Rainboe;
Does this model have leading edge slats?
The DC9/MD80/B717 model types have all had LEDs since the DC9-30 series built in the late '60's; The DC9-10 series had a hard wing, not sure of the -20 series.
The TOCW issue has been discussed at length in the thread as one of the potential (not determined!) issues surrounding the maintenance actions on the TAT probe (air-ground issue, forgotten checklist issue); Time will tell if the theory holds any water. The failed/exploding engine theory is set aside in some posts but the notion that either engine had a reverser deploy inadvertently or that either high angles of attack and/or disturbed airflow from partially-stalled wings was upsetting one or both engines is being discussed.
To date, nothing is known; there are only theories.
xander;
In an "air-ground switch" issue, the crew may not be able to retract the landing gear (had it happen in the '9 once - no gear up, no pressurization, etc - returned) but in the '8 if I recall, there was a manual way to release the locks (which was applied to the handle, not the landing gear, of course). Still, an airplane in "ground mode" wouldn't cause a rejected takeoff because the crew logically wouldn't know it was stuck there until they were in the air. QED.