Buried on Page 5 of today's sports section of the Portland Press Herald
is a response to the Boston Globe article.  The piece is written by
Mike Rowe.
 
_quoted material_
 
"UMaine probe won't end soon"
 
The NCAA investigation into the University of Maine athletic department
will probably not be concluded until February at the earliest.
 
Officials from both the NCAA and Maine denied a report published Monday,
that the investigation was closing soon and that the Black Bears hockey
program - the focus of much of the investigation - would be placed on
one-year probation.
"That is an erroneous report," said Rich Hilliard, director of
enforcement for the NCAA.  "Realistically speaking, from a timetable,
a report and hearing before the (NCAA infractions) committee wouldn't
happen until February, 1995."  Hilliard said the school and the NCAA
would first have to finish their investigations and determine whether
violations occurred before a hearing with the infractions committee
could take place.  Once the infractions committee has the information,
it could take another four to six weeks before a ruling is made.
 
(stuff edited out)
 
John Diamond, director of public affairs at Maine, said he has heard
many rumors recently concerning the fate of the hockey program.
"I think we have some very creditable people who are trying to read
tea leaves," he said.  "I think there are so many people who feel
they are close enough to the program to speculate on what may or may
not be going on that it is feeding this process."
 
_end quoted material_
 
So there you have it:  The reason Will is wrong about hockey so much
is that he relies on tea leaves.  :->
 
John Forsyth
 
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