Thanks for the wonderful contribution, Nonni! Right on. Those of you new to being "close" to the Maine hockey program may have gotten a hint from Nonni's letter that she has been involved with the Maine hockey program for many years. (What a retirement, Nonni!) "Involved". What an understatement. Nonni and John, like Cathy and Jack, really love those kids .. those kids that quickly become young men. When one tries to define MAINE HOCKEY over the years, and why it is so outstanding, I believe it is because of a very short list of people. No question; Nonni Daly is on that list. Thank you, Nonni! On the subject-line topic ... Nonni wrote, in part.. > Gee, I am also old enough to remember when the NC$$ consisted of a >director and a part-time assistant. ... Hee. Now the NCAA consists of hundreds of well-paid bureaucrats and lawyers. But it really bugs me that they all get reimbursed for flying first class. Talk about "extra benefits"! Nonni wrote, in part.. >The NC$$ runs on fear and rumor-mongering and a huge book of regulations >that are so contradictory in nature that in reading any six pages, one >will find one rule contradicting another. ... Just for chuckles, I thought I'd bring out the NCAA Manual and see how long it would take to recognize contradicting (my view, not necessarily that of a lawyer) regulations. It took about 60 seconds. <quote> 16.12.1.1 GENERAL RULE. Receipt of a benefit (including otherwise prohibited extra benefits per 16.12.2) by student-athletes, their relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA rules if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution's students and their relatives or friends. </quote> Sounds pretty clear and reasonable? Read on. <quote> 16.12.2.1 GENERAL RULE. The student-athlete shall not receive any extra benefit. The term "extra benefit" refers to any special arrangement by an institutional employee or representative of the institution's athletics interests to provide the student-athlete or his or her relatives or friends with a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA regulations. </quote> Clear as mud. It's just a warning that anything might be inappropriate! Let's say a coach will be driving home to Veazie after practice and he passes one of his players walking or hitch-hiking on College Avenue to downtown Orono. It would be a violation of NCAA rules for him to stop and offer a ride, even if the player offered to share gasoline expense! Common sense and reasonable has little to do with NCAA regs. Thanks again for the contribution, Nonni! Now that you've broken the ice, I hope we will see many more over the coming months and seasons. Wayne T. Smith [log in to unmask] Old Town Landing Co-owner of the College Hockey lists - Hockey-L and Hockey3