junior forward Bill Downey and junior defenseman Curtiss Patrick. All of the players agreed it would be nice to have a familiar face leading the charge in Italy.
"His coaching style will definitely help out," Downey said.
Will Battista and Team USA be able to overcome both the previous experiences in international hockey? Only time will tell.
Battista does have a word or two for those that may doubt the red, white and blue -- alluding to 1980, when another U.S. squad shocked the world.
"Although there are obstacles," he said, "there are large upsets."
Three other veterans return from the Poland squad, including Andrew Murdoch, a senior center from Iowa State; Shawn Bergstrand, a senior goalie from Minot State; and Shane Print, a junior defenseman from Ohio University.
