ORONO, Maine, Sept. 26 - The Atlantic 10 Conference awarded Maine a victory for Saturday’s scheduled football game at William & Mary that was canceled in the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel.

IN THE DECISION, described as unprecedented in the conference, William & Mary came away with a no-contest.

The decision was made by Atlantic 10 presidents, acting on the recommendations of the league’s athletic directors. It reflects Maine’s efforts to play the game, along with an understanding of the unique circumstances facing William & Mary after the storm that caused power outages and prompted concerns about public safety, according to commissioner Linda Bruno.

Officials at Maine said the conference resolved the issue fairly.

“While we would prefer to earn any victory on the field, in this instance this was not possible,” athletic director Patrick Nero said. “We appreciate and support the decision made by the members of the Atlantic 10 Conference.”

The win boosts the Black Bears’ record to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference; William & Mary remains 1-2 overall and 0-1 in league play.

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