Whether the same exact things went on in past years does not make them
right, however.

My take on this whole thing is that college-age kids are learning
lessons in and out of the classrooms and make mistakes (just like in
life).  We can all understand this.  Also in life, when you make
mistakes there are consequences and I do not have any problem with the
AD enforcing those consequences.  Like it or not, when you play
intercollegiate athletics (and in many cases may be on scholarship),
you do have a responsbility to your team and school as well.

IMHO, if Blake James deserves any criticsm (and it wasn't even
mentioned in the article), it was for initially blowing off the
activist who contacted him about the softball hazing.  As a result, the
guy made it his mission to make the U look like a bunch of fools who
don't take this stuff seriously and went to the media.

Yes, ultimately he did act, but if he had just been professional about
it and taken the guy seriously, he might have saved the U some
embarassment.

(Go to http://www.ncaahazing.com/ if you want to see what this guy has
said and done about UMaine and other schools).

-Deron

-Deron


--- Acheson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> So is it better in a world where the AD ignores the problems and
> sweeps them under the rug?
> I have a feeling that things are exactly as they always were, just
> now the AD and tim are doing something about it.
> 
> 
> 
> On Oct 12, 2007, at 9:38 AM, William <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> 14 different student-athletes and 3 coaches faced legal troubles
> since last spring? Someone needs to put a tent on this circus. I know
> it isn't entirely his fault, but this certainly is a dark cloud over
> the James regime. Here's a Kennedy quote from a May 10, 2006 story
> issued by the school's public affairs office on the hiring of Blake
> as full-time AD.
>  
> "Blake faced several tests during his tenure as interim athletic
> director. In each case, he passed with flying colors. I am
> particularly impressed with his personal integrity, his commitment to
> student-athletes, and his firm understanding of the appropriate role
> of an athletics department in a first-class academic institution. I
> have no doubt that Black Bear student-athletes will continue to
> excel, both in the classroom and in competition, as we move forward
> with Blake as UMaine¢s athletic director."
>  
> I wonder how such vast legal troubles fits into the whole " I have no
> doubt that Black Bear student-athletes will continue to excel, both
> in the classroom and in competition" part.
>  
> http://www.umaine.edu/news/article.asp?id_no=1366
> 
> Deron Treadwell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> ORONO, Maine (AP) - University of Maine President Robert Kennedy is
> doubling penalties for student-athletes who violate their code of
> conduct.
> 
> Kennedy informed coaches in an e-mail this week after discussing a
> string of criminal cases with Athletic Director Blake James. All
> told, 14 different student-athletes and three coaches have faced
> legal trouble since last spring.
> 
> Allegations in the most recent run-ins included theft, assault,
> drunken driving, receiving stolen property and burglary.
> 
> "Obviously, as I said before, I'm frustrated and disappointed with
> what's occurred this school year," James said. "I'm meeting with all
> of our student-athletes to discuss what has occurred in the past and
> who we are as a program and how we're going to move forward."
> 
> James stressed that isolated incidents don't reflect on the vast
> majority of the nearly 500 Black Bear athletes.
> 
> Student-athletes are subject to both the rules of the athletic code
> of conduct and UM's student code of conduct.
> 
> Penalties for violating the code of conduct range from a warning, to
> game suspension, to removal from the team. Following Kennedy's
> decision, an infraction that might have warranted a warning could now
> lead to a suspension. In addition to harsher penalties, Kennedy
> ordered Dean of Students Robert Dana to work with the athletics
> administration to create an alcohol abuse education program that's
> mandatory for every student-athlete.
> 
> "These students need to know to respect the law and they need to
> understand that they are reps of the University of Maine," Dana said
> 
> 
> 
> 
>        
>
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