UM’s Hoff composing committee to hear appeal

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University of Maine President Peter Hoff on Monday continued to work on putting together the committee that will hear the appeal of former UMaine student-athletes Stefan Gomes and Paris Minor.

The 21-year-olds, both of whom were juniors on the football team, were suspended from the university last Wednesday by the UMaine Student Conduct Code Committee. The committee ruled Minor and Gomes, who were involved an alleged sexual assault on a fellow student last June in Old Town, had violated the university’s student conduct code.

No criminal charges were filed against either man in connection with the incident.

Through their attorneys, Gomes and Minor on Friday filed an appeal of the suspensions with the university.

The men also filed a lawsuit against the university Friday in U.S. District Court in Bangor that alleges UMaine denied them due process during a conduct committee hearing, acted with improper motive because of their race (African-American) and also engaged in a conspiracy to violate their constitutional rights.

Hoff on Friday began the process of selecting a committee to hear the appeal. The process is ongoing.

“There are still details to be worked out in terms of the composition of that committee, so it is not finalized yet,” UMaine spokesman Joe Carr said Monday.

Bangor attorney Paul Chaiken, who is representing UMaine, said Hoff is looking for potential committee members who will be able to devote attention to the matter immediately. However, he explained Hoff won’t rush the formation of the committee at the expense of the best interests of all parties involved.

The appeal board could be formalized as early as today, but it is not known when it might convene to hear the appeal by Minor and Gomes. If the initial appeal is denied, the men could make a final appeal.

Either Hoff or an individual of his choosing would then make the final determination.

UMaine’s Cooper is super

Stephen Cooper has a reputation as one of the best defensive players in Division I-AA football. The senior linebacker from Wareham, Mass., demonstrated why again Saturday during the University of Maine’s 31-14 Atlantic 10 victory over Rhode Island.

Cooper almost singlehandedly turned the tide of the contest, relentlessly stunting through the URI line to provide the Black Bears with a huge emotional lift in a game that was very much in doubt.

“Cooper, he’s a really outstanding athlete, a great football player,” said URI coach Tim Stowers. “He’d get my vote for [A-10] defensive player of the year.”

Cooper, a finalist last season for the Buck Buchanan Award given to the nation’s top I-AA defender, refused to allow the Rams to generate more momentum after they had scored on back-to-back possessions.

He rushed up to the line of scrimmage, either bursting through the URI line or leaping over it, keeping the heat on Rams freshman quarterback Jayson Davis.

“I pretty much sacrificed myself trying to make plays because they were moving the ball on us,” said the 6-foot-1, 230-pounder, who also forced a fumble in the game.

“Our defensive line played great and the guys on the back end did a great job, helped me make plays,” Cooper added.

Cooper, who was in on 31/2 sacks Saturday, now leads the league with 61/2 this season. His 121/2 tackles for a loss rank second in the A-10.

“It’s an 11-man effort when we’re out there, but Coop’s phenomenal and he deserves the credit he gets for making those type of plays,” said classmate Dave Cusano. “Coop is a fantastic player.”

Cooper, who leads UMaine with 49 tackles (9.8 per game), is one of the big reasons the Bears lead the conference and rank fifth in the country in total defense (233 yards per game). They are fifth in A-10 pass defense (132 ypg).

Bears hang onto No. 3 ranking

The UMaine football team remains at its highest national ranking ever this week, holding onto the No. 3 position in The Sports Network and ESPN/USA Today top 25 polls.

The Bears, who have won 17 of their last 21 games (.810), trail only top-ranked defending national champion Montana (4-0) and No. 2 McNeese State (4-0). UMaine is only 265 points out of first place in the TSN rankings, which are done by a vote of media and sports information directors.

In the ESPN/USA Today poll, which is voted on by coaches, UMaine trails No. 1 Montana by 88 points.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s team may have a chance to challenge for the No. 1 position this week. The Bears travel to Harrisonburg, Va., for a Saturday clash against 3-2 James Madison.

Meanwhile, Montana and McNeese both face Division I-A opponents, with the Grizzlies traveling to Idaho and the Cowboys visiting Nebraska.

The Bears now have been nationally ranked for 13 consecutive weeks.