The contributions are in and counted. Now all the University of Maine needs is the official OK from the UMS Board of Trustees at its meeting next week to set in motion plans for installing a new all-weather outdoor track at the Orono campus.

According to UM assistant athletic director Ian McCaw, outside donations totaling $450,000 have been raised for the new track, which will replace the dated cinder oval currently surrounding Alumni Field.

“Funds are in place but we still need the approval of the Trustees,” McCaw said Monday. “If we get the go-ahead, bids will go out. Tentatively, we’re looking at (construction) sometime in June.”

McCaw said the proposed 8-lane track is something the entire campus community would benefit from, not just the outdoor track teams.

“It will benefit anyone who runs,” said McCaw, a member of the UM track committee.

“We’re looking to try and get the best track for that amount of money,” he said.

Members of the track committee, including UM head track coach Jim Ballinger, are currently researching different surfaces to determine which is right for Maine.

“There are three surfaces we’re looking at,” said McCaw. “All are very good, it’s just a matter of finding which one holds up the longest. Some are better for training and some are better for racing.”

McCaw said an official announcement on the status of the project will be forthcoming after the Trustees meeting. – – –

Now that the Maine Legislature has come up with a budget for the state, the official impact on the UM athletic department is a reduction of $188,614, most of which has already been accounted for. Here’s a summary of the effects contained in a report on the Major Impacts of the FY 92 Budget Cuts: Elimination of the sports information position concentrating on women’s athletics. Significant reduction of conference attendance by professional staff, thus preventing presence at league and governing body meetings when decisions are made that will affect the University of Maine. Elimination of one men’s varsity sport in addition to the conversion of men’s tennis to a club sport. Elimination of an administrator position. Serious horizontal cuts in operating funds.

The most likely men’s varsity sport to be dropped, according to assistant AD Ian McCaw: either golf or swimming. The decision won’t be made until June in the hope of an 11th-hour reprieve.

By the way, the coming $900 million shortfall projected for the next biennium does not bode well for the future of UMaine athletics. Stay tuned….

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Here are this year’s candidates for the John R. Wooden Award, college basketball’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy:

Kenny Anderson, Georgia Tech guard; Stacey Augman and Larry Johson, UNLV forwards; Calbert Cheaney, Indiana forward; Eric Murdock, Providence guard; Shaquille O’Neal, LSU center; Billy Owens, Syracuse forward; Steve Smith, Michigan State forward; Don MacLean, UCLA forward; Todd Day, Arkansas forward; Jimmy Jackson, Ohio State guard; and Christian Laettner, Duke forward.