The following comes from "The Boston Herald" on March 20, 1991. p. 79 NCAA slams Lowell hockey The NCAA, claiming coach Bill Riley waved money at his team between periods as an incentive and that players received free and reduced rent for housing, yesterday placed the University of Lowell hockey team on two years probation and prohibited it from postseason play for one year. According to a nine page report submitted by the NCAA's Committee on Infractions, the "principal violations stemmed from extra benefits provided enrolled student athletes," by an unnamed program booster and Riley, who owned apartments they made available to the players at rents "substantially below the going rate in the area." "In one instance, a team member stayed rent free in an apartment for several months," the report said. Lowell sports information director B.L. Elfring declined to identify the booster, but said, "The individual in question is no longer part of the program, and in fact has left the area." Riley, who has returned to his tenured position in the school's physical education department, did not return phone calls. The report also described a locker room money waving incident involving Riley, whose resignation was effective at the end of this season, as having risen, "to the level of 'team folklore'." Riley reportedly displayed cash to players between periods of a 1986 game against the Boston University, promising the team members money for a party if they won. "They won and he game them the money for a party," the report said. Other violations included Riley's hosting recruits and their families on his boat, and providing meal and transportation expenses for players. The sanctions stem from an investigation that the university started a year ago, when parents of several players met with President William T. Hogan, who assigned a committee to examine the hockey program. In July, the committee contacted the NCAA, which followed up with its own probe, culminating in a Feb. 1 hearing before the Committee on Infractions. Two questions for people 1.) Does this kind of thing go on a lot and just go unreported? 2.) Does this suspension mean that their is no Hockey East playoffs for Lowell next year, or does it just pertain to the NCAA tournament? Kevin E-mail MIGHT reach me at: [log in to unmask] "You can still Rock in America" - Night Ranger