The NCAA News Digest

January 13, 1997

• BUDGET -- Revenue for '95-96 exceeds projection by four percent
• INITIAL-ELIGIBILITY -- High schools have 90 days to make core-course challenges
• BASKETBALL -- Committee makes adjustments to assure equal days off
• REGIONAL SEMINARS -- Dates and sites established for 1997 rules-compliance seminars

BUDGET

Revenue for '95-96 exceeds projection by four percent

The NCAA exceeded revenue projections by 4.12 percent for the most recent fiscal year, according to the 1995-96 final budget report.

The Association took in $229,749,414 in operating revenue, compared to the budgeted amount of $220,650,000. Operating expenses were $215,263,886, which exceeded the budget of $214,783,000 by 0.22 percent.

As of August 31, the NCAA had $19.6 million in excess revenue available for operations. In December, the NCAA Executive Committee voted to distribute $15 million of that $19.6 million to the Division I membership. That $15 million includes $1.8 million in investment income from the one-time $50 million payment received from CBS in January 1996.

Checks for that supplemental distribution were mailed January 10.

Staff contact: Frank E. Marshall.

INITIAL ELIGIBILITY

High schools have 90 days to make core-course challenges

High schools will have 90 days in which to amend the list of courses in their curricula that they believe should be considered core courses for NCAA initial-eligibility purposes.

Upon receipt of the 48H form renewal in February, high-school administrators are re-quested to examine courses listed on the form and to submit any additions or, where they believe it appropriate, to challenge courses that the clearinghouse has not approved as core courses.

Accompanying the renewal form will be a one-page worksheet for each core-course discipline -- English, math, natural or physical science, social sciences, and additional academic courses. A form on courses offered for students with learning disabilities also will be provided.

High-school administrators will be requested to complete the worksheets for any courses they believe satisfy the core-course requirement but that have not been accepted as core courses by the clearinghouse.

From the time the 48H renewal forms leave the clearinghouse, each high school will have 90 days to amend its form and return it. When the clearinghouse receives a form back from a high school, it will notify the school that the form has been received and will estimate when the high school can expect a response regarding whether courses have been approved as core courses.

Staff contact: Kevin C. Lennon.

BASKETBALL

Committee makes adjustments to assure equal days off

Concerned about providing an equal number of days off between games for advancing teams, the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee has agreed to schedule all competition in a region on the same days of the week. This change necessitated adjusting some tournament dates in 1998 and 1999. For years after 1999, the bracket was adjusted to ensure an equal number of days off between games.

The changes ensure that each team in the same half of the bracket has the same number of practice opportunities between games. Four sites hosting first- and second-round competition in 1998 and 1999 and four regional sites in 1999 will be affected by the adjustments.

Staff contact: William R. Hancock.

REGIONAL SEMINARS

Dates and Sites established for 1997 rules-compliance seminars

Dates and sites have been set for the three 1997 NCAA regional rules-compliance seminars.

They are April 23-25 -- New Orleans Hilton Riverside; April 30-May 2 -- Baltimore Omni Inner Harbor; and May 28-30 -- San Francisco Crowne Plaza Parc Fifty-Five.

Staff contacts: John H. Leavens.