On Tuesday evenings University of Maine coach Shawn Walsh has a 30-minute
radio show that is hosted by Joe Carr, the Maine hockey radio play-by-
play announcer.  Joe is a hockey-ler who must have been perusing yesterday's
posts because his first question to Walsh concerned an automatic bye for
any team that wins both the rs and tourney titles.  Walsh was aware of
 
Comley's statement regarding this issue and it lead to a great deal of
discussion among members of the coach's association, who questioned Comley
on the apparent change from the selection rules as they had been explained.
It seems that Comley, as the only member of the selection committee who was
around four years ago, regarded a decision that was made then as precedent
for this situation.  Jack Parker, who was on the selection committee four
years ago, has viewed the current situation the same way as Comley did.
After consulting with Phil Buttafuaco of the NC$$, Comley agreed that the
current guidelines include no such provision and that the RPI and other stated
criteria will be used to determine the seedings.  Walsh indicated that Comley
has put this in writing for him.
 
Rick Sayles
Go Blue!