Crucial pieces missing> UMaine title fate, appeal still unkown

There are still two important pieces missing from the University of Maine’s NCAA infractions puzzle after the Committee on Infractions released its report of violations and penalties against the institution on Wednesday.

Two separate NCAA committees will handle the issues that are of great concern to UMaine administrators, student-athletes, and fans – the 1993 national title and the postseason ban for next season.

The university’s planned appeal of the postseason prohibition imposed on the Black Bear hockey team will be decided by the five-member NCAA’s Infractions Appeal Committee. Its next meeting has not yet been scheduled, an NCAA spokeswoman said.

The final determination of whether UMaine will keep its 1993 NCAA hockey national championship rests with the NCAA Executive Committee, which meets Aug. 6-9 in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

One thing is certain, Maine will not compete in the 1997 Hockey East tournament unless it wins the appeal. Even then, it might require the approval of league athletic directors. The infractions report declared that Maine’s season ends with their final regular-season contest.

The university has two more weeks to inform the NCAA of its intention to appeal any or all findings or penalties. It would then have another month to prepare and submit its case for consideration.

UMaine officials contend the student-athletes on the hockey team are being unduly punished for transgressions that occurred within the program, especially in light of the penalties the university imposed upon itself last December.

Those included a one-year suspension of head coach Shawn Walsh, barring the Bears from the NCAA tournament, a reduction of three scholarships over two years, and recruiting restrictions placed on assistant coaches Greg Cronin and Grant Standbrook.

David Swank, the chairman of the Committee on Infractions, said the penalties are warranted considering the scope and nature of the violations found within the hockey program. It also took into account the self-imposed penalties.

“The penalties imposed in hockey are quite severe, but the violations went on over an extended period of time. There were a number of significant violations in the hockey program,” Swank said.

UMaine compliance director Tammy Light said Thursday a decision is not expected until sometime in September, after the appeal is filed. UMaine President Fred Hutchinson said Wednesday the likelihood of a successful appeal is unknown, but Light said university officials are hopeful.

“I may be an optimist, but I feel we have a good shot at the appeal,” Light said. “We wouldn’t be putting all this time, effort and money into it if it was just a PR (public relations) move.”

The university could have an answer about the status of the national title as early as August 10. NCAA spokeswoman Kathryn Reith said the Executive Committee, which is made up of 14 members, usually issues a ruling within one to three days after it convenes.

For the next four years, UMaine will operate under NCAA probation, a penalty that varies from case to case. Probation is an inauspicious distinction for the university, as only 24 schools were on the NCAA list last released March 8.

The university has been ordered to implement a comprehensive education program on NCAA rules for coaches, athletic department personnel and staff members involved with the certification of student-athletes.

UMaine also must submit a preliminary report to the Committee on Infractions by Oct. 1 that sets a schedule for establishing that program and is required to file annual compliance reports showing the progress made on May 1 of each year. Emphasis is to be placed on monitoring and educational systems implemented in response to the infractions report.

Finally, the university president must recertify that all of its athletic policies and practices conform to NCAA regulations.

“Probation basically provides oversight over the program by the committee,” Swank said. “They have to report annually as to what they’re doing. They actually provide an initial report as to how they’re going comply with the various sanctions.”