"Neither Bill Cleary [Athletic Director William J. Cleary '56] nor John Wentzell ever bothered to consult with me regarding this incident," Paoli said.

"They have taken unilateral action withouttalking to me."

Harvard officials refused to say whether theplayers involved are facing individualdisciplinary action.

Paoli said he believes the team punishment isharsh and unfair.

"It was a consensus among myself and the seniorplayers that the punishment should have been givento the [individual] players involved," Paoli said.

"The boys realize that they did somethingwrong," he added.

Paoli said the athletic department has had ahistory of giving the rugby team the short end ofthe stick.

"In the two years I was head coach at Harvard,I never once met Bill Cleary," Paoli said. "Thatshows how much he regards the rugby team."

In addition, facilities and injury care aresub-par, Paoli said.

"They make us play on a piece of dirt," Paolisaid. "It's got rocks all over it. We sufferedthree times the normal amount of injuries."

"The [Harvard] trainer would vilify myathletes. In past years, they sent us a studenttrainer. This year, they even took that away fromus," he said.

As a club sport, the men's rugby team isentitled to "guidance, facility assistance,minimal financial support and an administrativeframework," according to the athletic department'shandbook.

Paoli said he believes the rugby team has beenslighted due to a reputation it, and the sport ingeneral, has built up. The team would typicallydrink together after games and has been known formisbehavior.

Paoli said he cut out the drinking afterHarvard's games when he became coach, optinginstead for barbecues with opposing teams.

"They may have gone back to their rooms and hada few beers, but that was not under mysupervision," he said.

While the future of the men's rugby team isuncertain, Paoli feels the prospects are grim,despite the efforts of the players.

"[The players] are trying to resurrect thespring season, or if not that, the fall season,"Paoli said. "Given the attitude of the athleticdepartment, I'm not optimistic.