The Penn State ultimate frisbee team is proving that it's going to take a lot more than a temporary suspension to slow it down.

About 11 months ago, the Club Sports Advisory Council suspended the team for damaging multiple State College fields during the team's "Spring Phling" tournament in the beginning of April 2005.

The team is not permitted to hold formal practices or participate in collegiate tournaments until it shows that an adequate amount of community service has been fulfilled. The members are working to stay in shape and also getting involved with the community.

"I do feel it's something we deserve. I feel like we should be pushing each other to get our good status back and appreciation from the community," club treasurer Keith Stern said.

Some members are volunteering at blood drives, while others are planning to participate in park clean-ups and officiate soccer games for the Center Soccer Association.

Along with the community service, the team is making sure to keep in shape in order to be ready for its comeback. Captains Owen Ricciardi and Eric "High School" Brune have been attempting to stay positive throughout the whole experience while still thinking realistically.

"It's going to be a huge challenge when we come back because we're all going to have to learn how to play together again and get our numbers back up. It will be like playing with a whole new team," Brune said.

Ricciardi and Brune still hold informal conditioning workouts, pick-up frisbee games and even intramural basketball games to keep the rest of the members active and motivated.

They also register at various amateur frisbee tournaments, since they cannot currently register in collegiate tournaments.

According to the suspension rules, the team is not allowed to have an official roster, which makes recruiting and team advertising a challenge. Word of mouth and the old roster posted on their homepage help prospective team players get the information they need to play.

"Even though our Web site is old, it is still in good use," Ricciardi said. "I get a few e-mails a week from people who want to run or play a pick-up game. We never turn anyone away."

Since all goals are long term, Ricciardi, Brune, Stern and Club President Kevin Richman worry some members may have a difficult time thinking positively about the future. Stern said the suspension is causing an internal rift among the team

While the team is working hard to maintain its fitness and clock in its hours of community service, it is still concerned about one question that could determine its future.

"This whole experience is a test for our team to see who's dedicated and who's not," Richman said.