This is from this morning's Columbus Dispatch COMMITTEE STARTS POURING OVER HOCKEY COACHING APPLICATIONS by Bob Baptist An eight-person committee that will recommend who Ohio State hires as the new ice hockey coach began reviewing applications for the job yesterday. Associate athletic directory Archie Griffin, who heads the committee, estimated he received about 45 applications. He said that by next week, he hopes to pare that to six or eight candidates who would be interviewed. Griffing said he could not say whether the new coach will be hired by April 12, the first day recruits can sign a national letter of intent. "It would be nice," he said, "but I can't realistically say we will have it done by then." The job opened Feb. 13 when 20-year coach Jerry Welsh resigned after athletic director Andy Geiger told him his contract would not be renewed after the season. Assistant coach John Markell finished the season as interim coach and has applied for the job. He said yesterday he has received commitments from five recruits who told him they will sign with OSU regardless of whether he is hired. "I told them very clearly I might not be here," Markell said, "but I conveyed to them that I think I have as good a chance as anybody to get the job." OSU career scoring leader Paul Pooley has been rumored as a strong candidate. Pooley, a former OSU assistant who recently completed his first season as head coach at Providence College, declined to discuss his interest in the job when contacted yesterday. "I can't say anything," he said, "but if you want to throw my hat in the ring, you can." Two other applicants are believed to be Michigan State assistant coach Tom Newton and former OSU player Larry Marson. End Article Well, interesting comment from Paul Pooley. We'll see what it all means soon I guess. -- **************************************************************** * Dave [log in to unmask] * * Cornell '91 OSU Med '95 * * Nothing good ever comes of a conversation that * * starts with the words, "Remember the patient * * you sent home last night?" * ****************************************************************