Another Mainiac will probably giive more detail later, but earlier this
week, Maine filed their official appeal.  In a 38 page document, Maine
asked to reconsider loss of football scholarships (13?) and the 1997
ban on post-season play for the men's ice hockey team.
 
TV stations WCSH, WLBZ, and Sports Talk radio station WZON report that,
buried in page 10 of the document is a creative and interesting
suggestion:  that Maine eligibility for 1997 postseason play be
restored and that Coach Shawn Walsh not coach during the 1997 post-season.
 
If the infractions committe was looking for a way to penalize Walsh,
this might be attractive.  I don't know whether Walsh suggested or
simply agreed to this suggestion.  I missed an interview this morning of
his attorney :(
 
Other portions of the document compare the Maine infractions and
penalties to recent NCAA cases, contending that such penalties include
"blatent" and "flagrant" violations and "unethical" behavior, none of
which were finding of the infractions committee.   (Personal comment: I
doubt that Maine reminded the committee that numbers of violations may
and probably was a deciding factor for the committee).
 
The NCAA has 30 days to respond, Maine can make final comments and then
the NCAA makes their final decision.
 
Maine's first report on how they have "fixed" the administrative mess
is due to the NCAA on Oct 3rd (unless it has somehow been delayed by
the appeals process).  It will be interesting reading, should it be
made public, not so much for what it will say, but for what it will
imply about previous school administrations.
 
cheers,
 
Wayne T. Smith                 [log in to unmask]
Systems Group -- CAPS          University of Maine System
Co-owner of the College Hockey mailing lists