Y'know, the NCAA hasn't officially sanctioned Maine. The only official stuff I've read (on hockey-l, because Ohio doesn't know college hockey exists, despite Miami hosting the Phrozen Phour in Cincy) is that someone in the Maine administration declared that they wouldn't accept a bid. Call me a skeptic, but I don't believe anything until 3 days after it happens. If Maine wins the HE tourney, or otherwise earns an at-large bid (according to the selection criteria as we know them), the NCAA just about HAS to offer them an invitation, or impose their own OFFICIAL sanctions (= put up or shut up). Then it's up to the current athletic (at LEAST) administration at Maine, and their state of mind at the time, whether to accept or reject the offer. What if Maine declared they wouldn't take a bid because they feared having any laurels taken away afterwords? If those same folks now think they may be able to compete and keep any honors, they may ACCEPT the bid! Just don't count Maine out until something official comes from the NCAA; that's all I'm saying. Steve "the verbose" G HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.