UMaine keeps title, fans express relief

BANGOR – Regardless of what the NCAA decided about the University of Maine’s 1993 ice hockey national championship, fans had already made up their minds Monday night how they would react.

“I wasn’t going to throw away my T-shirt because of it,” said Michelle Wood of Hampden. “But I thought they’d strip the title from them because Syracuse University lost their [1990] national lacrosse title.”

The NCAA’s Division I Championships Committee voted to allow UMaine to keep its title, a decision announced late Monday afternoon.

While relieved and surprised by the decision, the faithful were more worried about the NCAA Committee on Infractions’ recent decision to take more scholarships, a season of postseason play, and television appearances away from the Black Bear program at the conclusion of a two-year investigation.

Verna Eldridge of Veazie and Woods were two of the UMaine fans at the Sea Dog Brewing Co. Monday night, where news of the title’s fate hadn’t arrived.

“The NCAA was a little harsh with the scholarships,” Eldridge said.

“Maine is going to be really hindered,” Wood echoed. “I feel sorry for the seniors.

“But I don’t feel sorry for the UMaine coaches or administration, but for the 18-year-olds who are playing,” Eldridge concluded.

Others thought those 18-year-olds might not be as naive as they might appear.

“There’s an opinion out there right now that the college students are naive to what’s going on,” said Eric Espling of Bangor. “But if you want to play for a program, you have to be willing to take the risks.

“Unfortunately, if you’re No. 1, you get looked at a little harder,” he said. “If you play for Miami or Florida in football, or UMass in basketball, where a team goes to the Final Four, you’re going to get looked at harder.”

Across the street, Legends bartender Steve Gray listened to talk of the NCAA investigation but found that much of it centered around the sanctions, not the title.

“If they had lost the championship, people would’ve been able to associate with that, but they don’t associate with lost scholarships or television games,” said Gray, noting no one had brought in news of the title’s safety by 8 p.m.

“Most people I talked to didn’t think the punishments were too severe,” he said.