Wednesday,.October 10, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friends of USM Football Suspend Fund-Raising Efforts

	PORTLAND, Maine  --  A private campaign to raise start-up costs of $2.1 
million for a USM football program has not reached its goal. The Friends of USM 
Football, the group of private citizens who have raised money for the program, 
and university officials held a news conference on Wednesday, October 10,  to 
announce that a USM football program will not be established at this time.
 	"The lack of a significant lead gift coupled with the economic downturn 
worked against us," said John Wolfgram, the former South Portland High School 
coach and co-chair of the Friends of USM Football.
 	"Many people worked long and hard on this," said Wolfgram, "and we know 
that football continues to generate interest among Maine high school players, 
their coaches and others who would like to see a Division III program at USM. 
But we've reviewed the campaign with USM and believe that a decision not to 
proceed is in everyone's best interest. None of us want to start a program 
without full financial support. The lead gift which would have secured 
construction of the all-purpose field at USM was the key factor," said Wolfgram. 
"Many people were financially supportive but without the lead gift we could not 
reach our goal. At some time I think football will happen at USM, but now is not 
that time."
 	"The time had come for us to bring closure to this effort," said USM 
President Richard L. Pattenaude. "All of our programs, academic as well as 
athletic, are facing tighter budgets, which makes it increasingly difficult to 
justify a football program. I remain committed to the notion that a high-quality 
football program can be a significant factor in student recruitment and building 
a sense of community," said Pattenaude, "but the time is just not right."
	Pattenaude added that without a significant lead gift USM would not 
reconsider football in the next three to five years due to economic 
uncertainties and other USM priorities, including needed capital improvements 
and support for existing programs.
 	After a series of campus meetings in the spring of 2000, Pattenaude said 
football would not become a reality without $2.1 million in privately raised 
start-up costs.  In early May of 2000, he gave the Friends of USM Football 
approval to seek funding for the program. Last summer, USM officials and members 
of the Friends of USM Football said that though fund raising was slow, they 
remained committed to football, and wanted to take more time to identify and 
cultivate lead donors.
 	"The Friends of USM Football deserve our sincere thanks," said Pattenaude. 
"We would not be talking about football and its benefits to USM and the 
community without their willingness to seek support."