Mike Smar wrote, in part.. > I think these are the reasons why we continually have problems with cheating and > athletics. Which university in a major athletic conference, in any sport, is going > to unilaterally declare that they'll follow the NCAA rule book by the letter. None. ... (Please add IMHO to each sentence below! .. wts) I think this is an unfair, emotional and uninformed position on Universities, U Maine, and this item in specific. U Maine did not cheat wrt the 1993 Title, by any definition that I know. Obviously 2 rules were broken (Ingraham and Dunham incidents), and final responsibility rests with the school, but that does not mean the school cheated. The final statement is probably untrue at most schools and is blatently untrue at Maine. But declaring honesty and intent to follow the rules is not the same as providing the leadership, cooperation and funds to have the systems and knowledge in place to actually get the job done. I'm not defending what some have called a "Division II mentality in a Division I athletics program", but hauling honesty and ethics into this specific situation and all of college sport in general because of this incident and ruling is unfortunate and wrong. Now, if we are mixing this (1993 Championship) decision and the earlier Infractions Committee rulings, then I'll add that a strong message *was* sent to U Maine. Some has been written about most of the other provisions, but not much about the designation as "repeated offender" (or whatever the wording is). During the next 4 years, any major violation could lead to drastic penalties, including suspension of a varsity sport. Let's say Joe Nowheels doesn't like the playing bench time he is getting and decides to throw in the towel. I suspect he could quite easily both find some unknowing people to commit violations and to "cook" some up in his mind and then leak the "information" to the NCAA. Scary thoughts for U Maine administrators, I would think. Let the games begin (at last), Sunday morning, Oct 6th at 12:01 am for the 1996-97 Maine Black Bears Midnight Madness)! cheers, wayne Wayne T. Smith [log in to unmask] Systems Group -- CAPS University of Maine System Co-owner of the College Hockey mailing lists HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.