Mike gave you the story that was in the Boston Globe, here's
 the one that appeared today in the Boston Herald
 
 
   by Michael O'Connor
 
 The NCAA, claiming coach Bill Riley waved money at his team
 between periods as an incentive and that players received free
 and reduced rent for housing, yesterday placed the University
 of Lowell hockey team on two years probation and prohibited it
 from postseason play for one year.
 
 According to a nine page report submitted by the NCAA's Committee
 on Infractions, the "principal violations stemmed from extra
 benefits provided enrolled student athletes," by an unnamed progam
 booster and Riley, who owned apartments they made available to the
 players at rents "substantially below the going rate in the area."
 
 "In one instance, a team member stayed rent-free in an apartment
 for several months," the report said.
 
 Lowell sports information director B.L. Elfring declined to identify
 the booster, but said, "The individual in question is no longer
 part of the program, and in fact has left the area."
 
 Riley, who has returned to his tenured position in the school's
 physical education department, did not return phone calls.
 
 The report also described a lockerroom money waving incident invol-
 ving Riley, whose resignation was effective at the end of this season,
 as having risen, "to the level of 'team folklore.'"
 
 Riley reportedly displayed cash to players between periods of a 1986
 game against Boston University, promising the team members money for
 a party if they won.
 
 "They won and he gave them the money for a party," the report said.
 
 Other violations included Riley's hosting recruits and their families
 on his boat, and providing meal and transportation expenses for
 players.
 
 The sanctions stem from an investigation that the university started
 a year ago, when parents of several players met with President William
 T. Hogan, who assigned a committee to examine the hockey program.  In
 July, the committee contacted the NCAA, which followed up with its own
 probe, culminating in a Feb. 1 hearing before the Committee on Infractions.
 
 (end)
 
 
 Is this the first time a team has been placed on probation for NCAA
 infractions?
 Has any other team ever been banned from NCAA tourney play?
 
 IMO, banning the Chiefs from the 1992 NCAA tournament really isn't much of a
 punishment.  I know that stranger things have happened, but for a team that
 was 5-15-1 in Hockey East and 10-23-1 overall this season to have that big
 of a turnaround to even be under consideration for an NCAA bid next season
 would be remarkable.
 
 
 -kap
 
 
 
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