Now that we have the NCAA Hockey pairings all figured out (way to go Maine!), I have a question.... When are the EXACT dates/times for the final four, and which teams will play in which games? I know the teams haven't been determined yet, but the brackets must define the winners of each quarterfinal to go to a specific semi-final game. So, when are they? The reaction of the NCAA pairings around here say that everything was intact, except for the #2-#4 pairings in the East. Many Maine fans (and especially coach Shawn Walsh), thought it was almost a crime for Boston University to be ranked so high. We all expected Boston College to get the number-two ranking, or even Clarkson wouldn't be a complete surprise. But BU??? Yeah, they won the Hockey East tourney title, but a lot of ppl feel they still don't measure up to being the second best team in the East. It just goes to show you what you can do for your team when you're on the NCAA selection committee (referring to B.U. Coach Jack Parker, who continues to be public-enemy number one in the eyes of Black Bear fans). Oh, and we may be proud of our hockey team, but our mascot really needs work. The "Bananas" the Black Bear costume does skate, but it really needs a gimmick. All it does is skate around the ice during inter- missions -- big deal. I forget which ECAC school it was (sorry), but someone mentioned something about tossing candy to the crowd. Perhaps ol' Bananas could do something like that, tossing candy, Maine hockey pucks, or hell...BANANAS! Besides, Bananas looks kinda wimpy. When our football team played at Hawaii, the Hawaii broadcaster said, "That mascot looks just a little too friendly." True, but there's nothing wrong with that as long as the mascot actually DOES something active! Anyone else have a mascot like that? What do your mascots do? Bananas needs ideas! Anything, please! +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Jim Baines, a.k.a. "Sportscaster", BITNET: IO60312@MAINE | |"Fill the Steins to Dear Old Maine..." GO BLACK BEARS!!! | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+