[EricH]

If I'm the school, I'd consider the amount of negative publicity I'm getting right now and try to block/counter it with an explanation. If I get a lot of pressure, I could do one of a few things.

1) Return money/tools to team/sponsors. (I look bad, but at least I got them off my back.)
2) Refuse to do anything. (Really makes me look bad, so I don't want to do that.)
3) Reinstate the team, by bending the rules. (Upper administration hates me.)
4) Reinstate the team without bending the rules. (Some poor teacher doesn't like me.)

Increasing the pressure decreases the likelihood of 3) or 4), because technically the school is in the right to suspend/lock out the club. It increases the likelihood of 1), which is the team's desired result--but if I'm the school, I now really don't like the team and may not allow the team anything more to do with the school.

I guess what I'm saying is, you can only put so much pressure on before something gives. If it gives badly, you are out of luck. The more pressure, the more likely you get a very bad break, which means you're REALLY badly off.