Freshman guard Emily Rousseau said Wednesday she was happy and relieved to be released from her basketball scholarship at the University of Maine.
Rousseau quit the team on March 20 but was denied a release by Maine coach Cindy Blodgett.
Rousseau was prepared to plead her case at an appeal hearing scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, but she received an e-mail from Athletic Director Blake James on Wednesday morning telling her the athletic department would no longer fight the matter.
She said she has already contacted three Division II basketball programs in New England about a possible transfer.
"I appreciate that they reconsidered and realized the best thing would be to let me go," said Rousseau, a former standout at Biddeford High. "I'm glad it got done the easy way without having to go through the hearing."
NCAA rules require that Rousseau would have to sit out one year before playing at another Division I school, but she wouldn't have to sit out a year if she goes to a Division II school.
Athletic Director Blake James said he made the decision to release Rousseau after meeting Tuesday with Blodgett and George Jacobson, Maine's NCAA faculty representative.
"As I continued to evaluate the situation I didn't see any favorable outcomes," said James. "You continue to evaluate and look at what's best for the university. We were never going to get to a point where there was a favorable outcome."
Blodgett refused an interview Wednesday and instead released a short statement.
Said Blodgett in her statement: "While our original decision was based on sound reasoning and the appropriate principles, it is simply time to move on."
Jacobson said it became clear in the course of Tuesday's discussions that it was not worth dragging out the fight.
"We discussed the broader issues ... and issues related to the university as to what extent it was worth making a long public fight about this," said Jacobson. "I think Blake and Cindy took an initial position based on principle that is very hard to disagree with. I agree with them. But in the end it is my personal opinion that it is probably not worth dragging this fight on and on in a public way."
The debate over whether Rousseau should be released from her scholarship was a hot topic in Internet chat rooms and even at the State House.
John Diamond, a spokesman for University of Maine System Chancellor Richard Pattenaude, said Pattenaude was informed by his legislative assistant "that legislators were asking about Emily's status and the stories that were in the paper over the weekend." Diamond said Pattenaude was not involved in any discussions at UMaine regarding Rousseau.
Rousseau said she did not retain counsel for the hearing, nor was she in contact with any state legislators.
"I think there were some legislators that were concerned and didn't quite understand why she wasn't being released," said Rep. Alan Casavant, D-Biddeford. "I know some people were going to try and call and get involved, but I don't really know what happened."
State Senator Nancy Sullivan, D-Biddeford, who said she lives three houses away from the Rousseau family, said she did not make any calls on Rousseau's behalf.
"I might have said something had they not granted the release," said Sullivan. "I know the family. I know the work ethic and the importance of an education to Emily. I fully respect her. To put her through that really does a disservice to young people. I'm very pleased that the university has (released her). It never should've gotten to that point."
Rousseau said she was first alerted she would be released when she received a phone message from the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram on Tuesday night. She said the news was confirmed Wednesday morning in the e-mail from James.
Last week, Rousseau asserted publicly that her reasons for leaving the program centered around...
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