Logan, UT (U-WIRE) -- The Utah State baseball club team was suspended for the 2005 spring semester during the Sport Club Advisory Board (SCAB) meeting Jan. 12. The board, made up of presidents and vice presidents of all club sports, voted 8-6 for the suspension.

The decision for suspension came after the baseball team did not get some administrative paperwork taken care of when it needed to be, Scott Wamsley, the assistant director of campus recreation, said.

Wednesday night the baseball club will have a chance to repeal the decision.

Pitching coach Jeremy Gordon said he felt the meeting was a surprise since no one knew what it was for. He said there was no preparation for a presentation or a defense. There was a miscommunication as far as probation that needs to be addressed in the meeting. he said.

The team will be suspended for the spring semester if their appeal isn't granted. In effect, the suspension would end their season and the team's goal for a shot at the national title.

"The punishment is a little harsh for the guys," Gordon said. "In a club sport atmosphere this gets away from the core purpose, with the probation and elimination of clubs. These kids just want to play, there's no other incentive.

"As a coaching staff we should take the blame, we didn't stress the paperwork."

Gordon said the team has updated their paperwork and has changed the presidency of the club in order to put more responsibility with the student athletes.

With the changes the club has made they are confident that their appeal will overturn the suspension.

"Mistakes have been made but other student athletes will understand our position," baseball player Jason Roundy said.

For matters like these the club sports programs are basically self-governing. Each club team has two votes in the matter so there are 30 voting members of the SCAB. Student athletes determine when a club has merited a suspension, a fact that irks Gordon.

"It's disheartening that club athletes would vote other club athletes out," Gordon said.

Kyler Ovard, the spokesperson for the rugby club said it's a good system because the presidents know the situation and they know how things have been handled before.

Some athletes have speculated the processs is political and with one less club for a semester, funding would be spread around and practice times would be freed up for the other clubs.

Since the SCAB is made up of club athletes it doesn't tower above the many club sports like the university's administration does to students.

"For the strength of the organization we needed to enact our rules," Matthew Ethington, president of the water polo club said. "Empathy exists for the team, but sympathy would take away the power the organization has."

The SCAB meeting will be held in the Nelson Fieldhouse at 8 p.m. Wednesday night. The baseball club will be allowed to present its case after which the vote on keeping or overturning the suspension will take place.

The first vote to suspend the team was taken from only 14 of the 30 voting members. So there were many who weren't there for the original meeting. A fact that lends optimism to the baseball club's cause.

"We're confident in our case for appeal," Roundy said. "We know they'll make the right decision whatever happens."

(C) 2004 The Utah Statesman via U-WIRE