UMaine slicing some trips> Centralization sought for travel

ORONO – The University of Maine athletic administration has begun to take a more active role in the financial affairs of its 19 varsity athletic programs.

A major step in the process of streamlining the department and monitoring the way programs spend money is the centralization of teams’ scheduling and transportation arrangements.

“It’s a plan we have that fits in with the AFFIRM concept,” said UMaine director of athletics Suzanne Tyler, referring to the cost-cutting plan unveiled Tuesday by UMaine president Frederick Hutchinson known as Actions to Faciliate Fiscal Integrity and Refocused Missions.

“We’re going to work with coaches in terms of being more efficient with their money and the university dollar,” Tyler said. “We’ll be working with each of the coaches on their schedules and have our specialists try to set up their hotels and transportation.”

On Tuesday, Tyler informed Black Bears baseball coach John Winkin that he must cancel the team’s scheduled 1997 spring trip to California, which included tournaments at San Jose and Fresno State, and reschedule the games in Florida, where Maine already had a series pencilled in against Miami.

“I think it’s in everybody’s best interest,” said Tyler, who explained cutting the travel distance will result in significant savings. She said Maine teams can find the same caliber opponents without crossing the country.

“The baseball team is already going to Miami next year, so Wink said he can handle it and work with some of the coaches down there to work out a new schedule,” Tyler said.

Winkin, who had set up most of the games on the California swing years in advance, said he understands the need to cut costs in light of Tuesday’s announcement.

“I’m aware that two colleges have been cut and 80 people ar “I’m aware that two colleges have been cut and 80 people are losing their jobs and that something has to be done. I understand that,” Winkin said. “I’m not complaining a bit.”

However, the timing does make it hard for Winkin to work out a schedule, because many of the teams have already filled their slates, especially on weekends.

“We’re going to scramble,” Winkin said Wednesday. “It’s obviously a difficulty to try and piece it together. Our big problem is going to be the weekends.”

The UMaine men’s basketball team will not be asked to forego its trip to the prestigious Carrs Great Alaska Shootout next November.

Coach Rudy Keeling’s Bears will be allowed to go to Anchorage for several reasons, Tyler said. First, teams may compete in a preseason tournament only once every four years.

And, because of the financial guarantee made to UMaine, the national television exposure, and the opportunity for the young players to take on the likes of Kentucky and Syracuse, the trip is worth the expense.

UMaine interim head hockey coach Greg Cronin said the reduction in travel won’t affect his program next season because his team couldn’t have gone to the Great Western Freeze-Out Tournament in Los Angeles, anyway.

“The Governor’s Cup [Tournament] took care of our Thanksgiving [weekend] Tournament,” said Cronin.

The Governor’s Cup Tournament, featuring Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and UMass-Lowell, will be held in Burlington, Vt., next season. Maine hosted the inaugural tournament in November.

Meanwhile, Cronin may have to undergo surgery to repair broken bones in his right hand on Tuesday.

Cronin broke his hand on a table while making an emotional pep talk to his team between the second and third periods of the Hockey East semifinal against UMass-Lowell. Maine trailed 2-1.

The Bears went out and scored four third-period goals to rally past the River Hawks 5-2.

Cronin will have the hand re-examined Tuesday to determine whether he will need surgery.