I thought I would repost the screed from the BDN and compare it to reality,
with some comment.
 
Well, Mr. McLaughlin, it appears the fans of UMaine hockey have voted with
their ticket money.  They stood out in the cold to welcome Shawn Walsh back
to Orono and filled the house. One wonders if Art Mayo went to either game
and, if so, then took the time to ask his constituents what THEIR opinion
was of the propriety of Shawn's return to coaching and its effect upon the
school's reputation.
 
But do you think the rag will let up on him, now he's back ?  Those of you
up there kindly let us know what McLaughlin has to say now.
 
Onto my comments about what Shawn is doing at the rink ----------
 
Let me tell you all a little story.  Living in the Boston area as I do, it
is a requirement now that I see Maine at the venues; the NC$$ won't give me
the pleasure of watching on TV at home.  So, we went to both Merrimack
games at the Volpe.
 
On Friday night, we got into the rink about 35 minutes before the game, and
saw Shawn talking to an older couple out in the lobby.  We briefly said hi
to Shawn, welcomed him back, and wished him the best for the remainder of
the season.
 
After going into the rink to scope out seats (of course, behind the Maine
bench), we returned to the warmer lobby (anyone who's ever been to the
Volpe knows what I'm talking about) to wait out the beginning of the game.
The little grouping we had seen with Shawn had gone.  As we were waiting,
who comes by from the rink to the dressing room but Shawn.  He then came
over to us and said "Thanks for coming to the game, where are you from ?"
Well, we had to admit we were there from Peabody and Amesbury, Mass.
Despite the Maine home shirts each of us were wearing, and the fact that
Lindsay never attended Maine (but to Rutgers, a wimpy school without a
hockey team), I'm sure he thought we came down from the great white North.
I did tell him as a Maine alumni, I saw Game 1 and followed the team ever
since.
 
Shawn had a very relaxed and calm demeanor and it was evident he was quite
happy to see us there.  His personal demons are behind him, and he can now
speak on the ice.  His moulding of the team since the loss to Merrimack
that first night is quite impressive.  We could see it the following night.
Sitting behind the bench as we have many times at the smaller rinks, we
noticed a difference in how he related to the players this year.  It is
less frantic, more positive and he takes more time during the game to
interact with players.
 
At one point, I thought he might leave after the year ended.  Now, things
may be going in a different direction.  Is it a matter of pride for him to
return and succeed, with Maine, and contend again despite the best efforts
of everyone, including the local newspaper, to trash him and ride him out
of town on a rail ?
 
Only time will tell, but how about fourth place in HE !!
 
Here's that article again, sorry for the repost but it is curious to read
it again, after recent events, is it not ?
 
 
>(the following appeared in a "Sounding Off" column of the BDN
>
>UM HOCKEY CLOUDS WON'T CLEAR EASILY
>
>Those surprised by a state legislator's call for the firing of University of
>Maine hockey coach Shawn Walsh last week are either a tad naive or boosters
>who bleed Black Bear blue.
>
>The resolution submitted to the Legislature by Rep. Art Mayo of Bath is too
>late to have any real effectiveness and his timing is poor.  However, it
>does serve as an indicator of how some now view Walsh and the UMaine
>athletic department.  It also is a sample of the kind of reception and
>reaction Walsh may receive outside the friendly confines of Alfond Arena.
>
>Walsh's one-year suspension for NCAA violations ends on Dec. 24.  When he
>returns, some may feel that the past will be forgotten, that it will be time
>for Walsh to start fresh.
>
>They are only partially correct.
>
>It is his past which will attract the attention of media and hockey fans
>outside of Orono to him and his team.  The Black Bears will be scrutinized
>and questions will swirl for at least a year on whether Walsh has changed,
>what impact his presence is having on the team and the university, and how
>well he is following NCAA rules.
>
>The UMaine administration, under the direction of President Fred Hutchinson
>and Director of Athletics Suzanne Tyler, decided almost a year ago to keep
>Walsh as coach despite UMaine's own self-report which showed Walsh flouted
>NCAA rules.  They felt he should not become the fall person for a larger
>problem -- Umaine's lack of institutional control.
>
>They have steadfastly stuck by their decision to keep Walsh, but now are
>discovering another consequence of it as evidenced by Mayo's resolution.
>The NCAA cloud will remain over the program with Walsh at the helm.
>
>For at least a year, there will be more Art Mayo's lurking around the Maine
>hockey program -- watching, evaluating, and waiting for the chance to yell
>foul if Walsh stumbles.
>
>Walsh, given his competitive nature, will be eager to tackle all adversity
>and will attempt to overcome it.  One has to wonder, however, how even he
>will be able to deal with those who will frequently associate the words
>"NCAA violators" instead of "NCAA champions" when they think of the UMaine
>hockey program.
>
>-- Joe McLaughlin, Bangor Daily News